Anime Hater's Reaction to One Piece Manga(Volumes 1-10#)
Disclaimer; Watched a decent chunk of the original anime long ago, and I didn't hate it per se, but I also didn't love it or get fully into it, and eventually dropped it around episode 200.
Since then I've tainted myself with spoilers accross youtube clips, shorts, and tik toks without a care in the world- assuming I'd never consume the series as whole.
But I've felt the yearning to understand the way folks wax on about One Piece and feel the same love they feel.
So, I decided to give an honest go at reading the comics! And I've logged a few reactions and thoughts as I go(Simply because I know I enjoy reading these type of things for my own favorite series), so for your enjoyment here is my honest reaction to Volumes 1-10.
In it, I have praise and critism, none of it meant to be offensive or blemishing, I know how it is to cherish something, I'm simply being honest in my own feelings.
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Shanks feels like he represents the romanticized figure of a pirate for Luffy, the relationship between them, the pretense of teasing, hatred, annoyance, contrasted by the genuine displays of care and sacrifice when push comes to shove- it makes for very compelling character writing and storytelling
Shanks somehow appears extremely mysterious, charming, and totally goofy at the same time, and does it well. A very strong emotional anchor and idol to kick off the series.
“Promise that you’ll give it back to me someday, when you’ve become a great pirate.” I have a feeling Shanks will be dead when that finally happens. Hope not.. But..
The main lesson in this chapter, some fights are not worth fighting for.. But others.. Like fighting for your friends, very much are.
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What I’m liking about the character writing, there always appears to be an outer shell, the pretense a character puts on or their reputation, and throught he story we uncover what’s really underneath, which often a subversion. Its simple yet makes for compelling characters.
One Piece begins with an inherently political/social setup, portraying authority as corrupt and evil. Subverting expectations of the "good Marines" Colby spoke of. Zoro’s backstory also directly confronts sexism and male–female expectations: “Someday I’ll beat you because I worked hard, not because you got weaker"
A fantastic finale. Oda knows how to tell a story through panels, especially during dynamic action: everything is clear, energetic, and action-packed—and it didn’t take twenty minutes like the anime might.
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One of my deep dislikes of the anime was the overused corny comedy. But in the comics, I’m actually enjoying it, the cartoonish off-model character proportions, luffy’s dialogue humor, gags- the comedy feels way better suited for this comic medium.
There’s a strange dichotomy between blunt, ruthless violence and comical goofiness. Villains who genuinely murder people can, in the next moment, be portrayed as goofy—sometimes even lovable, with everyone laughing and becoming cordial after the end after the attempt on their lvies.
The storytelling is peak when characters are placed in situations that reveal how they truly feel. Nami being unwilling to fire the cannon at Luffy—and actually saving him—is golden character writing.
I know enough about One Piece to think of Buggy as a joke, but a floating hand holding a knife would be genuinely terrifying to face.
The panels where characters just stare are easily some of the most emotive moments. Luffy, staring silently at the burning shop, hands in his pockets as Chouchou barks, communicates all of his rage.
The Buggy arc was the best one so far: a full-fledged story, with more depth to Buggy’s crew—especially his first mate—and Buggy was an interesting villain.
Cons: Unfortunately, it did drag for several chapters.
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One of my favorite details, is Kuro foreshadowing adjustment of the glasses with his palms, appearing just enough to register without seeming very important(probably even better done with these comic panels vs the anime)
The lesson here seems to be not all lies are the same, while Ussop lied to Kaya to cheer her up, or to keep the village lively during peacetime, and peaceful during wartime, whilst Kuro simulentously lied to keep up his malicious scheme. Ussop lies but they are never destructive.
Everyone knows Luffy and Zoro are the crew’s enforcement. Zoro will always put others ahead of himself.
Great arc and storytelling. “Heartfelt” is the word for this series.
Cons: But like the Buggy arc, it dragged—I kept reaching the next chapter surprised that it still hadn’t ended.
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The recurring theme is that anything can be treasure, and its often the sentimental ones over the monetary jewels, like Luffy’s hat.
Which makes me very curious as to what the One Piece might be, and doubtful of it being just some jewel
Nami abandoning them was a genuinely shocking betrayal that threw me for a loop. Did she it during this arc in the anime as well? I've forgotten. Oda may be one of the better shonen writers when it comes to female characters, their agency, backstories, etc.
One Piece swordsmanship is so absurd that it becomes funny: characters swipe a sword and somehow emit a fifty-foot cutting blast.
Zoro and Luffy’s exchange is corny and cheesy to me, I can't lie. but they’re the duo in whom Mihawk recognizes potential.
