Yamato Begins to Become Oden
Yamato’s Cover Page Series Vol. 25: “Two defiant ones being taken away.”
With Who’s Who’s reappearance, self-homages to Onigashima are multiplying in both the cover page and main story. The cover page from the chapter where Who’s Who first spoke Nika’s name is the key to interpreting this week’s silhouette.
Ulti and Page One as Yamato’s Followers?
Oden’s encounters with his future retainers went like this:
- The silhouette of Nika
- Rotates a neck component to fly like a helicopter
- Who’s Who’s feline subordinate
- In the Flower Capital: Kinemon and Denjiro
- Along the journey: Izou & Kikunojo, Kanjuro, Raizo
- Defeated Ashura Doji to take control of Kuri
- Inuarashi & Nekomamushi, being bullied at the seashore
Yamato’s Candidate Companions
Yamato currently has Otama and Speed with her. Otama might fill the role of ninja Raizo, and Speed the role of the minks Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. In that case, Ulti and Page One joining as the counterparts to siblings Izou and Kikunojo makes a lot of sense.
Who’s Who stole Kouzaburou’s sword — making him Yamato’s enemy. Who’s Who is also Ulti and Page One’s enemy. Could the enemy of an enemy become an ally?
If Yamato continues to gain companions along the journey, the final lineup may well mirror Oden’s retainers.
Scopper Gaban Appears
The man with the woven hat was Scopper Gaban. Roger and his two wings carry names corresponding to metals:
- Gol D. Roger — “Gold” — Gold
- Silvers Rayleigh — “Silver” — Silver
- Scopper Gaban — “Copper” — Copper
The Man with the Burn Scar?
There appears to be a burn scar above Gaban’s right eye. Even if that’s not what it is, Gaban clearly knows the location of Laugh Tale — there’s a high chance he’ll share what was written on the fourth Road Poneglyph. He’s an incredibly important figure in the race for the One Piece — was the chapter intentionally closed with Gaban holding a key?
And with that, we’re done for today. See you next week.