Right as Luffy shows up in a form nobody had seen before, Oda takes a week off. That’s right, there’s no new chapter this Sunday, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what happens on Elbaf. One Piece chapter 1199 comes out on Sunday, November 22 on MANGA Plus and VIZ, and here’s why there was a break, when you can read it and what the last chapter left behind.
Why Is There No Chapter This Week?
The break was announced on the last page of chapter 1198, with the usual note that One Piece would be off in the next issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. Shueisha didn’t give a reason, but that’s nothing unusual: for a while now, Oda has been working on a schedule with more frequent breaks, and the most recent ones have landed roughly every three issues.
One Piece Chapter 1199 Release Date and Time
In Japan, the chapter runs in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 52. Since Monday, November 23 is a holiday there, the print magazine goes on sale a day later, on Tuesday the 24th, but the digital release still drops at midnight Monday as usual. That means readers in the Americas and Europe can read it on Sunday, November 22:
- US Pacific (PST): 7:00 a.m.
- US Eastern (EST): 10:00 a.m.
- UK (GMT): 3:00 p.m.
- Central Europe (CET): 4:00 p.m.
It will be free to read on MANGA Plus and on VIZ Shonen Jump. And to make the wait a little easier, the manga calendar with new chapters coming out this week shows which other series do have new chapters in the meantime.
How Chapter 1198, “Island of Monsters,” Ended
Warning: this section contains chapter 1198 spoilers.
This was one of the most intense chapters of the Elbaf arc. Sanji shattered Saint Killingham’s armor with a single kick, sending him running, but the real spotlight was on Imu. Imu revealed a new form, a gigantic creature, and took Loki down with one blow, even though the giant had just shown his hybrid Zoan form for the first time. Strangely enough, Imu then said they needed to get back to Mary Geoise as soon as possible, or their life could be in danger.
And just when everything seemed lost, Gaban remarked that Luffy is a Zoan type, right before the captain showed up looking completely different: black hair, a tail, fangs and ape-like features. It was the perfect ending for a chapter that leaves far more questions than answers.
What to Expect From One Piece Chapter 1199
The most likely scenario is that One Piece chapter 1199 shows off Luffy’s new form in full, since the giants themselves were left wondering who he was. And if Imu really is in a hurry to get back to Mary Geoise, Oda could give us a first clash between the two or, on the other hand, save it for later and have Imu withdraw.
Personally, what intrigues me most is Imu’s warning about their own life. After so many years being presented as untouchable, admitting they’re in danger outside Mary Geoise is a huge hint about how their power works. There are also loose ends to tie up, like where Killingham went and what’s going on with Brook’s group.
So tell me, what do you think this new form of Luffy is? Share your theory in the comments, and follow me as josegeek on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X so you don’t miss anything One Piece.
