Summary
Though the Marines are technically the antagonists of theOne Piecestory, there have been plenty of soldiers among the ranks who have still received plenty of screen time and development. Considering the World Government are always ordering marines to commit plenty of dirty and malicious deeds for the sake of maintaining the status quo, it’s resulted in most marines having their own unique opinions on the occupation and their role within the world at large.
Whether they are truly loyal to the cause or are a little more rebellious, several marine characters have had some pretty intriguing adventures and personal arcs over the course ofOne Piece’s long-running story. With that being said, it’s time to take a closer look at the marines, who are the most interesting to learn about, fun to watch, and relevant to the wider story.
8Sengoku
Beneath Sengoku’s Cold And Stoic Exterior Lies An Immense Power
Though Sengoku only assumes the role of Fleet Admiral for a short while in the main story before the position is taken over by Akainu, it’s fair to say he makes it crystal clear why he earned such a position in the first place. During theMarineford War, Sengoku proved he was more than willing to go ahead with Ace’s execution, showing his unwavering commitment to eliminating pirates and enacting justice in the world. Sengoku would even hold down Garp after he tried to save Ace’s life during the conflict, highlighting just how heartless one has to be in order to become a reliable Fleet Admiral.
What most fans remember him for, though, is the giant golden Buddha he can transform into thanks to his Hito Hito no Mi fruit. When unleashing his final form, Sengoku grows giant in size and is capable of flattening entire landscapes with his powerful punches. Sengoku may be little more than an old hermit in the post-timeskip, but his legacy and menacing Devil Fruit ability still make him a stand-out from the marines.
7X Drake
Drake’s Reveal Gave Fans An Insight Into The SWORD Division
X Drake is introduced to the story as a member of the Worst Generation of pirates, though it was rumored he was once a marine in his past life before embarking across the seas with his crew. As a result, he already starts off with a lot of intrigue, but it’s in the Wano arc where he really gets his time to shine. While acting as a member ofKaido’s Tobi Roppo, Drake was secretly relaying info back to the marines, essentially acting as a spy on their behalf.
This was the first time fans were given an insight into the SWORDS group, which is sort of like the black ops division of the marines. When paired with his Allosaurus Zoan form and flashy design, Drake is a very intriguing character who is always surprising fans with new reveals and tidbits of lore relating to his role in the marines.
6Smoker
Smoker’s Conflicted Feelings About Pirates Makes Him A Fascinating Character To Follow
When Smoker first appears in the story during Loguetown, he is dead-set on hunting down any pirates he sets his eyes on, seeing them all as little more than scum that needs to be scraped off the face of the earth. However, after he is saved from drowning by the Straw Hats inAlabasta, Smoker’s view on the pirates slowly begins to change, especially after he witnesses Luffy taking down Crocodile, which the marines were happy to take credit for.
Seeing Smoker question the marine’s intentions while continuing to hunt down pirates has resulted in a pretty unique personal arc, but it also makes him a very unpredictable character any time he appears. Smoker may only show up every so often, but it’s hard not to love him, not just for his fascinating personal moral dilemmas, but also his absurdly creative design.
5Kizaru
Kizaru’s Flashy Fighting Style Is Complimented By His Endless Charisma And Rather Complex Personal Feelings
It’s not easy to find a marine more fun and charismatic than Kizaru. When he’s notzipping around a battlefield at lighting speedand blasting his enemies away with his fruit abilities, Kizaru can usually be found telling a joke or belittling his enemies as much as possible, but since Egghead, it’s become clear there’s a lot more to this seasoned veteran than meets the eye.
As someone who’s been a marine for several decades, Kizaru is an extremely experienced soldier who has formed many close bonds and relationships, which, in the case of Vegapunk, can end up getting in the way of his mission. Many marines make it clear whether they fully embrace or disdain the corrupt nature of the marines, but Kizaru stands out as a man who tries his best to hide his true feelings, which only adds more intrigue to his character.
4Koby
From Lowly Errand Boy To Secret SWORD Member, Koby’s Journey Has Been Incredible To Watch
Koby makes it clear very early on in the story that he has every intention of becoming a marine, though he doesn’t initially seem like someone who the marines would want to recruit, considering he starts off as a simple errand boy with no combat abilities. It’s remarkable what some training with Garp can do, though, as in the current story, Koby is now avalued member of SWORDwho excels at retrieving information and carrying out special missions.
As a character, Koby has had one of the most satisfying development arcs out of all the major marines, yet he has still managed to retain his charming personality that so many fans have come to love him for. Simply put, Koby is a character who steals every scene he’s in, and thankfully, he’s only become more relevant to the story as time has gone on.
3Akainu
Akainu Is Stubborn To A Fault And The Living Embodiment Of Absolute Justice
Akainu is a character who is easy to hate, not because he’s badly written, but due to how ruthless he is as a marine. As an Admiral who represents “Absolute Justice”, Akainu is willing to exterminate not just pirates but anyone who is deemed a threat to the status quo, as demonstrated when he destroys all of Ohara island just because the residents were trying to learn more about the Void Century and its secrets.
Akainu is the only marine who never second-guesses his actions, and as the man responsible for killing Ace and defeating Aokiji to become Fleet Admiral, it’s fair to say he’s had a very big impact on the story. Akainu may not be a “fan favorite” in the traditional sense, but Oda has done an excellent job portraying him as the terrifyingly loyal and brutal admiral who plays a very important role within the narrative. However, Oda has been dropping small glimpses of Akainu showing a bit of emotion here and there, which will presumably mean he still has a lot of time to grow in the story.
2Fujitora
The Rebellious Marine Has Done His Part In Reforming The Organization
Despite being a marine, Fujitora recognizes exactly how corrupt the organization truly is, so much so that he spearheads the campaign to abolish the Shichibukai, who were a group of pirates being protected by the world government. Inevitably, this puts him at odds with fleet admiral Akainu, which is always a joy to watch, considering nobody else in the marines is courageous enough to stand up to him.
Fujitora’s rebellious nature means he will often act as somewhat of a nomad, going where he pleases, even if it’s against Akainu’s orders. Being able to manipulate gravity itself also means Fujitora has unleashed some truly breathtaking attacks, a prime example being when he called down a meteor in Dressrosa, showing that beneath the calm and zen-like exterior lies anincredibly destructive powerthat can decimate anyone who gets on his bad side.
1Garp
The Almighty Garp Is A Man With A Mythical Presence And A Hugely Influential Legacy
On the surface, Garp can seem like a bumblingold geezerwho simply enjoys sitting around and eating snacks all day, but the truth is, he is considered a true hero among the marines who has left one hell of a legacy and still has much more to accomplish. When the deadly Rocks pirate crew, which included the likes of Big Mom and Kaido, were reigning terror across the world, it was Garp and Roger who took them down. This would be the clearest indication of Garp’s overwhelming strength, which is in stark contrast to the cool and relaxed persona that he puts on.
Garp’s personal beliefs have also been explored in great depth throughout the series, specifically his hatred of the Celestial Dragons, which is why he refuses to become a Vice Admiral, since this would involve him having to work under them. Garp is a character who has only become more and more beloved by fans as time has passed, thanks to how much of his legacy and character is being revealed bit by bit throughout the story arcs.
