Krieg and Gin finally return in One Piece manga after more than 25 years

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, skillfully weaves a cohesive narrative by giving significance to every character in the series. This is particularly remarkable considering the vast number of characters in One Piece. The expansive universe of the franchise is populated with numerous individuals, each possessing their own distinct traits that make them stand out and leave a lasting impression.

In particular, Oda has a tendency to reintroduce characters after a significant amount of time has passed, assigning them a significant new role. By doing so, the author maintains the vitality of the One Piece universe, portraying it as a constantly changing and evolving world. This has been demonstrated with prominent antagonists like Crocodile and Rob Lucci, as well as supporting characters such as Koala, Wapol, and others. It must be acknowledged that no character is truly finished in the world of One Piece.

Don Krieg and Gin’s return after more than 25 years of serialization is a testament to the enduring popularity of the series. Their last appearance was in chapter 67, released in November 1998. At that time, some current fans of One Piece were not even born yet, while others were already grown up and are now in their full adulthood. As such, Krieg and Gin’s cameo in chapter 1117 brings together fans of different generations in a nostalgic embrace.

Disclaimer: Major Spoilers Ahead for One Piece Manga Chapter 1117

One Piece Chapter 1117: The Return of Gin and Krieg with a Surprise Appearance

Two Iconic Characters from the Early One Piece

Krieg and Gin are fondly remembered by all One Piece fans for their significant roles in the East Blue Saga. During the Straw Hats’ visit to the Baratie, a floating restaurant in the heart of the ocean, Roronoa Zoro endures a devastating loss against his ultimate rival, “Hawk Eyes” Mihawk. As a result of his injuries, Zoro joins forces with Usopp to search for Nami, who was believed to have abandoned the crew. Meanwhile, chaos ensues at the Baratie as it turns into a battleground.

Don Krieg launched an assault on the Baratie in an attempt to claim it as his own. He sought to replace his pirate armada, which was decimated by Mihawk, with the ship. Despite Krieg’s nefarious intentions, Monkey D. Luffy managed to thwart his plans. The clash between Krieg and Luffy was fierce, but the determined young pirate refused to back down and ultimately emerged victorious against his more seasoned adversary.

Despite his lack of morals and tendency towards cruelty, Krieg possessed immense physical strength and a vast array of deadly weapons including a one-ton spear and golden wootz steel armor. However, none of his tricks and schemes were able to overcome Luffy’s resolute determination.

Gin, also known as “Man-Demon,”served as Krieg’s second-in-command and played a crucial part in the events that unfolded. He was fiercely devoted to Krieg and followed his orders without hesitation. In the battle at the Baratie, Gin successfully defeated Sanji, a skilled cook and a future core member of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Despite Krieg’s command for Gin to kill Sanji, the “Man-Demon”refused to do so. With tears in his eyes, Gin explained that even though he was ordered to do so, he couldn’t bring himself to end Sanji’s life. This was because Sanji had been the first person to show him kindness. In fact, not too long before their battle, Gin was on the brink of starvation but Sanji saved him by giving him some food.

After Krieg’s defeat at the hands of Luffy, Gin departed the Baratie with the rest of their crew. Before their departure, however, he expressed his desire to reunite with Sanji and Luffy in the Grand Line in the future.

The Unexpected Return in One Piece Chapter 1117

Gin wanted to meet Luffy and Sanji again, this time in the Grand Line (Image via Shueisha)

Luffy fought Krieg, the second to last pirate captain in the East Blue Saga, while Gin was known for his strength and integrity. Fans were particularly impressed by Gin’s selflessness, as he refused to betray his friendship with Sanji and was willing to face the consequences of disobeying Krieg.

Although Gin was known as the merciless “Man-Demon,”he still remembered Sanji’s compassion. Additionally, Gin held a great amount of admiration for Krieg. When Krieg requested that Gin discard his gas mask and inhale the lethal poison he had released, Gin willingly accepted this immense penalty without any objection.

Since their appearance in chapter 67 of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga, Krieg and Gin have not been seen. Fans have been left wondering about their fate, as the last time they were shown, Gin was severely poisoned by inhaling the deadly MH5 gas. This has led to speculation about whether he survived or not.

Despite the lack of hints about their fates in several hundred chapters, fans have always held onto the belief that Gin and Krieg, the “Man-Demon”and former antagonists, would eventually make a return due to Gin’s promise to reunite with Luffy and Sanji. This belief was finally validated in One Piece chapter 1117 when the two characters reappeared.

The matter featured Krieg, Gin, and their companion Pearl in Hachinosu, where they were shown among the numerous pirates discussing the contents of Vegapunk’s surprising message to the world. In contrast to their previous appearance, both of them now have longer hair.

It appears that Gin also carried a sword, leading to speculation that he had chosen to pursue the path of a swordsman. Perhaps after witnessing the incredible strength of Dracule Mihawk, known as the World’s Strongest Swordsman, he became enamored with the idea. However, the chapter provides little explanation as it only features Krieg and Gin in a single panel throughout the entire installment.

Sanji feeding a starving Gin (Image via Toei Animation)

After a long wait of over 25 years, fans were left feeling somewhat disappointed by Gin and Krieg’s cameo. Despite high excitement and curiosity surrounding their return, One Piece author Eiichiro Oda seemed uninterested in giving these two characters much attention. In fact, Krieg and Gin were not even properly reintroduced by the mangaka, appearing in the background with such little emphasis that they were barely recognizable.

It was undoubtedly a thrilling moment for fans when Gin and Krieg made their return. However, it was somewhat disappointing, especially considering the emotional bond between Gin and Sanji and the long wait for their reappearance. In hindsight, it may have been more satisfying to have their reappearance mentioned in the newspaper while reading about the Straw Hat crew’s adventures.

Krieg and Gin are now on Hachinosu, in the New World (Image via Toei Animation)

The final saga of One Piece has begun, and the author now has more pressing matters to address than Krieg and Gin. As a result, it is possible that the author may not have the time to fully develop these characters, and instead simply wanted to acknowledge their continued presence in the story.

Despite this, it is fascinating to note that the Krieg Pirates were able to enter and survive in the New World. It is likely that being on Hachinosu has led them to become followers of Blackbeard, who is currently located on the island. However, it is worth noting that neither Krieg nor Gin were present during the recent clash between Garp and the Blackbeard Pirates, indicating that they may hold a lesser role within Teach’s fleet.

Maybe the appearance of Krieg and Gin in chapter 1117 was simply a hint, and their subsequent journeys following their unsuccessful assault on the Baratie will be disclosed when they reunite with the Straw Hat Pirates, keeping the promise they made earlier.