Chapter 646: "Frog"

[igetownd]

Wouldnt luffy be rubber element.

That's as much an element as wax is. Or soap. Or acetic anhydride. Or N,N-dimethyl-p-nitroaniline.

Or the Human Element (remember the Dow Chemical commercial? "There are 117 elements on the periodic table, but only 1 element truly makes a difference: the Blah Blah Blah Whatever Fuck You Megaconglomerate Douchebags Element.")

...Um, so...
Brook has ice, song, and sharp attacks. Resists sharp, bullet, ice, lightning. Immune to drying, poison, and dismemberment. Weak to submersion and intimidation. Uses trickery.
Franky has wind, fire, blunt, bomb, bullet, and now beam attacks. Resists bullets, sharps, blunts, and intimidation.
Robin has grapple and slap attacks. Weak to submersion. Resists intimidation. Immune to negative status? Uses trickery.
Chopper has blunt attacks. Weak to submersion, intimidation, and trickery. Resists ice. Angered (attack power boosted) by evil. Can use Fist of Love.
Sanji has blunt and fire attacks. Weak to women. Angered by transvestites and misogynists. Resists intimidation and fire. Uses trickery.
Usopp has fire, lightning, bomb, blunt, sharp, psychological, plant, and impact attacks. Weak to psychological. Immune to negative status. Can use Fist of Love. Uses trickery.
Nami has lightning, wind, blunt, and intimidation attacks. Has Fist of Love. Uses trickery.
Zoro has sharp, intimidation, and wind attacks. Resists intimidation and wounded status. Focused (attack power and crit% raised) when in critical condition. Weak to trickery.
Luffy has blunt and grapple attacks. Can use Haki. Can acquire temporary extra element. Resists blunt, ice, intimidation, and wounded status. Focused when in critical condition. Immune to poison. Weak to sharps, submersion, and trickery. Uses Haki. Angered by evil.
Jinbei has blunt and water attacks. Resists intimidation and trickery(?). Uses trickery. Angered by evil?

Man I wasted a lot of time.

[MasterKingJC]

And why is it not a great arc?

Well, for starters, the pacing is kinda wonky. Everything from the beginning of the arc up to the start of Otohime-Tiger flashback has been fast paced, and the pacing during the flashback was pretty slow.
Hody went from an Arlong copy-cat to an irredeemable bastard to a psychotic, empty asshole.
The NFP aren't really interesting except for a few. *cough* Zeo, Ikaros *cough*
The whole concept of racism, prejudice, and slavery fills like it's being force-fed to us.
But this is just solely my opinion of the arc so far and most of these problems are minor at best.

The arc isn't over yet, so I'll be saving my full judgement after a complete reread.

[sekida]

So just coz I have a different opinion I should join another forum? Nice democracy.

I enjoy one piece too, but unlike a lot of you am not blinded enough to say that this is a seriously shit arc and HxH is currently pissing all over one piece right now. And seeing as both the worlds are in a similar place, it is a relevant example.

Alright, HxH is good in your opinion. Just dont brag other mangas here while dissing about One Piece. You're acting like those sports fan freak rooting on their favorite teams, which is stupid.

[Kisoto]

Hehe, frog. Zoro should be more familiar enough with green things to know what a Frog actually is though... not that him using the saying wasn't awesome however.

Meanwhile I believe that Brook had THE BEST SPREAD! Nothing says awesome like only seeing the aftermath of a skeleton slicing a fish. Didn't even see the attack and humming all the while. Then saying that the winds of hell should flip skirts - never change Brook, never change. (I'll be missing Zeo's comments and fail, however).

Also enjoyed Sanji's spread a whole lot. Pouring all that trauma into his attack, so fierce and sorta sad, but it works!

[DarthAsthma]

And why is it not a great arc?

Anybody ever take the time to realize the most revered arcs in the series are arcs in which a main character is in direct peril? Marineford and CP9 are undoubtedly liked the most but it surprises me how many people don't get that you simply can't repeat this type of arc again.

So I guess people want Oda to conveniently put these strawhats who trained for 2 years in pathetic turmoil?

Yes we want that, tell you what it's a fucking good thing to be as sadistic as possible to your own protagonist.
And now tell you another thing struggle can come in different forms it doesn't have to be an enemy that seems like he could squish the strawhats with his little finger.

