One Piece Chapter 1187: THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

An action-packed chapter that feels pretty classic, setting up the final fights that will wrap up this portion of the story. The matchups have settled, as seemed to be the case a few weeks ago now, Sommers Vs. Zoro, Killingham Vs. Sanji, And Imu Vs. Luffy. Before we get into that, Loki is knocked away by a powerful blow from Imu, causing him to land where the other Straw Hats are trying to unfreeze Gunko, neither Brook nor Franky can really feel what the ice is like due to their lacking skin which is very funny. As Loki lands, his hammer makes contact with the ice, starting the melting process. How convenient for them!

Imu aims more shadowy blasts at Luffy, but he handily dodges, discarding his coat ready for the coming battle. Zoro starts the fighting talk with Sommers, but in a nice moment, he mostly conveys his confidence in Sanji. I love the unspoken respect between the two so much, they may fight and bicker, but deep down they don’t respect anyone as much as each other (apart from Luffy). Sanji has a lot more to deal with than Zoro as it currently stands, with the civilians caught in the flooding, and his code not allowing him to attack the summoned Rain God. Sanji compartmentalises these things, allowing the parents to save their children and deal with the flooding, not allowing himself to be distracted by these anxieties, knowing the role for which he is best suited.

Much like how he said to Usopp during their assault on Enies Lobby; he should focus on what only he can do. Taking down Killingham. This leads to an exceptionally interesting moment, Sanji states he knows how to take down a Holy Knight, as do we, using Supreme King Haki. However Sanji does not have access to this ability. With a small flashback, Oda confirms what many of us thought, Sanji and Gaban did have a conversation, off-panel. There is something holding Sanji back, he has kingly qualities, but the desire, the drive is not there and without it, he cannot unlock this ability.

My interpretation of this is that yet again, Sanji’s past is haunting him. Of course, the man who rejected being the Prince of the Germa Kingdom would reject the idea of being a King. That was the path his birth father wanted for him, but deemed him too weak for, the path of the cruel tyrant, the war profiteer. Trauma is what always holds Sanji back, the thing that leads him to making his worst and most self-destructive decisions. In Wano, he was able to both accept his past, and use his newfound power in a way he found acceptable, his body changing as his latent mutations kicked-in. Can he do the same now? Instead of accepting his nature he must now, in a sense, accept his birthright, not by being a Germa Prince, but by being the Mr. Prince we all love.

Then, the grand crescendo, the final panel. In bold graphics: ST. NERONA IMU VS MONKEY D. LUFFY. I can’t recall another instance of a matchup receiving such detailed introductory graphic design. This is climactic, this is intense and this is finale-worthy. Gaban’s words echo over the top of this final spread, mirroring Luffy’s own. As our protagonist screams his dream into the ears of the most evil man on the Blue Planet. He is Luffy, and he will be King of the Pirates. Don’t get it twisted.