The gags and interactions between the Straw Hats are sometimes so boring and repetitive: Brook asking for panties, Sanji simping, Sanji and Zoro dickfighting, Weak Trio hiding in fear etc.. Instead when Oda takes out Luffy and Zoro from the Straw Hats and puts them together with other character it becomes much much better under every aspect.
For example I loved Luffy and Zoro interacting with Kid, Killer and Law during the Rooftop fight.Their internal competitiveness among Supernovas perfectly blended with their bond as comrades who fight the same enemy. Now the last chapter was the same, with Luffy and Zoro pairing with Lucci and Kaku. Never been much a fan of Lucci, but I’m loving him the way he is characterized in Egghead.I found the interactions between these four just too funny, everything was spontaneous, not forced. Just fun in a old-One-Piece-style
Kaku with Lucci was especially fun.Loved Kaku’s “very convincing and absolutely not threatening” answer in the 1st and 2nd panel.Always found Kaku one of the best side villains, you just can’t hate him, he is a nice characterThe perfect balance between gags and serious side.
Now this was unnecessary fanservice but we know Oda can’t resist to the archetype of old villains becoming sort of allies, even if temporarily, for the Straw Hats.Was very resembling to the panel of Luffy and Jinbe allying with Crocodile in Impel Down.
*by ThunderSupernova