One Piece’s Laffitte may have been inspired by a truly brutal character, and the Final Saga might show it

The One Piece franchise has become renowned for its use of foreshadowing in its earlier chapters, often leading to significant plot developments and revelations hundreds of chapters later. While multiple characters have been affected by this storytelling technique, the focus has recently turned to a member of the Blackbeard Pirates, with suspicions of them being subject to the same foreshadowing.

Despite the fact that the entire Blackbeard crew consists of the most heinous criminals in the series, glimpses of their past and stories have been revealed. However, Laffitte remains an enigma as his background remains a mystery, with the only known information being that he serves as the crew’s navigator and possesses a mysterious Devil Fruit power that grants him wings.

In recent times, there have been theories circulating on social media about a potential link between Laffitte and Judge Holden from Blood Meridian. This is due to their comparable personalities and enigmatic presence, causing many followers to contemplate the idea of Laffitte being the ultimate criminal, much like Judge Holden in his own world.

This article includes significant spoilers for the One Piece series and minor spoilers for the Blood Meridian novel.

One Piece: Laffitte just might be inspired by one of the most despicable characters in fiction

Like Laffitte, Judge Holden remains an enigma throughout the story, as his actions are difficult for readers to understand. However, unlike Laffitte, he is not the main antagonist of the story. Despite his mysterious presence and unexpected appearances, theories have emerged suggesting that he may be the ultimate antagonist behind Blackbeard.

Despite what some may believe, Laffitte was chosen for his position due to his impressive accomplishments. One such feat was his successful infiltration of the Holy Land of Marijoa, where he attended the Seven Warlord meeting and suggested Blackbeard as a potential warlord.

Despite being attended by some of the most formidable pirates, such as Doflamingo, Kuma, and Dracule Mihawk, Laffitte’s sudden appearance without being detected proves that he is a force to be reckoned with, even for the Seven Warlords.

With Laffitte serving as the navigator of the Blackbeard crew and the knowledge of all these factors, it is highly likely that he is the brains behind Blackbeard’s operations, as evidenced by his actions throughout the One Piece series.

Blackbeard as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Judge Holden’s beliefs, ruthless tactics in eliminating his adversaries, and his thirst for blood rendered him the most formidable adversary in Blood Meridian. This parallels the potential threat posed by Laffitte in One Piece, particularly given his notorious past as a violent sheriff and his brutal actions in his home country. These actions ultimately led to his exile from the entire West Blue region.

Despite frequently acting on his own and managing to evade Mihawk’s observation haki, Laffitte’s presence in the series remains enigmatic and captivating. This has solidified his reputation as one of the most charismatic and potentially ruthless characters in the entire One Piece universe.

The symbol of swans, often associated with twins in mythology, has been a recurring motif in Laffitte’s character. According to historical accounts, the infamous pirate Jean Laffitte had a brother who bore a striking resemblance to him. This could suggest that Laffitte may have a twin, and there is a possibility that this twin could be one of the newly introduced Holy Knights.

Final Thoughts

Despite his lack of exploration in the series and only making brief appearances in the anime, Laffitte has become popular among fans due to the enigma surrounding him. This is noteworthy considering that many other members of the Blackbeard Crew have been thoroughly explored in the story.