Chapters 16 & 17

Chapter 16: Versus Buggy's Pirate Fleet

These two issues are great because they are the first time we see the combined strength of Luffy's crew. The issue starts when Luffy discovers that Buggy as well as his vice-captain and his commander survived the Buggy special cannon ball. The fighting begins when Buggy throws his vice captain at Luffy. Luffy easily deflects the vice-captain with a kick and Zoro engages the commander. Although Zoro would normally dominate any opponent due to his wounds Buggy's commander quickly takes control of the battle. Although it looks as if the commander is about to kill Zoro in the next panel it appears that Zoro has finally started to try. Zoro hits the commander sending him flying across the battle field in order to keep the commander from constantly exploiting his wound Zoro reopens the wound with his sword and then proclaims to the commander that Zoro will teach him the difference in their power.

Chapter 17: Difference in Level

In this issue Zoro and the commanders battle really begins but first  Nami tells Luffy that she is gonna steal all of Buggy's treasure during the battle. Returning to Zoro's battle the commander initiates his ultimate technique unleashing 100 tops. He then climbs a wall and prepares to drop straight onto Zoro his blade face down. Buggy sends his hand to hold Zoro so that he cannot dodge the commanders attack but before his hand gets there it is stopped by Luffy. Zoro easily dodges the attack and then ends the fight with one attack claiming he is tired of fighting some one with such pitiful skill. Zoro passes out from blood loss and Luffy offers to finish the fight. It is at this point that Buggy finally discovers that Luffy and crew are pirates. As Luffy prepares to fight Buggy he is informed that Buggy once met a pirate just like Luffy with red hair. Luffy immediately realizes that he is talking about red haired shanks. These two issues are great because they showcase just how extraordinary Zoro is. Also I like that Luffy acts as a moderator for the match in ensuring that its 1 v 1 because only the strongest fighter there can be an effective moderator and Luffy is defiantly an effective moderator.

Chapter's 14 & 15

Chapter 14: Reckless

The issue opens with Buggy's vice-captain reporting back to the captain that he was defeated. He was, however, unable to inform that captain that Luffy was a rubber man because he passed out from the pain of his battle. Shushu then heads to the village shelter and the villagers discuss going to bring the chief back to the shelter only to decide that it is too dangerous. The captain furious at seeing Shushu's treasure destroyed flies into a rage and prepares to attack the Buggy Pirate Crew alone. As if to add insult to injury Buggy has the town attacked with a Buggy special cannon ball and destroys the chiefs house. The chief charges in to attack Buggy. After a short conversation Luffy and his crew decide to help in the fight against Buggy. This was a really slow episode. It consisted mainly of the chief yelling which made it really a wasted issue in my opinion. I guess in a way this issue was important to the ending of the arc but the same situation could have been accomplished in a fourth of the panels that this issue used.

Chapter 15: Gong

This issue makes up for the last one in every way. It starts with more shouting and as a response Buggy's number 2 crew member offers to dispatch the chief but Buggy denies him the right saying that he was the one that was called out. He then send down his hand and begins to choke the chief. Just as it looks like the Chief may die he is saved by Luffy and the true battle begins. Luffy knocks the chief out to keep him from getting in the way. Luffy screams an insult at Buggy that stuns his entire crew and then Buggy orders a Buggy special cannon ball be shot at Luffy. Rather than dodge the cannon ball like Nami and Zoro, Luffy simply draws in air and swells up like a balloon using his increased size to reflect the cannon ball right at Buggy. The cannon ball seems to destroy Buggy's crew and Luffy's crew prepares for battle. This issue was infinitely better than the previous one, it included a little action, quite bit of comedy, and pretty good plot progression. Over all this isn't one of my favorite issue but it wasn't half bad.

Chapter 12 & 13

 Chapter 12: The Dog

This issue introduces quite possibly my favorite character from all of One Piece, Shushu. The issue begins with Buggy deploying his vice captain in an attempt to quickly subdue Luffy and his crew. Then we see Zoro who is no longer able to walk because of his wounds. After Zoro sets his cage down Luffy begins to mess with a near by dog who proceeds to bite him. This is Shushu the most determined dog in the world. Aside from his real character qualities Shushu is also a very funny character. An example being that as soon as Nami throws Luffy the key to the cage Shushu eats it. At this point the village chief appears and offers to give Zoro a place to rest. While Zoro is resting  the chief tells Luffy and Nami Shushu's story. Shushu his owner had run a pet food store for the last 10 years. However,three month ago Shushu's owner passed away of an illness and his last words to Shushu were "while I'm in the hospital look after the store". Shushu has done just that for the last three months and the chief believes it is because the store is all Shushu has to remember his owner by and because of that it has become his treasure. Buggy's vice-captain finds Luffy and has his lion attacks Luffy destroying the cage and freeing Luffy. Luffy is also knocked through a building by the attack but is as always uninjured and stands up claiming that he will get rid if Buggy's crew and make Nami his navigator.

Chapter 13: Treasure

I know this is a rather long post and I know I have spent the majority of it talking about a minor character who isn't even human but these are my third and second favorite of the first 151 issues, respectively, anyway on to the review. Nami is amazed to discover that after being attacked by the lion Luffy is still very much alive and after a brief conversation between Luffy and the chief the scene returns to the vice-captain and Shushu. Shushu is attacked a by the lion again and again each time remembering some event in the stores history. From the opening to hard times to eating the stock. Every time Shushu is swatted away he gets back up and defends the store although the fight is very one sided it is truly an epic battle. Luffy is casually walking down the street when he becomes wide eye's at the horrible sight he sees. Shushu is setting in front of the pet food store barking as the building burns to the ground. After a very emotional moment watching Shushu Luffy finds the vice-captain. The vice-captain, believing he can beat Luffy attacks him head on. Luffy angered by what the vice-captain did to Shushu unleashes a new attack on him, the gomu gomu hammer. After the vice-captain tells Luffy he will do anything Luffy asks, as long as Luffy doesn't kill him, comes my second favorite panel in One Piece. Luffy with a terrifying look on his face tells the vice-captain that he didn't come for an apology he came for revenge. Luffy the gives him a full force fist to the face rendering the vice-captain unconscious. Luffy brings Luffy the only surviving box of dog food which he took from the vice-captain's lion. Shushu walks away with the pet food but looks back to show Luffy the only happy face he has worn through out the last two issues. As I'm sure you can already guess I could not say enough good things about this issue Shushu's story is so sad and he id the most loyal and noble character in all of One Piece, besides maybe Luffy, when I first read this part of the story I was really hoping Shushu would join Luffy and his crew on their journey. Aside from Shushu Luffy's reaction to what happened to Shushu is only surpassed by the beginning of his later fight with captain Arlong. As I said above this is my second favorite issue and is a must read even if you hate One Piece.