User blog comment:Fliu/Farewell Zou Arc/@comment-24850639-20160415033148

After the Monster Trio, Brook or Franky is clearly next in line in terms of combat ability. I know he takes a massive L for how he reacted to Doflamingo and Big Mom's ship, but don't disrespect Brook like that. He's an idiot for sure, but coward is kinda harsh. The Weakling Trio are cowards, I'll give you that, but even they aren't exactly weaklings anymore. Chopper can kick some major ass now, and Nami just got a huge power boost, despite the unfortunate innuendos of it's "demonstration" lol. Of course they're still gonna cower at fearsome enemies, gotta have your comic relief. I'm more curious to see what kinda epic moments Oda has in store for them, and how they'll all get a chance to shine without war breaking out with Big Mom. If that little flip takedown Nami did on Wanda was any kind of clue, then I'm excited to see those 2 cut loose. I can see Nami getting into a bout with one of the Charlotte daughters. I don't think we've had a legitimate girl vs girl fight with one of the Straw Hats since Nami vs Kalifa.

On another note, I have no complaints about Zou's length. I suppose no SH fighting probably played a major role, but Oda still showed that he can tell a great story in the New World in less than 30 chapters, like the initial East Blue Saga arcs. If the story really is 70% finished, then he's got a lot to cover in not so many chapters anymore, so I like it. If he really wanted to, he could probably tell the Sanji story in like 20 chapters, the Marco story in like 10 (should it include Weevil & Shanks), and the Zou backstory with Momo in like 3-5. Its the YEAR of Sanji so we know thats supposed to be the major focus, but we're already halfway through April. Even if Oda takes NO BREAKS, which we know isn't gonna happen, at the most we've got approx. 34 chapters left this year. Outta that, I expect up to 70% to be backstory: The Vinsmokes, the Germa 66, Sanji (birth, upbringing, escape), Big Mom (why/how she has 35 daughters, why she has the Tea Party, Pekoms comment about her "tying bloodlines", how she came to be a Yonko), Zou's history and crime, the Payback War, etc.