In each volume of One Piece, there is a special column called SBS. This section serves as a platform for the author, Eiichiro Oda, to explore topics that couldn't be fully addressed in the manga due to the vast number of characters and events.
The SBS column follows a question-and-answer format, allowing fans to inquire about specific topics to Oda. In his responses, the author often reveals previously unknown information or clears up any misunderstandings related to the subject being discussed.
Named "The Hero of Legend," volume 107 of the popular manga series One Piece, featuring the renowned "Marine Hero" Monkey D. Garp, will go on sale in Japan on November 2, 2023. Stay tuned to discover the intriguing revelations shared by Eiichiro Oda in the SBS section of the newly released volume of One Piece.
Note: This article contains significant spoilers up to chapter 1097 of the One Piece manga.
All pieces of information featured in the SBS of One Piece's volume 107
Caribou couldn't overhear Luffy's true dream
The image shows Luffy's crewmates reacting to his "true dream," as depicted by Shueisha and colored by JLjarx.
In Chapter 1060 of One Piece, it was revealed that Luffy not only has the well-known dream of becoming the King of Pirates, but he also harbors another ambition. While reminiscing about the day he confided in his sworn brothers, Sabo and Ace, Luffy realized that he had never shared this additional aspiration with his crewmates.
He joyfully shared the details with them, causing a stunned response from everyone. Usopp dismissed the idea as unattainable, while Franky insisted that discovering the One Piece was the absolute minimum for Luffy to fulfill his aspiration.
This grand ambition, surpassing that of the Pirate King, was also shared by Gol D. Roger, who disclosed it to Whitebeard and Oden. It is probable that Roger's crew, including his trusted companion, the "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh, were also knowledgeable about it. Unfortunately, Roger passed away without realizing this "true dream".
According to the latest SBS, Oda was asked about Caribou's potential knowledge of Luffy's dream while hiding inside a barrel on the Thousand Sunny. Oda clarified that the barrel acted as a sound barrier preventing Caribou from overhearing. Therefore, as of now, only the Straw Hats, Ace, Sabo, Shanks, Rayleigh, and Yamato are aware of Luffy's genuine ambition.
The SBS does not provide any information about the true nature of Luffy's dream. Given Luffy's naivety and the fact that he initially came up with this concept as a child, his wish is expected to be something uncomplicated. However, since this desire is supposedly more significant to Luffy than becoming the Pirate King, to the extent that finding the One Piece is merely a means to an end, it is bound to hold immense importance.
Benn Beckman is the one who crushed Kid even before Shanks
Kid stood no chance against Benn Beckman (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
In recent chapters of One Piece, the Kid Pirates embarked on a mission of revenge against the Red Hair Pirates, who had previously dealt them a devastating defeat. During this unequal clash, Eustass Kid suffered the loss of his left arm.
It was strongly suggested that Benn Beckman, the second-in-command of the Red Hair Pirates, was the one who defeated and mutilated Kid. The SBS section of One Piece's volume 107 provided explicit confirmation that Benn bears responsibility for Kid's crushing defeat and gruesome injury.
As Shanks's most trusted and dependable associate, Benn holds the position of his right-hand man. A formidable pirate himself, Benn is often portrayed as being on par with Shanks in terms of power and influence. Their bond is likened to that of Zoro and Luffy, as well as Rayleigh and Roger.
Oda revealed that Benn possesses an incredibly potent form of Haki, making him a formidable threat even to the Admirals. During battles, Benn skillfully wields a flintlock rifle, enhancing its power using his Haki. It is highly probable that this is the technique he utilized to defeat Kid and inflict severe damage to his left arm.
Recalling past events, Killer attempted to caution Kid about the dangers of engaging in a conflict with the Red Hair Pirates, as it resulted in the loss of his arm previously. This time, however, the stakes were even higher, as it could potentially cost Kid his life. Unfortunately, Kid disregarded the advice of his trusted right-hand man and made another reckless attempt to attack Shanks and his crew.
Bonney's age-manipulating abilities stem from the Toshi-Toshi no Mi
As a consequence of this ill-advised choice, the Kid Pirates faced utter obliteration. Shanks effortlessly overwhelmed and vanquished Kid and Killer, employing a single mighty blow from his sword augmented by Advanced Conqueror's Haki. In quick succession, Dorry and Brogy decimated their vessel, eradicating the entire crew.
Jewelry Bonney possesses the ability to control the aging process of both living and non-living objects, thanks to her Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. In order to activate her powers, she must make direct physical contact with the target. However, it is important to mention that when used on living beings, the effects of age manipulation are only temporary.
A human target hit by Bonney's powers will maintain their cognitive abilities, but their body will swiftly alter its age, impacting their combat effectiveness. Intriguingly, Bonney is also capable of utilizing her Devil Fruit abilities on herself.
Utilizing the Distorted Future ability, she has the power to manipulate her body freely. By propelling herself into a divergent future, she can augment her physical prowess, causing her physique to grow in size and strength. Moreover, she possesses the capability to assume the form of a child, catching her adversaries off guard.
Up until now, the identity of Bonney's Devil Fruit remained a mystery. However, in the SBS featured in volume 107, it was unveiled as the Toshi-Toshi no Mi, translating to the "Age-Age Fruit".
