After finding so many Western comparators for this show, I’m a little befuddled over ONE PIECE’s turn for the Carroll-esque in this episode. Maybe it shouldn’t be surprising - - Wonderland could very easily be an island in this sprawling high seas fantasy world - - but surrealism really tends to come in very specific stripes and textures and, to me, Oda’s imagination just hasn’t displayed the precise kind of nonsensical sensibility that concocted the Cheshire Cat and the Jabberwocky, et al.
Well, he hasn’t until this episode, anyway. The Eggman and the Tiger in candy-addicted Mama’s employ absolutely seem like they’re probably a pocket watch’s tick away from joining somebody’s un-birthday party. And that then brings the difference here down to, say, this show being what would happen if Alice had both the inclination and the ability to beat the shit out of the Queen of Hearts.
I guess that’s the shortest way to sum up ONE PIECE to the uninitiated - - it’s what your favorite children’s fantasy would be like if the main character were an asskicker.
Seriously, I can’t recall too many book series where the good guy hops on the phone with the bad guy for this kind of pumped-up shit talk. I love how Luffy’s all happy-go-lucky and careless until he starts talking with Mama. Whoo... doe she get him going.
I also get a lot of amusement over how the villains for this next arc are essentially introduced in the same way that mini-missions in a sandbox game like GTA get set up. The Straw Hats are collecting all the coins that have literally popped out of their defeated mini-boss’ body and, as they wander back to the save point, they run into some enemies who're essentially just standing around and waiting for the player to press “X” to initiate the challenge.
Perhaos PIRATE WARRIORS is even more faithful to franchise than I suspected?
Watch this episode, "She Loves Sweets! Big Mam of the Four Emperors!” here and decide for yourself, then read my comments about the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
