The One Piece manga has shifted focus away from Monkey D. Luffy and towards some of the story's many side characters, and readers have thoughts about the decision.
A Twitter user by the name Sagar kicked off the thread by pointing out that Luffy hasn't appeared in the manga in three months, and while some contributors posted memes hyping the future Pirate King's epic return, many did not express disappointment over the absence. One wrote that "[One Piece] manga is literally at its peak currently, and then there are really people saying [One Piece] side cast is boring 😂. No manga does side characters better than one piece," while another stated that they hope the focus stays away from the Straw Hats for a bit longer because they "tryna see Aokiji vs Garp."
Eiichiro Oda began publishing his beloved manga in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1997, and the ongoing series now features well over 1,000 individual chapters. The story follows Luffy, a young pirate captain with a body made of rubber, and his colorful crew -- which includes a money-obsessed navigator and an archeologist who can grow additional limbs -- as they sail across the Grand Line in search of the titular treasure. Oda has confirmed that One Piece has entered its end game with the final saga kicking off with the Egghead Arc, but the mangaka also assured readers that the story wouldn't wrap up anytime soon.
One Piece's Big-Budget Live-Action
There have been many developments for the massive multimedia franchise outside the context of the manga. Most notably, Netflix's live-action adaptation -- which features a budget larger than the one for HBO's Game of Thrones -- will premiere on Aug. 31, 2023. Its trailer not only spotlights Mackenyu's Roronoa Zoro and Iñaki Godoy's Luffy, but it also teases some of the show's beautiful sets.
Moreover, several new collectibles are now available for preorder; for example, Jimei Palace recently revealed a stunning but astonishingly expansive figurine of the Snake Princess, Boa Hancock, that references her heart-stopping Devil Fruit abilities. Moreover, the manufacturer has released a heavily detailed collectible statue of Vinsmoke Reiju that shows off her poison-based fighting style as well.
Even more excitingly, One Piece Day, an event celebrating Oda's masterpiece, will feature a special surprise announcement. It will take place online and in person on July 21 and 22, and the free tickets are awarded through a lottery system.
VIZ Media distributes the One Piece manga in North America.
Source: Twitter