One Piece, Vol. 1

One Piece, Volume 1, titled Romance Dawn, was first published in Japan in 1997 by Shueisha. It introduced the world to Monkey D. Luffy and his quest to become the King of the Pirates, emerging from Eiichiro Oda's desire to craft a pirate-themed adventure that balanced high-seas fantasy with heartfelt character-driven storytelling. The volume established the series' foundational tone, blending Oda's distinct, expressive art style with a sense of boundless optimism and adventure that would eventually propel the series to become the best-selling manga of all time.

The North American release by VIZ Media followed in 2002, marking the beginning of the series' official introduction to English-speaking markets. While the initial reception was modest compared to the phenomenon it later became, critics and readers quickly noted the inventiveness of Oda's world-building and the clarity of his action sequences. The design of the volume reflects VIZ's standard trade paperback format of the era, focusing on accessible layout and reliable translation to ensure that the complex narrative, rich with recurring motifs and evolving lore, remained coherent for international audiences.