One Piece: How A Single Scene Completely Changed Garp’s Reputation

This article contains spoilers for the One Piece anime

In the vast world of One Piece, Monkey D. Garp stands out as one of the most captivating characters. Known for his significant contributions to history that earned him the title ‘Hero of the Marines,’ Garp often makes brief appearances throughout the storyline, providing amusing anecdotes or fatherly jokes. This sporadic presence can be attributed to Garp’s current status as a semi-retired Marine, who now prefers leisurely snacking on chips rather than strictly following commands, especially when they originate from the Celestial Dragons.

Due to Oda’s deliberate efforts to keep Garp’s background and combat skills hidden for a long time, creating much anticipation and speculation among fans, it has been challenging to fully grasp both his past and fighting abilities. However, in the latest storylines, Garp has made numerous appearances, and while he’s always had impactful moments, there’s one particular scene that stands out as it significantly altered viewers’ opinions of him. This scene is so iconic that many fans will likely remember it fondly, given its sheer epicness.

Garp’s Galaxy Impact

Garp Sends Shockwaves Through An Entire Island With One Punch

Garp unleashes his strongest ability yet
An immensely powerful blow to rescue his most beloved student

Following the disbandment of the Warlords by the World Government, the Marines found themselves responsible for capturing each member of the Shichibukai, who were now deemed outlaws needing justice. In this case, Kobe was tasked with apprehending Boa Hancock, but things took a turn for the worse when he was abducted by Blackbeard. This predicament drew the notice of Garp, who viewed Kobe as his protege. Typically, Garp would dispatch another potent Marine to manage such situations, but his deep bond with Kobe led him to personally intervene.

“Koby is the future of the Navy! Not only that, he’s my beloved pupil” – Garp

From my vantage point, I locked onto Fullalead Island, where in the distance, Kobe was visible. Without hesitation, Garp propelled himself skyward, poised to execute an attack that would leave a lasting impression – Galaxy Impact. With a thunderous release, he unleashed a wave of power that swept across the island, leaving nothing but obliterated landscapes and stunned onlookers in its path. A single strike, and everything within the explosive blast was reduced to rubble.

In the manga, this scene was undeniably breathtaking, but the anime took it to another level with its smooth animations to make the attack seem even more dazzling and jaw-dropping. This moment is so impactful that it’s etched in the memory of every One Piece fan forever. From a visual standpoint, it’s impressive, but what’s equally significant is how this scene influenced many fans’ perception of Garp.

How Garp Proved Fans Wrong

He’s Not Quite As Old And Slow As Some May Have Believed

Garp is far past his prime
Fans have long pondered how strong Garp still is in his old age

It’s been thought by numerous fans for quite some time that Garp isn’t nearly as powerful as he once was during his prime years. Considering he only defeated the Rocks Pirates with a bit of assistance from Roger, which happened over 30 years before the main story begins, it’s reasonable to believe that his strength may have dwindled over time. Furthermore, Garp tends to avoid fights when possible, leading many to speculate that he might not be as formidable as he used to be.

At Marineford, an event that ignited much discussion regarding Garp’s present strength occurred when Sengoku subdued him following Garp’s vow to avenge Ace’s death at Akainu’s hands. Though this incident showcased a formidable challenge from Garp, there were numerous questions and discussions about whether he could possibly hold his own against Akainu given the latter’s immense power, largely due to his Devil Fruit abilities.

“You’d better not let go of me, Sengoku… Otherwise, I’ll kill that damn Sakazuki” – Garp

Through this latest development, fans are now privy to what Garp might have accomplished if Sengoku hadn’t intervened, as suggested by the new scene. In essence, the Galaxy Impact sequence dispelled any suspicions that Garp was becoming less formidable as a Marine; instead, it showed he still possesses ample strength to defeat anyone he perceives as an adversary, proving his vitality remains undiminished.

Is Garp The Strongest Marine Right Now?

Not Many Can Say That They Could Hold Their Own Against Garp

Is it possible that any Marine fighter, with their formidable combat skills and ability to swiftly defeat an entire pirate crew, could match up against the legendary Garp, even as he has grown older? This question is challenging to answer definitively, given the Marines’ infrequent confrontations. However, only the Admirals might have a fighting chance, yet even they may struggle when it comes to raw power in comparison to Garp. As for Kizaru, Fujitora, and Greenbull, they could potentially use their speed to evade Garp, given his advanced age, but if Garp were to attack persistently, the outcome might not be favorable for them.

Regarding Aokiji, a former Admiral, though he did squeeze through a victory against Garp, this was largely due to the support of Blackbeard’s pirate crew, with Shiryu being the one who struck Garp when he was unaware. The fact that it takes an entire pirate crew to deal with an older man like Garp, who has long surpassed his prime, is a testament to Garp’s remarkable durability even in today’s times.

Among all Marines, it’s highly likely that Akainu stands the best chance of defeating Garp, primarily due to his exceptional Devil Fruit abilities. In the series, it has been noted by Oda that Akainu possesses one of the most potent Devil Fruits for offensive purposes. If Akainu were the central character, Oda believes he would have found the One Piece within a year. During the Marineford War, we witnessed Akainu’s impressive capabilities as he could melt anyone with his magma-based powers. Therefore, it would be quite intriguing for fans if they ever see a future confrontation between Akainu and Garp, given their strong personalities and formidable abilities.

2025-08-11 16:40