This volume is the lengthy process to figure out how to get in the sky because that's a thing. I love how convoluted it is, how Nami is the smart one putting things together, Luffy's running around like a maniac, his monkey soul mate in this one, and the intro to Mock Town. I remember so much about Mock town. I think most of those memories are in the next volume, but this one does have Luffy promising not to fight, so this is the first time since the early days that the first three crew members are a threesome. It's nostalgic. I think Luffy, Zoro, and Nami manage to be my favorite triad.

Side note, this is one of the main reasons this story is so great. Sure, the story is exciting. But Oda takes the time to build not just individual characters but dynamics in every combination. I get a different vibe and sense of collective personality whether it's Luffy with Sanji, my favorite triad, the smarties (Usopp, Nami, Robin, Chopper), the rare sweet comraderie between Nami and Luffy, the strong brotherhood of Luffy and Zoro, the sappy "I got your back even though I whine a lot when times are slow" with Sanji and Chopper--they ALL have so much dynamic, in fast and slow times, and it adds so much to the experience. ( )

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Title: People's Dreams
Series: One Piece #24
Arc: Skypiea #1
Author: Eiichiro Oda
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 209
Words: 9K

Synopsis:

From Wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_One_Piece_chapters_(187_388)

"Stowaway"

"Why the Log Pose Is Dome-Shaped"

"Masira the Salvage King"

"A Walk on the Seafloor"

"Monsters"

"The Giant Novice"

"I Promise Never to Fight in This Town"

"Do Not Dream"

"People's Dreams"

"Shoujou, the Salvage King of the Seafloor"

Indebted to Luffy for rescuing her, Nico Robin joins the Straw Hat Pirates. An old ship falls from the sky. Rummaging through some of its remains, while dealing with a rival salvaging crew led by the monkey-like Masira, and nearby monstrous sea creatures, the Straw Hats discover the fallen ship has come from Skypiea, an island high in the sky. Unsure of how to reach it, the Straw Hats visit a nearby port on the island of Jaya. There they meet Bellamy, a pirate who looks down on Luffy, and mocks his dreams of becoming Pirate King. Luffy, who had promised Nami not to fight in the town, allows himself to be beaten up and bullied by Bellamy. The Straw Hats then proceed to another part of Jaya to meet a man who might have a lead on how to reach Skypiea. However, they must first get past Masira's brother Shoujou and his crew.

My Thoughts:

A new adventure, hurray! Now all the crew has to do is actually find this mythological floating island. Should be easy peasy...

★★★✬☆ ( )

The beginning of the Skypedia Saga, another fun arc in the story of One Piece. ( )