With the impressive capabilities of the Toshi-Toshi no Mi, Bonney gains remarkable versatility in battle. Harnessing the power of this Devil Fruit, she transforms into a formidable pirate, so much so that she is recognized as one of the Eleven Supernovas within the Worst Generation.
Can Koby become an Admiral even if he is a member of SWORD?
Shown in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece), Koby is an experienced Marine who has a long history with Luffy and Zoro. Highly skilled and recognized by Garp himself, Koby initially started as a weakling but transformed into someone with immense potential through rigorous training under Garp's guidance.
With his affiliation in SWORD, a covert division consisting of ex-Navy Marines operating independently but still aligned with the organization, Koby's fans questioned whether he could still achieve his aspiration of becoming an Admiral.
Officially, Koby relinquished his status as a Marine upon joining SWORD. In an SBS response, Oda clarified that SWORD members could potentially be reinstated into the Navy, and depending on their accomplishments, their rank could be elevated once again.
Hibari and Koby's backstory hints at their romantic relationship
Hibari, a young member of SWORD, developed a strong bond with Koby after they both participated in a mission to rescue him on Pirate Island. In the manga, Hibari expressed her fondness for Koby due to his past actions, highlighting a significant event where he saved her life during a perilous battle. Unfortunately, during the rescue, Hibari also lost a cherished teddy bear, which had been a treasured lucky charm since her childhood. To her surprise, a few days later, Koby mysteriously vanished without a trace.
Upon his return, Koby carried Hibari's teddy bear, displaying visible injuries on his body. He had bravely ventured back into the warzone to locate and recover Hibari's cherished lucky charm, risking his own life in the process. Hibari, overwhelmed with gratitude, christened the teddy bear "Koby-senpai".
During the SBS, Oda tantalizingly leaves it up to readers to speculate whether Hibari holds romantic feelings for Koby or not, indirectly acknowledging that she indeed does.
Imu-sama's appearance revealed... or not
Imu as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Even the most powerful Celestial Dragons, known as the Five Elders, acknowledge Imu-sama as the supreme leader and ultimate authority in the world of One Piece. Recently, it has been revealed that these Five Elders are exceptional fighters in their own right, yet they still bow before Imu-sama.
Up until now, Imu has been depicted only as a silhouetted figure with distinct features such as almond-shaped eyes with red irises, and a spiked crown adorning their head. Imu is also capable of transforming into a fearsome creature, possessing enough strength to effortlessly neutralize the attacks of Sabo's Flame-Flame Fruit.
In Volume 107's SBS, Oda was playfully questioned by a reader about whether the supposed pointy crown is, in reality, an unusually sharp nose. Rather humorously, the author declined to respond directly, yet managed to appease the reader by depicting Imu-sama, the leader of the World Government, with a conspicuously exaggerated nasal feature.
Needless to say, Imu's actual appearance is likely to diverge significantly from that depicted, and Oda is reserving the complete revelation for a profoundly influential moment within the manga. The manifestation of One Piece's ultimate antagonist will unquestionably not be divulged through supplementary materials such as the SBS.
Other minor revelations from One Piece SBS 107
The latest SBS also unveiled a few lighthearted tidbits, including one fan's query about Vegapunk's unconventional haircare routine. With his abnormally enlarged head resulting from the Brain-Brain Fruit's aftermath, our inquisitive fan wondered how Vegapunk manages to wash his hair.
Oda revealed that Vegapunk would immerse his head in a pool filled with scrubbing fish, which would clean his head and hair. Another inquiry was made about Prince Grus, a prominent member of SWORD.
When asked about the uncommonly long cap visor worn by Grus, Oda explained that as a child, Grus used to look down, leading to him frequently bumping into things around him. One day, Grus accidentally collided with pirates who, as a form of punishment, violently struck him.
In order to prevent Grus from accidentally colliding with objects, his mother devised a solution: she adorned him with a cap featuring an elongated visor. Additionally, Oda disclosed that if the Navy Admirals—Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji, Fujitora, and Ryokugyu—resided in the real world, they would all assume the roles of radio hosts for the renowned Japanese program, All Night Nippon.
Finally, Oda clarified why Luffy chose to address Bonney by her actual name instead of "Boggy" as he initially intended. As the author highlighted, this behavior is highly unusual for the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, who typically resorts to humorous nicknames when addressing new acquaintances.
The mangaka explained that upon discovering that Bonney's father was transformed into a cyborg, Luffy, being his simplistic self, initially thought it was a cool concept. However, he soon realized his mistake and, feeling embarrassed, made a solemn decision to never misspell Bonney's name again.
Keep up with One Piece manga, anime, and live-action as 2023 progresses.
Editor's P/S
As a One Piece fan, I am always excited to read the SBS sections in each volume. It's a great way to learn more about the characters and the world of One Piece. In the latest volume, 107, we got some really interesting revelations.
First of all, we finally learned Luffy's true dream. It's something that he's never shared with his crewmates before, and it's something that even Gol D. Roger didn't achieve. I'm really curious to see what it is and how it will affect the story going forward.
Another interesting revelation was about Benn Beckman's power. We already knew that he was strong, but it was confirmed in this volume that he was the one who defeated Eustass Kid. This shows that he's definitely one of the strongest characters in the series, and I can't wait to see more of him in the future.
Overall, I'm really happy with the SBS section in One Piece volume 107. It was full of interesting revelations, and it's definitely got me excited for the future of the series.
One PieceManga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast. |