The answer how all these fights could have been way more engaging is more build up and smart handicaps. But that would have meant this arc would be even longer than it is now which poses a different question: Would that be really more desirable? Oda's doesn't think so apparent by the way this arc has been paced (very fast).

Saying that this arc has been shit is in my opinion way overboard, but it definitely isn't as enjoyable as it could be, but if people would look at the story structure (especially how the time skip affected it) I don't think many would find a way to make this arc better without stretching it into oblivion.

Also saying HxH sucks as a defense response is pathetic, even if you don't like something you should acknowledge the things it does, and bad storytelling is surely not one of them.

[DBZOP]

I asked what it's from not what it represents.

Yeah, I just found someone who created an ice-type energy card online - check google images. Its not real, totally made up xP I wish it was real - that would've been cool!

[Drake_Cloud]

I asked what it's from not what it represents.

The Pokemon trading card game I think. Is Zoro's Dark-type?

[KaizokuJinbei]

Yeah, I just found someone who created an ice-type energy card online - check google images. Its not real, totally made up xP I wish it was real - that would've been cool!

Ah I see interesting. I tip my hat to this person.

[Demonicpoodle]

Well, for starters, the pacing is kinda wonky. Everything from the beginning of the arc up to the start of Otohime-Tiger flashback has been fast paced, and the pacing during the flashback was pretty slow.
Hody went from an Arlong copy-cat to an irredeemable bastard to a psychotic, empty asshole.
The NFP aren't really interesting except for a few. *cough* Zeo, Ikaros *cough*
The whole concept of racism, prejudice, and slavery fills like it's being force-fed to us.
But this is just solely my opinion of the arc so far and most of these problems are minor at best.

The arc isn't over yet, so I'll be saving my full judgement after a complete reread.

This is probably the best criticism of Fishman Island so far. The pacing has felt very off since the end of the flashback. Most people thought the pacing during the flashback was too fast, though. Skipping all over the place, etc.

I agree with all of this, though I'm having trouble seeing how racism etc. can be subtly shown in a kid's manga. It has to be made out like a big deal, otherwise what would parents think of people casually talking about slavery like it's no big deal.

I need to hurry up and catch up on HxH while it's being so awesome and un-hiatus-y.

[thewonderer]

Well, for starters, the pacing is kinda wonky. Everything from the beginning of the arc up to the start of Otohime-Tiger flashback has been fast paced, and the pacing during the flashback was pretty slow.
Hody went from an Arlong copy-cat to an irredeemable bastard to a psychotic, empty asshole.
The NFP aren't really interesting except for a few. *cough* Zeo, Ikaros *cough*
The whole concept of racism, prejudice, and slavery fills like it's being force-fed to us.
But this is just solely my opinion of the arc so far and most of these problems are minor at best.

The arc isn't over yet, so I'll be saving my full judgement after a complete reread.

I'm kinda confused about the term pacing. I don't see why it would be a problem.....Maybe if time was skipping back and forth centuries repeatedly I would see the problem. I also don't see why a complete reread wouldn't get rid of the problem entirely or why a flashback wouldn't constitute a change of pacing as its an entirely different story structure technique alltogether. I'm not really trying to argue here, I just don't see it

But wait wait wait, theres a difference here. Its like calling Luffy Roger. Sure they have similarities and its clear what Odas saying about Luffys character being the only one fit to find One Piece but that doesn't make them the same. Its the same with Shanks, its evident that chances are you share a similar personality to one of your influences. Hody is in the same mindset with Arlong, but there is TWO VERY DISTINCT differences I don't think many catch. The first, that Arlong wouldn't dare harm any of his friends and the second more major one is, his pride in his own strength. Hody is completely relentless. Arlong? Sure hes ruthless but he has pride in his own capabilities. He would never succumb to using the drugs. Also about the low level Hody stoops down to, it may be the drugs. I read on OP wikia, that the ES drug may be based on drugs that make you not feel pain and completely impair your judgment. Either ways I like the fact that Hody is cornered again and again by Luffy and must resort to less and less for any success of his plans.

But what makes the NFP not interesting? I will admit some of them seem lackluster but I can't find a reason except for the fact their weaker than the SH.


