Characters With Similar Roles In One Piece

As a long-time follower of the One Piece saga, I find myself captivated by the intricate lives and journeys of its characters. Two such individuals, who have left indelible marks on the series, are Arlong and Hody Jones, both fish-man leaders with contrasting approaches to humanity.

As the storyline of One Piece unfolds, viewers have observed recurring similarities among an increasing number of characters within the series. Some of these resemblances might stem from common tropes found in writing a shonen manga, but additional parallels become apparent when comparing certain characters directly.

In summary, although they may have distinct characteristics like aspirations, temperaments, and behaviors, these characters share common traits that place them within similar archetypes, but they appear in different stages of the storyline.

5 Crocodile and Donquixote Doflamingo

Power-Hungry Warlords

Characters With Similar Roles In One Piece

It’s likely that you are referring to two characters who hold striking similarities. Both of them played significant roles as antagonists against Luffy, first in the pre-timeskip era and then in the post-timeskip segments. Their actions on a grand scale were indirectly endorsed by the government due to their status as Warlords, leading to their imprisonment for a period of time, at least temporarily.

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 of Baroque Works, who he kept in the dark, regarding his true identity.

Simultaneously, Doflamingo’s background and reasons have been thoroughly examined. He was once a dethroned World Noble, harboring a deep longing to restore his former position of power. Upon mastering his Conqueror’s Haki, he garnered admiration from those around him, and strategically built a network of criminal alliances to amass wealth. His crewmates became like family to him, with the Donquixote Pirates’ officers forming a close-knit group. He also appeared to possess certain mysterious, compromising information from his time as a World Noble, which hinted at further corruption potential. However, he only managed temporary control over Dressrosa, and eventually lost the kingdom he had stolen, following an alliance of Colosseum Fighters led by the Straw Hat Pirates.

It’s well-known that a Crocodile often appreciates leadership positions. He retained Buggy in the Cross Guild merely as a symbolic leader, reflecting his past inclination towards covert control. In contrast, Doflamingo doesn’t mind not being the boss; he works under powerful figures like Kaido, so long as they offer him protection. At one time, Doflamingo even asked Crocodile to join forces with him, but was rejected. Fans ponder if their shared ambitions might eventually lead them to collaborate within the Cross Guild.

4 Portgas D. Ace and Sabo

Luffy’s Sworn Elder Brothers

Characters With Similar Roles In One Piece

Portgas D. Ace and Sabo shared their childhood with Luffy. Despite having distinct backgrounds and Luffy experiencing some teasing from his siblings, they formed a strong bond. They reinforced this bond by participating in a sake cup tradition, symbolizing them as sworn brothers in the world of One Piece. Essentially, they filled similar roles within the storyline.

Through their roles within significant organizations – Ace as a Division Commander for the Whitebeard Pirates and Sabo as second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army – they formed a bond with Luffy, the young pirate, who associated with these groups. Notably, during Marineford, Luffy allied with the Whitebeard Pirates, while at Dressrosa, he fought alongside Sabo. Additionally, their shared connection deepens beyond merely fulfilling a sense of duty to their brother; they share a less obvious similarity as well. Specifically, Sabo inherited Ace’s Devil Fruit, the Mera Mera no Mi.

Ace and Sabo have unique reasons for hating their fathers, each with their own backstory. Ace, the son of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, felt unwanted due to the negative reputation that came with his lineage, leading him to believe he was born into a world that disliked him. On the other hand, Sabo, born into nobility, found his family’s excessive focus on status suffocating. He preferred living in poverty rather than in the opulence of his birthplace. Later, both found meaning in their association with Luffy, with Ace becoming a pirate and Sabo joining the rebellion movement.

3 Kuzan and Issho

The “Good” Admirals

As a fervent supporter, I must confess that the Marines have often been portrayed as an adversarial entity, with some of their members exhibiting behavior reminiscent of fascism, which unfortunately causes harm to those they pledge to safeguard. However, it’s important to note that there are individuals within their ranks who strive for righteousness, sometimes defying the norms of the systems they uphold.

