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One Piece 3-in-1 Omnibus #12
One Piece. Omnibus, Vol. 12
In the salty city of Water Seven, Luffy and his Straw Hat crew are fighting for their lives, and for their beloved caravel, the Merry Go! The crew starts to splinter when they hear their ship may be beyond repair…and the damage goes even further when their newest member, the mysterious Nico Robin, is blamed for the attempted assassination of Water Seven’s mayor! Is Nico Robin secretly an agent of darkness…or, even worse, a World Government operative?!
624 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2015
About the author
Eiichiro Oda
2,550 books5,065 followersEiichiro Oda (尾田栄一郎, Oda Eiichirō) is a Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator of the manga and anime One Piece.
As a child, Oda was inspired by Akira Toriyama's works and aspired to become a manga artist. He recalls that his interest in pirates was probably sparked by the popular TV animation series titled Vicky the Viking. He submitted a character named Pandaman for Yudetamago's classic wrestling manga Kinnikuman. Pandaman was not only used in a chapter of the manga but would later return as a recurring cameo character in Oda's own works.
Please also see:
尾田荣一郎 (Chinese, simplified)
尾田榮一郎 (Chinese, traditional)
As a child, Oda was inspired by Akira Toriyama's works and aspired to become a manga artist. He recalls that his interest in pirates was probably sparked by the popular TV animation series titled Vicky the Viking. He submitted a character named Pandaman for Yudetamago's classic wrestling manga Kinnikuman. Pandaman was not only used in a chapter of the manga but would later return as a recurring cameo character in Oda's own works.
Please also see:
尾田荣一郎 (Chinese, simplified)
尾田榮一郎 (Chinese, traditional)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 27, 2023
This trio of volumes begins the spectacular duology that are the Water 7 and Ennies Lobby arcs – AKA, the part of the story that will probably make you ugly-cry just as much as the characters, including over a boat! In it, the Straw Hats face their toughest challenge yet, nearly splintering apart before coming back together stronger, as they always do.
Things start out ominously with Admiral Aokiji, whose mere appearance on the scene briefly turns Nico Robin from the always calm, always capable 28-year-old woman we know into the terrified, traumatized child who first had a bounty placed on her twenty years prior. If that wasn’t enough to shake the crew, they get their first taste of how powerful a marine admiral can be, since Aokiji nearly kills both Robin and Luffy (their two strongest devil fruit users) – and he wasn’t actually trying that hard!
Nevertheless, for a while it seems things might take a turn for the better when they reach the beautiful Venice-inspired island of Water 7…especially after Nami, shrewd as always, drives a hard bargain with the money changers that nets them 300 million berries for their Skypeian gold! That should be more than enough to pay the famous shipwrights of Water 7 to fix up the badly damaged Going Merry – right? Unfortunately, things then immediately start to go south, starting with the mysterious disappearance of Robin, crests at Luffy’s rather disastrous attempt to make tough “captainy” decisions that ends in a broken relationship with another crewmate, and ends with the whole gang under suspicion of having tried to assassinate the mayor!
(Love Nami's "serious business" outfit with the little tie, BTW)
This saga does some really interesting things with ideas of how trauma can make it hard to trust and can open someone to manipulation; how important (or not) qualities like “raw physical strength” or “decisiveness” are to (self)worth, especially for a man; and what is the right balance between standing up for your friends (including against unjust power structures) and holding them to account when they act out that pain and do shitty things. And GOD, I really want to do an analysis of how the concept of masculinity functions in One Piece sometime, because it is FASCINATING. But I will get more into those once we’re further in!
For now, a few thoughts:
- I quite like Zoro’s observation that the big difference between people and the ship they sail on is that people get stronger and more resilient each time they cross the sea…but a ship, being made of wood, just accumulates damage.
That’s very appropriate, since this part of the story is very much about psychological (and sometimes physical) damage and how hard it is to heal – with Robin, Usopp, and new character Franky being the main focus – but also about how strong coming through the fire and out the other side can make someone.
- Luffy getting into a sudden big conflict with Usopp might seem out of character, considering the two have always been among the most casually “buddy-buddy” within the crew. However, that’s exactly where the problem lies. Luffy is reminded that if he doesn’t make certain tough and necessary decisions as captain, it could kill his crew – his family, at this point. But he is a very casual and happy-go-lucky person, and he doesn’t really like dictating things from the top. The only times in the past when any members of the crew were reluctantly following, it was more because Luffy was making an excited impulsive decision, and everyone was just like: “Are you gonna try and stop the super-powered rubber man? It’s easier just to go along with the insanity.” But this time no one wants to make this choice…but they have to.
So Luffy rushes through the explanation exactly where he shouldn’t. He can’t see that Usopp is in a bad frame of mind where he is equating himself – the physically weakest man on the crew who, in his mind, screwed things up because of that – to the badly-damaged ship, because that’s not how he thinks of Usopp, or measures his worth. Luffy has an uncanny ability to read people in terms of their general vibe. Most or all of the Straw Hats were asked to join before Luffy had witnessed their most notable skill - but after he saw something that demonstrated their heart (eg. Sanji insisting on feeding someone who was starving, Chopper defending a nest of baby birds…or Usopp deciding to fight for his village despite being clearly outmatched, outnumbered, and terrified). However, he is generally awful at “reading the room” and choosing the most sensitive way to say things!
- Knowing Sanji’s “second backstory” (which chronologically doesn’t come up for hundreds more chapters) really explains a lot about his actions during this pair of arcs. Out of all the crew, he is the quickest to understand what’s really going on with Usopp and Robin…probably because he sees a lot of himself in them.
