Nika, Who’s Who, and Loki
Yamato’s Cover Page Series Vol. 22: “A mysterious hideout deep in Udon.”
Yamato’s Cover Page Series is a digest of Luffy’s adventures. Last time was a self-homage to the Egghead arc; this time looks like an Elbaf arc self-homage.
The castle in the cover page is clearly Who’s Who’s symbol. The view from behind, looking up at a huge figure with hidden eyes — doesn’t that perfectly mirror the composition of Loki and Luffy’s first meeting? Who’s Who is the character who first spoke the name “Sun God Nika” in One Piece and introduced the silhouette to readers — and he was even a Nika worshipper. So the cover page evokes Who’s Who, while the main story shows a new Nika silhouette.
A New Nika Silhouette
The latest silhouette includes the Nine Suns shield. Could this be the Sun Shield — the technique name Driblo used to stop Warcury’s charge? And what’s notable is that the same sun symbol from Nika’s shield appears as an important symbol in three different nations: Alabasta’s flag, part of the Kozuki family crest, and the center of the cross at Kuma’s church. Alabasta, Wano, and the Buccaneer tribe — could they be descendants of Joy Boy’s allies from that era?
The Sacred Texts That Record the World Being Destroyed Twice
Four real-world mythologies record that “the world undergoes cycles of creation and destruction”:
- Norse mythology
- Hinduism
- Mesoamerican mythology (Aztec/Maya civilizations)
- Zoroastrianism
Norse mythology → Elbaf. Hinduism → Shiva is the model for Myoo → Gear 4 Luffy was called Myoo. Mesoamerican mythology → Shandora, the Sorbet Kingdom. Zoroastrianism → the main god is Asura → Asura → Zoro. These four mythologies have deep connections to the Straw Hats — details in a separate article.
Gullible Giants
Giant warriors who take Usopp’s tall tales at face value. Oimo and Kashii wasted 50 years deceived by the government, and Mother Caramel infiltrated Elbaf by staging an act in league with the Navy. There were many calamities in the year Big Mom was there — meaning Mother Caramel was also in Elbaf at the time?
Was the king of this gullible race also tricked by that old hag into trying to open the country? Was King Harald truly a good king — or just a naive man manipulated into a foolish act?
Loki’s Misdeeds
- Shortly after birth: killed the lucky horse
- Age 10: tamed the ferocious animals of the underworld and unleashed them on the village
- Arson and destruction
- Stabbed a sword through Yarlu’s head and killed King Harald
Hmm — maybe because I know Oden’s life story, Loki’s mischief feels somehow endearing.
Gunco-chan
An oversized gakuran (school uniform jacket?), glasses. Could the Professor from “Obake no Q-taro” be the model for Gunco’s outfit? Vegapunk’s Satellites were also modeled on Fujiko F. Fujio characters.
And with that, we’re done for today. See you next week.
