There is a reason that One Piece is the top-selling manga of all time. There is a reason that no other manga is even close. There is a reason that people are willing to follow the story for 20+ years. One Piece is that good. The story is good, the characters are great. There is humor and drama. Sadness and joy. Tension and comic-relief. One Piece can really get you invested and make you feel some powerful emotions.

To start, the world-building in One Piece is unparalleled. The world-building is woven intricately into the story and even details like the geography of the world itself influence the way the story plays out. The people, animals, powers, the nature; pretty much anything in One Piece is so fantastical that it keeps the story fun and always leaves you imagining the possibilities of what might exist in such a world. It really makes the story come to life.

Character development is also very good. One of the reasons the manga is so long is that Oda really takes his time to highlight each character. When so many characters (and it's a lot) are given depth and explored, it makes the story feel very alive. Even independent of the main story that we see, the characters in One Piece are always acting and have on their own individual goals and worldviews. It's amazing how many independent storylines intersect when different characters eventually come together.

If you are wondering if One Piece is worth the time, the answer is a resounding yes! The more you read, the more you will want to read. I've only met a handful of people that didn't like it and many more (including myself) consider it their favorite manga / anime of all time. Personally, I would say the only downside is that sometimes the ecchi humor can be a little over the top and the character designs are sometimes a little egregious. But never once has that taken away from my enjoyment of one piece.

I think there is something for everyone in One Piece and it's definitely worth the read.