Record of East Blue: Arlong Park

Josh, Astrid, and Reid are covering One Piece's series-defining Arlong Park arc, starting with the Straw Hats' arrival on the island. We discuss Oda's sudden shift into political storytelling, a surprisingly touching depiction of poverty, the Grand Design that Oda's been setting up since the beginning, and what it means "to live" in an era marked by opportunism and exploitation.  /// A small note: If you like the series, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening. Follow this podcast right here, and follow the other Superculture websites, Bullet Points, Funland, Heterotopias, and Bad End.