One Piece 821: well, it was pretty cool seeing a living country lashing out, but overall this chapter felt a little thin. 

One Piece 819 – cute chapter, with great character moments for Luffy and tsundere Zoro. It still feels like a bit too much is happening at once but things are getting focused now and it looks like we’ll have a few chapters of fun combat to pick the pace back up again now. 

One Piece 816 – a more interesting chapter this week, just ahead of a hiatus. We got a fun, much-foreshadowed cat vs dog moment, but more interesting was the twist with the samurai. Looking forward to the next chapter in 2 weeks. 

D.Gray-Man 221: I have to say, I want Allen back. This is his title, after all, and the Allen act just made me want the pay-off of him being okay. Still, the art and action in this chapter were impressive, and I enjoyed the half-Earl.

One Piece 814: so, we hear a little about the Vinsmokes. Otherwise, this chapter moved slowly, with Zoro giving a useful but lengthy summary of the Kaidou situation. At least we’re in the present, though.

One Piece 813 – this was pretty predictable given the set-up, but still interesting to see unfold. I’m looking forward to the places this is going to go, but just now the various strands are confused. That’s no bad thing if they later all come together well. I also like how Capone Bege’s powers work. 

One Piece 812 – what’s happened to Sanji has been a mystery for a few chapters, but this was an unexpected and amusing twist. I wonder where things will go from here.

One Piece 810: more backstory. So Jack left the island because of what Luffy was up to, and many were saved thanks to Chopper’s medical skills? Fair enough. I imagine there’s more to see yet, including why Jack died, but I’d rather be back to the meat of the action.