One Piece: Garp Is Not The Hero Of The Marines, And Here’s Why

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This post contains spoilers for One Piece.

Monkey D. Garp, a Marine character in One Piece, is often considered the strongest Marine ever, with solid proof supporting this notion. Garp first appeared before the timeskip, and since then, he has earned a dedicated fanbase. What sets Garp apart from other Marines is his unique philosophy or ideology. Some might argue that it’s the most admirable among the Marines, but is this truly the case?

Monkey D. Garp Is The Strongest Marine In One Piece

Garp Was Stronger Than Any Other Marine

  • Garp Mastered All Three Haki Types
  • His Physical Abilities Were Phenomenal

Monkey D. Garp is renowned for being the unique Marine who once confronted Gol D. Roger, a notoriety that even Roger acknowledged as they frequently came close to lethal encounters. Without possessing a Devil Fruit, Garp attained an exceptional rank through sheer determination and hard work. His physical prowess was significantly amplified by regular bodily training, enabling him to effortlessly shatter boulders with his punches. Furthermore, this persistent training also boosted Garp’s Haki abilities.

In the Egghead storyline, Vice Admiral Garp demonstrated his exceptional Haki skills, coming close to annihilating an entire town with just one powerful punch. Noteworthy is that at this time, Garp was well beyond his prime in age, yet still managed to overpower Kuzan, who was significantly younger and possessed a potent Devil Fruit ability. However, it was only due to Garp’s heavy injuries inflicted by Shiryu’s attack that Kuzan ultimately emerged victorious.

At his best, Garp’s power was much like that of Gol D. Roger, with Roger himself acknowledging only Garp and Sengoku as potential adversaries. It’s plausible that Garp engaged in battles against pirates such as Rocks D. Xebec, Whitebeard, Shiki, and other prominent pirates from the past. However, it’s important to note that while Garp served in the Marines, he wasn’t a hero in the traditional sense.

Garp Has Made Many Terrible Decisions

Garp Has Chosen Duty Over His Family

As a fervent advocate for justice, I must confess that I’ve never held the Celestial Dragons in high regard. Their power and privileges always sat uneasy with me, and I vehemently declined any promotions that might have placed me under their direct control. My distaste for them didn’t deter me from leaping into action when they found themselves in peril at God Valley.

In an unexpected alliance, I joined forces with the legendary Roger to combat Rocks, a common threat that jeopardized the safety of the Celestial Dragons, and many other innocents. The outcome of our battle ensured their survival. However, it was Bartholomew Kuma who truly shone in those dark times, saving most of the innocent civilians from imminent harm.

In a display of extraordinary power, the young Buccaneer wielded the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi to rescue people teetering on the brink of certain death. Regrettably, there’s no record of my involvement in the rescue of the trapped slaves during those tumultuous events.

Garp was bestowed with the Marine Hero title due to his significant part in the God Valley Incident. Although it’s clear that Garp made a substantial impact, there are indications that the World Government might have concealed the participation of others, as they may not have wished to portray other pirates favorably.

A regrettable oversight occurred when Garp failed to act or misdirect the Marines, thus allowing numerous innocent children and mothers to perish. After the Marines discovered Roger’s family details, they opted to capture him and his kin. Since Roger had shared the information with Garp, the Marines were aware of Rouge and her child. Unfortunately, Garp did not take any action to protect these innocents by either intervening or guiding the Marines away from harm’s way.

After Ace was imprisoned, Garp chose not to intervene for his release. Instead, he made frequent visits to him in prison, but never succeeded in freeing him. On the day of Ace’s execution, Garp confronted the Whitebeard Pirates. Initially, he contemplated staying out of the fray, but when Marco approached Ace, Garp stepped in and punched the pirate, thereby establishing himself as a persistent annoyance for the pirates from that point onward. He never offered any assistance to the pirates. It wasn’t until Akainu killed Ace that Garp decided it was time to get directly involved.

As an observer, I noticed that, in stark contrast, Garp embarked on a solitary journey to Hachinosu, driven by a mission to free Koby from the grip of the Blackbeard Pirates. His unwavering commitment went so far as to willingly lay down his own life for Koby, whom he saw as the future of the Marines. However, Garp’s questionable choices and frequent misalignment with what is right cast a shadow on the heroic image often attributed to him. It’s clear that there might be more complexity to his character than what meets the eye.

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2025-09-06 20:10