Present time character deaths in One Piece is a very fascinating subject. Over the course of the story it becomes clear that Oda rarely kills off present time named characters preferring instead to incapacitate characters via defeats or injuries. Through the interpretation of logic, the situations certain characters are subject to should have an obvious end but time and time again, logic has been dissolved in favour of the desires held by Oda. It may just be my interpretation but with Oda's handling of death to present time important named characters, he has established that before he is willing to completely end a character’s life, their death must be able to significantly move the story forward and their will is able to be inherited by another character or characters still existing within the One Piece world. That way, even though the character has died, their role in the story is not over with their will being inherited and still influencing the world of One Piece. The prime examples of this are Whitebeard and Ace where the ripples of their deaths are still impacting the story and characters of One Piece.
In Pedro's case, given that I believe Carrot will eventually inherit his will, I don't disagree with him being "dead" but I do not agree with the impossibility that Pedro could be alive. Carrot has not inherited Pedro's will yet. What if Carrot never does? Until we get confirmation that Pedro’s will has been inherited by Carrot and/or Pekoms, he has yet to be fully embraced by the arms of death. Yes he was central to the bomb explosion. Yes he has a gravestone. Yes the story heavily implied he died. But as Robby mentioned, Pell also had all those things going for him and Oda revealed him alive once the arc was dealt with. If Pedro’s will is inherited that is a sure sign that Oda intends for Pedro to stay dead. Until then, regardless of how implausible, Pedro death is not 100%. Pedro having a chapter title during his sacrifice as is the case with other important present time characters that have died (Ace, Whitebeard and Shimotsuki Yasuie) does lead me to lean towards him being dead but I am just waiting to see if Carrot inherits the will of Pedro (she has not made the slightest mention of Pedro's dream/goal at all since his sacrifice - it has been around 15-16 days).
The obvious reluctance by Oda to fully represent the moment a character kills another is incredibly telling about Oda’s intention. If a present time named character is not confirmed dead and if inherited will is not a driving force in their character, the chances of them being fully dead in One Piece are not 100%. With each significant character death the story has a character ready to inherit the dead characters will and carry it into the future.
| East Blue Saga: Number of present time character deaths: 1:
I am including Higuma as a present time named character because the One Piece story did begin during that time and then jumped ten years forward to focus on Luffy leaving Foosha Village to form his own Pirate crew and find the treasure One Piece.
Fake outs:
- Nyanban brothers (Sham and Buchi);
- Gin
Both have been confirmed to be alive. |
| Alabasta Saga: Number of present time character deaths: 5:
- the Alabasta Tsumegeri Guards: Arrow, Barrel, Brahm and Hyota; and
- Mr 11
[Oda did have the Island Eater killed at the end of the Little Garden arc (though it is technically not a “character”)]
Both the Tsumegeri Guards and Mr 11 were exposition characters to highlight Baroque Works.
Fake outs:
- Igaram;
- Dorry
- the Lapahn;
- Pell
|
| Skypiea Saga: Number of present time character deaths: 2:
- Executioner” Roshio; and
- Unnamed character on Upper Yard (named Zabo in the anime)
Roshio like the Tsumegeri Guards weren’t significant characters to the respective arcs they were involved in and were primarily introduced to build up other characters, in this case Bellamy and his eventual one punch trashing at the fist of Luffy.
Fake outs:
- Bellamy;
- Pagaya; and
- Gedatsu
|
| Water 7 Saga: Number of present time "character" deaths: 1
Technically not a person but a character nonetheless that the readers have come to form an emotional connection with. The death of the Going Merry helped to set-up Franky joining the crew and making way for the Thousand Sunny to be introduced which has now inherited the will of the Going Merry. Franky has also gone on to create the Mini Merry II to honour the original ship and to keep its memory alive.
Fake outs:
- Franky Family;
- Galley-La;
- Oimo and Kashi
These characters were all blown off Enies Lobby when the Marines attacked. They all showed up later alive and revealed that Paulie saved them all with his ropes.
