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WhileOne Piecehas a wide assortment of amazing heroes, many times throughout the series, the villains are actually the franchise’s most beloved and well-developed characters. Often featuring interesting motivations, sleek designs, and charismatic personalities, these bad guys steal every scene they are in. From Crocodile to Doffy, it’s hard to think of a major villain inOne Piecethat has failed to live up to expectations, besides Hody Jones.
However, no other villain inOne Pieceseems to match the same level of story-significance and cruel charisma of the Emperor of the Seas, and the most underhanded pirate, Blackbeard. Blackbeard throughout the story has always been an amazing addition, providing an evil parallel to thefranchise’s hero, Monkey D. Luffy. This amazing dynamic shows that Luffy and Blackbeard are more similar than some fans would expect, functioning as opposite sides of the same coin.
Blackbeard and Luffy: Two Different Sides of the Same Coin
An Interesting Dynamic
Blackbeard was first introduced to the world ofOne Piecein the Jaya Arc, a smaller arc that takes place before Skypiea. In this arc, the audience is introduced to most of Blackbeard’s original crew members, as well asthe captain himself, Marshall D. Teach. When Luffy meets the ruthless pirate, the duo argue over the quality of cherry pie, in a fairly goofy, but enjoyable scene.
The era where pirates have dreams will be over, they say? Huh? People’s dreams have no end! Isn’t that right? - Blackbeard to Luffy
After,One Piece’sBlackbeard and Luffy have a peculiar discussion about dreams and the existence of a Sky Island, where it turns out that Blackbeard is the only individual in Jaya who believes these things exist. Here, we also learn of Blackbeard’s passion forfinding the One Pieceand his goal of becoming the King of the Pirates, just like Luffy. However, besides most of their interactions being cordial, Luffy senses something off from the jolly pirate.
Blackbeard and Luffy Have Parallel Story Arcs in One Piece
Similar Goals, Similar Drive
From here, the duo of Luffy and Blackbeard progress through a parallel story arc inOne Piece, with both causing massive waves in the world and quickly finding their way asEmperors of the Sea. With both characters having a similar crew, similar motivations, similar happy-go-lucky attitudes, and similar dreams, Luffy and Blackbeard almost feel like a mirror of one another. However, between the two characters, there is one major difference; the means of achieving their goals.
As many already know, to achieve his goals, the Straw Hat Captain will do whatever he wants, with little thinking or planning going into it. For Luffy, this is the ultimate freedom, sailing the open seas, doing whatever comes to mind, and eventually reaching the endgoal of becoming the Pirate King. While he does have many crew members to help reel him in when he strays a bit too far from the beaten path, since the beginning of their adventures, the Straw Hats have often traveled to wherever the wind takes them.
As for Blackbeard, one ofOne Piece’smost important villains, his journey to the top, rather than focusing on exploring to his heart’s content, focuses purely on a plan for success. In his plan, Blackbeard has amassed a deadly crew from Impel Down, captured some of themost powerful Devil Fruitsin the series, and made his way to the role of Emperor. While Luffy would often help others on a whim, Blackbeard only helps others when they have something to offer him, oppressing them into his overall strategy with ruthless cunning.
Blackbeard’s Ruthless Cunning Sets Him Apart From Luffy
Luffy’s True Antithesis
In a way, while both Blackbeard and Luffy have the same motivation inOne Piece, the difference in their strategies for success highlights the beautiful aspects of their dynamic. One Pieceis a story about freedom and adventure on the open seas, and while at firsttheOne Piecevillain, Blackbeard, seems like he shares this dream with Luffy, in reality, he doesn’t. Luffy will always take into account the freedom of others when it comes to his journey to become the Pirate King. However, Blackbeard will capture and kill anyone in his path, the antithesis of the freedom Luffy strives for.
Fate Has Chosen Me To Conquer This World! - Blackbeard
So far, Blackbeard and Luffy have been two of thebest-developed characters in all ofOne Piece,and it will be interesting to see where they go. Hopefully, by the end ofOne Piece’sFinal Saga, the two will clash, both physically and ideologically. Maybe then fans will finally see whose strategy to become the Pirate King is better.
