The Silver Mine arc continues as Luffy and Bartolomeo try to make their escape with Bill's underling, Desire, in tow. I neglected to mention last week that Bartolomeo and Desire know each other, as they were a part of the same land-based gang back in the East Blue. When it came time for them to set sail and travel the ocean, however, they went their separate ways, with Bartolomeo off to find his idol and Desire off to run her own crew of lady pirates.
As the story trudges on, we learn that Desire and her crew suffered a huge defeat one night from a surprise attack by an unseen enemy, and that was when she was rescued by the arc's villain, Bill. Now she has pledged her loyalty to this man, despite all indications that he may not be as earnest as he seems. I'm piecing together that Bill may have been responsible for the initial attack.
When Bill's other henchman, a "tram human" named Avelon, starts to attack Luffy and Barto, Desire is shocked to learn about the less savory aspects of the Silver Mine and Bill's Pirate alliance. Avelon's chase pushes them further and further down the cave where they fell at the end of last episode. They happen upon what seems to be a small civilization of miners and abandoned Silver Pirate crew members who Bill has disposed of, meaning that Desire is getting closer and closer to facing the music about her boss.
Most of the episode focuses on the battle between the Luffy/Barto/Desire trio and the aforementioned Avelon. Avelon is notable for having by far the wackiest design of this entire filler arc's roster of original characters. You can usually tell an Oda design from a Toei design because the latter leans more toward plain looking characters (Bill and Desire are just regular humans), but Avelon is pretty evocative by comparison. His Devil Fruit is the "Roll-Roll Fruit," which allows him to turn his hands into wheels that he uses to traverse the tracks within the mine. He also carries a big wooden box on his back, supposedly for passengers, that he uses to carry all sorts of weapons like bombs and mallets.
It's a pretty mediocre battle, but it did get a few laughs out of me. I got a kick out of Avelon skewering the metal ball that Luffy was still stuck in, sure that he had killed the poor kid, only for him to overestimate Luffy's size and free him instead. I also thought Bartolomeo's use of his Devil Fruit power where he used his barrier to guide Avelon's track was clever enough. For the most part, that's all the episode really had to offer.
I'm grateful that we're not going to spend this entire filler arc with Luffy stuck inside the ball, since that was completely within the realm of possibility. Overall, the Silver Mine arc is looking to be as mild of a filler experience as they come. I don't think we'll ever have a filler arc as good as G-8 again, but it's been so long since then that I guess we have to stop hoping these things will ever again be more than just shallow time killers.
James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY.― Yatagarasu Gets Violent! James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu, in which Wakamiya plays his hand to find out the truth behind his older brother's scheming to obtain the throne. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY; Hunter x Hunter manga is on its ...
Making a sequel to Code Geass is a daunting task. But with its fantastic main character and a story that doesn't undercut what came before, Rozé of the Recapture is on the right track.― Making a sequel to Code Geass—especially one set close to the end of the series—is a daunting task. Any story that involves an ongoing war massively undercuts both the finale of the original anime and the sacrifices ...
The Switch sequel console is finally happening! The details are scarce, but you can find out more in this week's column. Also: an interview with El Shaddai's Sawaki Takeyasu, Microsoft layoffs, and more.― Welcome back, folks! What a wild week this has been for the gaming industry. We'll go further into it, but jeez. This past week also saw the disappearance of Capcom's Dark Void and Dark Void Zero. ...
The Code Geass creator discusses his new project with Web3 company Azuki, Enter the Garden, and his hope that this new path could help the medium evolve.― Los Angeles-based Web3 anime-styled brand Azuki and advertising conglomerate Dentsu debuted the first nine-minute episode of their joint anime endeavor, Enter the Garden, on April 30. The episode, which has already racked up a quarter of a million...
Wandering Son creator's manga about girls in opera school ran from 2011 until this past March― Ohta Publishing announced on Thursday that Takako Shimura's Awajima Hyakkei manga is inspiring an anime. Ohta Publishing has not revealed any further details about the anime adaptation. The coming-of-age omnibus series follows the girls at an opera music school, with each chapter centering around different...
Special cereal box honors Goku Day― Dragon Ball Z... for breakfast?! Alright, it isn't actually that surprising since General Mills' Reese's Puffs cereal has been rocking the dragon with a limited-time collaboration with Dragon Ball Z since earlier this year. The collaboration is still ongoing, but now Reese's Puffs has reached its FINAL FORM! In honor of Goku Day (May 9 because the numbers for "5" ...
If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.”― If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.” Shiki and Fuyuki's interactions are a mixture of playful (and sometimes sexual) teasing and heartfelt feelings as the two come to value each other. They have real chemistry—and that drives the anime stra...
Final volume ships in fall― The 25th compiled book volume of Yuki Sato's Tomodachi Game (Friends Games) manga revealed on Thursday that the series will end with the 26th volume's release in fall. The story, based on Mikoto Yamaguchi's original concept, centers on Yūichi Katagiri, a young man with a perfect student life who has four friends with difficult lives. His peaceful daily life comes to an e...
Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it.― Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...
Series previously inspired 52-episode anime in 1993― This year's 24th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that Gosho Aoyama's Yaiba manga will be getting a new anime adaptation. Aoyama is supervising. The series follows the titular Yaiba Kurogane, a young samurai boy inspired by Miyamoto Musashi, the real-life swordsman who pioneered the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū sty...
Based on the novel by former Nogizaka46 member Kazumi Takayama, trapezium asks its audience to follow one girl who will use anything, and anyone, to achieve her dream.― Trapezium is a strange movie, to say the least. On the surface, it's a rather simple movie that explores youth, their dreams, and the lengths they'll go to achieve those dreams. It's a coming-of-age story wrapped in the veneer of the...
ZeroReq011 remembers what made Spice and Wolf a story for the ages, from its fully realized world and economics to Holo and Lawrence's romantic chemistry.― Back when Funimation was still its own company and not owned by Sony, long before its in-house streaming service was terminated in favor of Crunchyroll's streaming platform, it owned a TV channel. Legal streaming had yet to dominate the Western a...
Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations, from the Yuri on Ice movie to the second half of Stars Align.― Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations from the second half of Stars Align to the 2007 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood movie. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views...