Warning: contains spoilers for One Piece #1054
The best-selling manga in history, One Piece, has returned to publication after a one-month hiatus, and it is as explosive as fans expected. The Straw Hat Pirates didn’t have time to catch their breath after the long and gruesome battle for Wano Country before the World Government and the Marines issued a menacing declaration of war that threatens to sweep away the Age of Pirates.
One Piece author Eiichiro Oda declared he needed to take a break from the manga to focus on other projects (such as the announced Netflix live-action series), and to prepare for the next part of the story, which will also be the conclusion. This long break came at the least expected moment, as the Straw Hats had just defeated Kaido, ending the very long Wano Arc, and fans were excited to see the next chapter in this 25-years old saga. The last time that One Piece took such a long break was for the “time skip” which pushed the story forward two years and introduced important changes for all the major characters, so expectations were incredibly high. After eagerly waiting for four weeks, One Piece readers could finally jump back into their favorite story, and their patience has been rewarded.
Chapter #1054 of One Piece picks up exactly where the previous one ended, with the Marine Admiral Ryokugyu (Green Bull) attacking Wano to capture Luffy, after the revelation that he defeated Kaido and awakened the true power of his Devil Fruit. While Green Bull is stopped by Yamato and the Red Scabbards, the Navy Headquarters is in turmoil. They are worried about Sabo, Luffy’s brother and the no.2 of the Revolutionary Army, who has gained a huge following among rebels around the world, and is being worshipped as the “Flame Emperor”. Together with the fact that Luffy has been recognized as one of the Yonko, the most powerful pirates in the world, these events cause enough concern for Fleet Admiral Akainu to boldly declare that the Navy will “strike back and return fire on all fronts“.
In one swoop, One Piece clarified the fate of Sabo (who was presumed dead) and also showed who will be the next major antagonist in the story: the Marines. The Navy is the “natural enemy” of pirates, of course, and Akainu himself is responsible for killing Luffy and Sabo’s beloved brother, Ace. However, together with Ryokugyu’s blatant attack on Wano, Akainu’s words confirm that is finally time for a big showdown between the military branch of the World Government and the pirates who are getting closer to the One Piece and Gol D. Roger’s legacy. These are the four Yonko, including Shanks who also appears in this chapter, but the Revolutionary Army and Sabo in particular will also play a major role in this battle.
Overall, this first post-hiatus chapter explained some mysteries, teased a bigger role for Shanks and Sabo, and made it clear that the Navy is on the warpath. Months ago, Oda also teased his fans by saying that, after Wano, One Piece would show the “greatest battle ever”, and it’s now clear that the story is moving in that direction.
One Piece‘s return to publication is everything that readers expected and more, proving that, even after 25 years, this is still one of the most exciting manga around.
