One Piece, Vol. 37

The true face of the enemy has been revealed. Picking up from Luffy's dramatic entrance at the end of One Piece, Vol. 36, the Straw Hats must stop Iceberg's assassins and keep Nico Robin from leaving the crew. As it turns out, CP9 has more tricks up their sleeve than anyone imagined. Meanwhile, a surprising bond forms between Usopp and the man who had him beaten up, dismantler boss Franky. This is Franky's volume to shine, and given his initial role as the main villain of the arc it's surprising how quickly Oda can spin the character around into a heroic and sympathetic figure. Franky's history is revealed in an engaging and well-placed flashback and while I won't spoil the future, dedicated One Piece fans know what happens when a new character is introduced with a dream and a tragic past. This volume also springs a revelation on the reader that follows up a scene from One Piece, Vol. 27. I love when Oda pays off the story bits he's seeded in the early volumes - it rewards the dedicated fan base and truly justifies the series' long-running status (and this isn't even the best callback yet). A great look at a new and exciting One Piece character makes this volume well worth the read.