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One Piece [ワンピース] #31
One Piece, Volume 31: We'll Be Here
When Mont Blanc Noland reached the shores of ancient Jaya, his teachings of modern science only fueled the distrust the Shandians had toward outsiders. But if they follow his advice in order to save their dying tribe, they'll have to sacrifice everything they hold sacred!
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2003
About the author
Eiichiro Oda
1,862 books4,197 followersEiichiro Oda (尾田栄一郎, Oda Eiichirō) is a Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator of the manga and anime One Piece.
As a child, Oda was inspired by Akira Toriyama's works and aspired to become a manga artist. He recalls that his interest in pirates was probably sparked by the popular TV animation series titled Vicky the Viking. He submitted a character named Pandaman for Yudetamago's classic wrestling manga Kinnikuman. Pandaman was not only used in a chapter of the manga but would later return as a recurring cameo character in Oda's own works.
Please also see:
尾田荣一郎 (Chinese, simplified)
尾田榮一郎 (Chinese, traditional)
As a child, Oda was inspired by Akira Toriyama's works and aspired to become a manga artist. He recalls that his interest in pirates was probably sparked by the popular TV animation series titled Vicky the Viking. He submitted a character named Pandaman for Yudetamago's classic wrestling manga Kinnikuman. Pandaman was not only used in a chapter of the manga but would later return as a recurring cameo character in Oda's own works.
Please also see:
尾田荣一郎 (Chinese, simplified)
尾田榮一郎 (Chinese, traditional)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
April 18, 2018
4,5 ❤️
A great back story in this volume while the main narrative progressed smoothly.
I am struggling lately but One Piece never fails to make me feel good ☺️
A great back story in this volume while the main narrative progressed smoothly.
I am struggling lately but One Piece never fails to make me feel good ☺️
January 4, 2023
I decided to read One Piece for the first time! You can check out my reviews arc by arc on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-...
September 7, 2020
La saga dell'Isola nel Cielo all'inizio non mi piaceva proprio, ma è andata migliorando volume dopo volume e con il racconto della vera storia di Montblanc Noland e Calgara sfiora quasi il capolavoro.
Ener deve morire male!
May 13, 2012
Probably my favorite volume of One Piece so far.
I loved the history behind Noland and Kalgara. I guess that is the main reason why I love this volume so much. Though, it is because of those scenes, that everything has fallen into place, and why I can appreciate the struggle of the characters now.
I'm really rooting for Luffy to get to the bell. I loved being able to see Wyper's reaction as a child to the story of Noland and Kalgara. It was sweet, and again, helped me understand his character more, which was something that I really needed, as I couldn't really connect to him. I knew that he was angry, and I could get his reasons, but it did always feel like there was something bigger behind it all. And now I know and just wow.
The scenes with the giant snakes were also quite hilarious. XD
I loved the history behind Noland and Kalgara. I guess that is the main reason why I love this volume so much. Though, it is because of those scenes, that everything has fallen into place, and why I can appreciate the struggle of the characters now.
I'm really rooting for Luffy to get to the bell. I loved being able to see Wyper's reaction as a child to the story of Noland and Kalgara. It was sweet, and again, helped me understand his character more, which was something that I really needed, as I couldn't really connect to him. I knew that he was angry, and I could get his reasons, but it did always feel like there was something bigger behind it all. And now I know and just wow.
The scenes with the giant snakes were also quite hilarious. XD
March 12, 2024
I still sobbed at Noland and Kalgara’s backstory even though I’ve already seen it in the anime/3
November 6, 2022
Ya lo he dicho antes pero lo quiero repetir xd con one piece no soy muy objetiva que digamos me sale lo fangirl e independiente del volumen le pondré 5 estrellitas, incluso a Foxy xd me falta poco para llegar a él 😅
Skypiea no es de mis arcos favoritos pero este volumen tiene lo que más disfruto del arco y es cuando cuentan la historia de Norland y Karugara, que obviamente incluye a la mini serpiente y la campana jajaj me emociona esa parte, su final trágico pero que aún después de 400 años quieran sonar la campana para cumplir la última voluntad 🥺
Ya estoy en lo último del arco, Enel está preparando el ataque final mientras Nami y Luffy van hacia él mediante un plan. Empieza lo decisivo
Skypiea no es de mis arcos favoritos pero este volumen tiene lo que más disfruto del arco y es cuando cuentan la historia de Norland y Karugara, que obviamente incluye a la mini serpiente y la campana jajaj me emociona esa parte, su final trágico pero que aún después de 400 años quieran sonar la campana para cumplir la última voluntad 🥺
Ya estoy en lo último del arco, Enel está preparando el ataque final mientras Nami y Luffy van hacia él mediante un plan. Empieza lo decisivo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2018
The only thing that saves Skypiea arc is the story of Norland and Karugara. Skypiea as a whole is dragging and has a lot of uninteresting and forgettable villains--the priests to be precise. Even Enel isn't that exciting for a main antagonist. To be honest, reading (and even watching) this arc was a real struggle.