For instance, I already mentioned in the Omnibus 11 review that Sanji seems to be pursuing a strategy of refusing to promise to rescue Usopp from danger – despite the fact that he always does, if necessary – because he understands his insecurities about his strength and competence, and is trying to prove that he’s more capable than he thinks, rather than playing into a learned helplessness.
Here…he kicks Luffy across the room when he realizes he’s about to say to Usopp “why don’t you just leave?” He knows Usopp is going to take that as his pirate family rejecting him for being weak and useless - even though, from Luffy’s perspective, he’s just frustrated by his friend making a hard decision harder for no apparent reason – and Sanji knows EXACTLY how much that would hurt…because that’s what happened to him for real with his birth family! Unfortunately, his intervention is just a tad too late.
Similarly – though I’ll get into this more later – he slips off to go into “solo secret agent mode” at the end of this set of volumes on behalf of Robin not because he’s just a giant simp for a pretty face but, I believe, because he recognizes serious childhood PTSD issues when he sees them, and knows she may not be acting the way she is because she wants to!
- We’ll get to know Franky and the Franky Family better as this goes on…but, lord, they really are like “Jersey Shore, cyborg edition!”
Franky always running around in a speedo and unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, and the fact that his hair quiff droops when he doesn’t have enough cola fuel will never stop being funny to me.
- Regarding ‘One Piece’s approach to masculinity: This being a punch-em-up Shonen series with a male-biased main cast means that some traditional ideas of masculinity will end up getting reinforced, but Oda doesn’t seem content to leave it at that.
For one thing, expressing emotion is generally depicted as a good thing (at least so long as it isn’t interfering with doing what needs to be done in the moment). Even if characters SAY it would be unmanly to cry…they are usually bawling their eyes out ten seconds later, and it is either super heartwarming or wonderfully devastating, depending on the situation! It feels more like reading an ancient Greek myth or Lord of the Rings than watching a modern action movie, in that respect.
Likewise, while characters naturally want to get stronger in a world where they might be facing dangerous enemies at any moment, and would have to defend themselves or their friends, this pair of arcs in particular thoroughly deconstructs the idea that someone (a man, in particular) MUST be physically strong in order to have self-respect and the respect of others, or to be a useful part of a team.
Finally, Oda has had some interesting responses to readers in the Q&A who say they were teased for liking a story that’s “for boys” or who critique the emphasis on manliness. Namely, he says that anyone who can appreciate the “boyish” passion for adventure, regardless of age or gender, can like this story (pointing out there are millions of girls and women around the world who follow it) and that it is also fine for a woman to have “manly” qualities. Given this, he seems to be treating things like “manliness” (and perhaps also “femininity”) as a cluster of concepts that may statistically align with someone’s assigned sex or gender identity, but which don’t have to. Which would be consistent with the amount of gender-queerness that pops up in this story!
Things start out ominously with Admiral Aokiji, whose mere appearance on the scene briefly turns Nico Robin from the always calm, always capable 28-year-old woman we know into the terrified, traumatized child who first had a bounty placed on her twenty years prior. If that wasn’t enough to shake the crew, they get their first taste of how powerful a marine admiral can be, since Aokiji nearly kills both Robin and Luffy (their two strongest devil fruit users) – and he wasn’t actually trying that hard!
Nevertheless, for a while it seems things might take a turn for the better when they reach the beautiful Venice-inspired island of Water 7…especially after Nami, shrewd as always, drives a hard bargain with the money changers that nets them 300 million berries for their Skypeian gold! That should be more than enough to pay the famous shipwrights of Water 7 to fix up the badly damaged Going Merry – right? Unfortunately, things then immediately start to go south, starting with the mysterious disappearance of Robin, crests at Luffy’s rather disastrous attempt to make tough “captainy” decisions that ends in a broken relationship with another crewmate, and ends with the whole gang under suspicion of having tried to assassinate the mayor!
(Love Nami's "serious business" outfit with the little tie, BTW)
This saga does some really interesting things with ideas of how trauma can make it hard to trust and can open someone to manipulation; how important (or not) qualities like “raw physical strength” or “decisiveness” are to (self)worth, especially for a man; and what is the right balance between standing up for your friends (including against unjust power structures) and holding them to account when they act out that pain and do shitty things. And GOD, I really want to do an analysis of how the concept of masculinity functions in One Piece sometime, because it is FASCINATING. But I will get more into those once we’re further in!
For now, a few thoughts:
- I quite like Zoro’s observation that the big difference between people and the ship they sail on is that people get stronger and more resilient each time they cross the sea…but a ship, being made of wood, just accumulates damage.
That’s very appropriate, since this part of the story is very much about psychological (and sometimes physical) damage and how hard it is to heal – with Robin, Usopp, and new character Franky being the main focus – but also about how strong coming through the fire and out the other side can make someone.
- Luffy getting into a sudden big conflict with Usopp might seem out of character, considering the two have always been among the most casually “buddy-buddy” within the crew. However, that’s exactly where the problem lies. Luffy is reminded that if he doesn’t make certain tough and necessary decisions as captain, it could kill his crew – his family, at this point. But he is a very casual and happy-go-lucky person, and he doesn’t really like dictating things from the top. The only times in the past when any members of the crew were reluctantly following, it was more because Luffy was making an excited impulsive decision, and everyone was just like: “Are you gonna try and stop the super-powered rubber man? It’s easier just to go along with the insanity.” But this time no one wants to make this choice…but they have to.
