Summary
Quick Links
So far, in the story ofOne Piece, the Red Hair Pirate, Shanks, has been one of the series' most important, yet mysterious characters. Despite being a mentor and idol to Luffy, Shanks’s larger goals in the story and overall plans are largely unknown. Due to this, many fans have constantly speculated just what Shanks’s purpose is in the world ofOne Piece, with theories ranging from Shanks being a World Government spy, to others that believe he has an evil twin brother.
This latter theory has become especially popular with the release of a recentOne Piecechapter, Chapter 1134. This chapter introduces even more evidence that many people believe all but confirms the “Shanks has an evil twin” theory beyond a shadow of a doubt. However, even if the theory is entirely proven true, this may be a bad sign forthe story ofOne Pieceand may be something that ruins Shanks’s character.
Shanks’s Evil Twin Theory In One Piece
This Theory Has Gained A New Piece Of Evidence
The Shanks Evil Twin Theory inOne Piecestarted many years ago during the Paramount War when Shanks appeared in the story without his iconic scars. Although Oda claimed this was a mistake, many fans believed that this scarless Shanks was an entirely new character, or an evil twin brother of Shanks who works for the World Government. To support this, later in the story when Shanks visitsOne Piece’sFive Elders, many fans claim that it isn’t Shanks at all, since visiting them seems out of character. Instead, this was Shanks’s evil twin.
Does the new era scare you so much? - Shanks
In the most recent chapters ofOne Piece, a figure that looks nearly identical to Shanks has been shown appearing on Elbaf in a similar summoning circle to the Five Elders. Many fans now believe that this is a direct confirmation that Shanks does have an evil twin that is specifically allied with the World Government and most likely operates as one ofOne Piece’sHoly Knights. Sadly, although this was revealed at the end of Chapter 1134, Chapter 1135 brings no new information regarding the mysterious figure on Elbaf.
Shanks’s Evil Twin Weakens His Character
A Twin Makes Shanks A More Boring Person
Although it is still currently up in the air whether this is Shanks’s evil twin or not, many fans fully believe that this is the direction that Oda is taking with Shanks’s character. However, this may be one of the worst moves forShanks in the overall plot ofOne Piece, completely invalidating many enjoyable aspects of his character. Namely, giving Shanks an evil twin that absolves him from any bad things he has done in the past may make him a weaker character in the long run.
Throughout the story ofOne Piece, although Shanks has generally been a light-hearted and cheerful pirate, he has shown a bit of a dark side. At times, Shanks can be very ruthless, like when he defeated Kid and his pirates, or even a bit shady, like when he had a private conversation with the heads ofOne Piece’sWorld Government. While this does make the character seem a bit more evil than his initial introduction would let, it also creates a very morally gray character that captures what it truly means to be a pirate on the open seas.
Shanks’s Evil Twin Is A Bit Cliché
However, if Shanks were to have anevil twin inOne Piece, his morally gray character would almost be completely ruined. Instead, Shanks would just be another good pirate fighting to make the world a better place, just like Luffy. Additionally, giving Shanks an evil twin, no matter how much it has been hinted at throughout the series, still feels like a massive cliché and a cop-out to make Shanks a more likable, yet less interesting character.
Put your life on the line. - Shanks
In the end, the final decision about the direction of the story is completely up toOne Piece’sauthor, Oda. Knowing Oda and his writing abilities, if any author can make a normal, cliché trope like this work, it’s him. Hopefully, more answers will be revealed as the story continues deeper into the Elbaf Arc ofOne Piece.
