Well, I can honestly say I’ve never run into any other story that’s explored the… uh… other possibilities of cross-breeding that might be available as alternatives to centaurs’ usual equine options.
(The stand-out cool moment in this episode is a toss-up between Robin’s inventive response to the giraffe dude alluded to above, and the rather stylish deathstroke that Brook deals to the hazmat goons).
Speaking of Brook’s artful killing, I should say that one (of innumerable) qualities which intrigue me about ONE PIECE is that the show takes all these dark snap-turns when it otherwise has all the appearances of a squeaky clean Saturday Morning toon. Sure, it was probably right in character for this undead rocker to take lethal force - - but it still felt pretty shocking to see all those goons drop down for good, never again to chant “Ichi, Ni, Sunshine!” as they greeted a new day. And it likewise was a wee surprising to hear the vaporous, pink ghost enemy use a little saltier seaman’s language.
And…
Man, like I said last week, I’m still having a harder time commenting on this show. Seeing as how I’m revisiting Toei’s last shonen juggernaut, I guess it’s worth remarking on how that show felt like it was always on a linear trajectory of escalation, even as it got up into its upper-episode number. ONE PIECE honestly feels like non-stop, beautiful chaos; as if a chain reaction were ignited on some atomic level of inspiration, and it just kept spurring one blinding explosion of creativity after another.
I like to think of myself as a guy with a mind open enough to handle all strips of bizarre ideas, but I think I might’ve honestly found my limit here. I’d like to keep commenting on these brand-spanking new episodes every week, but I think I might have to throw in the towel, at last, after however many weeks.
Watch this episode, "Startling! the Secret of the Island Is Finally Revealed!” 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
