The One Piece Podcast
Episode 898: “Imu Eating Faces Party”
Date: December 23, 2025
Hosts: Steve, Steven Paul, Delaney
Main Theme: Jump Festa 2026 News, Manga Recap of Chapter 1169 ("My death cannot come soon enough")
Overview
This end-of-year episode is a festive and unruly “no cuts” edition, gathering the podcast’s core members and special guest/translator Steven Paul to discuss the latest in the world of One Piece. Main topics include celebrated Jump Festa 2026 announcements (live action, anime, and Oda’s message), the upcoming episode 900 charity livestream, and an in-depth manga recap of Chapter 1169, set in Elbaf and focused on Harold’s tragic downfall. The hosts also tackle big fandom questions about Shanks, significant lore implications, and the show’s future.
Key Segments & Discussion Points
1. Jump Festa 2026 & Podcast Milestones
[04:00–06:16]
- Celebrating Episode 900: Upcoming livestream on January 4, with rotating guests and charity engagement; instructions to follow on the show's BlueSky.
- Marc Maron Gags: Running joke about podcast legend Marc Maron "conceding" to One Piece Podcast.
“Marin resigns in disgrace. They're too good at podcasts, he says.”
— Delaney [04:59]
- Jump Festa Explained: Japan’s San Diego Comic Con for manga/anime. One Piece again delivers big announcements.
- Segment Order for the News: Hosts decide to cover live action, anime, then Oda’s author message.
2. Reaction to Live Action News and Merch
[07:09–11:26]
- Live Action Chopper Reveal: Initial trailer reaction, focus on Chopper’s design and mom’s excitement.
- Cast’s Appearance: Jokes about shirtless Sanji and “stupid sexy Inaki” (Luffy's actor).
- Merchandise Overload: Big push, especially LEGO, which is soon to be discontinued.
- Fan FOMO: Steve and Steve Paul discuss whether to collect LEGO sets.
“Stupid sexy Inaki and Taz.”
— Steve [07:36]
3. Anime Updates: Elbaf Arc
[11:26–13:23]
- Elbaf Arc Teaser: Trailer appears oddly LEGO-themed; hosts joke about filler and set design.
- Release Timing: Anime arc comes April; Netflix S2 (live action) likely in March.
“It’s just all cuts from Oda’s shitty LEGO City.”
— Steven Paul [12:09]
- Family Song (with new Frankie): Noted as a minor but fun musical update.
4. Oda’s Author Message
[14:32–22:36]
- New Animated Film: Oda breaks “gentlemen’s agreement” to tease its production difficulties.
- Possible Directions: Speculation—will it go canon like Demon Slayer? Hosts doubt it, but note seasonal anime shift enables that possibility.
- Manga Teases: “Man with a burn scar,” key characters meeting, “breakneck speed” in storytelling as Oda ages; Oda candid about health and urgency.
- Fans' Perspective: Oda infamous for poetic, vague Jump Festa teases (“someone will die” = the Going Merry, not a human).
- Hashtags Are Dated: Running joke on Oda’s outdated promo methods.
“The story will be moving at breakneck speed...because I’m old.”
— Steve [20:02]
5. Detailed Manga Recap: Chapter 1169 – “My death cannot come soon enough”
[24:48–109:06]
Cover and Color Spread
- Rocks Pirates Spread: Hosts analyze Oda’s “deadline energy,” possible alternate covers, and fan reactions.
- Art & Layout: Commentary on character placement/colors, green screening, and deliberate choices.
“It looks like when you go to Sears and they've got like the family portraits but like they’re weirdly superimposed...”
— Delaney [31:35]
Return to Elbaf (Flashback)
[33:13+]
- Setting: 14 years ago, Gabon's house; Shanks learns about Ace, ponders destiny.
- Harold’s Breakdown: Struggles to resist Imu’s orders, realizes he’s a danger to Elbaf, beg for death—a scene embodying the chapter title.
“My death cannot come soon enough!”
— Harold [approx. 38:00]
- Loki’s Entrance: Comedic sitcom entrance, immediate chaos.
- Attack & Immortality: Castle guards stab Harold; his wounds heal instantly, shocking everyone.
“I truly am immortal. I can feel my body recovering.”
— Harold [41:24]
- Harold’s Despair: Desperately tries to get Loki and Jarl (chief) to kill him before control is total.
“Tell the people what a fool of a king I was. Kill me and be a hero.”
— Harold [50:10]
- Catastrophic Battle: Loki and Jarl attempt to restrain Harold. He snaps, kills guards, and fights for the "treasure of Elbaf".
- Devil Fruit Tension: Harold orders Loki to eat the Devil Fruit (the “treasure”), then reverses, fighting Loki and Jarl for it.
- Vicious Violence: Jarl impales Harold, who in turn kills Jarl.
- Shanks & Gabon Intervene: They injure Harold, Loki dashes for the treasure.
The Forbidden Hammer
- Loki Reaches Treasure: Giant hammer (“Ragnar”) in the secret room, chest with Devil Fruit.
- Hammer Moves Alone: Inexplicably attacks Loki with a laugh and thumping sfx—implies it is alive or possessed.