So Luffy rushes through the explanation exactly where he shouldn’t. He can’t see that Usopp is in a bad frame of mind where he is equating himself – the physically weakest man on the crew who, in his mind, screwed things up because of that – to the badly-damaged ship, because that’s not how he thinks of Usopp, or measures his worth. Luffy has an uncanny ability to read people in terms of their general vibe. Most or all of the Straw Hats were asked to join before Luffy had witnessed their most notable skill - but after he saw something that demonstrated their heart (eg. Sanji insisting on feeding someone who was starving, Chopper defending a nest of baby birds…or Usopp deciding to fight for his village despite being clearly outmatched, outnumbered, and terrified). However, he is generally awful at “reading the room” and choosing the most sensitive way to say things!
- Knowing Sanji’s “second backstory” (which chronologically doesn’t come up for hundreds more chapters) really explains a lot about his actions during this pair of arcs. Out of all the crew, he is the quickest to understand what’s really going on with Usopp and Robin…probably because he sees a lot of himself in them.
For instance, I already mentioned in the Omnibus 11 review that Sanji seems to be pursuing a strategy of refusing to promise to rescue Usopp from danger – despite the fact that he always does, if necessary – because he understands his insecurities about his strength and competence, and is trying to prove that he’s more capable than he thinks, rather than playing into a learned helplessness.
Here…he kicks Luffy across the room when he realizes he’s about to say to Usopp “why don’t you just leave?” He knows Usopp is going to take that as his pirate family rejecting him for being weak and useless - even though, from Luffy’s perspective, he’s just frustrated by his friend making a hard decision harder for no apparent reason – and Sanji knows EXACTLY how much that would hurt…because that’s what happened to him for real with his birth family! Unfortunately, his intervention is just a tad too late.
Similarly – though I’ll get into this more later – he slips off to go into “solo secret agent mode” at the end of this set of volumes on behalf of Robin not because he’s just a giant simp for a pretty face but, I believe, because he recognizes serious childhood PTSD issues when he sees them, and knows she may not be acting the way she is because she wants to!
- We’ll get to know Franky and the Franky Family better as this goes on…but, lord, they really are like “Jersey Shore, cyborg edition!”
Franky always running around in a speedo and unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, and the fact that his hair quiff droops when he doesn’t have enough cola fuel will never stop being funny to me.
- Regarding ‘One Piece’s approach to masculinity: This being a punch-em-up Shonen series with a male-biased main cast means that some traditional ideas of masculinity will end up getting reinforced, but Oda doesn’t seem content to leave it at that.
For one thing, expressing emotion is generally depicted as a good thing (at least so long as it isn’t interfering with doing what needs to be done in the moment). Even if characters SAY it would be unmanly to cry…they are usually bawling their eyes out ten seconds later, and it is either super heartwarming or wonderfully devastating, depending on the situation! It feels more like reading an ancient Greek myth or Lord of the Rings than watching a modern action movie, in that respect.
Likewise, while characters naturally want to get stronger in a world where they might be facing dangerous enemies at any moment, and would have to defend themselves or their friends, this pair of arcs in particular thoroughly deconstructs the idea that someone (a man, in particular) MUST be physically strong in order to have self-respect and the respect of others, or to be a useful part of a team.
Finally, Oda has had some interesting responses to readers in the Q&A who say they were teased for liking a story that’s “for boys” or who critique the emphasis on manliness. Namely, he says that anyone who can appreciate the “boyish” passion for adventure, regardless of age or gender, can like this story (pointing out there are millions of girls and women around the world who follow it) and that it is also fine for a woman to have “manly” qualities. Given this, he seems to be treating things like “manliness” (and perhaps also “femininity”) as a cluster of concepts that may statistically align with someone’s assigned sex or gender identity, but which don’t have to. Which would be consistent with the amount of gender-queerness that pops up in this story!
April 24, 2026
꒰ 🏴☠️ ꒱ one piece [ omnibus . 12 ]
› chapters 317 - 346
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ . 75 — rounded up!
・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･┊͙✧˖࿐ ･｡・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ゜゜
❝ Ive decided … it’s time to say goodbye to the going merry!
We can’t return to this ship, ever again …! ❞
៸៸៸ I don’t feel as strongly towards the crew getting a new ship, I think it’s inevitable considering how much they’ve already explored so far, rough battles and rogue bombs, it was bound to happen … not sure it was as emotional as everyone else says however seeing the ship will definitely remind me of the early days of one piece, so I’ll cherish whilst I still can!
・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･┊͙✧˖࿐ ･｡・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ゜゜
Rundown of each volume :: 💭
⤷ Volume 34:
Luffy and his crew are still fighting the foxy crew which is kind of a low-stake, unimportant event, it was funny but not really integral to the progression of the plot line. Then we meet the Admiral from I believe volume 32 or 33 who is named Aokiji, he definitely is a formidable opponent and I hope we don’t encounter him until we get way more stronger within the crew. He definitely showed us the power that these government officials have so it is a little worrying that Luffy and his crew have already seen one so early into the grand line journey. He warns them of “Robins curse” and that they should avoid staying with her too long because of her dark past … and that’s kind of what happened in 34!
