One Piece isn't just a manga story about pirates. It's a true epic about the great pirate era, and the many events that took place during such a time. In all my time reading manga, I have never found a series that I've enjoyed nearly as much as One Piece.

The story is massive, yet simple. You wouldn't expect such a simple idea of a plot to become to grand and massive, but it does. What's more is unlike many other long time manga writers who have succumbed to the pressures of writing a long term series, One Piece doesn't fall flat on it's face. It's story has been very well thought out, to the point where it's writer knows exactly how it's going to end. It's just about getting there that makes the story fun. The story is just as fun and investing now as it always has been, and many will argue that it's even more investing now.

Many people critique One Piece's artwork for being too "outlandish" or "weird". However, it's style is exactly what makes the series so great. It's the very foundation it stands on. A manga where animals can talk if you don't say they can't, where attacks are stronger the bigger they are, and more. They are manga characters living in a cartoon world.

I have also found that it's artwork is what sets it apart from the lot. A problem that I've found with many manga is that they suffer from a form of "sameness". By that I mean many characters wouldn't look out of place in another series. Let's be honest here, a lot of manga look very similar in style. There are some unique styles in the bunch, but the majority look similar, if not the same. This is where One Piece steps in. Even in a sea of manga series, you'd immediately be able to pick out which series is One Piece, even if you've never seen it.

Additionally, speaking on the art itself rather than the art style, it can be very gorgeous. Shots of islands made up of pretty much anything you can imagine, and everywhere you can imagine. Imposing figures, imaginative character designs, and more. While it may not be the most visually intense or impressive, there is certainly a uniqueness to love in One Piece's art.

I will speak something on the art style, and a lot of people point to this to critique...the way many women are drawn. Often drawn with an exaggerated hourglass frame, may women are drawn to look...well, very sexually attractive. However, I believe a lot of people are just pointing to some examples of similar modeled characters, and trying to blow it out of proportion. Yes, there are women who are drawn to look attractive. However, there are also plenty of women with just as weird bodies as any of the men. Short and round, or massive and hulking. There are plenty. Additionally, I've found that many of the people arguing about the way women are drawn also never speak on how muscled the men are drawn, so there's a bit of hypocrisy there.

As for the characters, well, the characters is one of the biggest selling points of the manga. Even with 600+ characters, so many of them are unforgettable thanks to either their crazy powers, their unique quirks, or the amount of time and effort the series puts into them. One Piece has the most lovable main cast I've ever seen. Not just in Shone Jump, but in all of manga. Each of them are so unique, respectable, and what's more is that they're all necessary to the series in some way, or to characters within the series. They all depend on each other. This is all that I will write on this, otherwise I risk getting into spoiler territory by writing examples of great characters. But truly, One Piece has some of the best characters in all of Shonen Jump.

My enjoyment? I've never enjoyed a series more. Everything is incredibly spot on. Whether it be the story, artwork, characters, or anything else. And whenever there's an arc that may feel slower or lacking, it doesn't last too long, and soon you're heading to the next island, that promises so much more fun and adventure.

Overall, One Piece is a series that any Shonen Jump fan should check out. This manga is absolutely brilliant, and always seems to be thinking not about how the arc will end, but how the arc will tie into the next one, and how that will tie into the world as a whole, and the story's ending. However, I am ranking it a "9" instead of a "10", since it's not over yet. Still, from what's been written so far, I believe it's the best that Shonen Jump has to offer.