‘One Piece‘ has certainly become a massive hit. The success of the live-action adaptation, the trending topic created by the introduction of Gear 5 in the anime, and the incredibly massive manga sales make it clear that Luffy and his crew may not have found the ultimate treasure, but they have conquered the world. Such is the craze that collectors are starting to artificially inflate prices. In this article, you will read about astronomical figures, but always remember that the number one manga costs 1.95 euros at any store.
This is going to start
In July 1997, Shonen Jump released its 34th issue of the year. Nothing special, just the continuation of several iconic manga series like ‘Rurouni Kenshin,’ ‘I”s,’ ‘Yu-Gi-Oh,’ or ‘Captain Tsubasa’ (known as ‘Oliver and Benji’ in some regions). And among them, the first episode of a series destined to become the savior of the industry: ‘One Piece’ by Eiichiro Oda.
As you probably know, manga series are first serialized in magazines (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and then compiled into volumes that are eventually published in other countries, sometimes with a few retouched panels that, due to time constraints, don’t make it into the magazine properly. ‘One Piece‘ wasn’t an exception. The magazine sold the usual four million copies weekly, and as always, those who bought it left it forgotten in some corner because collecting those thick volumes is impossible. Time passed by.
And we’ve arrived in 2023, the moment when suddenly the Shonen Jump where Luffy began his adventures is a fetish. So much so that some have paid $1,300 or more on eBay for a perfectly preserved magazine. And as a bonus, they get the Shonen Jump Issue 0, which included the first chapter in English. These aren’t the only crazy numbers for ‘One Piece’.
People in the United States have a lot of money and don’t know how to spend it. That’s the only possible explanation for the first English edition of the manga, in a volume format, selling for $199.99, a ridiculously high amount. Everything points to the price increasing, as with Pokémon cards, and in a few years, we’ll see volume ones of the manga selling for thousands of dollars. Just in case, hold onto yours. You might have the real One Piece in your hands.
