Story: 10
This comedic adventure is set in a place where pirates roamed the earth. Our protagonist Luffy sets off on a journey to become the king of the pirates. Along the way he meets many people, including his motley crew, all with their own dreams; as well as countless villains with or without devil fruits (which give people special powers, but takes away their ability to swim.)
While the basis of One Piece is quite simple, the story arcs bring real-world problems into it. From discrimination and racism, to corruption and slavery - the world of One Piece has seen it all. These themes bring about a depth to this fantasy.
With these story arcs, even though they are separate tales, they all interconnect with one another throughout the series. Minor foreshadowing in one arc can lead to major plot developments later on. An attractive thing about One Piece is that there's no limit to what can happen.
Art: 9
As I said earlier, the artwork at the beginning of One Piece was hard to digest as Oda was still a "rookie." However as the story progressed the art got better - MUCH better. The fighting scenes are well done and it's fairly easy to tell what's happening during them (which is always a plus xD). What I really enjoy about the artwork is that it doesn't overuse screentones like many manga tend to do. And while this ties into the "character" section as well, I love the creativity of the character designs especially for the villains.
Characters: 9
I find that the real gem in One Piece is not always the storyline, but the characters met along the way. First we have the crew, all unique in their own respects: (I'm going to try and keep it short...no promises though)
- Luffy, the captain may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he has a strong sense of determination and friendship. And if he scouts you for his crew, it's best to just give in. He'll win in the end anyway.
- Zoro, the directionally challenged swordsman is hardheaded and can probably sleep anywhere, but is loyal to Luffy. His constant snipping with Sanji is hilarious, but his sword skills are badass.
- Nami, the navigator used to be a weak link always needing saving, but this violent, sassy girl can now hold her own with the rest of the crew.
- Usopp, the lying sniper who wants to be a great man of the sea, is comedic and gets very attached to everyone. While at first he was afraid of everything, he now knows how to take care of his own fights.
- Sanji, the ship's cook is a complete ladies man. When fighting "Black Leg Sanji" only uses his legs and this guy knows how to branch off from the rest of the crew to get some major stuff done.
- Chopper, the Strawhat's doctor and human/reindeer zoan fruit user is sweet and earnest. He wants to be able to cure any disease.
- Robin, the Archaeologist. While having a difficult past, she finally found where she belongs on the crew. This level-headed girl is the logical one in a mass of hot-heads and her curiosity often gets the better of her.
- Franky, the cyborg shipwright wants to sail 1000 seas in a ship he built. His somewhat perverted nature is hilarious at times. He runs on cola and believes he is "SUUUPER" - both of which Usopp and Chopper seem to agree with. xD
- Brook - the skeletal musician who lost his shadow. This complete perv, who is always asking to see the girls' panties is not only skilled with music, but also with a sword. He brings a fun atmosphere to the crew.
Lastly we have villains. What makes One Piece really special to me is the massive amount of MEMORABLE villains. From Crocodile and Baroque Works TO Spandam and CP9 TO Doflamingo and the Doquixote Family (although that last grouping isn't my favourite.) Oda knows how to create a great villain. Although I have to say that at times they can look a little disturbing. *cough* Senor Pink *cough*
Overall, the characters are really well done. Many of the characters have quite a bit of depth, especially as we dive into their backstories.
Enjoyment: 10
I always enjoy reading One Piece and I anxiously await the release of each chapter, groaning when the series goes on break for a week and grinning when a massive plot twist or an exciting reveal happens. If that doesn't constitute enjoyment, then I don't know what does. xD
Overall: 9.5 (rounded to 10)
While every series has its faults (and One Piece is no exception), One Piece is enjoyable to read with good characters, themes, and plots. It well deserves a high rank for any adventure-lover.
