Rated “T” for Teen

Monkey D. Luffy wanted to be a pirate ever since he was a child, listening to the stories of the pirate, “Red-Haired” Shanks.  Although the enchanted “Devil Fruit” gave Luffy the ability to stretch like rubber and took away his ability to swim, Luffy set out to sea.  He enlisted a motley crew: Zolo the master swordsman; Nami the treasure-hunting thief; Usopp, the lying sharpshooter; Sanji the high-kicking chef; Chopper, the walkin’ talkin’ reindeer doctor; and newcomer, archeologist Nico Robin.  Together, they travel on their ship, the Merry Go, searching for the legendary treasure known as “One Piece.”

In One Piece, Vol. 27 (entitled Overture), more of Skypiea’s secrets are laid bare, as are its connection to the island of Jaya and to the folktale, “Noland the Liar.”  As the separated crewmembers move towards reunion, they find themselves caught in a civil war between Skypiea’s ruler, Kami Eneru, and a guerrilla force know as the Shandians.

THE LOWDOWN:  VIZ Media has accelerated the publication of One Piece for the first half of 2010, with five new volumes published each month into June.  Five volumes (24-28), the first five volumes of the Skypiea storyline, were published on January 5th.

One of the ways that I determine the quality of a particular volume of One Piece is if after reading I want more, and after reading Volume 27, I want more.  This volume has all the manic energy, insane fight sequences, droll comedy, and ingenious characters that have made One Piece such a hit.  This volume also contains several big reveals about mysteries that go back several chapters and at least the few volumes.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers who enjoy Shonen Jump will want One Piece.

A-