August 11, 2024
eu daria SEIS ESTRELAS se fosse possível!!! a motivação dos personagens, esse flashback enorme, os chapéus d palha: tudo aqui eͪ absolutamente bem escrito
isso pq eu nem mencionei Calgara & Norland, q são o maior casal gay q já existiu NA HISTÓRIA
isso pq eu nem mencionei Calgara & Norland, q são o maior casal gay q já existiu NA HISTÓRIA
February 20, 2021
Oda's backstories and flashbacks are the best in the business.
October 1, 2022
We interrupt our regularly scheduled climax with a long flashback - the tragic backstory of the Shandoran people, in particular their warlord Kalgara, and the ancestor of the Montblanc clan, whom many readers might have forgotten all about by now because he'd not been brought up pretty much since Jaya. So it's a pretty important part of the story and brings some further context to things, and that Noland should be brought up now of all places makes for a bit of a surprise... but I can't deny that it rather breaks the flow of things. The arc was starting to stretch as it is.
But then, in retrospect, the length of this arc would turn out to be positively quaint.
But then, in retrospect, the length of this arc would turn out to be positively quaint.
December 8, 2023
Absolutely devastating. At first I wasn't really into the arc. Although I prefer Alabasta, now that things are progressing, I feel for whats happening.
The backstory of Noland and Shandora was so moving. I hate Eneru so much. I don't see how Luffy and the Straw Hats will be able to defeat him or salvage anything. This is so sad 😭
The backstory of Noland and Shandora was so moving. I hate Eneru so much. I don't see how Luffy and the Straw Hats will be able to defeat him or salvage anything. This is so sad 😭
January 7, 2024
The first half of the volume? Great! Despite some character logic issues, it's been the highlight of this arc. Then the second half of the volume dived back to the depths of belaboring character motivations and dragging out scenes.
I really hope the crew's time on Skypiea is almost finished. Honestly, just stop threatening to destroy the place and do it already.
I really hope the crew's time on Skypiea is almost finished. Honestly, just stop threatening to destroy the place and do it already.
December 18, 2023
Kami, you talk too much.
September 25, 2021
One Piece, Vol. 31 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next ten chapters (286–295) of the on-going manga series.
This tankōbon continues the Skypiea Arc. In a flashback, Montblanc Noland, Cricket's ancestor, arrives on Jaya. He finds the early Shandians, who are being plagued by a terrible disease. After curing them a friendship is formed and although Noland is forced to return to his homeland, the Shandians promise to help them meet again by ringing a special golden bell. Soon afterwards Skypiea is launched into the sky, and the inhabitants of Angel Island expel the Shandians from Skypiea.
Meanwhile, in the present, the Shandians continue to fight to reclaim the bell that will reunite them with Noland, not knowing he has long since been executed for "lying" about Skypiea's location. Wishing to ring the bell to let Cricket know that Skypiea exists, Monkey D. Luffy unites all the people of the sky against Eneru.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Eiichirō Oda. For the most part, it is written and illustrated rather well. Most of the tankōbon focuses on the history of Skypiea and how it came to be, which reflects on the plan to win this civil war in the sky by Monkey D. Luffy.
All in all, One Piece, Vol. 31 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
This tankōbon continues the Skypiea Arc. In a flashback, Montblanc Noland, Cricket's ancestor, arrives on Jaya. He finds the early Shandians, who are being plagued by a terrible disease. After curing them a friendship is formed and although Noland is forced to return to his homeland, the Shandians promise to help them meet again by ringing a special golden bell. Soon afterwards Skypiea is launched into the sky, and the inhabitants of Angel Island expel the Shandians from Skypiea.
