One Piece: Does Shanks Have An Evil Twin?

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Key Takeaways

  • Shanks and his crew are finally seeking the One Piece treasure after years of delay.
  • A theory in the One Piece community suggests that Shanks has an evil twin working against him.
  • Evidence supporting the theory includes a mysterious character in a recent chapter resembling Shanks who may have previously met the 5 Elders.

As a long-time follower of One Piece and a self-proclaimed Shanks enthusiast, I must say that this theory about his evil twin has certainly piqued my interest! Ever since Luffy’s first encounter with the Red-Haired Pirate Captain, he’s been an enigmatic figure who seems to be always one step ahead of everyone else.

Shanks has stood as one of Luffy’s most significant allies since the beginning of their adventure, serving as a major motivator for his decision to pursue piracy. Despite infrequent appearances throughout the storyline, his influence is palpable – whether through Luffy expressing his admiration or the world trembling at the mention of him as one of the Sea’s Four Emperors.

Currently within the narrative of “One Piece,” Shanks and his Red Hair Pirates have chosen to pursue the legendary One Piece treasure, a goal they had previously delayed. Yet, an intriguing speculation has surfaced among fans proposing that Shanks might possess an evil counterpart who acts against him. In this analysis, we will examine this theory to understand why it’s garnered credence from a substantial portion of the fandom as a viable possibility.

Origins Of The Theory

What Does This Theory State?

Where the Theory Started One Piece, Chapter 907, “The Empty Throne”
Story Arc Reverie Arc

During the Reverie arc prior to the commencement of Wano, fans were baffled when Shanks seemed to meet with the 5 Elders. Given that pirates generally stand against the World Government, aiming to disrupt its existing order, it was surprising to witness one of the world’s most powerful pirates conversing with the Gorosei without being perceived as a threat.

In essence, the conversation occurred largely out of view, as only Shanks entering the Elder’s chamber veiled and the subsequent exchange of greetings were depicted onscreen. During their interaction, Shanks expressed his desire to discuss a specific pirate, who was generally believed to be Blackbeard. This is where the conjecture began, as several aspects of this meeting appeared suspicious, with the most striking being that the Elders had been informed in advance, suggesting a secret line of communication between the two parties.

We only made time to talk because it was you.

While the storyline of “One Piece: Red” isn’t officially part of the main series, several elements from the film are considered canonical. One of the most surprising disclosures was that Shanks hails from the Figarland family, one of the most influential Celestial Dragon houses. His supposed father, Figarland Garling, is even the head of the Gods’ Knights. Although this hasn’t been definitively confirmed as canon, many fans have accepted it as likely to be true.

It’s becoming clear in the series that Shanks has more secrets than initially thought. Some believe that it wasn’t Shanks who met with the Five Elders, but rather his unknown evil twin brother, possibly connected to the Celestial Dragons. Evidence supporting this theory is scarce, but it does exist. For instance, at Marineford, Shanks suddenly appeared at the Navy HQ quickly, even though he was reported elsewhere just moments before, sparking fan speculation.

The strongest proof supporting the wicked twin hypothesis surfaced during a remarkable two-page spread at the end of Chapter 1121 in Vegapunk’s broadcast, where he declared that the destiny of the world hinges on whoever locates the One Piece treasure. This double-spread introduces key characters for the upcoming final arc, one of whom appears to be a new character whose outline has never been shown before within the realm of One Piece. Although the details are unclear, this figure seems to share some facial similarities with Shanks, and also wields a sword that resembles the one used by Shanks and Figarland Garling, suggesting even stronger ties between them.

Additionally, during the Gorosei meeting, Shanks was seen only from the right side, concealing his scar from view. This could be an intentional move by Oda if this theory proves correct. It’s worth noting that we’ve seen Shanks from the right before, but in those instances, his facial scar was still partially visible on his forehead. However, during this encounter, the scar wasn’t visible at all.

How Likely Is This Theory?

A Look At The Reality of Shanks’ Twin

Just as with many elements in “One Piece,” it’s hasty to judge them at their surface right now. Clues scattered throughout the narrative seem to hint at the possibility that the individual who met the 5 Elders and the character from Chapter 1121 double spread could either be Shanks’ evil twin or simply a twin with some connection to him.

Some viewers of the series speculate that Shanks might have hidden depths and could potentially be more sinister than he appears to be. Regardless of his true nature, when any information about Shanks is finally unveiled, fans are anticipating an exhilarating revelation. And, as is often the case with Oda’s work, it will probably surpass their wildest expectations.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2024-11-17 19:08