Cover Page Theory
The cover page shows Lilith and Edison boxing, with the corner post reading “NO SCIENCE ALLOWED.” Applied to this week’s chapter, the message seems to be: just because Sanji’s Germa exoskeleton (the pinnacle of science) is tough, that doesn’t mean he should keep absorbing hits unnecessarily.
This composition also looks familiar — compare it to a past cover page ↓
The final line of this week’s chapter is word-for-word what Zoro said during his fight against Kaku. It seems Oda intentionally remade Zoro’s old cover into a new version featuring Sanji.
Sanji’s Battle History: Every Time He Took Damage
Sanji’s masochistic, self-sacrificing, reckless attitude toward his own life is not something new — it’s been there from the very beginning, and has continued for all 29 years since he joined the crew.
First, at the Baratie: when Zeff was taken hostage, Sanji was the first to volunteer himself as a hostage exchange.
And then he took Pearl’s attacks without making any attempt to defend himself.
Kuroobi
Going back more than 20 years to the Kuroobi fight at Arlong Park — Sanji’s very first battle after joining the crew — even then it was already pointed out that “Sanji’s chivalry doesn’t protect anyone.” At the time it was just a provocation rather than a real insight into his character, but it’s remarkable how a throwaway line from over 20 years ago is now paying off.
And sure enough, Sanji took plenty of hits in the Kuroobi fight too.
Bon Clay
This is where Sanji’s connection with okama began. His opponent in Alabasta was Bon Clay, master of Okama Kenpo. He took damage throughout and barely won in the end.
I think this week’s fusion of Killingham and Ivankov’s MUMA is a homage to the conclusion of the Sanji vs. Bon Clay fight.
Looking back at it now, Sanji’s Diable Jambe might actually have been inspired by watching Bon Clay spinning around.
Satori
In the Satori fight on Skypiea, Sanji got blindsided while he was lecturing Luffy and Usopp. He only took one hit, but it landed on an unguarded spot and he coughed up quite a bit of blood.
Groggy Monsters
In the Davy Back Fight, Sanji was paired with Zoro in a competition — but here too, he made no attempt to dodge and simply took the blows. Even from the second hit onward, it looks like he could have avoided them.
Wanze
Once Sanji moved to the kitchen and started treating Wanze as an ingredient with his knife, he dominated completely. But in the early stages he took a fair amount of damage.
Jabra
Despite making a cool entrance as “the Hunter,” Sanji took heavy damage in the first half. The impression is that he won decisively with Diable Jambe — but sure enough, Sanji took too many hits along the way.
Absalom
The Absalom fight is especially bad.
“I could die for Nami-san and Robin-chan!!” — the words Sanji said in his flashback with Ivankov this week — nearly became reality in this fight. He took attack after attack without resisting, and ended up getting stabbed near the heart with a knife.
Ivankov is right: watching Sanji fight is nerve-wracking.
Vergo
Here too, Sanji’s line was: “What are you doing?! Run, now!!” He fought Vergo to save Tashigi, took a Haki hit from a superior opponent, and ended up with cracked bones.
This is the very definition of self-destruction.
Doflamingo
In the Dressrosa arc, Sanji heard Nami’s scream and challenged Doflamingo — only to be pushed to the brink of death before Law stepped in to save him.
Even in that situation, his line was: “Don’t do anything — run!! Use Coup de Burst to fly away!!”
Self-sacrifice, a death wish — you can’t argue with the label. He genuinely treats his own life cheaply.
Queen
The Queen fight — where Sanji’s exoskeleton awakened. Even his “Brachioceratops” attack was something he didn’t need to take.
Looking back at all of this, Ivankov was completely right: Sanji takes too many hits. The only fight where he emerged completely unscathed was against Wadatsumi on Fishman Island.