Meanwhile, in the present, the Shandians continue to fight to reclaim the bell that will reunite them with Noland, not knowing he has long since been executed for "lying" about Skypiea's location. Wishing to ring the bell to let Cricket know that Skypiea exists, Monkey D. Luffy unites all the people of the sky against Eneru.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Eiichirō Oda. For the most part, it is written and illustrated rather well. Most of the tankōbon focuses on the history of Skypiea and how it came to be, which reflects on the plan to win this civil war in the sky by Monkey D. Luffy.
All in all, One Piece, Vol. 31 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
May 29, 2022
Me ha parecido aburrido en general, y que la historia intermedia corta demasiado el ritmo de lo que está pasando en la actualidad. Pensé que tendría más relación pero al final me quedé como: pues ok.
April 5, 2024
Love the Noland and Kalgara backstory but it always breaks my heart.
June 5, 2022
A huge chunk of this volume is a flashback story about a lost time to give us more context around the emotional and symbolic value behind the giant bell, exploring religion and science through two charismatic characters, and then the volume picks up on the intense battle to come, preparing the table for what's bound to be an epic finale in the following volume.
March 20, 2024
Skypiea war spannend, aber erreicht leider Karuh's Perfektion nicht.
October 13, 2023
Volume 31 sees the indigenous religion (quite explicitly based on the Aztec religion, though with mostly plains-american visuals) called "inhuman" and "the true root of all evil" by the admiral who comes bearing a medicine made from trees native to the indigenous land (which they have no knowledge of). It's not wholly bad - the native characters are mostly sympathetic, which is nice. We're clearly not meant to root for their destruction. It's just such a white saviour narrative.
Also, the way the "descendants" of the city of gold don't live there is unusual - it's a European sort of museum rather than a living place. The way that the native characters are depicted as living in teepees, not because their lifestyle is nomadic but because the city isn't really theirs, is odd. There's the implication that they're no longer able to build these structures, not as a result of colonial violence, but just because the knowledge was mysteriously lost. That said though, LOVE the norland and karugara friendship!! Just wish the context was less... like that. It's a shame - the backstory is a real return to form, and I felt more emotions from it than I have anywhere else in this arc, it's just so marred by the racism.
Also, the way the "descendants" of the city of gold don't live there is unusual - it's a European sort of museum rather than a living place. The way that the native characters are depicted as living in teepees, not because their lifestyle is nomadic but because the city isn't really theirs, is odd. There's the implication that they're no longer able to build these structures, not as a result of colonial violence, but just because the knowledge was mysteriously lost. That said though, LOVE the norland and karugara friendship!! Just wish the context was less... like that. It's a shame - the backstory is a real return to form, and I felt more emotions from it than I have anywhere else in this arc, it's just so marred by the racism.
July 22, 2022
Probably my favorite volume of the arc! I LOVED the flashback arc and seeing these two strangers learn to trust each other and become close friends so honestly really touching. Can’t wait to read the Skypeia finale!
May 12, 2024
The flashback carried this one.
November 9, 2023
I don’t usually review manga here, but this one’s the exception because this is my favourite one piece volume to date.
The setup, characters, dialogue and artwork (both the original tankoubon and digitally coloured manga) are all fantastic.
It reminds me of something an old friend once said: “At that moment in time, everything was perfect.”
The setup, characters, dialogue and artwork (both the original tankoubon and digitally coloured manga) are all fantastic.
It reminds me of something an old friend once said: “At that moment in time, everything was perfect.”
December 26, 2022
Muy chula la historia de background. EL flashback del flashback xD. No por menos esperado (al final, era de suponer que ocurría algo así) ni por ser repetitivo (parece que Eichiro sólo sabe hacer un tipo de despedida) ha sido menos tierno y emocinante.
April 25, 2024
3.5 Stars
July 15, 2024
Luffy just wants everyone’s dreams to be fulfilled and we love that about him
January 17, 2018
La historia de Norland es de lo más bonita, pero me rompe mucho el corazón!!!
August 23, 2024
ngl, I cried a few times throughout Noland’s adventure in Jaya, particularly just how close he and Kalgara became, especially at the end as they thought fondly of each other in their final moments! It was almost romantic!!!! It teared my heart out !!! ☠️☠️☠️
However beautiful that aspect is in this volume, I still have my gripes about this arc, or more accurately, with Oda. For one, I will never not be annoyed with Oda’s insistence of having indigenous ppl look uniformly the same as everyone else, save for the clothes and tattoos … it makes no sense Again, why are the ppl of Alabasta not tanned??? They live in a warmer climate!!! You can even argue that everyone in Skypedia should be darker because they are closer to the sun!!!!
