As the narrative ofOne Piececontinues, fans have noticed the continual parallels between various characters in the series' expanded cast. While some of these can be attributed to the general beats one may hit when writing a shonen narrative, further parallels can be drawn when one looks at some of these characters alongside one another.
That said, even in these cases, there is some effort to distinguish the two, giving them somewhat contrasting ambitions, personalities, and mannerisms. Nonetheless, enough traits of these characters coalesce for them to inhabit roughly the same sort of archetypal role, albeit at different points in the narrative.
5Crocodile and Donquixote Doflamingo
Power-Hungry Warlords
Perhaps the two of the most blatantly similar characters, these Warlords both served as major antagonists who became the first serious overarching threats to Luffy in the pre- and post-timeskip segments, respectively. Their crimes on a massive scale were inadvertently sanctioned by the government (due to their Warlord status), and eventually resulted in their respective incarcerations, at least for a time.
Nonetheless, these villains still share a variety of differences, even if they result in them ending up meeting at the same point. Crocodile’s exact origins are unclear outside a few minor allusions. He was previously a pirate who had lost to Whitebeard and had some unclear ties to Ivankov. Beyond that, he was known as a Warlord who tried, and failed to covertly seize Alabasta with the aid ofBaroque Works, who he kept in the dark, regarding his true identity.
Doflamingo, meanwhile, has had his history and motives explored in depth. He was a deposed World Noble, who had some desperation to regain his prior status. After discovering his Conqueror’s Haki, he was praised by those around him, and steadily established criminal connections to enrich himself. He was intimately familiar with most of his valued crewmates, with the officers ofthe Donquixote Piratesbecoming a “family.” He also utilized some unclear compromising knowledge from his time as a World Noble, which seemed to leave him capable of further corruption. He succeeded in taking over Dressrosa, but only for a time, and after an alliance of Colosseum Fighters led by the Straw Hat Pirates, the kingdom he stole was eventually lost to him.
It is also known that Crocodile tends to value leadership. He only kept Buggy in Cross Guild as a figurehead, in line with his previously established preference for secret control. Doflamingo, on the other hand, is fine with not being in charge, working for stronger figures such as Kaido, as long as they provide him protection. Although Doflamingo asked Crocodile to join alongside him at one point, he was refused. Fans speculate their intersecting goals may lead the two to finally team up in Cross Guild.
4Portgas D. Ace and Sabo
Luffy’s Sworn Elder Brothers
Portgas D. Ace and Sabo both grew up alongside Luffy. Despite their varying origins and Luffy enduring some bullying at the hands of both his brothers, the trio nonetheless forged a bond, which they cemented with a sake cup ritual, signifying them as sworn brothers. ThroughoutOne Piece, both inhabited roughly the same sort of role.
As Luffy’s elder brothers, they established a point of connection between the young pirate and a powerful heroic organization. Ace was a Division Commander for theWhitebeard Pirates, who Luffy allied himself with during Marineford. Sabo, was the second-in-command of theRevolutionary Army, who Luffy fought alongside at Dressrosa. Furthering the connection, Sabo inherited his brother’s Mera Mera no Mi. Beyond each feeling of a sense of duty to their brother, the two are similar in another way that is less focused on.
Both Ace and Sabo have a distinctive hatred of their fathers for varying reasons. Ace resented his father, Gol D. Roger, for the reputation he inherited as the son of the Pirate King, which led him to feel as though he was born in a world that despised his existence. Sabo, being of noble birth, felt suffocated by his family and their obsession with status, to the point where he chose to live in relative squalor rather than the home of his origin. Eventually, both found purpose in the respective organizations they connected Luffy to, with Ace being a pirate, and Sabo a rebel.
3Kuzan and Issho
The “Good” Admirals
The marines are an antagonistic organization, with many of their number acting in fascistic ways that harm the very people they vow to protect. Nonetheless, it is shown that there are some in their number who wish to do genuine good, at times acting against the standards of the systems they adhere to. Before and after the timeskip, near the top of command, one admiral who is less evil than the others seems to rest.