⤷ Volume 35:
The strawhat crew are now making their journey to Water 7 ( new arc ) which I’ve heard such great things about and I’ve been really excited to get it! Immediately introduced to a bunch of new characters, such as franky and an undercover organisation by the name of “CP.9” who work for the government. They’re after the same weapon Mr . 0 was after and the suspense is killing me, we see Robin amongst the group which is confusing as she’s meant to be with the crew, pretty weird huh…! One of the most heartbreaking parts of this volume was the big fight between Usopp and Luffy…
❝ LEAVING BEHIND THE CREWMATES THAT ARE USELESS TO YOU ONE BY ONE, SO YOU CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD!! IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE THIS SHIP BEHIND, THEN LEAVE ME BEHIND, TOO!! THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU DON'T WANT A USELESS CREW MEMBER LIKE ME... ❞
៸៸៸ Idc, he’s justified to feel this way, even if it’s wrong in hindsight, the ship means a lot to him! He’s one of my favourites and imo, the cutest character so this scene really broke my heart … ;(
I understand Usopp because he did get the ship from Kaya who was one of his closest friends in his hometown so he already has that kind of connection to the ship and he was the only one really able to fix up the ship whenever anything was broken. Majority of that job of being a ‘carpenter’ fell onto Usopp, not that that was even a bad thing because he clearly has a strong emotions towards it and enjoys the task so if the crew were to get a new carpenter, ( which Luffy wants ) then that job would no longer be Usopp’s which is why he probably feels so terrified and angry towards Luffy because if there’s no ‘real’ on-hands job or task for him on the ship, he most likely feels that hes no longer needed by the crew, especially being one the least strongest; he relies on his brain and strategy to help him in dangerous situations that he always ends up getting into. However, on the other hand Luffy is always looking for more crew members and a carpenter is definitely one that they need considering they always have their ship battered after encounters with pirates and especially after coming from a sky Island, I feel like the damage on the ship is completely irreversible and he’s been told that the ship cannot be fixed so if some of the best carpenters can’t even do it then not even Usopp can. Sorry it’s just such a sticky situation and I was just so upset because this is like the first disagreement or argument / fight within the crew and it was a new experience that I don’t wanna see again. The going-merry will be missed for sure, it’s already been on such a journey and take the crew far into the grand line and I think it’s served its purpose as their “first ship” I’m excited to see their new ship and the experiences they’ll have on it. RIP to the going-merry ;(
⤷ Volume 36:
The most intense out of the three, we find out who is behind the secret CP.9 organisation who actually aren’t known worldwide! Robin is working with them for some reason and it’s revealed that Robin is genuinely one of the most dangerous when it comes to knowledge of world history, she is the only person in the world who can decipher hidden texts so I’m interested to see what her motives are and perhaps more on her backstory because we got a few bits but not enough to create a vivid explanation. I loved the ending when they all burst into the room at the same time, I’m not sure Robin really needs “saving”, I think she’s right where she wants to be lol. This arc is already pretty different to the previous ones where the themes were from the bat, very clear; government control and corruption, freedom and enslavement, oppression etc. This arc however is a little different, the “problems” aren’t so clear yet so I’m waiting for more information to really get fully immersed hence the rating!
🎶 :: listening to the OP soundtrack or songs related to the anime immerse me completely into the story and makes the experience 10x more fun, give it a try!
・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･┊͙✧˖࿐ ･｡・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ゜゜
— King of the pirates !
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
› chapters 317 - 346
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ . 75 — rounded up!
・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･┊͙✧˖࿐ ･｡・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ゜゜
❝ Ive decided … it’s time to say goodbye to the going merry!
We can’t return to this ship, ever again …! ❞
៸៸៸ I don’t feel as strongly towards the crew getting a new ship, I think it’s inevitable considering how much they’ve already explored so far, rough battles and rogue bombs, it was bound to happen … not sure it was as emotional as everyone else says however seeing the ship will definitely remind me of the early days of one piece, so I’ll cherish whilst I still can!
・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･┊͙✧˖࿐ ･｡・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ゜゜
Rundown of each volume :: 💭
⤷ Volume 34:
Luffy and his crew are still fighting the foxy crew which is kind of a low-stake, unimportant event, it was funny but not really integral to the progression of the plot line. Then we meet the Admiral from I believe volume 32 or 33 who is named Aokiji, he definitely is a formidable opponent and I hope we don’t encounter him until we get way more stronger within the crew. He definitely showed us the power that these government officials have so it is a little worrying that Luffy and his crew have already seen one so early into the grand line journey. He warns them of “Robins curse” and that they should avoid staying with her too long because of her dark past … and that’s kind of what happened in 34!
⤷ Volume 35:
The strawhat crew are now making their journey to Water 7 ( new arc ) which I’ve heard such great things about and I’ve been really excited to get it! Immediately introduced to a bunch of new characters, such as franky and an undercover organisation by the name of “CP.9” who work for the government. They’re after the same weapon Mr . 0 was after and the suspense is killing me, we see Robin amongst the group which is confusing as she’s meant to be with the crew, pretty weird huh…! One of the most heartbreaking parts of this volume was the big fight between Usopp and Luffy…
❝ LEAVING BEHIND THE CREWMATES THAT ARE USELESS TO YOU ONE BY ONE, SO YOU CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD!! IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE THIS SHIP BEHIND, THEN LEAVE ME BEHIND, TOO!! THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU DON'T WANT A USELESS CREW MEMBER LIKE ME... ❞
៸៸៸ Idc, he’s justified to feel this way, even if it’s wrong in hindsight, the ship means a lot to him! He’s one of my favourites and imo, the cutest character so this scene really broke my heart … ;(
I understand Usopp because he did get the ship from Kaya who was one of his closest friends in his hometown so he already has that kind of connection to the ship and he was the only one really able to fix up the ship whenever anything was broken. Majority of that job of being a ‘carpenter’ fell onto Usopp, not that that was even a bad thing because he clearly has a strong emotions towards it and enjoys the task so if the crew were to get a new carpenter, ( which Luffy wants ) then that job would no longer be Usopp’s which is why he probably feels so terrified and angry towards Luffy because if there’s no ‘real’ on-hands job or task for him on the ship, he most likely feels that hes no longer needed by the crew, especially being one the least strongest; he relies on his brain and strategy to help him in dangerous situations that he always ends up getting into. However, on the other hand Luffy is always looking for more crew members and a carpenter is definitely one that they need considering they always have their ship battered after encounters with pirates and especially after coming from a sky Island, I feel like the damage on the ship is completely irreversible and he’s been told that the ship cannot be fixed so if some of the best carpenters can’t even do it then not even Usopp can. Sorry it’s just such a sticky situation and I was just so upset because this is like the first disagreement or argument / fight within the crew and it was a new experience that I don’t wanna see again. The going-merry will be missed for sure, it’s already been on such a journey and take the crew far into the grand line and I think it’s served its purpose as their “first ship” I’m excited to see their new ship and the experiences they’ll have on it. RIP to the going-merry ;(
⤷ Volume 36:
The most intense out of the three, we find out who is behind the secret CP.9 organisation who actually aren’t known worldwide! Robin is working with them for some reason and it’s revealed that Robin is genuinely one of the most dangerous when it comes to knowledge of world history, she is the only person in the world who can decipher hidden texts so I’m interested to see what her motives are and perhaps more on her backstory because we got a few bits but not enough to create a vivid explanation. I loved the ending when they all burst into the room at the same time, I’m not sure Robin really needs “saving”, I think she’s right where she wants to be lol. This arc is already pretty different to the previous ones where the themes were from the bat, very clear; government control and corruption, freedom and enslavement, oppression etc. This arc however is a little different, the “problems” aren’t so clear yet so I’m waiting for more information to really get fully immersed hence the rating!
