One Piece, Vol. 3

Rating:
Summary: The end of Buggy, the beginning of Ussop
Review: "Don't Get Fooled Again" is the 3rd volume in the US release of Japanese super-comic "One Piece." Probably the most popular comic in modern Japan, One Piece is a funny pirate adventure, with a long, long story arc and a large cast.

This volume finishes up the Buggy the Clown storyline that started in volume 1. There is some more background on "Red-Haired" Shanks, Monkey D. Luffy's pirate mentor and hero, as well as the induction of Nami the Thief into the crew. There is a brief single story, featuring a man trapped on an island of treasure chests, before heading into the next story arc of Ussop the Liar. Ussop is a great character, the son of a pirate who served under "Red-Haired" Shanks, and fancies himself a challenger to Luffy's captainship.

It is a bit unsatisfying, as you have both the end of one story arc and the beginning of another in volume 3, but the story lines were not designed for this format, and do not easily fit into it, so some spillage is expected. That aside, if you are buying volume 3 then you will be buying volume 4 anyways, right?

Rating:
Summary: And then there where 4.
Review: Okay, of the main characters in One Piece, we've met Monkey D. Luffy, a person who has the goal of being the greatest pirate in the world, Roronoa Zoro, who wants to fulfill a promise he made with a childhood friend, and Nami, a thief who from what we can tell suffered some great tragedy at the hands of pirates. In this volume we meet the fourth main character, Usopp, who has a reputation for being a liar but aside from that is actually a good guy. However, I'm getting ahead of myself. This volume opens with the conclusion of the Buggy arc that began in the first book, as Luffy and Buggy finally square off, and it definitely has to be seen to believed. Afterwards, we have a brief short story where Luffy and Nami encounter a guy who's trapped in a box, and as a result can't get to some treasure chests on top of a cliff, so they decide to help him out. Next we begin the Kuro arc. As said before, Usopp is introduced here, and Luffy remembers that Usopp's father is a member of his idol Shanks's crew. Luffy also learns that Usopps spends time telling tall tales to a sickly girl named Miss Kaya, which is the only thing that entertains her. However, he's at odds with her butler Khaladore. However, as it turns out, Khaladore is hiding a dark secret, one that will endanger everyone's lives. It turns out--- well, I can't spoil anything more. Anyway, this is a good book. What I like about One Piece is how good the characterization is, and the new volume is no exception. Even the villains have some motivations for their actions. I recommend One Piece, and I thank Viz for releasing this into the states at last.

Rating:
Summary: Reason it's best Japenese comic!
Review: There's a reason this is the best Japenese manga. One Piece is my favorite manga, there is a lot of action and humour. It starts out with Luffy fighting Buggy. Eventually you learn that Buggy and Shanks, Luffy's idol, used to be friends. Luffy beats Buggy, so Nami joins Luffy's crew.
Luffy and Nami (Zoro is still recovering) land on an island where they must endure the "trials of the forest." They meet Gaimon, a man trapped in a tresure chest, trying to get five chests on a hill. But he is stuck in a chest. Luffy asks Gaimon to join his crew, but Gaimon says no because he wants to stay with the strange animals on his island.
Zoro finally heals, and the three of them set off to a new island. They meet Usopp, a village liar, but a sharpshooter. Usopp tells them about Miss Kaia, a rich girl who is always sick. Luffy is looking for a big boat, and Usopp thinks Kaia will give it to them. Usopp tells Kaia tall tales to make her feel better, but Kaia's butler, Khaladore, insults Usopp. Usopp sits by the beach while talking to Luffy about his father, Yasopp, a pirate with Shanks. While on the beach, they see Khaladore, and discover his connection with the infamous Black Cat pirates...