Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead)

[Deicide]

@black-leg-jex how big the reveal should be doesn’t matter to the argument, what matters is that there’s a connection that the story has made effort to keep hidden.

Think about it: it’s important because unlike with, say, Kima visiting Mihawk’s island, in which we can surmise they met, had a small chat, drank some wine and parted ways, showing a 2-panel scene of Kuma and Hancock meeting would just call for more questions, because of how hard is to deal with Hancock’s personality. We know Mihawk can be chill, but Hancock is prejudiced and always on guard, which is why that encounter is likely to be explained with some more depth.

Not to mention that Kuma may potentially have sent Luffy to Amazon Lily because the island has something to do with Sun God lore.

[electricmastro]

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

Do you think Caribou will become a titanic captain because of how valuable his information is? He could even face off against Shanks Rockstar in the inevitable clash between shanks and Black Beard

Maybe Straw Hats will get an apprentice like Shanks and Buggy

Would prob depend on how useful Caribou still is to Blackbeard after the info dump I’d say.

Though seeing as how there’s the idea that Kuzan will eventually quit at some point after he has satisfied his own agenda, then perhaps that would lend more to the argument that Caribou becomes replacement Titanic Captain. So that it can still be 11 vs. 11 between Straw Hats and Blackbeard Pirates.

[Deicide]

It's interesting that adding Kuzan to the Blackbeard Pirates both seem to confirm there will be another Straw Hat member, thus fueling speculation, and at the same time leaves it uncertain because Kuzan can betray or be betrayed by Blackbeard, and if that happens, there's both chances of having another or no one to replace him. This also makes any match-ups or predictions about the 11th Straw Hat up in the air, as we don't know exactly who's the counterpart to who for most of the crews.

[Chams 0]

Kuzan ia probably going down to the Blackbeards themselves. After he reveals he’s spying for the marines/ has his own agenda, Teach is likely prepared to take him down. That’s not a crew that trust each other, so Teach probably has countermeasures to all his companions

[Captain Krupp]

@electricmastro said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@danie said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Chams-0 said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

For me the “no kids on the ship” rule from Shanks is still valid. As fun as Bonney is as a character I think her happy ending will be living as a kid with no dangers around her, instead of risking her life at the sea.

The issue with that is that Bonney can literally become an older version of herself... I don't think she's joining but her age is not a good argument against her.

She literally survived as a pirate with a bounty that even Kuma had no problem with. This along with Chopper pretty much being like a kid that Luffy accepted due to his power is prob telling enough that Luffy won’t be restrictive like Shanks.

Chopper wasnt meant to be a kid when Oda created him, he was against cute kids and mascots, but Ikue Ohtani's performance made him both things retroactively.

But I wanna see Bonney join and she has shown constantly she can handle herself.

[FolhaS]

Chopper was "15" when he joined the crew.
And you can see from the first sketches of the crew that proto-Chopper was a middle-aged reindeer.

Oda made him the youngest member of the crew long before the voice was a factor.
But 15 is already a teen, and only a couple of years younger that Luffy and Usopp were. The difference between someone mid teens and a pre-teen is significant.

[electricmastro]

I think we could expect Vivi to appear on Elbaf during this arc. She knows Luffy is friends with Dorry and Brogy and that he and Usopp have always wanted to go to Elbaf. She also would know Morgans exaggerated on the Giants killing Vegapunk, so I think all of this would be enough for her to go to Elbaf now and get Luffy’s help.

[Shiebs]

Well I always meant it as a joke but based off Loki’s introduction there’s zero chance of him joining the crew lol

Also we’ve still got zero mention of Kuma’s current state, but he’s still with the crew I think, so 2.9 devil fruit theory is still alive and kicking

Also Lilith is still around

Also Yamato still knows Luffy’s true dream and Black Beard is probably invading Wano so there’s that

[electricmastro]

Anyways, just realized that Lilith doesn't seem to be making an attempt to go back to the mecha action figure Vegapunk. She seems content with sticking around with the crew for now, so maybe she'll be sticking around for several arcs like Law did.

