By Eiichiro Oda. Released in Japan by Shueisha, serialization ongoing in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. Released in North America by Viz.

This is one of my favorite volumes in the series. There’s so much awesome going on that it can be hard to sum up, but I’ll give it a shot. Franky’s flashback finishes up and CP9 capture him, with Usopp putting barely a token resistance. Worse still, they throw Going Merry away into the sea! And oh crap, Spandam’s back in post-flashback time, and he’s got a leather gimp mask now.

However, things are now going to turn around. Chopper rescues Iceberg and Paulie (and Zoro’s cursed sword) from a burning building, looking utterly badass as he does so. Iceberg then wakes, and has a chat with Nami about what really happened with Robin several chapters ago. We get confirmed (as if we couldn’t guess) that Robin has become too attached to the crew to use and abandon them like she always has before, so is sacrificing herself and the world just so that the Straw Hats can leave Water 7 safely. It’s pretty cool.

What follows is the moment I usually use when someone asks me “What moment sums up all of One Piece for you?” It’s almost iconic. Nami collapses, and Iceberg starts to worry, but it turns out she’s collapsing in relief because Robin is still their friend after all. Then she gets up and heads off. I’ll quote this part in full:

Iceberg: Wait! The Straw Hats are already defeated. What can you do now?!”
Nami: *Now*, you say? This *starts* now! Luffy and the others are fine. They can’t be done away with that easily. We’re going to get Robin back! Hesitating makes us weak. Now that we know she needs to be saved, OUR STRENGTH WILL BE INFINITE!!!

As if that weren’t enough, this is followed by Sanji getting off a quote that makes him look manly and cool, and then sees him discovering Robin about to get on the train to Enies Lobby. Chapter 359 is near perfect.

I feel I should note that there is some great humor in this volume. Galley-La’s reaction to Chopper’s transformations, Sanji’s hilarious image of Robin as a Rose-of-Versailles shoujo princess, the entire scene with Sanji’s note to Nami (note her utter lack of reaction: I once again note this manga is not for shippers), and Luffy and Zoro’s reaction after Nami arrives at the train with a huge bag of meat and sake. Oda can still bring the lols. (There’s one more, but as it’s a cliffhanger I’ll wait for the end.)

With all this done, it’s time to go find Luffy and Zoro, who have managed to get themselves trapped in various bits of the city. Oh, and there’s a huge tidal wave caused by the typhoon, hitting the city. For those who like action, Luffy, Nami, Zoro and Chopper escaping from Aqua Laguna (with an assist from Paulie) is utterly fantastic. Times like these make One Piece seem like a big-budget movie. (I also note that Luffy, escaping with Nami, simply wraps his rubber arm around her torso and yanks her. Luffy is no Sanji. And thank God for that.)

Unfortunately, the storm is so bad that ships can’t get through, and the last train (with Robin and CP9) is gone. Fortunately, Sanji, as well as the captured Franky and Usopp, are on board that train. Also fortunately, Kokoro knows of a prototype runaway sea train that will be able to follow them to Enies Lobby. This leads to everyone and their brother setting off in pursuit: the remaining Straw Hats; Paulie, Lulu and Tilestone from Galley-La; and the ENTIRE Franky Family, including their giant sea horses Sodomu and Gomora. (Yes, yes, I know… look, Viz has to keep this rated T for teen. Best to just smile and nod at the odd romanji.)

And then there’s the end. Franky and Usopp are free, but Usopp is still in bitter self-hatred mode, so shouts that he can’t possibly do anything and stomps off. Grr. But wait! Another person heard their call! He has come to help them save Robin with his awesome sharpshooting skills! That great masked hero… SNIPER KING! Sniper King in general is wonderful, and we only get a brief taste here. Wait till Volume 39, where you find out where Sniper Island is. (No spoilers in the comments, please.)

This volume marks the end of the first part of Water Seven. The next 6 volumes are unofficially known by fans as the Enies Lobby arc, and indeed, that’s where everyone’s headed. Can’t wait for April!