Now this.....Odas constant mentioning of racism and hating humans has kinda been getting on my nerves too. My explanation for this, and I respect him for it, is that Oda is trying to make the message clear for his young readers in Japan. Kids know nothing about the civil rights era I would assume. By introducing this subject in this hugely successful manga its sure to catch the attention of many. I've come to understand Odas intentions and that actually made me enjoy the material more. Try it

Now you said it yourself, minor problems.....something that you could find in every arc.

[DBZOP]

Is Zoro's Dark-type?

Yeah, Zoro is Dark cause I felt that fit him better than say Psychic, which was the only one left at that point. So I made Robin psychic type cause it fit her personality better.

I tip my hat to this person.

I do too dude! Made my life easier with this xD

[Baou Zakurga]

Brook can channel the winds of Hell

Sanji can channel the fires of Hell

[Raging Donuts]

The arc isn't over yet, so I'll be saving my full judgement after a complete reread.

I'd like to see more of this. We can't predict what will unfold as we go further into this arc or how the ending will tie everything together. It pains me to see people giving out their final verdict already.

[Kisoto]

Brook can channel the winds of Hell

Sanji can channel the fires of Hell

Everyone has their own personal hell, perhaps? Or OP's hell is bipolar. XP

[DBZOP]

Everyone has their own personal hell, perhaps? Or OP's hell is bipolar. XP

Standard interpretation of hell comes from Dante's Inferno - the lowest level of hell was built of ice, and some of the middle levels were pits of fire

So both are possible xP

[DarthAsthma]

I'm kinda confused about the term pacing. I don't see why it would be a problem.....Maybe if time was skipping back and forth centuries repeatedly I would see the problem. I also don't see why a complete reread wouldn't get rid of the problem entirely or why a flashback wouldn't constitute a change of pacing as its an entirely different story structure technique alltogether. I'm not really trying to argue here, I just don't see it
.

Since you're honestly confused about it. I'll try to explain.
First and foremost pacing doesn't have a lot to do with jumping through a timeline in a story, jumping through time can be ok if it's made clear to the reader(which is also something this arc didn't do well).
Also rereading wouldn't change/improve the pacing because it is inherent to the story at hand itself.

Pacing is the art of having the events and specific moments(from built up to climax) of a story transpire in very natural/exciting way.
Idealy if your story has good pacing you avoid confusion, long boring passages of nothing happening or a climax that is way to long and in conclusion can't sustain itself(best example of this might be the marinford arc which had it fair share of whacky pacing).

Oda's pacing during this arc has been very fast and somewhat confusing. An example of that is the jumping of the character perspectives during the flashback.

[Kisoto]

Standard interpretation of hell comes from Dante's Inferno - the lowest level of hell was built of ice, and some of the middle levels were pits of fire

So both are possible xP

Is that a Japanese standard? I'm curious cuz where I live, the standard is that hell is hot only.

I know that Oda used it for Impel Down though, so I get that he's got great inspiration. And I like how, by that, it would show that Brook's closer to the "lower" parts of hell than Sanji who is, while demonic at times, not deceased.

[Doctor-san]

Standard interpretation of hell comes from Dante's Inferno - the lowest level of hell was built of ice, and some of the middle levels were pits of fire

So both are possible xP

Kinda like Impel Down, no?

In regards to the arc itself, as with the others, I'd rather wait for the arc to finish before I give my verdict. A good reread of the whole arc will definitely give you a clearer perspective of the whole thing.

[summer9]

I dont understand how the hell did Sanji make Fire? did he eat a devil fruit?
The fire thing is getting a bit exaggerated

So does this mean you can make fire without eating the devil fruit of fire? kinda stupid to me though

[DBZOP]

Is that a Japanese standard? I'm curious cuz where I live, the standard is that hell is hot only.

I used to think hell was only hot too, until I read Dante obviously. You're probably right in that its not a Japanese standard per se - its still pretty fresh in my mind since I read Dante for class two years ago, so thats where I jumped first xP It is a piece of fiction (hopefully ) but I think this is where the interpretation stemmed from.

Brook's closer to the "lower" parts of hell than Sanji who is, while demonic at times, not deceased.

I enjoy that aspect too actually ^.^

Kinda like Impel Down, no?

EXACTLY