A Big One Piece Myth Proves One Way Completely Misunderstand Oda

One Piece is one of the biggest, most expansive anime series ever made. It’s currently over 1,100 episodes long, and it doesn’t look like it’ll be ending any time soon. Because of how big and beloved the series is, there are more than a handful of rumors or myths surrounding the series.

Some of these myths are fairly small, like the myths surrounding the nature of Devil Fruits or the Ancient Weapons that haven’t all been revealed quite yet. Out of all of these myths, however, there is one that has almost unanimously been accepted by fans even though the creator behind the series has never explicitly put the idea forward.

One Piece Is the Biggest Shōnen Ever Made

There are a handful of great shōnen series out there, and even fewer that can be considered some of the best anime series of all time. Even out of these top-tier titans of the genre, there isn’t another shōnen like One Piece. Not only is the series exceptional, it’s one of the longest-running anime series ever made, spanning well over a whopping 1,000 episodes.

What started as a simple story about a boy setting out to sea with his friends to become the “King of Pirates” has transformed into a massive series without equal. Even after 1,000 episodes, the series doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon, and who knows what the future of the franchise looks like.

Surprisingly, there aren’t that many plot holes in One Piece. Nobody could have predicted it would become as massive as it did, and the fact that there aren’t a dozen glaring errors within the continuity of the series is a testament to Oda’s skill as a writer. While there aren’t many plot holes, there are more than a few areas Oda hasn’t covered as thoroughly as some fans want.

Because the series is so big, fans have come to their own conclusions about a few different plot points. There hasn’t been any official confirmation for most of these so-called “facts,” but that doesn’t stop a large portion of the One Piece community from accepting them as truth.

There Are a Ton of “Facts” about One Piece That Aren’t True

There are more than a few “facts” about One Piece that are anything but. The series never agrees with these facts explicitly, and Oda himself has never confirmed them in interviews or compilation books. One of the biggest “facts” that just isn’t true is that Zoro is Luffy’s First Mate, or the Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates.

It’s easy to see why this myth would be accepted by so many: Zoro was the first member to join Luffy on his journey, has been with the Straw Hats from the very beginning of the series, and has often acted in a manner fitting a Vice-Captain. During the Water 7 Arc, one of the best arcs in One Piece, Zoro maintained frame when even Luffy could not.

After Usopp left the Straw Hats, everyone, Luffy included, wanted to take him back without question. Zoro put his foot down, saying that the crew wasn’t “playing pirates” and was instead putting their lives on the line constantly. If Luffy were to accept Usopp’s return without an apology, it would undermine Luffy’s authority and force Zoro to leave the crew.

Even with all this evidence going in the myth’s favor, it’s still a myth. Luffy has never asked Zoro to be his First Mate, and Zoro himself has never referred to himself as the Vice-Captain. The only character who has called Zoro Vice-Captain is Bartolomeo. While the Zoro myth is fairly popular, the most popular myth surrounding One Piece doesn’t involve a Straw Hat whatsoever.

Oda Never Said He Regretted Introducing Crocodile So Early

The most popular myth surrounding One Piece is that Oda regrets introducing Crocodile so early. Like the Zoro myth, it feels like there’s a lot of evidence leading to this myth. Crocodile is the overarching villain of the second major arc of One Piece, a series that would continue with dozens of arcs since that point.

Crocodile wasn’t written to be a pushover either. He was the boss of a prestigious crime syndicate, the de facto ruler of Alabasta, and one of the Seven Warlords, a position few pirates could ever hope to achieve. Even with all of these accolades, Luffy was able to beat him and save the sand kingdom, and that was all before Luffy had even invented Gear Two.

Crocodile came back to the series during the Impel Down arc and proved why he’s one of the best villains in One Piece. He’s ruthless, coldly intelligent, brutally charismatic, and above all, powerful. He’s been in the series ever since, and it makes fans wonder: why would Oda introduce such an amazing villain so early?

He’s never explicitly said that he regrets introducing Crocodile too early, and it might not have been early at all. Crocodile’s early defeat makes sense within the confines of his character. He might have gotten too comfortable, resting in Paradise among low-level pirates without much ambition. His newfound dominance is also indicative of his overwhelming pride, as after he lost to Luffy, he’s become considerably stronger.

Crocodile Might Not Be the Only Villain to Come Back

Most of the best villains in One Piece have either come back at one point or another or are destined to come back. Rob Lucci pushed Luffy past his limits during the Water 7 and Enies Lobby arcs, and Kaku pushed Zoro as well. They both returned with even greater powers than before, making the Straw Hats go all-out to defeat them once again.

Buggy, lovable as he is, has almost always been a thorn in the Straw Hats’ side. There’s no way that he isn’t involved in the final arcs of the story. Out of every villain, Enel might have the most sought-after return. His cover story, taking place after his defeat in Skypiea, saw the villain head to the moon.

If there’s anyone who can create a character’s return after 1,000 episodes, it’s Eiichiro Oda. Crocodile, Lucci, and Buggy’s returns have all been amazing, and if Enel does have a major role to play in the end of One Piece, it will probably be nothing short of glorious.

First Film

One Piece: The Movie

Cast

Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi

Created by

Eiichiro Oda

Character(s)

Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami (One Piece), Nico Robin, Usopp (One Piece), Vinsmoke Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Franky (One Piece), Jimbei (One Piece)