After witnessing the tragic events at Ohara, Kuzan, formerly known as Aokiji, develops a deep sense of skepticism towards the concept of “justice.” This experience leaves him convinced that it’s seldom beneficial to uphold, a belief he refers to as “Lazy Justice.” As a favor to his friend, Jaguar D. Saul, who he mistakenly thought was deceased, Kuzan allows Nico Robin, the lone survivor of the Ohara Massacre, to escape. His cynicism is further demonstrated in his apprenticeship under Monkey D. Garp, a Vice Admiral who consistently declined promotion due to his animosity towards the World Nobles. Kuzan eventually resigns from his position following the ascension of his former colleague, Akainu, to Fleet Admiral. Later, for reasons yet unknown, he joins the Blackbeard Pirates as one of their Ten Titanic Captains.

In his stead, the man known as Fujitora, or Issho, took action. Blinded by disgust for the injustices he witnessed, Issho chose to serve as a Marine Admiral and mete out justice in his unique way, balancing the pursuit of criminals with safeguarding the innocent. In doing so, Issho has shown disregard for government procedures, prioritizing his personal mission over official protocol. Notably, he apologized to King Riku of Dressrosa for the Government’s complicity in allowing Doflamingo to rise, despite being instructed not to. Furthermore, Issho secretly supported the Revolutionary Army by helping slaves escape, even engaging in a confrontation with fellow Admiral Aramaki to make this possible.

2 Arlong and Hody Jones

Fish-Men Supremacist Leaders

As a youngster, Hody found Arlong to be a significant source of inspiration, shaping Hody’s anti-human beliefs. Both led separate groups, pursuing the same objective; however, the methods they employed to carry out their plans were shaped by their distinct human interactions.

As a follower of Arlong, I can tell you that before Jimbei sprung him from his human captors, he had already grasped their power. Despite holding firm to my belief in fish-man supremacy with myself as the ruler, I found no qualms in striking alliances with humans like Nezumi or exploiting their abilities for personal gain, such as when I manipulated an enslaved Nami. In essence, though my ambitions remained centered on fish-man dominance, I demonstrated a degree of pragmatism shaped by past experiences. However, this pragmatic approach was short-lived, as the Straw Hats eventually vanquished me, and I was once again confined.

In a different phrasing, we can say: Hody appeared less acquainted with human interactions, given his lack of personal encounters with human racism or power dynamics compared to other races on land. This misconception led him to overestimate himself and his team, which was influenced by Arlong’s arrogance. Being underwater, Hody had minimal reason to form direct connections with humans. However, he did establish an alliance with Vander Decken, who forcefully conscripted humans into his crew. Unlike Arlong, Hody was more aggressive towards other fish-men. Despite being open to forming alliances and even paying for elite talent, Hody remained arrogant in his treatment of humans, making him even more prideful than Arlong. Eventually, this arrogance led to his defeat at the hands of Jimbei and the combined efforts of the Straw Hat pirates.

1 Buggy 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.

Previously associated with the Roger Pirates, alongside Shanks, Buggy was once a part of their crew. Following their disbandment, he ventured out and established his own pirate group in the East Blue. A series of events led to his defeat at the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates, who initially consisted of just three members. In an attempt to eliminate Luffy, Buggy allied with Alvida and attempted a treacherous act during the siege of Lougetown. Subsequently, he was imprisoned in Impel Down for accidentally trespassing into marine territory, despite being a wanted fugitive. A daring escape alongside Luffy led to a newfound respect among the harsh criminals within the prison, who soon joined his crew. Utilizing this newfound prestige, Buggy became a Warlord and established a mercenary group financed by Crocodile. This organization eventually gained legal status due to its Warlord affiliation.

Following the collapse of the system, Crocodile demanded repayment of a debt he was owed, using the funds to establish Cross Guild, a band of mercenaries focusing on targeting marines. Buggy’s proposition to settle the debt with publicity instead led people to incorrectly believe he had taken charge. Since Buggy is an Emperor, fans ponder whether many influential pirates, including established ones, will align with him. However, it is predicted that his leadership will crumble once his true lack of strength becomes apparent.

2024-10-19 22:04