Chapter 443

Thriller Bark
Chapter Info
Volume:	46
Chapter:	443
Japanese Title:	スリラーバーク
Romanized Title:	Surirā Bāku
Viz Title:	Thriller Bark
Pages:	19
Release Date:	February 5, 2007[ref]
WSJ Issue:	2007 Issue 10
Anime:	Episode 338 (p. 2-17) Episode 339 (p. 18-19)
Chapter Chronology
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Chapter 443 is titled "Thriller Bark".

Cover Page

Enel's Great Space Operations, Vol. 13: "The Big Bang".

While the space pirate lies unconscious beside its four victims, Enel sees a huge explosion in the distance.

Short Summary

Brook comes onboard the Thousand Sunny, scares the Straw Hats and then talks with them. He has dinner with the Straw Hats and explains the crew the reason for his skeleton appearance and how a powerful person stole his shadow making him unable to leave the Florian Triangle.

Long Summary

After unexpectedly accepting Luffy's invitation to join the Straw Hat Pirates, Brook boards the Thousand Sunny, where he is greeted by the anger and fear of the rest of the crew. Brook continues to ask Nico Robin and Nami to show their panties (which Nami stops) while Usopp tries to imagine that talking skeletons do not exist. Brook is invited to dinner and marvels both at the ship and the actuality that he has not had a meal in a long time (even with no stomach to digest it). Yet while claiming to be a gentleman, the skeleton acts up on wanting to eat, angering Sanji as well. He does eventually become cordial with the crew before dinner is finally served.

After dinner, Brook explains that he holds the power of the Yomi Yomi no Mi: though he was once part of a living crew, he and all of his crewmates were annihilated and the fruit's power, which originally merely made him unable to swim, let his soul come back after his death. But because of the fog, his body had decayed when he finally returned, leaving him to live as a skeleton (but still with his afro hairstyle due to his "strong roots"). Nami remains doubtful of the story and decides to use a mirror to prove he is a ghost. But when Brook looks in the mirror, no reflection appears. Similarly unusual, the skeleton did not have a shadow as well.

After trying to avoid the subject, the skeleton explains that his shadow was stolen, preventing him from living in the sunlight and forcing him to remain in the shadow and fog of the Florian Triangle or else he would be burned away into nothingness. Yet even in dire circumstances, Brook remains upbeat about his life, due to finally meeting people and remedying his lonely existence on his own ship. However with his happiness, Brook turns back on his ideas of joining the Straw Hats, stating that he cannot join unless he gets his shadow back. Luffy tries to ask to help, but Brook refuses again, knowing that they will not meet the "shadow stealer" but he could be a trump card if they do encounter "him".

Changing the subject again, Brook pulls out a violin and prepares to play a tune, exciting Luffy that he was a musician. But before he could start, a ghost appears directly in front of Brook, scaring him witless. Soon the Sunny is shaken as it is pulled within the gate of the wandering island of Thriller Bark, drawn to them after their encounters with the barrel. Nami notes the Log Pose did not response to the island, but the skeleton explains that the island is from West Blue. Joyful at the arrival on the island, Brook hops on top of the ship and gives his farewells while telling them to turn around and get away from here before zooming off on top of the water due to his light frame. While the other Straw Hats seem to want to heed the skeleton's warning, Luffy merely smiles, telling them that he wants to go to the island.

Quick Reference

Chapter Notes

• Brook ate the Yomi Yomi no Mi.
• A ghost has been spying on the Straw Hats.
• The Straw Hat Pirates are trapped in the giant ship/island Thriller Bark.
• Brook immediately retracts joining the Straw Hats due to needing to retrieve his shadow from Thriller Bark.
• Luffy decides to go to the island of Thriller Bark.

Characters

Pirates	Citizens
Straw Hat Pirates Monkey D. Luffy Roronoa Zoro Nami Usopp Sanji Tony Tony Chopper Nico Robin Franky	Moon Enel (cover) Spacey (cover, K.O.) Macro (cover, K.O.) Galaxy (cover, K.O.) Cosmo (cover, K.O.) Seamars (cover, K.O.) Florian Triangle Brook

Author Comment

Author Comment
Translation Original Tickle Me Elmo is scary. And yet amazing. Scamazing. Red. くすぐりエルモという玩具（おもちゃ）の動きがキモい。だけど凄い。キモすごい。赤い。 —Eiichiro Oda
English translation by Greg Werner. For comprehensive translation credits, see here.

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