[Dahaka]

Vivi is joining the SH's for the final adventure, no one can convince me otherwise after the newest chapter. There is absolutely no reason to split the crew in a way that would not give the newspaper info to the original 6 other than to postpone their decision to go get Vivi. I'm also 99% sure this is the place Oda said he wanted to skip but Luffy wouldn't let him to.

[Deicide]

@Riddler said in Think elbaf:

Yamato had me waver on this point for a while there, but I have been feeling for a long time that there are no Intentions on Oda's part to actually add another member to the crew, aside from epilogue stuff, perhaps. It just feels too late in the story to introduce yet another main characters and make them believably bond with the crew to the extent the other Strawhats have on their long journey. Oda must realize that himself and if he truly wanted to, he could have added a new member in Punk Hazard, or Dressrosa, or Zou, or any of the Post-TS arcs, really. I think he still likes playing with the fanbase a bit, because he knows they love to speculate on who might next join the crew, which is why we get characters like Carrot or Yamato from time to time.

Overall, I think you could say that Pre-TS OP was fundamentally about forming a crew, while Post-TS OP is about actually becoming a big name pirate and finding the One Piece, and everything that comes with that - building alliances with other pirate crews, forming a Grand Fleet, finding the Road Porneglyphs etc.

But all of the characters added to the crew as actual long-term main characters and official Strawhat pirates were introduced pre-TS, even Jinbe.

I found this take from @Riddler interesting so I brought it to the proper Next Crewmater Thread.

I always felt that none of the post-timeskip characters had any chance of joining the crew. My position was always that if we are getting an 11th crewmate, it would follow these guidelines:

• It would be a pre-timeskip character that's already established. It's a character Oda has already put to the test in regards to popularity and design.
• Its story will be closely tied to endgame plots so the joining and character arc can blend in with already existing story (i.e.: the character likely won't have an arc-specific story).
• The last crewmate is probably a big surprise that Oda has been careful to not have readers suspecting it. In other words, it would happen when we least expect it.

[electricmastro]

@Dahaka said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

Vivi is joining the SH's for the final adventure, no one can convince me otherwise after the newest chapter. There is absolutely no reason to split the crew in a way that would not give the newspaper info to the original 6 other than to postpone their decision to go get Vivi. I'm also 99% sure this is the place Oda said he wanted to skip but Luffy wouldn't let him to.

Sure, unless that’s meant to be a red herring and that Vivi won’t be reunited with the crew until the last 10 chapters or something. lol

[Cockycent]

I think Lilith is still active unless Oda finds a new base group for her like Saul or the other Satellites get her back.

For example, Paulie could barely get away from his base group, while Franky was completely separated.

Oda yanked Carrot away for a whole arc, then put her right back with Wanda and the Minks. Slightly detached during Onigashima, but right back with the Minks for most of it.

Yamato felt like he was trying, but would end right back up with Momo. I still gave him room to see if Oda would change directions, but he kept throwing him back in Retainer Drive.

Lilith began with the crew, back to her locals, then with Brook. Even when others made it around her or could get close potentially, they would sacrifice themselves. Well, Edison survive. The only hope for Lilith is the friends around the world possibly including Saul like Heradas is. There's a NEO MADS opportunity too.

As for now, she is getting crew interactions here and there.

[Shiebs]

We should make a new poll

Who would you guys want on it?

I’d say
Jewelry Bonney
Bartholomew Kuma
Lilith
Nefertari Vivi
Yamato
Smoker
Boa Hancock

Who did I miss? I feel like I missed someone?

Maybe Eye Patch character and man with the burn scar as wild out there as predictions

[Deicide]

@Cockycent said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

I think Lilith is still active unless Oda finds a new base group for her like Saul or the other Satellites get her back.

I think Lilith is unlikely to go beyond a companion for a time. I expect her to have some role for when we go meet Saul and she may help Kuma recover, but I feel at some point she will leave on her own. Maybe she sticks with Kuma and Bonney and they go to the Revolutionaries.

---

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

We should make a new poll

I'd wait at least until Elbaph starts picking up steam and we know all or most of its players before making a poll. Right now, people would just stick to convictions rather than looking for clues in the story.

---

On the topic of Smoker that was being talked in the Elbaph thread, I feel he meets my theoretical critteria (posted 3 posts above this one). He, Vivi and Hancock all fit as pre-timeskip characters, but Smoker is the one that would require more story to justify him working with the Straw Hats in more than a temporary fashion.