Also, why r the ppl of Jaya have wings?? 400 years ago they lived in the blue sea, its not as if they had to adapt to being in the sky for centuries, thus evolving with wings on their backs… ya know, because that makes sense. 😭😓 little things like this piss me off…
Perhaps along the way I will be too annoyed to continue reading One Piece.
Edit: just one more thing.
The island of Jaya was doomed from the start. I understand wanting to thank Admiral Noland and his crew for saving the people of Jaya from succumbing to a fatal plant borne disease, but was it necessary for Kalgara to show them their bounty of gold?? He essentially put a big target on the island for word to spread of their valuables and have MORE CHANCE of colonizers wreaking havoc on their life. It was obvious that the King had no good intentions and was set on stripping the island for what’s its worth, whether Noland intended it or not. There was no good ending for the Shandian ppl.
However beautiful that aspect is in this volume, I still have my gripes about this arc, or more accurately, with Oda. For one, I will never not be annoyed with Oda’s insistence of having indigenous ppl look uniformly the same as everyone else, save for the clothes and tattoos … it makes no sense Again, why are the ppl of Alabasta not tanned??? They live in a warmer climate!!! You can even argue that everyone in Skypedia should be darker because they are closer to the sun!!!!
Also, why r the ppl of Jaya have wings?? 400 years ago they lived in the blue sea, its not as if they had to adapt to being in the sky for centuries, thus evolving with wings on their backs… ya know, because that makes sense. 😭😓 little things like this piss me off…
Perhaps along the way I will be too annoyed to continue reading One Piece.
Edit: just one more thing.
The island of Jaya was doomed from the start. I understand wanting to thank Admiral Noland and his crew for saving the people of Jaya from succumbing to a fatal plant borne disease, but was it necessary for Kalgara to show them their bounty of gold?? He essentially put a big target on the island for word to spread of their valuables and have MORE CHANCE of colonizers wreaking havoc on their life. It was obvious that the King had no good intentions and was set on stripping the island for what’s its worth, whether Noland intended it or not. There was no good ending for the Shandian ppl.
December 20, 2020
Wuau. Lo que menos me esperaba a estas alturas era encontrarme con una historia de fondo como la de Norland y Karugara. Me ha encantado a la vez que me ha dado una pena enorme que esos dos buenos amigos no volvieran a encontrarse después de todos los malentendidos. Que amistad y que historia tan bonita, no me extraña que sus ecos aún perduren en la historia y en sus descendientes. El arco esta de lo más intenso, con mucha acción y todo lo que quieras, pero le faltaba ese toque de emoción que la historia de esos dos le da. Solo ella mejora esta trama, porque, para que mentir, de lo que va de manga este es el peor arco, sin llegar a ser horrible, ojo, pero no es tan interesante con otros. Por otro lado, una de las mejores cosas es lo decisiva que esta resultando Nami en esta saga por su inteligencia y habilidades. Esta opacando a todos, incluso a Luffy. De algún modo le noto un poco off en esta saga, sin tanto peso emocional, excepto para cumplir los tópicos de héroe que es el único de hacer frente al enemigo y salvar la situación.
Pd: ¡Ay dios, que Ace se ha infiltrado en la Marina con bigote y todo y a mi me da algo !
Pd: ¡Ay dios, que Ace se ha infiltrado en la Marina con bigote y todo y a mi me da algo !
July 13, 2022
Wow. Peak One Piece. Wow.
And now go ring that bell!
And now go ring that bell!
October 22, 2021
10/10 🌟
FUCKING AMAZING. That was one of the best short backstories I've ever seen! The amount of foreshadowing and worldbuilding is already insane. Oda KNOWS what he's doing so damn well. He writes some of the best and darkest short backstories in fantasy. They're always tragic! The fact that Noland is Usopp's role model and his grandson still lives... It's all tying up so perfectly.
FUCKING AMAZING. That was one of the best short backstories I've ever seen! The amount of foreshadowing and worldbuilding is already insane. Oda KNOWS what he's doing so damn well. He writes some of the best and darkest short backstories in fantasy. They're always tragic! The fact that Noland is Usopp's role model and his grandson still lives... It's all tying up so perfectly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews