"MONSTERS": NICO ROBIN AND ZORO BEFORE ONE PIECE - RYUMA/ZORO; SHIRANO/MIHAWK
The first article on "Monsters" is here.

We continue the analysis, this time it is about the characters: for the story of "Monsters", the summary is here. There are many similarities between Ryuma and Zoro. Meanwhile, the character of Ryuma from "Monsters" has reappeared in One Piece, during Thriller Bark arc, under the guise of a samurai with the same name, Ryuma, from the country of Wa, reduced to zombie by Gekko Moria, one of the Shichibukai. The Ryuma/zombie confronts the swordsman Zoro and eventually gives him his sword Shisui (we'll speak again about it). Also, Ryuma in One Piece is famous for killing a dragon while he was alive, and this recalls his action in the "Monsters" story.

But the similarities between Zoro and Ryuma are not just the fact that they are both samurai: in fact, at the beginning of the story of "Monsters" and at the beginning of the One Piece series, both Ryuma and Zoro are considered evil or are otherwise feared, or not loved, by people.

Also, when Ryuma is introduced at the beginning of "Monsters", he is hungry and Flare gives him some food. When Zoro in One Piece is first introduced, he is hungry and a little girl gives him food. In both cases, the characters were starving. I have not presented below the scene in which the little girl gives food to Zoro, but another scene in another context, in which Zoro is satisfied after a long fast: as you can see, Zoro and Ryuma's reactions are similar.

Not only that: when Flare collapses crying, Ryuma appears furious as never before.

And, in front of Nico Robin who is crying at Enies Lobby, Zoro has a look that is perhaps the most terrible he has ever had, so much so that Nami, who knows him well, is surprised.

Also, if Ryuma beheads a dragon in front of Flare...

...Zoro does the same at Punk Hazard in front of Robin. Note that both slice the dragon in front of their girlfriend.

Also, here is a hint on the Ryuma/Shirano and Zoro/Mihawk relationship: as you can see, Mihawk resembles Shirano, but only physically.

Mihawk is not a traitor and he is simply the strongest swordsman in the world. Either way (Ryuma versus Shirano and Zoro versus Mihawk) these two pairs are rivals from the start: but the similarity stops there. The relationship between Zoro and Mihawk will always remain constant, unlike Shirano's betrayal and his defeat at the hands of Ryuma. For now Zoro has been defeated by Mihawk in their first fight, and they have not yet faced each other a second time.

(Continues here)

ALL THE ONE PIECE/ZOROBIN ENGLISH LINKS

Edited by joe 7 - 4/10/2021, 17:33