The fates of the CP9 and Spandam were also left up in the air with the readers presuming them to be dead until they appeared in the CP9’s Independent Report cover page story. |
| Thriller Bark Saga: Number of present time character deaths: 0
The Thriller Bark saga recorded no present time named character deaths unless you count the zombies whom are already dead like Ryuuma’s corpse. |
| Summit War Saga: Number of present time character deaths: 2
- Portgas D. Ace; and
- Edward Newgate aka “Whitebeard”
Ace was intimately linked to the overarching story of One Piece with Roger being his father. Ace dying provided Luffy with a reason to take time to train before entering the New World. Ace’s will has been inherited by Luffy and Sabo. Ace’s death allowed for Sabo’s entrance to become more meaningful and relevant. Additionally, Ace is part of the reason why Jinbe has become so connected with Luffy. Ace and his actions in the past continue to reverberate throughout the story of One Piece with them becoming relevant to the story unraveling inside Wano Kuni.
As for Whitebeard, he rejuvenated the passion driving pirates by confirming the existence of One Piece. It inspired a new generation of Pirates. Whitebeard’s death ended an era and set the scene for a new era to begin, an era defined by the members of the Worst Generation. In addition, Whitebeard dying allowed for Blackbeard to attain a second Devil Fruit power enabling him to wield seismic powers on top of his darkness. Further story threads dealing with Whitebeard’s past and his legacy are continuing to develop through the story of One Piece such as his history with the Rocks Pirates and his connection with Weevil and Bakkin. Whitebeard’s will has been inherited by the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates and likely also by Weevil who has been conditioned to believe he is Whitebeard’s son.
There were also plenty of non-named characters killed in level 6 Impel Down when Teach proposed his offer. Plus there is that Marine Sakazuki killed for fleeing the war because they did not want to die out of concern for their family.
Fake outs:
- Betham aka. Mr 2. Bon Kurei
- Lacuba (a fine example of Oda's writing style - despite being confirmed to have died after his body was checked, he appeared later celebrating with the rest of the slaves when Franky threw the keys for their chains to them); and
- Devil Dias
|
| Fish-Man Island Saga: Number of present time character deaths: 0
The Fish-Man Island saga recorded no present time named character deaths. Caribou did kill an unnamed Marine in the Return to Sabaody Arc.
Fake outs:
Vander Decken IX who appeared to have died after being injured by Hody and hitting his head which subsequently stopped his Devil Fruit power from affecting Noah. Vander Decken IX is alive though imprisoned along with the New Fish-Man Pirates who only aged from the effects of the Energy Steroid. |
| Dressrosa Saga: Number of present time character deaths: 0
No character has been fully confirmed to have died during the Dressrosa Saga, although there is that Donquixote Pirate subordinate Law transferred places with when Doflamingo expressed his anger on “Law”. Not sure if he did die though. Dragon Number Thirteen and Smiley did die but they were created by scientist as experiments.
Unconfirmed status:
- Monet
- Vergo;
- Rock; and
- Scotch
Both Vergo and Monet's final moment on Punk Hazard were “portrayed” as “death's” but given Oda’s writing style before these cases and since these cases, the likely scenario is Oda did not kill off Vergo and Monet. Rock and Scotch were also left on Punk Hazard and presumably succumbed to the Shinokuni Gas but they are likely still alive. There are several reasons for why I believe Monet and Vergo are alive with one of them being this comment from Law:
!
Oda does not want to associate Law with the concept of murder which is why he has not had Law kill any characters yet. Given how Law was directly involved in Vergo’s situation at the end of the Punk Hazard and indirectly involved with Monet’s scenario when he handed her heart back Caesar, if both of those characters were killed, Law would have been responsible to an extent for both of their deaths. Add this to Oda’s writing style and those are the reasons why I don’t believe Vergo and Monet are dead. Law aka. “Surgeon of Death” will continue to be a character that does not kill. This is even more relevant after chapter 996.
Fake outs:
- The Shinokuni Gas victims - Oda revealed at the end of the Punk Hazard that the gas has a weakness. None of the G-5 Marines or prisoners affected by the gas died.
Also important to note, Law helped the kids and removed the poison from their bodies. The kids were then taken to Vegapunk to be fully cured.
- Dressrosa Citizens; and
- Diamente (hit his head and began bleeding from it after his defeat from Kyros)
The arc that featured one of the most brutal, bloodthirtsty and sadistic antagonist in the One Piece story led to zero present time casuallties. In order to avoid characters from dying both named and unnamed, Oda introduced Mansherry and her Chiyu Chiyu no Mi which allowed her to heal any wound or injury. As a result, even with Doflamingo’s birdcage and his intention to kill everyone, no one in Dressrosa died. |
| Yonko Saga (ongoing): Number of present time character deaths (as at chapter 996): 2
- Jigra; and
- Shimotsuki Yasuie
Once Carrot and/or Pekoms inherits Pedro's will, he will join Jigra and Yasuie on the list.
