I have to admit, the artwork turned me off. I couldn't get past after reading over 50 chapters. Time goes by and this series got dropped while I was concentrating on Naruto and Bleach. Then my friend got into this series and tried to pull me back into the series. I tried again. Since time had past for a long time, I was reading volumes after volumes. I got hooked onto the story when a color spread seemed to popped up at me and I was like, "Wow, his rendering skills is awesome! And after that, the storyline also pulled me in.
If you compare his beginning artwork and the present artwork, it is a big improvement. Also, his ideas are like bottomless. While Oda-sensei introduces many characters at the same time, he doesn't desert them after a short-time usage. Instead, there's back reference to them like in the chapter cover stories and their returning into the future manga plot. At first, I was annoyed that NO ONE (the villains) dies in this manga. Well, the major villains. But then I started to like it because it seems that Oda-sensei does have a role for them to play out. I think his story and characters have their uniqueness that seems to capture his fans. I feel that beside the StrawHat crew, the introducing of new characters and new adventures on each island helps fuel the storyline. While usually introducing too many characters piss me off, One Piece does it in a way where it seems to do it slowly without forcefully shove it to your face.
Another main reason is that usually pirates are associated with evil. The StrawHat crew doesn't do anything that is deemed evil, beside fighting the Navy people (the good guys). So it's your twist of good and evil.
While Naruto and Bleach fans hate One Piece, I think most of them have yet to appreciate Oda-sensei's creative ideas. Bleach is starting to piss me off ever since the FullBringer Arc (just end already!) despite its awesome choreography fights and Naruto is starting to get back on its feet during the War arc
So if the main reason is not reading One Piece is because of the artwork, don't let that turn you off. I once didn't really read it because of the artwork, but I guantee you that the artwork does improve and you'll end up not regretting picking this one up.
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