(Also, personally, I feel Vivi will travel with the crew again anyway, but she won't be the 10th crewmate. I expect her status to remain special rather than be elevated to permanent crewmate. For instance, I don't see a Blackbeard counterpart for her, and her role in the story will not be action-heavy)

[Shiebs]

Yeah I agree that Oda would need to jump through hoops to make Smoker joining seem reasonable but I have no idea where his character is going, after egghead he’s been totally eclipsed by Koby as Luffy’s Marine rival, he’s the only good guy Marine who didn’t help try and save Koby and get time to shine, and he has a clear obvious Black Beard Pirates rival in Aokiji

That being said Kuma has the 2.9 devil fruit and Yamato knows Luffy’s true dream and Black Beard will be invading Wano soon so who knows

[Deicide]

@Shiebs
The point that Koby replaced him as Luffy's marine rival is very valid, but it's possible that Smoker could join Koby's team instead. We already saw Koby working with Tashigi after all. Not saying I think that's what's going to happen (I sincerely have no clue), but we need to consider all possibilities.

Another faction that comes to mind is the Revolutionary Army. I know I point them a lot as a possible end for many characters, but from in-universe characters PoV, if you want to destroy the World Government and put a better thing in its place, it's the RA that should be sought. They are the true "good guys", Luffy is just going on an adventure and you join him for a personal dream or because of some old prophecy that you believe he's meant to fulfill.

Heck, Smoker becoming a disillusioned marine that seeks true justice seems a lot like Dragon's own story.

[Shiebs]

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs
The point that Koby replaced him as Luffy's marine rival is very valid, but it's possible that Smoker could join Koby's team instead. We already saw Koby working with Tashigi after all. Not saying I think that's what's going to happen (I sincerely have no clue), but we need to consider all possibilities.

Another faction that comes to mind is the Revolutionary Army. I know I point them a lot as a possible end for many characters, but from in-universe characters PoV, if you want to destroy the World Government and put a better thing in its place, it's the RA that should be sought. They are the true "good guys", Luffy is just going on an adventure and you join him for a personal dream or because of some old prophecy that you believe he's meant to fulfill.

Heck, Smoker becoming a disillusioned marine that seeks true justice seems a lot like Dragon's own story.

Yeah but there’s nothing built up there, Smoker randomly joining the revolutionaries really does nothing for the story I think

His connection with Luffy is the major driving force of his character

Luffy’s literally the reason he headed out to the grand line in the first place, everything he’s ever done as a character has been about his obsession with Luffy

Although I guess he did interact with Monkey D Dragon that one time

But I just don’t see there being any build up to joining them, where as Luffy is the main driving force of his character and he has a parallel in the Black Beard Pirates Aokiji

[Cockycent]

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

I think Lilith is unlikely to go beyond a companion for a time. I expect her to have some role for when we go meet Saul and she may help Kuma recover, but I feel at some point she will leave on her own. Maybe she sticks with Kuma and Bonney and they go to the Revolutionaries.

---

When I listen to VP speak to Dragon about how his Revs don't have the funds to help his research, I hear Lilith.

Whether back then or now, Revs just don't have what it takes for Lilith who wants to test weapons out,

If anyone, Lilith fits NEO MADS and their cold heartedness. They love testing weapons back then and now.

Back then, it look like VP was above it, but Lilith feels like it is right up her alley.

Every time Shaka told her to chill out, I can see Caesar and Judge being right there with her

[Deicide]

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

Yeah but there’s nothing built up there, Smoker randomly joining the revolutionaries really does nothing for the story I think

I agree. I don't put a lot of weight on that idea, but it makes some sense in-universe, so maybe a narrative can be crafted in a way that fits. For instance, maybe in a future arc Smoker starts as an enemy, but the Revolutionaries are involved, and over the course of the arc Smoker sees he's more in line with them. Him joining them would be the conclusion to his story, rather than a lead-up to something later.

Notice that I'm not really convinced of it, this is not a theory that I will defend. I'm just throwing ideas at the wall.