I have not included Absalom in the list of dead characters because I not so sure he is dead. The manner in how Oda has portrayed his apparent “death” is curiously suspicious. Why would Oda tease us with his death and not show us his body? If Oda wanted to, he could have had the Blackbeard Pirates exhibit Absalom’s corpse to Moria. The fact that Oda chose to keep Absalom’s body hidden is very conspicuous. It has been expressed throughout the series that in order to attain a Devil Fruit power which was already in the possession of another person, one would have to kill the user of that Devil Fruit. But when you think about it, so to was the fact that a person can only consume one Devil Fruit ability but Teach changed all that. What happens if Teach has discovered or developed a way in which to strip a person of their Devil Fruit ability without killing them? The Yami Yami no Mi can already nullify the ability users power, what happens if Teach developed his abilities further and is now able to suck the Devil Fruit power out of the individual? If Linlin’s Devil Fruit is able to suck the life out of someone while keeping them alive, why wouldn’t there be a fruit that is able to suck the power out of someone and also keep them alive i.e. Yami Yami no Mi? Until we see a corpse, I am of the mindset that Absalom is not 100% confirmed dead. Absalom’s life could also be what Teach leverages against Moria to force him to work with him. Or there is also zombie Absalom.
Jigra was an exposition character for Katakuri's introduction.
Yasuie’s final speech united the Wano Kuni rebels against Orochi and Kaido and inspired those listening that change is possible. Yasuie’s death helped expose the inability of Orochi and his cowardice. The manner in how Orochi reacted conveyed to the people how fearful Orochi was of his reality and how unfit he is as their Shogun. Yasuie helped to throw confusion on Orochi’s schemes when Orochi received information from Kanjuro. As for Yasuie’s will, it has been inherited by the Akazaya Nine, the people of Kuri and even by Toko once she comes to terms with her father’s life having ended. Kaido and his Beast Pirates will be defeated and the Wano Kuni borders will be opened. All that Yasuie fought for will be achieved.
Unconfirmed status:
- Ginrummy;
- Sheepshead;
- Pekoms;
- Bobbin;
- Du Feld;
- Charlotte Opera;
- Kingbaum;
- Pedro (just waiting on Carrot…to inherit his will);
- Absalom;
- Germa 66
Fake outs:
- The Minks (when affected by the Koro gas Jack released);
- Moscato;
- Pound;
- Jinbe;
- Sun Pirates (considering Jinbe's content self, they are safe);
- Orochi;
- Kanjuro
Not even Moscato who was portrayed (chapter 829) as having been killed when he was attacked by Big Mom when she went on a Hunger Rampage. Moscato shows up later in the arc alive on the Queen Mama Chanter (chapter 901).
There was also the incident with Pound and how his actions against Oven appeared to have led to his execution but as illustrated through the “Gang” Bege’s Oh My Family cover story, Pound is still alive and has reunited with his daughters. |
Having looked at the characters who Oda has had killed in the present time, they are either: unnamed character, exposition characters that set up the threat of the antagonist, or named characters whose death contributes significantly to the development of the story and whose will ends up being inherited by an existing character(s) within the story.
The difference between exposition characters and the other named characters lie primarily in the importance they serve within the story of One Piece. If an exposition character were removed, their omittance would not change the story of One Piece at all.
With those characters whose fates have not yet been fully confirmed, as much as some of those characters have been portrayed as being killed, one has to interpret their fates through the writing style of Oda. As for their deaths contributing significantly to the development of the story, the only character present in that list that could serve such a function is Pedro. If Pedro’s will is inherited by Carrot (and Pekoms) and that becomes a reason for Carrot to pursue a certain path, than Pedro’s death would have served an important purpose within the story and at the same time allow his will to continue living on through Carrot (and Pekoms).
None of the other characters in the above list have had characters close to them introduced that could end up inheriting their wills. As such, I do not believe at this point in time Vergo, Monet, Sheepshead, Ginrummy, Pekoms, Bobbin, Du Feld, Charlotte Opera, Kingbaum and Absalom have been killed off yet. They will at some point in some form appear again in the One Piece manga.