Eiichiro Oda is a genius. He’s crafted the world of One Piece masterfully, and the characters that populate this world are generally fleshed out in a satisfying way. One criticism that One Piece had early on (jeez, it’s been 20 years since the manga debuted back in 1997) was its art style. Even to this day, Oda takes pleasure in introducing some characters with wacky art designs. It’s cool, and it makes One Piece stand out even more despite already being the greatest manga of all time (not up for debate).

Even though this criticism exists and is warranted on some occasions, Oda is actually a superb artist. One feature of Oda’s that I’ve come to love is his work on color spreads. One Piece is already a massively expansive world, so adding these color spreads that depict the Straw Hats in more relaxed and chill environments only adds to the lore. I’ve decided to compile some of these memorable art panels into a fun list. Color spreads come once every few chapters, but when they do, they’re works of genuine art.

Here, in no certain order, are my 10 favorite One Piece color spreads (with lame titles):

1.

There’s a certain point in the post-TS era of One Piece when everything just seems to pick up the pace in regards to the larger, overarching narrative. To me, this spread, including many big players like Jimbe, Don Quixote Doflamingo, and several of the Supernovas, captures the feel of larger importance quite accurately.

2.

Ignoring the “I” in “YIEAR” is a little odd, but otherwise, this is just a stunning display of art. The beauty of color spreads goes beyond just the art; it’s an extension of the adventures of the Straw Hats, and because of these added adventures, several elements have bled onto other media. Case in point: Kung-Fu Luffy was a DLC character for “One Piece Burning Blood.”

3.

Art.

4.

You know what’d be cool? Take pirates and make them knights. Oh, and throw a dragon in. Super dope. This spread really is just a lot of fun, even with Zoro’s intense, “Nothing…happened!!!” stare.

5.

One of my favorite things about the color spreads is that they really show how much the Straw Hats enjoy spending time together. They’re a family, and when they’re not trying to liberate a country from an evil Warlord or rescuing one another, they enjoy being around each other. You can feel that when you look at this spread.

6.

To add to my last point, it’s also really fun to see the Straw Hats depicted doing everyday things. Each character’s personality shines through their personal pictures in getting ready for whatever adventure on which they’re about to embark. The art here is truly gorgeous, and Oda + staff clearly took their time crafting this one.

7.

Eeeeeaassssillllyyyy one of my favorites. This spread has admittedly spent time as my phone wallpaper, iPad wallpaper, Twitter header, and probably more. I don’t even know why I like it so much, but something about it just feels right. Maybe it’s the subtle black accenting for some characters. Maybe it’s the fact that when I started this lifelong journey of stanning for One Piece, I was a mere lad. Now, with the story kicking into overdrive and as an adult, I look back at those early years with fondness. I’ll tell you one thing, though, and I’ve said this many times before: If I had one wish, I’d want to rewatch One Piece for the first time.

8.

So the first thing I thought when I finished watching “One Piece: Film Gold” was, “Yo…is this my new favorite One Piece movie ever?” Up until this point, Movie 6, “Baron Omatsuri’s Secret Island” (still a masterpiece, and even if you haven’t watched One Piece, you should check it out. Excellent gateway to the series without too many spoilers) was indisputably my favorite. I still have to go back and do “research” to come to a definite conclusion, but Film Gold was so much fun and so . . . cool. In fact, it was very cool. This color spread reminds me of some of my favorite parts of the movie, so it deserves a spot on the list.

9.

The art in the Fishman Island arc was incredible work, even if the story didn’t live up to the visuals. This color spread demonstrates two things: Oda’s talent as an artist to create and populate busy scenes that have multiple narratives within, and how fun it is to hang out with the Straw Hat pirates.

10.

Nakama.