Soul King’s Concert Composition
Yamato’s Cover Story Vol.19: “Udon Prison Being Rebuilt at the Mine”
Just as I predicted, this was a Brook homage — the crew member who joined after Franky. The composition references the scene below.
“Bone!” “Yes! Bone-voyage — get it?!”
Mapping that onto this week’s cover: the “skeleton framework” of Udon Castle — a perfect homage to Soul King’s concert. Even the polka-dot pattern on the stage set matches Koma-Chiyo’s markings!
So next in the series will be a Jinbe homage. Will it be the scene where he returns the cup to Big Mom? Or where he pledges his loyalty just before Onigashima and officially joins? Or the blood transfusion scene from Fishman Island? Can’t wait for next week!
The Enies Lobby Arc Self-Homage Continues
In last week’s article, I broke down the many parallels between Loki and Franky. Being bound in chains is especially reminiscent of Franky during the Enies Lobby arc.
The Enies Lobby arc encompasses the Water Seven and Ohara arcs — so with Egghead kicking off the Ohara homages, self-references to Water Seven and Enies Lobby are a natural thread running through to Elbaf.
Along those lines, Broggy’s “X” scar is also a self-homage to Luffy during the Enies Lobby arc.
Mysteries Left from Enies Lobby
Speaking of Enies Lobby, there are three lingering mysteries that seem deeply tied to Elbaf:
- The Sleepless Island (the Sun God)
- An island floating at the center of a massive pit (traces of an Ancient Weapon)
- The Gates of Justice — so enormous they could only have been built by giants
Will the Elbaf arc shed light on all three?
The Glittering Rainbow Route
Doesn’t this make everyone mentally hear the Mario Kart Rainbow Road music? Maybe Oda is a fan too.
This is a Skypiea arc homage. In the Skypiea arc, they cut down a vine called Giant Jack, modeled on the fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Which raises the question: could the Straw Hats end up cutting down the Treasure Tree Adam?
- The ship goes vertical
- Ascending via a non-seawater current
- A breathtaking view once through the clouds
- Sailing vertically via the Knock Up Stream
- From the White Sea, through Heaven’s Gate, along the Milky Road to Skypiea in the White-White Sea
- A breathtaking view once through the clouds
A Record of World Circumnavigation Like Gulliver’s Travels
“One must not linger in this land” — Explorer Louis Arnott. This line is lifted directly from Gulliver’s Travels.
The explorer’s name may be modeled on French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville, whose account of his 1766–1769 circumnavigation, Voyage autour du monde, bears some resemblance to Gulliver’s Travels.
I’ve said it many times on this blog: Gulliver’s Travels is essential reading for any One Piece fan. I recommend picking it up before the Elbaf arc