---

@Cockycent said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

When I listen to VP speak to Dragon about how his Revs don't have the funds to help his research, I hear Lilith.

Yeah, but that was a younger Vegapunk that didn't expect the government to turn on him. The Revolutionary Army is way bigger now, and it's not like the Straw Hats have any money or resources to fund her either. So, Lilith could go to the Revolutionaries not because they'd be great patrons, but because she would want to fix past mistakes. Besides, if the revolution suceeds, she will be on the side of a new government that can fund her.

---

@Cockycent said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

If anyone, Lilith fits NEO MADS and their cold heartedness. They love testing weapons back then and now.

I kinda agree, but would Judge and Caesar even want to deal with a Vegapunk again? And wouldn't Lilith's position there be rather precarious? I also expect Neo MADS to be antagonists again, and that's a position that Lilith wouldn't fit that well.

Also, just like with the Smoker talk, this is all just conjecture. I'm not proposing any theories here, just trying to think of several possibilities and guess which ones feel more right.

[Cockycent]

@Deicide VP provided that Dragon knew the WG had it's flaws, but within had individuals that were worth working for.

To be honest, the WG didn't turn on VP. VP turned on them. He looked into PG research and knew he shouldn't. He seen what happen to his friends Clover and Kuma for defying the WG.

Take PG research out of the equation and they are still working together. Even before that, he defied them by putting a different kind of function on the switch in Kuma.

VP was a line stepper with the WG. There is no way they turned on him. He did that.

As we see with Edison and Lilith, needing funds to support their work is still in play.

It makes sense that Shaka called Dragon and Edison called Haredas. It doesn't even appear like a "save me" message on Shaka's part.

VP was making inventions for peace while the rest of MADS wanted to test out weapons for war.

[electricmastro]

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs

Luffy’s literally the reason he headed out to the grand line in the first place, everything he’s ever done as a character has been about his obsession with Luffy

Obsession? He does plenty of other things like investigating Crocodile and going to Marineford, no? I figure if he really had an obsession, he'd have encountered Luffy plenty more times now.

But at any rate, if Smoker was going to quit the Marines and join Luffy I figure Oda would have built that up more over these last 10 years, but instead, he seldomly has had Smoker appear, nor make it more apparent what his goal/purpose would be.

As I also figure that any purpose Smoker would have that's better off being accomplished with Luffy would have been more apparent by now.

Like, what about this panel would help further lend to Smoker joining the crew? Is there something in the crate he wouldn't want the Marines to know about or something?

[Chams 0]

I keep thinking that whatever made Rocks move against the Celestial Dragons on God Island was that the CDs stole something from Pirate Island. What if Smoker used the rescuing of Koby to secretly steal this same treasure, transporting it with his bike. A new conflict between WG and Pirates could be starting

[Deicide]

@Chams-0 I thought the same thing. Maybe Smoker stole the mysterious treasure of Hachinosu for whatever reason.

[Shiebs]

@electricmastro said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs

Luffy’s literally the reason he headed out to the grand line in the first place, everything he’s ever done as a character has been about his obsession with Luffy

Obsession? He does plenty of other things like investigating Crocodile and going to Marineford, no? I figure if he really had an obsession, he'd have encountered Luffy plenty more times now.

But at any rate, if Smoker was going to quit the Marines and join Luffy I figure Oda would have built that up more over these last 10 years, but instead, he seldomly has had Smoker appear, nor make it more apparent what his goal/purpose would be.

As I also figure that any purpose Smoker would have that's better off being accomplished with Luffy would have been more apparent by now.

Like, what about this panel would help further lend to Smoker joining the crew? Is there something in the crate he wouldn't want the Marines to know about or something?

If I remember correctly he was investigating Croc because he was there looking for Luffy (could be wrong) and I don’t think it was an option not to go Marineford during the war, if you were a high ranking marine you were going, also he’s definitely obsessed with Luffy, but that doesn’t mean Oda is going to put him in every single arc, that’s just not how he works

And as for building up him joining, he’s literally seen Luffy be a hero and honorable a bunch of times and even worked alongside him, there was the whole point where Smokers subordinates acknowledged that the straw hats were good people at punk hazard

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see where his story is going

[Deicide]

@Shiebs Smoker was hunting Luffy but was never doing so single-mindedly. He was still doing marine work, which led him into capturing Mr 11, which eventually led him to find out about Baroque Works. He went to Alabasta to capture Luffy, yes, but also because he didn't trust Crocodile.

