Warning: Contains spoilers for chapter #1121 of One Piece.
Summary
One Piecehas introduced yet another mysterious character going into the Final Saga, and it has given rise to some of the wildest theories fans may have ever seen. Just when it seemed like Eichiiro Oda could not possibly create any more mysteries, the latest chapter introduces another curious figure who may or may not set the stage for one of thebiggest twists inOne Piece.
Chapter #1121 concludes Vegapunk’s message with a bold statement about the One Piece, subsequently introducing all the key players in the Final Saga andthe race to Laugh Talein an epic double spread. Most notable among them are the Four Emperors, Imu, Saint Figarland Garling, and a curiouscharacter holding a sword similar to Shank’s blade, Gryphon.
Though the character’s appearance remains cast in shadow, the singular panel has ignited countless theories ranging from him beingShanks' long-lost twin, the mysterious man marked by flames, or both. Regardless of which is true, this character and their identity will be crucial going into the Final Saga.
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One Piece’s New Character Revives an Old Theory About Shanks
Created by Eiichiro Oda Chapter #1121 “The Upheaval of the Era”
One of the most popular theories arising from the latest chapter is that thenew character is Shanks' twin brother. This theory first began circulating around the time Shanks was seemingly seen visiting the Five Elders in chapter #907 and episode #887. Despite the theories thatShanks could be a Celestial Dragonbelonging to the Figarland family, the action was quite uncharacteristic, and the Five Elders' reactions to seeing Shanks were quite out of character as well in retrospect.
It was also quite odd that one of the Four Emperors and the most wanted pirates in the world was able to walk into Mariejois and Pangaea Castle with simply a hood pulled over his face. Moreover, both the manga and the anime took care not to show the left side of Shanks' face, particularly the iconic scar from Blackbeard over his left eye. Some have argued that Oda may have simply forgotten to draw the scar, as Oda has forgotten to draw little details often enough.
The Five Elders also do not refer to Shanks by his name at any point in the conversation, further adding to fans' suspicions.
However, it is doubtful that Oda forgot to draw such a major feature of Shanks during such a monumental scene. Ideally, the edges of the scar should have been visible even from the right side, as the three scar lines extend up to Shanks' forehead. The suspicious absence of this scar and the way the scene conveniently hid Shanks' missing arm has thus led to the theory that theman who had visited the Five Elders was not Shanks at all, but his identical twin brother.
This theory was revived by the latest chapter, particularly the fact that the sword seen in the panel greatly resembles Gryphon. That said, little is known about Shanks' sword other than its name, but its fairly regular appearance means it ispossible there could be another sword that is identical to Gryphon. The silhouette’s pointy chin and nose, though similar to Shanks', are also not very conclusive proof and could still belong to another character entirely.
One Piece’s New Mysterious Figure Could Be the Man Marked by Flames
One other popular theory about this new mysterious character is that he could be theman marked by flames mentioned by Kidat the end of Wano. Many characters have been theorized to be the man marked by flames, including Saul, Sabo, Scopper Gaban, and even Luffy’s father, Dragon.
Pinpointing his identity is crucial to deciding who will arrive at Laugh Tale first, as the mysterious scarred man is hinted to possess knowledge of the final road poneglyph or the stone itself, yet little has been revealed about him. The fact that Kid headed immediately to Elbaf after Wano also hinted that perhaps the man marked by flames might be found at the land of the Giants.
However, in chapter #1080, Shiryu speculates the man marked by flames could be a Government man, which would make sense as it would add to the challenge of reaching Laugh Tale while effectively preventing any pirate from ever finding the One Piece. This is supported by the fact that the latest chapter features the mysterious character surrounded by characters associated with the World Government like Akainu, Imu, and evenDragon who was a former member of the Marines. If this figure is indeed Shanks' twin, this would also explain why he was able to freely approach the Five Elders.
Overall, the latest chapter is excellent proof thatOne Pieceis still capable of crafting new mysteries even this late into the series. Regardless of who the new mystery man is, the Final Saga is sure to keep fans on their toes, which means the number of fan theories will only get wackier from here on out.
One Pieceis available from Manga Plus and Viz Media.
One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history’s longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix’s 2023 adaptation.
