One Piece Vol 10, by Eiichiro Oda

With the fight between Luffy and Arlong reaches its climax, Luffy pieces out Nami's trauma and abuse taken by Arlong in order to free her village under Arlong's fish-men pirate crew. He, Zoro, Sanji and Usopp all challenge the Arlong's pirate crew to liberate Nami and her entire town after she is betrayed by Arlong. Luffy is determined to destroy's Arlong's territory, Arlong park, and even the very place Nami was imprisoned in to draw maps for Arlong. 

I did not think of One Piece Vol 10, by Eiichiro Oda being deep and serious until this volume. Prior to volume 10, it felt episodic and had mainly comedic tones. This volume proved One Piece was able to flesh out its world and story through it characters. Nami has one of the darkest backstories in the manga and a simple-minded protagonist like Luffy immediately understod her pain by destroying the room Arlong imprisoned Nami to draw maps in. Oda successfully uses "show don't tell" to make this story personal.

Reviewed by Rafi B., Grade 12

Glendale Central Library