[Shiebs]

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs Smoker was hunting Luffy but was never doing so single-mindedly. He was still doing marine work, which led him into capturing Mr 11, which eventually led him to find out about Baroque Works. He went to Alabasta to capture Luffy, yes, but also because he didn't trust Crocodile.

I think we’re splitting hairs here, sure he does other Marine work stuff, but most of what we see him do revolves around his obsession with Luffy

Clearly when he’s off screen he doesn’t just sit in a corner mumbling about finding Luffy, but dude definitely has a goal of catching him that drives a lot of the scenes he’s in

I just hope if he doesn’t end up joining that Oda finds some way of doing his character justice

The two of them did promise to have a proper fight when they meet again right?

[Deicide]

@Shiebs But that's what makes this not an obsession. While Smoker has consistently kept an eye out for Luffy, it's not his single driving goal. Between encounters he's doing other stuff, not just obsessing over Luffy. Likewise, in both Alabasta and Punk Hazard he was willing to let go of his objective momentarily because there were more important matters than capturing Luffy. He knows how to sort his priorities.

Capturing Luffy is an objective of Smoker, not his sole driving goal.

[Shiebs]

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs But that's what makes this not an obsession. While Smoker has consistently kept an eye out for Luffy, it's not his single driving goal. Between encounters he's doing other stuff, not just obsessing over Luffy. Likewise, in both Alabasta and Punk Hazard he was willing to let go of his objective momentarily because there were more important matters than capturing Luffy. He knows how to sort his priorities.

Capturing Luffy is an objective of Smoker, not his sole driving goal.

Fair enough

[electricmastro]

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@electricmastro said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs

Luffy’s literally the reason he headed out to the grand line in the first place, everything he’s ever done as a character has been about his obsession with Luffy

Obsession? He does plenty of other things like investigating Crocodile and going to Marineford, no? I figure if he really had an obsession, he'd have encountered Luffy plenty more times now.

But at any rate, if Smoker was going to quit the Marines and join Luffy I figure Oda would have built that up more over these last 10 years, but instead, he seldomly has had Smoker appear, nor make it more apparent what his goal/purpose would be.

As I also figure that any purpose Smoker would have that's better off being accomplished with Luffy would have been more apparent by now.

Like, what about this panel would help further lend to Smoker joining the crew? Is there something in the crate he wouldn't want the Marines to know about or something?

If I remember correctly he was investigating Croc because he was there looking for Luffy (could be wrong) and I don’t think it was an option not to go Marineford during the war, if you were a high ranking marine you were going, also he’s definitely obsessed with Luffy, but that doesn’t mean Oda is going to put him in every single arc, that’s just not how he works

And as for building up him joining, he’s literally seen Luffy be a hero and honorable a bunch of times and even worked alongside him, there was the whole point where Smokers subordinates acknowledged that the straw hats were good people at punk hazard

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see where his story is going

A character like Yamato has repeatedly voiced wanting to sail and hasn’t killed that desire in spite of staying behind for Momo, who likewise also supports her desire. She also supports Oden and his legacy which will def play into a larger purpose to her sailing as well.

And yet some people tell me that isn’t enough. If even that’s not enough going for Yamato to justify sailing, then what can be really said about Smoker, who has never even voiced a willingness to quit the Marines and join a pirate like Luffy for a larger purpose in all these years?

[Shiebs]

@electricmastro said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@electricmastro said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

@Shiebs

Luffy’s literally the reason he headed out to the grand line in the first place, everything he’s ever done as a character has been about his obsession with Luffy

Obsession? He does plenty of other things like investigating Crocodile and going to Marineford, no? I figure if he really had an obsession, he'd have encountered Luffy plenty more times now.

But at any rate, if Smoker was going to quit the Marines and join Luffy I figure Oda would have built that up more over these last 10 years, but instead, he seldomly has had Smoker appear, nor make it more apparent what his goal/purpose would be.

As I also figure that any purpose Smoker would have that's better off being accomplished with Luffy would have been more apparent by now.