“Who did that?!”
— Loki [end of chapter]
Cliffhanger & Chapter Pacing
- Odd Ending: Chapter cuts abruptly—hosts debate if the incomplete feel is intentional for suspense/pre-holiday break.
In-Depth Analysis
Hammer Mystery
[64:06+]
- What Is Up with the Hammer?: Is it a sentient weapon, or is someone (with a devil fruit/invisibility) manipulating it?
- Norse Myth Gags: Speculation if it’s Mjolnir analog; Marvel “what if” jokes.
“I'm kind of stumped...it got me here.”
— Steve [70:37]
Harold, Loki, and Elbaf Legacy
[71:51+]
- Tragedy in Motion: Harold desires to be a scapegoat for Elbaf’s freedom; Loki’s reputation set up for future misunderstanding.
- Potential Martyrdom: Discuss Loki’s path to "hero" status, the coverup, and links back to present day.
Shanks, Sacrifice, and the Tattoo Lore
[84:42+]
- Re-contextualizing Shanks’ Arm Loss: Is Oda retroactively tying Shanks’ "sacrifice" to the covenant tattoo and his freedom from Imu, or does the symbolism remain about inspiring the next generation?
- Danger of Over-Explanation: Hosts debate if tying every event to intricate lore dilutes emotional weight—worry about “making everything utilitarian” ala modern media’s trend.
“The whole point of that sacrifice was that Shanks lost some of his strength to ensure the future generations had a chance.”
— Steve [90:22]
Oda’s Narrative Craft
- Praise for Dialogue Flow: Steven Paul breaks down how this chapter’s character interactions flow logically, contrasting to recent years’ sometimes rushed, context-deficient exposition.
- Old School Feeling: Delaney and Steven note the chapter’s classic One Piece pacing—emotional, coherent, and tightly written even without “massive revelations.”
Piece Together: Fan Q&A
[111:03–139:22]
- Live Shows: Listeners ask about more live episodes/panels—hosts discuss logistical hurdles and changing con culture.
- Shanks, Harold, & Loki’s Fate: How will Harold go down, and will Shanks’ role justify why Loki calls him a coward? Speculation includes betrayals, reversals, or unfinished business.
- Abyss Portal Plot Hole: Why did the World Government not use the portal to Elbaf sooner? Hosts adopt a wait-and-see attitude, noting possible story-side justifications.
- Easter Eggs: Character ages during God Valley incident with pop culture references; the Volume 114 trivia—Luffy not appearing in the story itself for an entire tankobon for the first time.
- Steven Paul on Spoilers: How hard is it to hold in chapter reveals as the official translator? Answer: “It is tough. The private cross that I bear for being the guy who gets to see it early.”
Notable Quotes
- “With Subaru Kimura, the new Frankie. I haven’t looked out for it yet. I assume it’s the one that they did with Jinbe, except it’s with Kimura in there.” – Steve [14:14]
- “Screw NDA. It’s like, yeah, I want to make another movie, but these bums...” – Steve [16:24]
- “Oda doing teases for his own manga sound like how I sound when I’m just trying to summarize a chapter.” – Delaney [19:37]
- “If you eat that fruit, it will be the end of the world, Harold. Do it, Loki. Make sure Harold doesn’t get that fruit.” – Jarl [55:05]
- “You have to kill me. And take the throne. Tell the people it was me. I’m terrible. Let it be known I was an awful person. And clearly we know with hindsight that is not what happened. Setting us up for tragedy.” – Steve [71:51]
- “You cannot mess with that sacrificial act in chapter one of the series. Like, it is core to what the series is.” – Steven Paul [91:16]
- “Oda is good at presenting things that are a bit scary in terms of… where the fuck is this gonna go? And then levels it out. He has the ability to land on their feet and go, surprise.” – Delaney [101:11]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:57 – 06:15: Intro, Episode 900 news, Marc Maron gags
- 06:16 – 13:23: Jump Festa news: Live action, anime, merch
- 14:32 – 22:36: Oda’s message: New film and manga’s future
- 24:48 – 109:06: Manga Recap Chapter 1169 (detailed, including cover spread, Elbaf flashback, climax)
- 38:00: Harold’s self-immolation plea (“My death cannot come soon enough”)
- 41:24: Harold’s immortality discovered
- 50:10: Harold urges Loki to kill him, great king tragedy
- 55:05: Jarl’s last stand, “If you eat that fruit, it will be the end of the world, Harold”
- End: The hammer attacks Loki (“Who did that?!”)
- 109:06 – 139:22: Piece Together Q&A (fan mail, theories, epic sidetracks)
- 140:56 – end: Wrap-up, plugs, comedic outro
Final Thoughts
This episode delivers signature One Piece Podcast warmth, humor, and deep engagement, closing out the year by covering high-impact news, emotional manga developments, and lively fandom speculation. The lack of editing amplifies authentic reactions and in-jokes, while the hosts weigh the balance of lore and emotional payoff in a series racing toward its conclusion.
Next Up:
Don’t miss the monumental Episode 900 livestream on January 4, 2026!
Happy holidays from The One Piece Podcast crew!