One Piece is an incredible narrative that chronicles Monkey D. Luffy’s quest to become the Pirate King. In its nearly 25 years of publication, the series has featured many of Straw Hat Pirates’ adventures.
As they sail the grand line, these heroes make their mark on nearly every island, creating plenty of exciting storylines for fans. Like any difficult story, One Piece has its share of highs and lows. These moments collectively form the iconic journey that has captured the hearts of fans, offering continuous visuals that captivate viewers. Although some characters may no longer be alive to exert their influence, their impact on the series remains indelible.
Among the significant character deaths, such as Edward Newgate, famously known as “Whitebeard,” and Oden, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, regrets one character’s demise that had a profound impact on the series fandom.
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Eiichiro Oda’s Second Thoughts on Ace’s Death in One Piece
A post shared by a reliable One Piece news reporter on Twitter known as @sandman, in which he shared Eiichiro Oda‘s perspective on the death of a particular character in One Piece.
This character’s fate sparked significant debate among readers, with many of them reaching out to Oda, pleading with him not to kill off the beloved character, Portgas D. Ace.
These concerns align with what Oda’s editor expressed, as they repeatedly questioned him, asking if he was truly going to kill off Ace, expressing doubts about the idea. Although Oda ultimately made the decision himself, he later admitted to being taken aback by the death of Portgas D. Ace.
When he watched the death unfold in the One Piece anime, it led him to second-guess his choice, prompting him to “wonder why Ace had to be killed in such a harsh way..”
Portgas D. Ace’s Impactful Journey in One Piece and Upcoming Spinoff Manga
Portgas D. Ace, the sworn brother of Monkey D. Luffy, played a significant role during the Marineford arc in One Piece. In this arc, Ace embarked on a mission to hunt down Blackbeard, who had fled after brutally killing a fellow crewmate.
Ace eventually confronted Blackbeard, resulting in a fierce battle that he ultimately lost. He was then captured by the World Government, which sentenced him to death as a way to set an example.
During the ensuing Summit War between Ace’s Whitebeard’s forces and the Marines, Ace managed to free himself. However, he tragically sacrificed his life in a heroic act to protect Luffy from the formidable Marine, Admiral Akainu.
Although Ace’s journey came to a sorrowful end in the main series, English-speaking readers will soon have the opportunity to delve into a One Piece spinoff manga that explores his early years.
This manga will adapt the light novel duology, One Piece: Ace’s Story, authored by Sho Hinata and Tatsuya Hamazaki. Boichi, the primary artist for the Dr. Stone manga, will provide the illustrations for this manga version, which is set to be released in English in 2024.
Source: @sandman