Like, what about this panel would help further lend to Smoker joining the crew? Is there something in the crate he wouldn't want the Marines to know about or something?

If I remember correctly he was investigating Croc because he was there looking for Luffy (could be wrong) and I don’t think it was an option not to go Marineford during the war, if you were a high ranking marine you were going, also he’s definitely obsessed with Luffy, but that doesn’t mean Oda is going to put him in every single arc, that’s just not how he works

And as for building up him joining, he’s literally seen Luffy be a hero and honorable a bunch of times and even worked alongside him, there was the whole point where Smokers subordinates acknowledged that the straw hats were good people at punk hazard

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see where his story is going

A character like Yamato has repeatedly voiced wanting to sail and hasn’t killed that desire in spite of staying behind for Momo, who likewise also supports her desire. She also supports Oden and his legacy which will def play into a larger purpose to her sailing as well.

And yet some people tell me that isn’t enough. If even that’s not enough going for Yamato to justify sailing, then what can be really said about Smoker, who has never even voiced a willingness to quit the Marines and join a pirate like Luffy for a larger purpose in all these years?

No need to convince me of Yamato’s chances, I can totally see him joining after the cover story, in fact he’s the character I want most, just keeping my options open for now, just incase

[black-leg jex]

I feel Smoker is clearly being set-up to be a future Admiral and part of the Coby-squad of good Marines by the end arc. He's been associated with both Aokiji and Fujitora, the two most lightside leaning admirals. And Tashigi was recently paired up with the SWORD squad and Garp, who else sit in that realm of morality.

They're still going to end up clashing with Luffy before the story ends; Coby made that clear at the end of Egghead and I think it would be bad writing if Smoker and Luffy don't ever get an actual fight after all this time but Oda has defo been building them up to be the future of the Marines. By the end of this series I could see Kizaru being Fleet Admiral with Coby, Smoker and Prince or Drake being the new Admirals.

[Robby]

@black-leg-jex said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

and I think it would be bad writing if Smoker and Luffy don't ever get an actual fight after all this time

I think Haki, and then Punk Hazard, pretty much ended any juice that fight was ever going to really have. After how Law completely manhandled the guy, and Luffy is leagues tougher at this point.

We already got Luffy vs. A smoke guy with Ceaser and that guy had knock out gas. ANd Luffy is solo-ing Admirals.

That's not a fight Smoker has any chance at now unless he looney tunes it up by like, putting a plate of meat in a seastone cage or something.

[kevo_koma]

@black-leg-jex said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 10 - Egghead):

I feel Smoker is clearly being set-up to be a future Admiral and part of the Coby-squad of good Marines by the end arc. He's been associated with both Aokiji and Fujitora, the two most lightside leaning admirals. And Tashigi was recently paired up with the SWORD squad and Garp, who else sit in that realm of morality.

They're still going to end up clashing with Luffy before the story ends; Coby made that clear at the end of Egghead and I think it would be bad writing if Smoker and Luffy don't ever get an actual fight after all this time but Oda has defo been building them up to be the future of the Marines. By the end of this series I could see Kizaru being Fleet Admiral with Coby, Smoker and Prince or Drake being the new Admirals.

How in Gods name will the Smoke guy ever compete equally with the reincarnation of a god?

Seriously, now that Luffy is spamming gear 5 for every fight. How could smoker ever compete with that
Luffy was literally toying with Kizaru, Lucci and the other elders

[black-leg jex]

I didn't say Smoker needed to have a chance of winning. It could be the equivalent of the Lucci fight from Egghead. Luffy has yet to win a fight against Smoker (in Punk Hazard he abandoned the fight because Smoker was in Tashigi's body) so I feel like that needs to happen before the series is up.

Besides, Oda can just pull whatever he wants to make Smoker stronger if he needs to. In Dressrosa Law was manhandled by Doflamingo and then less than a month later, in-universe, he's awakened and fighting Big Mom to a win.

[Deicide]

@kevo_koma frankly, if Koby can jump from wimp to Luffy’s rival, so can Smoker level up.

But to be frank I don’t think either will be in a 1v1 fight with Luffy. They will be antagonists that cause trouble, not enemies that need a beating