🎶 :: listening to the OP soundtrack or songs related to the anime immerse me completely into the story and makes the experience 10x more fun, give it a try!
・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･┊͙✧˖࿐ ･｡・゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ゜゜
— King of the pirates !
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
May 3, 2026
Water Seven is almost always tied with Enies Lobby as a sort of prelude to what is one of the most iconic One Piece storylines to date. However, Water Seven is able to shine in its own right, and re-reading really highlights what this arc has to offer. It is the first sign of real tension amongst the crew, and the emotional stakes amongst friends is at its breaking point. Alongside the conflict lies the mystery behind Nico Robin, and it plants so many seeds, and does it so well, that it manages to escape being simply a collection of set ups.
February 19, 2021
Took a brief break from the manga to catch up with other reading and the anime series.
(Im trying to ration the series so that I don't overtake the manga.)
But on to Water Seven! :)
***
Post-Read: Already enjoying this slightly more than the Skypiea arc. Though the quality on this series remains remarkably consistent thus far, IMO; while the series does follow a definite pattern, there's enough new elements revealed each volume to keep things interesting and compelling to read. (Anime-wise, I just finished the "East Blue" arc.)
And yes, Usopp remains my favorite character still. :)
(Im trying to ration the series so that I don't overtake the manga.)
But on to Water Seven! :)
***
Post-Read: Already enjoying this slightly more than the Skypiea arc. Though the quality on this series remains remarkably consistent thus far, IMO; while the series does follow a definite pattern, there's enough new elements revealed each volume to keep things interesting and compelling to read. (Anime-wise, I just finished the "East Blue" arc.)
And yes, Usopp remains my favorite character still. :)
June 19, 2023
Que clima TENSO!
One Piece sempre se reinventando, adoro isso!
One Piece sempre se reinventando, adoro isso!
January 18, 2022
One Piece is my life
September 1, 2025
These volumes were so emotional!! 😭😭
September 21, 2023
The Water 7 arc is all right so far. Not my favorite, but it feels like things are picking up, so I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
April 17, 2026
"I didn't deserve it, but thank you for the kindness you've shown me till now."
June 14, 2026
Now that we're getting into the meat of this new arc I've been enjoying it much more with the genuine high stakes, the emotional turmoil within our crew, and surprising plot twists. When One Piece is good its really good.
June 20, 2026
Eiichiro Oda é um mestre do mangá. A história mirabolante e ao mesmo tempo emocionante continua a ser muito bem construída, ainda que cada vez mais sinta que já não estou talhado para este género de leituras.
January 5, 2023
OH MY GOD?!?!?!?!?!?!? This is the best saga so far.
April 14, 2026
Water Seven es uno de esos arcos donde hay más desarrollo de personajes que otra cosa.
May 3, 2026
An emotionally intense roller coaster … wtf!
July 4, 2026
one piece vol. 34 - 36 ꒱ 4 stars
⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: jun 26, ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jun 27, ‘26
⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: jun 26, ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jun 27, ‘26
November 13, 2024
Water 7 is so good so far!
May 14, 2020
Marathon buddy read with the siblings. End of Foxy and into Water seven with an ominous warning, in fighting and a conspiracy. I liked how Usopp stood up for himself.
October 25, 2023
Water seven might be my favourite arc so far. The storytelling is FANTASTIC, and franky is my beloved
May 20, 2026
This omnibus wraps up the Davy Back Fight and moves straight into the opening of the Water 7 arc, which introduces one of the most memorable islands the crew has visited so far. Water 7 immediately feels important, not just as a setting but as a turning point for the story, laying groundwork that will clearly pay off later.
A lot of this volume’s strength comes from its character work. Usopp’s long simmering feelings of inadequacy finally boil over, leading to the emotionally charged conflict surrounding the Going Merry. It’s one of the first times the crew’s unity feels genuinely fragile, and it hits hard because it’s been so carefully built up. Robin also takes center stage here, with her storyline moving forward in a big way and hinting at deeper connections to the world’s larger mysteries.
On the worldbuilding side, this omnibus does a ton of heavy lifting. We get our first real look at a Navy admiral, making the power gap between the Straw Hats and the true top tiers of the world unmistakably clear. The ancient weapon plotline continues to expand, and the World Government’s growing involvement reinforces just how vast and interconnected the world of One Piece is becoming.
