Unlike some of the collaboration works with other Jump authors (Boichi one not-withstanding), Sanji’s Food Wars get an entire tankobon/volume worth of material, and conceptually it’s a no brainer, makes perfect sense in terms of people involved and the crossover itself.
And unlike most of the spin-offs/one shots/collaboration treated in this retrospective, i have no real first hand knowledge of the main series it borrows/uses for the One Piece crossover, i’ve heard some opinions on it,seen some pages out-of-context, but i’ve never read or seen Food Wars, honestly never cared too much to begin with… so keep this in mind.
Ironically i’m a lot more familiar with Yakitate!! Japan, an older Jump series about the culinary arts.
Sanji’s Food Wars also feature the collaboration of chef Yuki Morisaki, with both Shun Saeki and Yuto Tsukuda (respectively artist and writer for Food Wars itself, as it would make sene) returning to make a series of small episodic stories about Sanji’s prowess as a cook and gentleman, all inserted as a “side story” inside the established One Piece canon, going from Alabasta to the 2 years timeski, with the Baratie ones being fittingly as the opening and closing acts.
Which is why i won’t go into any more details, not only because i might as well just describe the stories like a wiki, but also because this spin-off expects you to be up to snuff with One Piece story, as in up to the Land Of Wa/Wano first act, not because you need to have context to understand the stories and motivations (thought that would “help”), but because you’ll spoiler yourself a bit.
Again, no major story spoilers…. aside from one i can’t mention, so i’d recommend being up to speed at least up to Whole Cake Island, just to be safe.
Warned be thee.
I’ve heard Food Wars was heavy on fanservice… and going by this spin-off i’d say it might be correct, since there’s a lot of people having foodgasms, especially women that are depicted naked or skimpy dressed due to food induced ecstatic pleasure, though i will say EVERYONE foodgasms (or cookmaxes, pick whatever obscene pun you prefer)…. a lot.
I don’t mind too much the fanservice, to be honest, but it’s also simply kinda impossible to overlook as it’s the climax of the chapter, the finishing touch to the “culinary battle” dejour, it’s at the forefront as much as the food so i guess it’s a case of take it or leave it.
And in a way it’s a shame to “leave it” because Shun Saeki’s artstyle actually fits quite nicely the One Piece brand of character design (even the more deliberately “ugly” designs come off as quite striking and strong), the details on the various ingredients and delicacies are as maniacally detailed as you’d expect, and most importantly, it does perfectly depict Sanj as a character, as both the dedicated soul to the art of cooking, that puts everything in his craft for respect and compassion, and his chivalrous-yet-Lothario-esque persona, him being “pirate Ryo Saeba”, if you will, just even more delusional in his pervy-yet-gentleman mannerisms.
Given that it made me a little more interested in checking out Food Wars itself, i’d say it’s already done more than i expected, making for an interesting, fitting and overall good spin-off volume of culinary adventures (laden with an amount of fanservice that might be offputting to some, so right front and center it is displayed) with the spiral-browed chef to end them all, the “shitty cook” as some green haired fella might say, the one and only “Mr. Prince”.
Though i’d recommend being up to speed with One Piece story up to the end of the Whole Cake Island arc, in order to avoid some spoilers (as i’ve already said), just a friendly reminder.
Wise Cafe (International) 