SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!!!
Start your journey into the New World by reading One Piece in Shonen Jump Alpha!
Summary
Chimney has become the station manager for the sea-train at Water 7.
The Minster of the Right reveals that the Tamate box was armed to explode.
Luffy gave the palace’s treasure to Big Mom's subordinates who are going home.
The pirates enslaved by Hody arrived in the New World only to be captured by Smoker
Thoughts 
This chapter starts with a meeting between Jimbei and Neptune as they discuss issues involving Fishmen Island and Big Mom. One of the things they discuss is Jimbei’s decision to join Luffy's crew. It is fairly certain to me that Jimbei will join Luffy's crew in one way or another even if I personally don't like this development. This chapter did clear up one concern I had involving Jimbei's crew. If Jimbei joined the Straw Hats then he would be leaving his crew behind. This won't be a problem now because his crew has been under Big Mom's jurisdiction. That would explain where they were during the civil war Hody started.
Neptune did bring up something that has been on my mind which is Jimbei's sense of responsibility. He is very honorable for a pirate, but he shouldn’t have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. We saw this in him prior to the time-skip, when he apologized to Luffy for Arlong's actions and upholding the promise he made to Ace.
In any case, it is clear that both Jimbei and Neptune love Luffy. I won't be surprised if Luffy's Jolly Roger will hang over Fishman Island and the 70,000 soldiers that Neptune mentioned will be under Luffy’s flag to protect the island while the Straw Hats are away. Jimbei may be the one who leads them which would be the perfect stepping stone to joining Luffy's crew.
Fishman Island will need all the help they can get if all of Big Mom's underlings are as powerful as Pekoms. You saw how easily he was able to defeat Coribou. The swamp-man hasn't had a break in a fight since boarding Luffy's ship and this chapter was no different for him.
Oda is slowly showing us the power of the New World. It doesn't matter what type of ability you have. What matters is how you use that ability. Luffy already has an understanding of this, which puts him one step above most rookie pirates. Pekoms has a Zoan-type of ability where he can transform into a Turtle which he clearly has developed into a formidable power in combination with his Haki abilities. This also makes clear that humanoid animal species exist outside of Fishmen in One Piece. It is interesting because it means that Bepo could actually be a talking polar bear instead of a human who ate a polar bear Devil Fruit.
Robin is taking this nicely.
The problems with Big Mom keep multiplying as we discover that the Tamate Box was armed with a bomb. Now that box is on its way to Big Mom because Luffy gave her his treasure, that will not make the Empress happy if that bomb blows up in her face.
This will only escalate Big Mom's fury. It wasn't like giving her the treasure was going to end conflict between the two pirates but it won’t improve the situation.
It is strange, we have heard so much about this Tamate Box yet we haven't had a good view of it. I wonder if it will play a bigger role later on.
The chapter ends with a peek at what awaits the Straw Hats once they leave Fishman Island. Their old foe Smoker has gotten that position he desired near Fishman Island.
Two years has done Smoker and Tashigi well as both have improved their rank and skill. Tashigi has a very noticeable 'improvement' with her appearance in her new Captain's coat. Smoker is now a Vice Admiral which may have come with his service at Marineford.
There is a good chance that our first New World foe will be Smoker based on the end of this chapter. This may be exactly what we want in an antagonist because you know Smoker won't be a pushover like a recent villain. Luffy hasn’t defeated Smoker once but maybe that will change in the New World.
This chapter was the perfect start to Shonen Jump Alpha. The translation was clear and I felt as if we got a lot out of it. There were some big reveals in it which made the wait worth it. We are getting more peeks at what awaits Luffy and the crew in the New World and it doesn't look good. You have new foes like Big Mom and old ones like Smoker who have intimidating powers. Already the next arc of One Piece looks exciting. Let’s hope it stays that way.
Until next time true believers!
The way I'm starting to look at Jimbes considerations in joining Luffy's crew is that perhaps, seeing as we are now at the half way point of the series, Oda might be trying to set up the idea of Luffy gaining allies in the form of other pirate crews so that when the time comes for a big epic battle to break into Raftel at the end of the series, the Straw Hats will have an entire fleet of Friends and Allies fighting for their cause.
ReplyDeleteSure you got Jimbe and the Fishman Pirates, that's one,
Hancock and the Kuja Pirates would probably be another
Marco and the remaining Whitebeard pirates are a possibility
Lola the Praposer and her crew,
Franky's former cronies from Water 7 is an idea,
Wiper could lead a group of Sky Pirates from Skipea
and I also like idea of maybe Koza creating a crew called the Sand-Sand Pirates from Alabasta.
If all these pirate crews came to aid the Straw Hats in the final arc, would that not be the most epic thing in the world?
Also, I could be wrong about this, but I really don't see Smoker standing much of a chance against Luffy after seeing how rediculously overpowered he has become. I mean sure Smoker's probably a bit stronger too, I'm just saying there's no way he'll be ready for how much Luffy has improved in two years. The Vice Admiral is in for one hell of a fight this time.
I can see that happening. Personally, I don't think they have to be pirate crews. We know that Wiper is a part of God's Guard on Skypea and based on their past, I am sure Wiper and them would have no problem helping Luffy if the moment arises. The same for all those that you mention. Luffy is making some allies in high places once you put in Alabasta and Drum into the equation.
DeleteNow, I didn't say it would be an easy fight for Smoker? I completely agree that Smoker will have a hard time against Luffy compare to the past. Luffy has Armament Haki which can make his attacks hurt Smoker. Still, the White Chaser has been in the New World for two years with people who can do the same thing. It be an interesting fight where Smoker will see how much Luffy has grown in the last two years.