Overall, this volume is very much a setup arc, but it’s excellent setup. The pacing is strong, the reveals are compelling, and the emotional stakes are higher than ever. Even without massive payoffs yet, there’s more than enough here to keep things gripping and to build serious excitement for what’s coming next.
A lot of this volume’s strength comes from its character work. Usopp’s long simmering feelings of inadequacy finally boil over, leading to the emotionally charged conflict surrounding the Going Merry. It’s one of the first times the crew’s unity feels genuinely fragile, and it hits hard because it’s been so carefully built up. Robin also takes center stage here, with her storyline moving forward in a big way and hinting at deeper connections to the world’s larger mysteries.
On the worldbuilding side, this omnibus does a ton of heavy lifting. We get our first real look at a Navy admiral, making the power gap between the Straw Hats and the true top tiers of the world unmistakably clear. The ancient weapon plotline continues to expand, and the World Government’s growing involvement reinforces just how vast and interconnected the world of One Piece is becoming.
Overall, this volume is very much a setup arc, but it’s excellent setup. The pacing is strong, the reveals are compelling, and the emotional stakes are higher than ever. Even without massive payoffs yet, there’s more than enough here to keep things gripping and to build serious excitement for what’s coming next.
November 17, 2022
Guys... I don't know if you're ready to hear this but One Piece became really good. Like, I'm not joking. From goofing around with Luffy and the crew we came to arguments and betrayal and I'm just kinda mind-blown at the moment.
Anyway, the conclusion of that Foxy game arc was nice. I really enjoyed the way things wrapped up in the end and the introduction of that new character. The first part of the Water 7 arc, on the other hand, was amazing. I love just everything about it so far; the Robin stuff, the Usopp stuff, the Iceberg guy stuff, the Franky stuff. I feel like we just get a lot of depth that wasn't present in the previous volumes.
Overall, these volumes are just amazing and I can't not give them 5 stars. The progress just shows and I feel like this the point from which everything will just escalate.
I must warn you that there will be SPOILERS ahead!
Okay okay, now we get to the real stuff.
Let's get the unimportant things out of the way so we can focus on everything else. This marine dude, right? He'll be important in the future. I can sense it. But other than that... It's cool that he helped the old man reunite with his tribe or something. That's kinda it though. Nothing that special about him yet. But it was cool how Luffy went one on one with him so the others stayed safe and the marine dude couldn't attack them.
Anyway, let's talk about the good stuff. And I mean the real good stuff. With that I mean the Water 7 arc. And where would it be better to start than with the Going Merry. When I read the words "your ship cannot be repaired" I was in shock for a moment. This ship is like the soul of this crew. I mean... everyone cried when they figured that it was over. Of course, Usopp has the most problems with letting it go, but the others are also sad to say goodbye to it. Even Luffy didn't want to let it go, but he still made the decision to find a new ship upon hearing the reasoning for the words of that long-nosed carpenter guy.
Speaking of the carpenters. That twist in the end was something I legitimately didn't see coming. Sure, the woman has always looked suspicious, but everyone else was pretty chill. How in the Hell of it are all of them evil? Well, all of them except for the Iceberg dude and the rope guy. Also... what the heck do they want with Robin? Just let the girl go and find someone else to read the instructions of how to build a weapon. We need her back with the crew.
Also... I think it's time we talk about Franky. This guy is so confusing to me. At first I thought... oh wait, this is the guy that joins the crew later on or something. Then I was like... hey, why is he so evil... he's basically a villain and hates Luffy so how does he become the crew member. Later, during his fight with Luffy I was just thinking about how cool he is and now, I'm mind-blown because he is actually Iceberg's ally. To sum up: he seems really cool but I can't figure out his alliances and motivations.
Lastly, I have to talk about Usopp. I really like that the author is starting to give him some more personality traits and I feel like he went in the right direction with this big argument. With everyone being so awesome and having many skills or powers it is not unusual that he feels worthless. Especially after losing two hundred million berries or what was the number. I just really feel bad for him since he is so friendless and lonely after losing to Luffy. He fought well but we all knew that it was not gonna be enough. I just hope that they'll all get over it soon because I want Usopp back in the crew.
Anyway, the conclusion of that Foxy game arc was nice. I really enjoyed the way things wrapped up in the end and the introduction of that new character. The first part of the Water 7 arc, on the other hand, was amazing. I love just everything about it so far; the Robin stuff, the Usopp stuff, the Iceberg guy stuff, the Franky stuff. I feel like we just get a lot of depth that wasn't present in the previous volumes.
Overall, these volumes are just amazing and I can't not give them 5 stars. The progress just shows and I feel like this the point from which everything will just escalate.
I must warn you that there will be SPOILERS ahead!
Okay okay, now we get to the real stuff.
Let's get the unimportant things out of the way so we can focus on everything else. This marine dude, right? He'll be important in the future. I can sense it. But other than that... It's cool that he helped the old man reunite with his tribe or something. That's kinda it though. Nothing that special about him yet. But it was cool how Luffy went one on one with him so the others stayed safe and the marine dude couldn't attack them.
Anyway, let's talk about the good stuff. And I mean the real good stuff. With that I mean the Water 7 arc. And where would it be better to start than with the Going Merry. When I read the words "your ship cannot be repaired" I was in shock for a moment. This ship is like the soul of this crew. I mean... everyone cried when they figured that it was over. Of course, Usopp has the most problems with letting it go, but the others are also sad to say goodbye to it. Even Luffy didn't want to let it go, but he still made the decision to find a new ship upon hearing the reasoning for the words of that long-nosed carpenter guy.
