“One Piece” is brimming with lore about characters and places that are prime for spinoff material. “Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation” is one such spinoff.
The 25-minute special adapts the “Monsters” one-shot manga by Eiichiro Oda that tells the story of Ryuma (Robbie Daymond), a legendary swordsman whose corpse appears as a zombie in One Piece’s Thriller Bark arc.
In “Monsters,” we meet Ryuma alive and young, though he has already obtained the status of master swordsman. Like in “One Piece,” he wields the sword Shusui, which has already been turned black (a feat accomplished through constant practice of one of the show’s power systems). However, unlike his zombie counterpart, which was animated by the soul of another person, Ryuma is goofy and clumsy in “Monsters,” so much so that the viewer doesn’t take him seriously.
While the special is short, it tells a well-paced and complete story revolving around a scam orchestrated by a master swordsman named Shirano (Ray Chase), a lackey named D.R. (Kyle McCarley) who can play a dragon-summoning flute, and of course a dragon. Their scheme is simple: They summon a dragon to destroy towns so they can loot them.
Flare (Brianna Knickerbocker), a girl who runs a bar in the town Ryuma enters in the special, complicates things. Years ago, Shirano and D.R. destroyed her home in an infamous surprise attack, but saved her in order for Shirano to pose as a hero. Years later, the pair return at the same time as Ryuma, whom they try to frame for provoking the dragon again.
Of course, Ryuma effortlessly defeats them and their dragon before riding off into the sunset.
The animation is on par with modern “One Piece,” and its fights are heavily reminiscent of Roronoa Zoro’s in that show, which is fitting as Ryuma is Zoro’s ancestor. Zoro (Christopher Sabat) does make an appearance, serving as the narrator for both the opening and closing scenes of the special, which take place at the end of their Thriller Bark fight.
Ryuma is the star of the special and is what carries it. His personality is very much like Zoro’s when he is angry and focused, though his nonchalant goofy personality reminds me more of “One Piece” star Monkey D. Luffy. In the vein of the latter, he even takes up arms simply to repay a meal Flare gives him.
This is an incredibly tight special that goes hard in its brief fight scenes. I’m all on board for more stories about Ryuma; I really think this should evolve into a full spinoff show.
“Monsters” works for fans of “One Piece,” but is also something non-fans can watch without context (just ignore the intro and outro with Zoro).
“Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation” gets a 9/10
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