Hey guys !
Glad to see that this thread is well received.
Here's my list for the moment !
- Johnny & Yozaku : Frankly, those two might be my favorite duo of all time. I mean, I know they were weak, but so was Usopp, and look at him now ! All that matters to me is the will, and those two, besides of being purely hilarious, were also really braves in the end. Plus, they had a cool design ! Let's be honest, Yosaku with his silly pants and hat, Johnny with his tatoo and glasses... The fact that they are two sword fighters, regarding Zoro, could have been an "handicap", but honestly, I wouldn't have mind to see more 2 VS 2 fights with those guys, or even 2 vs 1 big opponent. I recall that they were going well with the Strawhats. I perfectly remember my thoughts back then - a very long time ago -
Mini Bellamy : Okay, so there are the two new nakamas !
And I was really happy about that.
I'm very curious to know why Oda didn't make them part of Mugiwaras. And I think I'm the only one to feel that way. XD
Also, I'm disapointed to see them Two Years Later only as simple "fishers".
- Wiper : Seriously, can one guy be as badass, simply by being half-naked with an iroquoise ? This character was pure awesomeness. His character design is amazing. His fighting skill was... man. What a fighter ! He had ABSOLUTELY everything to be one hell of a SH. Except a dream to sail the sea. This is to me THE character that I truly miss and who SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT QUESTIONS part of the Strawhats.
I strongly disapprove the lack of ambition of Oda about Wiper. How cool would that have been to have a nakama from the sky, with dials, a bazooka, wings, and strong as hell over the top.
I just can picture him wandering around in the above world, asking the others "what the hell is that ?" all grumpy and whith his pissed off look.
- Perona : Everyone is complaining about the ratio women/men aboard. Personnaly, I don't care at all. But Perona is one of those girls that makes you want to see her become a nakama. She has the look, she has the power, which could have been hilarious as well aboard than during fights... Too bad Oda didn't took the time to developp her a little more.
- Duval : Lmfao. This guy... I can't get enough of his winks and shit. I mean, his backstory was hilarious and touching, he's handsome now, and funny as hell... And strong ! I mean, the guy litteraly fight ONE YEAR for the Sunny-Go. Along with Hachi and Bartholomew, of course, but still... ! I know there wasn't any chance for him to join, but whatever. I love Duval.
- Margaret : THAT'S A DAMN FINE WOMAN. Same as Perona. But she had a bow and arrows, was skilled, cool design of a sexy amazon, link with Boa Hancock... What do you want else, Oda ? You should have digging her a bit more. I think the period of the meeting was just bad timing. No way that Luffy could recruit somebody during Ace's arc. Otherwise, she could have been our new nakama we seeking for.
- Hachi / Jinbei / Brand new Fishman : We certainly all want a fishman aboard. For me, it was Hachi at the time. His design was a little "meh", but I can definitely see it's a good guy. He was sometimes funny, often brave enough, and devoted to the Strawhats. I think Oda should have made him less weaker. I mean, an octopus with eight arms, it could have been very interesting for a brawler character, just for that ! Imagine that guy as an helmsman !
Concerning Jinbei, I like him, he's strong for sure, design not bad, but I don't know... Like Vivi, I can't really see him joining, and not even for the exact same reasons. I just think that, if Oda would have want him aboard, he would have made him say "yes" right away and voilà, end of the story ! Instead, we got a poor excuse of "maybe later, I have important stuff to do". So, for me, he will not join the SH.
What I was expecting with all my heart was a brawler fishman fighter, shark type maybe - I know Oda would have been inventive on that - as strong as Zoro but in his own element : Fishman Karaté. I can just picture a Kisame with red hair, dressed like a boxer with coral armor on his shoulders, knees and all. With a strong personnality, a la Fisher Tiger, hating on humans but changing his mind thanks to SH intervention, and a dream of establish peace between races. Even more amazing : BAM, Tiger's son !
And now, all my hopes are gone. XD
God dang it.
- Kinemon : He's just cool, and honestly, I'm used to him being with the crew. I don't know if he will leave at Wano, maybe he will, but I find him really funny and he managed to grow into me. His DF is a little bit meh, depending on what you seek for a SH... but still useful eventually. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that he is a swordsman. After Brook, I don't really want to see another sword fighter coming... Even one who can cut fire. I just feel that he will serve Zoro the purpose to learn this technique... And that's a bit of a shame. Because, yeah, Samurai might have been a good idea... if Zoro wasn't here. A Knight, for example, would have been more relevant, original, new and welcome, imho.
- Bellamy : Depending of what happens during this arc, I can see him joining for a lot of reasons ; but on one other hand, it's more likely to see him go with Law... Nevertheless, I think that someone said somewhere a thing about Oda saying that the 10th nakama will be a former vilain... Sorry for my lack of sources though !
Anyway. I love the new Bellamy, I think everyone does because he changed. And it would be very cool to see the reactions of Zoro and Nami about him. Unfortunately, I don't think Oda will show us his past or give him a "new dream"... unless he sacrifices himself for Luffy or another SH, obviously against the DD Family.
I don't know. I simply think he's going well with he crew, now. His crazy personnality, tenacity, experience, might be a real plus. I can even imagine some crazy techniques if Luffy and Bellamy combine their powers !