Speaking of the carpenters. That twist in the end was something I legitimately didn't see coming. Sure, the woman has always looked suspicious, but everyone else was pretty chill. How in the Hell of it are all of them evil? Well, all of them except for the Iceberg dude and the rope guy. Also... what the heck do they want with Robin? Just let the girl go and find someone else to read the instructions of how to build a weapon. We need her back with the crew.
Also... I think it's time we talk about Franky. This guy is so confusing to me. At first I thought... oh wait, this is the guy that joins the crew later on or something. Then I was like... hey, why is he so evil... he's basically a villain and hates Luffy so how does he become the crew member. Later, during his fight with Luffy I was just thinking about how cool he is and now, I'm mind-blown because he is actually Iceberg's ally. To sum up: he seems really cool but I can't figure out his alliances and motivations.
Lastly, I have to talk about Usopp. I really like that the author is starting to give him some more personality traits and I feel like he went in the right direction with this big argument. With everyone being so awesome and having many skills or powers it is not unusual that he feels worthless. Especially after losing two hundred million berries or what was the number. I just really feel bad for him since he is so friendless and lonely after losing to Luffy. He fought well but we all knew that it was not gonna be enough. I just hope that they'll all get over it soon because I want Usopp back in the crew.
March 18, 2026
I hit Water 7, thinking this would be a cool ship repair arc.
It is not.
It’s a pressure cooker.
Volume 34–36 takes everything that felt stable about the Straw Hats and starts pulling at it, hard. The city is beautiful, the shipwrights are legendary, the canals feel alive… and underneath all of it, things are breaking. Fast.
The Going Merry? That one hurts. More than it should. Oda somehow makes you question whether a ship is just wood… or something more.
Then the crew starts cracking.
Usopp vs Luffy isn’t just a disagreement; it’s identity, pride, and fear colliding in the worst way. It’s the first time you feel like this crew might not hold together.
And just when you think you understand who’s on your side… you don’t.
That’s the game here. Trust gets tested. Quiet characters feel louder. Background faces start to matter.
Franky shows up loud, chaotic, and ridiculous—but there’s something real underneath all of it. You can feel it building.
This stretch doesn’t rely on big fights. It builds tension. It makes you sit in it. And when things start to move, you realize Oda has been setting this up the whole time.
I went in expecting progress.
I got a shift.
5⭐'s this is where One Piece stops feeling like an adventure… and starts feeling like something deeper.
It is not.
It’s a pressure cooker.
Volume 34–36 takes everything that felt stable about the Straw Hats and starts pulling at it, hard. The city is beautiful, the shipwrights are legendary, the canals feel alive… and underneath all of it, things are breaking. Fast.
The Going Merry? That one hurts. More than it should. Oda somehow makes you question whether a ship is just wood… or something more.
Then the crew starts cracking.
Usopp vs Luffy isn’t just a disagreement; it’s identity, pride, and fear colliding in the worst way. It’s the first time you feel like this crew might not hold together.
And just when you think you understand who’s on your side… you don’t.
That’s the game here. Trust gets tested. Quiet characters feel louder. Background faces start to matter.
Franky shows up loud, chaotic, and ridiculous—but there’s something real underneath all of it. You can feel it building.
This stretch doesn’t rely on big fights. It builds tension. It makes you sit in it. And when things start to move, you realize Oda has been setting this up the whole time.
I went in expecting progress.
I got a shift.
5⭐'s this is where One Piece stops feeling like an adventure… and starts feeling like something deeper.
July 10, 2024
Having left Skypeia with great riches and even greater experiences, Luffy and the Straw Hat crew continue their journey along The Grand Line. But while they have defeated the forces of Eneru they are to be tested in new and unique ways.
Foxy the Silver Fox and his large crew have challenged The Straw Hats to a Davey Back Game. The stakes? Losing potentially three members of our protagonists. This was a refreshing change from the main narrative of the story and helped to remind me of the perils Luffy will face, on The Grand Line. And while Foxy is a suitably villainous opponent for Luffy it is the next aspect of this omnibus that makes the story.
Following the guide of the Log Pose, the gang reach the island of Water 7, searching for ship repairs and a new member of the crew, a ship's carpenter. At Water 7, clearly an allegory to the river city of Venice, Luffy and the crew learn a sad truth - The Merry Go, their erstwhile ship is beyond repair. This part of the story is suitably devasting and leads Usopp to a disastrous decision, he fights Luffy for ownership of the Merry Go and seems to leave the crew.
Intrigue, division and new factions arise in this impactful start to the Water 7 arc. I cannot wait for more.
Foxy the Silver Fox and his large crew have challenged The Straw Hats to a Davey Back Game. The stakes? Losing potentially three members of our protagonists. This was a refreshing change from the main narrative of the story and helped to remind me of the perils Luffy will face, on The Grand Line. And while Foxy is a suitably villainous opponent for Luffy it is the next aspect of this omnibus that makes the story.
Following the guide of the Log Pose, the gang reach the island of Water 7, searching for ship repairs and a new member of the crew, a ship's carpenter. At Water 7, clearly an allegory to the river city of Venice, Luffy and the crew learn a sad truth - The Merry Go, their erstwhile ship is beyond repair. This part of the story is suitably devasting and leads Usopp to a disastrous decision, he fights Luffy for ownership of the Merry Go and seems to leave the crew.
Intrigue, division and new factions arise in this impactful start to the Water 7 arc. I cannot wait for more.
January 20, 2023
Series: One Piece #34-36
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
This volume finishes the fight with the Foxy Pirates, introduces Admiral Aokiji, and starts the Water Seven arc. The Foxy Pirates arc was good filler but I probably will forget about it quickly, just like I did with the anime. Water Seven is a very interesting town and so much has already happened in these three volumes. The crew finds out that Merry Go will no longer be able to sail, Luffy and Usopp have a falling out, and Robin ends up helping Cipher Pol. I forgot how emotional the whole Merry Go and Usopp situation was. I got a bit teary. The reveal about Cipher Pol was just as unexpected as I remembered and I am really excited to see how the fight against them continues. Also, we finally met Franky and I forgot a lot about his introduction to the crew. It will be interesting to revisit his joining the crew in future volumes.