Con: The storytelling in this chapter feels off-kilter, so much happening off screen, maybe they were under time constraints? And I'm not feeling as compelled by Sanji's story as the others, where Luffy gleams a quality in the that feels well earned.. in this arc, as of yet, it feels like a side thing in a huge show of chaotic scenes. This must be some of the most chaotic storytelling in the series thus far, so many wild characters and random events.
Everyone's stupid in this arc. That's part of what makes it heartfelt.. characters sticking to their stubbon principles, despite how utterly stupid it is.. but it doesn't endear me to them.. I just feel like its all stupid.
Like Sanji and the Chef insisting on feeding people who are point blank telling them, "Hey, feed me and my men now so we can regain our strenght and kill all of you".
I understand Sanji's desire to feed anyone whose hungry, because of his own ordeal, but there comes to a bare-minumum mantra I always keep in mind, "Make sure the people you're feeding are great ful enough not to kill you after"
Stupid.
Gen is stupid af too. He's scum too and dumb for still be loyal to Krieg in the end. The entire premise that Krieg and his fleet were starving of food and drink and the only place they could possibly go was this resturant on the sea was silly to me as well. Go fish mfer.
And after all the side characer pirates get shot in the head and die, it all ends in this kumbaya, friendship is magic ass ending.
Something I've noticed for One Piece's battles; Every battle is structured for theatrics. Its like Every character, heroes, villains, chefs, and background characters, form a stage to watch the fight, hear the speeches and backstories, and react. Then the entire audience moves from watching the first act(Sanji vs random Second officer) to the main act (Luffy vs Don Krieg)
This theater battle formula, I'm not a fan of.
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The Seven Warlords sounds insane: government-sponsored pirates legally permitted to plunder territory outside government control in exchange for tribute?? That's pathetic, how can you even call yourself a pirate, you're just a rat.
With all this Marine corruption, I don’t understand how any of them can claim they are enforcing justice?? Marine or Pirate..anyone can be good or evil.
Arlong and the fish-man crew have fantastic designs. Arlong's luietnent with the elbow shark fins has the best design, and he's got a calm aura about him.
Arlong is the scariest and most despicable villain so far. He believes in fish-man racial superiority and wants to use tribute from East Blue villages to finance his own kingdom.
Every since her introduction, Nami’s played roles, temporarily with Buggy, turning Luffy in it almost exactly mirrors this situation with Zoro captured infront of Arlong. But I love how the author shows the blind trust they have, especially characters like Zoro, Luffy, and Nami. Zoro called her bluff, no hestiration, diving into the water in binds.
They've all had themes, Ussop about telling positive lies, Sanji about feeding those in need no matter what, Luffy knowing what's improtant to fight for, but Nami's? Hers appears to be about survival. Enduring the worst humiliations, surviving for a better day.
Yet her Mother, threw her life away.. knowingly died for the sake of being able to claim them as hers. Which is right at the crux, like Luffy's*- things worth fighting for..* Nami's is.. things worth dying for.
Another aspect of her theme is the lone wolf nature, taking on the burdens silently, on her own. Never crying.
Zoro’s defining quality is enduring brutality. Even Arlong was astounded by the wounds he was fighting with.
“It’s because I can’t do so many things that I ask others to help me.” That’s the core of the arc. Arlong views his crewmates, and especially Nami, as possessions. Luffy relies on his friends, and they rely on him.
Easily the best arc so far. Nami’s backstory is deeply tragic, and Arlong is a genuinely menacing, despicable villain. The theatricality and extended battle are still present, but they work here. It’s all about proportion: when the formula works, it works; when it doesn’t, it becomes corny.
Brother Johnny and Brother Yosaku are genuinely some of my favorite characters, they should be part of the crew.
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Conclusion:
Had a lot of fun reading these volumes. My favorite aspects are the storytelling and character writing. The relationships, goals, backstories, pretenses, trust, etc. Its all done very well.
I love the paneling during the action sequences, and I actually found most of the gags and humor to be very very funny- unlike the anime.
For me the one word I'd describe the series so far as; Heartfelt. Everything is heartfelt.
But sometimes.. when the ratios are not quite right, it dips too far into corny and cheesiness for me. Also the arcs can drag a bit and get formulaic, and "theatrical"
But when the ratios are all dialed in.. it works superwell..and it feels exhilarating and heartfelt.
My favorite arc so far is easily Nami's fish-men arc- the backstory is elevated, Arlong is pure evil, the emotional highs feel earned and well done.
Least favorite is Sanji's cook arc, characters were just too stupid and comical, and the theatricalness of the battle felt silly to me.
Feel free to push back on any of my critism, What are yall favorite arcs in these early volumes?
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my little journaling thoughts, if so, I may continue to post further as I read.
Posted Aug 4, 2026, 8:46 AM UTC