One Piece, Volume 6: The Oath
Author: Eiichiro Oda
Publisher: Viz Media
American
release date: March
1, 2005
Format/Genre/Length:
Manga/Shonen/200
pages
Publisher/Industry
Age Rating: Teen
Overall
Personal Rating: ★★★★★
Sanji, sous chef and maitre d’ on the
oceangoing restaurant Baratie, feeds a starving pirate, and Luffy is even more
convinced that Sanji is the man for him. He invites him to join his pirate
crew, but Sanji declines, although Luffy declines his declination and insists
that the chef has to join them! The just-fed pirate declares himself to be a
member of the pirate Krieg’s crew and, on hearing of Luffy’s plans, he warns
them to stay away from the Grand Line!
Synopsis:
It’s back to work for Chore Boy, as it
has been determined that Luffy must serve on the Baratie for one year to pay
what he owes. Although he seems to be adding to his debt with the number of
dishes he’s broken already. Thinking to make himself useful, he tries to clean
the wok, only to get a hot hand for his trouble and a scolding.
To his dismay, he finds Zolo, Nami, and
Usopp sitting at a table, waiting to be served while he has to work! Life just
isn’t fair, and how can they do this to him? Sanji arrives at their table and
is instantly besotten with Nami. He gives her anything she wants, but all he
gives the others is a hard time.
Meanwhile, pirate Gin has returned to Don
Krieg’s ship, only to learn that it’s in deplorable condition—he offers to
guide the wounded ship to the Baratie.
Sanji and the chef of the Baratie are arguing
in the dining room, but this is something the diners come for, to see the
battles that take place on the restaurant/ship. Sanji and Usopp aren’t exactly
hitting if off either, but Nami is really being treated like a queen!
Two days later Don Krieg and his pirate
crew reach the Baratie. Instantly he demands food for one hundred starving
pirates. The cooks tell him no way, if they feed the pirates, then they’ll
regain strength and seize their ship. Why should they want to do that? Despite
that logic, Sanji heads to the kitchen to make those hundred meals.
“My job is to feed people, not judge
them,” he says, and off he goes to cook.
When Don Krieg sees Chef Zeff, he
recognizes him as “Red Shoe” Zeff, at one time a most formidable foe. Apparently
Zeff has been to the Grand Line too, and Krieg wants the journal he kept of the
experience. Says Zeff, “I won’t give it
to the likes of you.”
What happened at the Grand Line to
produce such fear in the hearts of the pirates? And what will Luffy and his
crew do when the same calamity that befell them makes its appearance at the
Baratie? And hey, just where the heck did Nami go with the Merry Go and all the
treasure?
Commentary:
Watching Luffy assemble his crew piece is
piece is very entertaining, and the escapades aboard the Baratie are no
exception to that rule. I like Sanji, and the new nemesis is already proving to
be a worthy foe. The fun never stops with One Piece, and the action just keeps
on going!
I like the artwork, and think it fits the
characters and the story very well. Before each chapter, there are images of
Buggy the Clown, for those who miss the colorful pirate.
This volume ends, as most of them do,
with a cliffhanger. Can’t wait to see what the next one brings! I highly
recommend this series for readers of all ages.