Kuzan, formerly known as Aokiji, becomes deeply cynical about the nature of “justice” upon witnessing the events at Ohara. The event shook him and led him to believe in his credo of “Lazy Justice,” positing that is not often worth enacting. To this end, he let Nico Robin, the sole survivor of the Ohara Massacre, escape as a favor to his friend, Jaguar D. Saul, who he falsely believed he had killed. His cynicism is also reflected in his status as a protégé of Monkey D. Garp, a Vice Admiral who repeatedly refused promotion due to his hatred of World Nobles. Kuzan eventually stepped down from his post after his former colleague, Akainu, became Fleet Admiral. He later joined the Blackbeard Pirates, as one of theirTen Titanic Captains, for currently unclear reasons.
In his place, Issho, otherwise known as Fujitora, stepped in. Issho was a man who blinded himself, out of repulsion for the injustices he saw with his eyes. To this end, as a Marine Admiral, he enacted his own form of justice, one which moderates the pursuit of criminals with protection of the innocent. To this end, Issho has blatantly disregarded government protocol for the sake of his own agenda. He notably apologized to King Riku of Dressrosa for the Government’s role in enabling Doflamingo, despite being told not to. He also aided the Revolutionary Army, by allowing slaves to escape, even fighting his fellow admiral, Aramaki, to achieve this.
2Arlong and Hody Jones
Fish-Men Supremacist Leaders
Arlong effectively served as something of an inspiration for a young Hody, influencing the younger fish-man’s anti-human ideology. The two captained various crews toward this agenda, but how exactly they went about enacting their agendas was influenced by their different relationships with humans.
Arlong, having been captured and incarcerated by humans prior to Jimbei getting him released, understood their power. Even though he still believed himself the superior being, he had no issues brokering with humans, such as Nezumi, or using their skills for his own benefit, like he did with an enslaved Nami. In short, despite his goals and ideals being fish-man supremacy, with him as a ruling force, he used a level of pragmatism, influenced by his past encounters. Though this too did not last, as the Straw Hats eventually defeated him, and he ended up being incarcerated.
Hody, seemed far less familiar with humans, having not personally experienced their racism or the level of control they held relative to other races on land. This made him overestimate himself and his own crew, which was influenced by Arlong’s. Due to operating underwater, Hody had little need to ally himself directly with humans. Nevertheless, he did forge an alliance with Vander Decken, who forcibly absorbed humans into his crew. Hody was also far more willing to attack other fish-men, which was unlike Arlong. While Hody was far more flexible about forging alliances and willing to even pay for top-grade talent, he nonetheless was even more arrogant than Arlong when it came to respecting humans. This resulted in him being defeated by Jimbei and the Straw Hats working together.
1Buggy and Demalo Black
The Fake Tough Guys
Demalo Black was a two-bit hustler, who stole the identity of the presumed deceased Monkey D. Luffy, and attempted to build a pirate alliance, coasting off the reputation of the Straw Hat Pirates. This failed once the real crew resurfaced, after having trained to strengthen themselves. The Fake Straw Hat Crew quickly fell apart as soon as it seemed to take off, due to a weak core. Four incarcerated members, including Black, instead took to impersonating the Kid Pirates, also thought to be dead at the time. Nonetheless, their trajectory was followed, seemingly with much more success, by a much more established captain.
Buggy was a former member of theRoger Pirates, alongside fellow Emperor, Shanks. After the crew dissolved, he struck out and formed his own crew on the East Blue. After being defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates, who only numbered three members, Buggy forged an alliance with Alvida, and attempted to execute Luffy at Lougetown. He was eventually incarcerated in Impel Down for haphazardly wandering into marine territory, despite being a wanted criminal. After breaking out with Luffy, he gained respect from hardened criminals in the prison, who quickly took to joining his crew. He used his reputation to become a Warlord, forming a mercenary group with funding from Crocodile, which became legalized due to his Warlord status.
After the system’s dissolution, Crocodile came to collect on his debt, needing the money to formCross Guild, a mercenary group who would target marines. Buggy’s offer to pay in exposure resulted in him falsely being deemed its leader. Due to being an Emperor, fans speculate that many powerful pirates, even previously established ones, will gravitate around Buggy, but that it will come crashing down once his lack of strength is ultimately revealed.