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
This volume finishes the fight with the Foxy Pirates, introduces Admiral Aokiji, and starts the Water Seven arc. The Foxy Pirates arc was good filler but I probably will forget about it quickly, just like I did with the anime. Water Seven is a very interesting town and so much has already happened in these three volumes. The crew finds out that Merry Go will no longer be able to sail, Luffy and Usopp have a falling out, and Robin ends up helping Cipher Pol. I forgot how emotional the whole Merry Go and Usopp situation was. I got a bit teary. The reveal about Cipher Pol was just as unexpected as I remembered and I am really excited to see how the fight against them continues. Also, we finally met Franky and I forgot a lot about his introduction to the crew. It will be interesting to revisit his joining the crew in future volumes.
July 21, 2024
4.5 stars*
I love getting to a new island and every time there’s such a good exploration and explanation of how it functions. The world-building just keeps getting better and better, the perfect mix of pirates and fantasy.
The new arc is so interesting and fast-paced, I was flying through it at the end wanting to find out what was happening. This has the potential of being better than Drum Island, I’m so hyped to keep reading.
RANKING ONE PIECE ARCS (SO FAR):
Romance Dawn 8/10
Orange Town 6.5/10
Syrup Village 3/10
Baratie 7/10
Arlong Park 7/10
Loguetown 5.5/10
Reverse Mountain 4/10
Whisky Peak 5/10
Little Garden 6.5/10
Drum Island 9/10
Alabasta 8.5/10
Jaya 7.5/10
Skypiea 8/10
Long Ring Long Land 7/10
I love getting to a new island and every time there’s such a good exploration and explanation of how it functions. The world-building just keeps getting better and better, the perfect mix of pirates and fantasy.
The new arc is so interesting and fast-paced, I was flying through it at the end wanting to find out what was happening. This has the potential of being better than Drum Island, I’m so hyped to keep reading.
RANKING ONE PIECE ARCS (SO FAR):
Romance Dawn 8/10
Orange Town 6.5/10
Syrup Village 3/10
Baratie 7/10
Arlong Park 7/10
Loguetown 5.5/10
Reverse Mountain 4/10
Whisky Peak 5/10
Little Garden 6.5/10
Drum Island 9/10
Alabasta 8.5/10
Jaya 7.5/10
Skypiea 8/10
Long Ring Long Land 7/10
April 4, 2026
i’d call you a liar if anyone says that water 7 isn’t one of their favorite arcs in the series. it’s so goofy and silly, yet very sad and reflective of government. you get a very different energy from the previous arcs that remained on mainly one island since for ONCE the straw hats aren’t coming in TRYING to dismantle and overthrow the government on the island as well as the marines. they were really just looking to do a little boat shopping and play around on the fun fountain island, but they managed to stumble into a government conspiracy and mistakes happen🤷🏻♀️😂. all the ship writes are very interesting characters, but especially the cp9 agents since they all come across very dedicated and serious about their cover jobs, just to be GENUINELY ready and waiting to kill iceberg, who’s honestly just a chill guy
August 1, 2019
Regreso con ganas a One Piece a través de la edición Omnibus, a ver si me puedo poner al día que en Japón se consiguen por barato en inglés.
A lo largo del principio de este nuevo arco argumental, Water Seven, tenemos un ritmo que sube y baja —con una batalla entre nakamas bastante emotiva— hasta que el verdadero conflicto explota a mediados del tomo 35.
El cierre del tomo 36 deja un tremendo cliffhanger con una buena dosis de giros sorpresivos que no te esperás para nada, todo desarrollado de la mejor manera posible.
¡Vivan los Sombreros de Paja!
A lo largo del principio de este nuevo arco argumental, Water Seven, tenemos un ritmo que sube y baja —con una batalla entre nakamas bastante emotiva— hasta que el verdadero conflicto explota a mediados del tomo 35.
El cierre del tomo 36 deja un tremendo cliffhanger con una buena dosis de giros sorpresivos que no te esperás para nada, todo desarrollado de la mejor manera posible.
¡Vivan los Sombreros de Paja!
April 21, 2025
And so I have finally begun the famed Water Seven arc. Excited to see what all the hullabaloo is about. Plus maybe finally see which upcoming arc has the nerve of actually (spoilers) killing off a main character. And I don't know the specific character who dies, but I'm guessing the set-up for that begins happening here. Maybe...I don't know, is it Usopp?? Seems like with the big fight he n' the crew had, I'm feeling that he has some tragedy upcoming.
Anywho, I knew there would be Robin backstory coming up, she was just acting a little too cool during the previous arc!
Anywho, I knew there would be Robin backstory coming up, she was just acting a little too cool during the previous arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
This is my first official manga read! And how can you not love one piece? I’m hesitant to “review” anything of this since i'm a mugiwara ( 麦わら帽子) baby/novice buuuuuut the art for this art is INSANE. These are so many amazing panels that would be tattoo worthy. Plus in this arc we get some of (my favorite girl) Robin’s backstory and complicated heart wrenching display of love/friendship from her.
July 29, 2017
Once you get past the end of the Davy Back Fight, this is probably the strongest volume yet. Some great twists, one of which (the reveal of the true enemy) actually surprised me when I originally saw it in the anime; they still hold up on a re-read. Seeing a certain pair of Straw Hats fight is the painful highlight of this collection. (A)
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