22 Years Later: The Unexplained Controversial Panel in One Piece

The captivating narrative of One Piece is filled with enigmas, one of the most intriguing being the character of Blackbeard, a significant villain introduced over two decades ago through a rather perplexing panel.

Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, made his debut in the Jaya Arc of the One Piece manga more than 22 years ago. Over time, he has evolved into one of the most formidable pirates in the New World, earning the notorious title of Yonko.

Blackbeard is part of a unique lineage, a facet of his character that creator Eiichiro Oda has yet to explore deeply. Additionally, when Luffy, Nami, and Zoro first encounter Blackbeard, they remark, “There’s more than one,” hinting that he may not exist as a single entity. This has led to various speculations regarding the possibility of three souls residing within him, although the manga has not yet validated these theories.

Moreover, a crucial rule within the One Piece universe states that a living being can only possess the powers of a single devil fruit. If someone were to consume another, it would typically result in death. Nonetheless, Blackbeard defies this notion by wielding the abilities of two devil fruits, raising questions about how many more he might be capable of absorbing.

This panel is undoubtedly the most debated and enigmatic in One Piece history pic.twitter.com/eQIEpCui8Q

— Geo (@Geo_AW) October 9, 2024

Discussions among One Piece aficionados regarding this intriguing panel have resurfaced, with one user theorizing, “I’ve debated this, as someone mentioned it suggested ‘They’ due to sensing Blackbeard’s crew. Marco points out that their form differs significantly from others. Blackbeard’s flag, displaying three skulls, might symbolize three distinct personalities or possibly three devil fruits (perhaps a mythical Cerberus Zoan fruit?).”

“There are speculations suggesting Blackbeard has split personalities or even multiple hearts, which could explain his ability to wield more than one devil fruit. Marco mentioned during Marineford that his physique is unlike the typical human,” postulated another fan.

A different contributor remarked, “I suspect this was indicating they realized Blackbeard wasn’t solitary and had his crew positioned throughout the port.”

With the conclusion of the Egghead arc in the manga, you can delve into why this arc is considered one of the finest to date. For additional insights from the high seas, explore all there is to know about Shanks and check out our rankings of the strongest members of the Straw Hat crew.

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