General Blackbeard Thread

[Jabra]

Why in the world would Oda have one of his characters say something like Zoro' is the Second in command when he isn't.

Because Urouge knows nothing about the Straw Hats, his comments are based on assumptions (Zoro being a super nova with a bounty far higher than the others, for example). Of course he would conclude that Zoro is the second in command, while we all know that there is no real order within the crew. We frequently get to see the Straw hats from the pov of others, but merely to see how notorious they are (and of course for giggles, like Choppers or Sanji's wanted posters).

I'm not considering Zoro (or any other SH) the first mate unless it is stated from someone within the crew (you know, the ones who can really judge).

And the only incident giving any "hint" is this one:

http://www.mangareader.net/103-2093-...hapter-42.html

Luffy agree's that if he ever chickens out, Usopp is the new captain.

Fits your description:

After Captain, the most authority on a pirate ship had Quartermaster. As a Captain's right hand, he was in charge when Captain was not around. He had authority and he could punish men for not obeying commands.

Now you can argue that this was comic relief (although I see no laughs, no face faults, whatever). You can also speculate that after Usopp left, the "deal" is void as well. But we don't know that, all assumptions.

But whatever, Oda will never break the unique relationship between the Straw Hats by introducing Whitebeard-like rankings.

Edit: Btw, It really feels like people need a compensation for Zoro having "no real job" on the ship. The SH's give a damn about that, why should we? Zoro is Zoro and his worth is unquestionable. And something on topic: I don't think Blackbeard has a first mate as well. Because frankly, out of all pirate crews, his seems to be the closest to the Straw Hats (captain cares for his members, no real order spottable etc)

[Superbear 22]

The point I was trying to make before it lead to a discussion about "first mates" and the position's legitimacy was that its commonly acknowledged that Luffy will fight Blackbeard and that the two swordsmen will fight but when it comes to other members duking it out, the obvious becomes muddled. It would, at least in mind makes sense for Nami the protagonist's (good guy's) navigator to fight Laffitte the antagonist's (bad guy's) navigator.

Though I'm not sure what in Laffitte's arsenal relates to direction or weather he and Nami both share ability of being illusionists. However the same can be said for Brook; to me with the pattern that seems to be developing, he should be fighting the Blackbeard crew's Musician, not its Navigator.

However this pattern may crumble apart when the question of "Who is the Blackbeard crew's archeologist?" comes into play but only time will tell.



On another note, do you'll think Shanks will take Blackbeard's eye? You know, as a act of revenge for giving him that scar on his eye all those years ago.

[Kaidonko]

I'm a bit suprised that Shanks hasn't pursued blackbeard yet. He has enough reasons to strangle blackbeard with his own intestines.

[Monkey D]

But if Shanks challenges Teach, chances are high that even if his crew win, they'll be pretty injuried and so Kaidoh or Big Mum could take the chance to strike him down.

[Kaidonko]

True. I still want to see Shanks fight.

[Baou Zakurga]

Wonder if Teach also has allies.Like maybe most of Whitebeards allies defected to Teach.If teach was conquering Whitbeards old territories,then maybe they felt no choice but to ally with Teach.And it's not like they cab do anything about it.

[Relapse]

Wonder if Teach also has allies.Like maybe most of Whitebeards allies defected to Teach.If teach was conquering Whitbeards old territories,then maybe they felt no choice but to ally with Teach.And it's not like they cab do anything about it.

I can see Squard allying with Teach. He seems stupid enough to be talked into it (then again, he could also be the least likely to join).

Also, I was just re-reading a few SBS from the war, and Oda answered a question about Marco's powers, stating that they have limitations to the regeneration, and that'll probably get shown later on. This may sound like it belongs in a speculation thread, but I could definitely see BB wanting Marco's power - it seems like a perfect bypass to the Yami Yami no Mi's weaknesses (that is, if he can absorb more than one other fruit).

[Jabra]

I can see Squard allying with Teach. He seems stupid enough to be talked into it (then again, he could also be the least likely to join).

Also, I was just re-reading a few SBS from the war, and Oda answered a question about Marco's powers, stating that they have limitations to the regeneration, and that'll probably get shown later on. This may sound like it belongs in a speculation thread, but I could definitely see BB wanting Marco's power - it seems like a perfect bypass to the Yami Yami no Mi's weaknesses (that is, if he can absorb more than one other fruit).

This would be the ultimate slap in the face, after all the talk about Whitebeard being their "father".

But on the other hand they are pirates after all....

[DynamiteShikoku]

True. I still want to see Shanks fight.

imo the only battle where we will shanks actually fights is when he confronts luffy. shanks will be a 'special' final boss in one piece. he's not evil, he just want to make sure luffy deserved the title of the pirate king and strong enough to continue roger's unfinished business.

as for blackbeard, he will be defeated by luffy before then. BB killed someone dear to luffy and that initiates the battle between them. this battle is supposed to be the final battle but then shanks shows up and challenge luffy.

[squishiejade]

I can see Squard allying with Teach. He seems stupid enough to be talked into it (then again, he could also be the least likely to join).

Also, I was just re-reading a few SBS from the war, and Oda answered a question about Marco's powers, stating that they have limitations to the regeneration, and that'll probably get shown later on. This may sound like it belongs in a speculation thread, but I could definitely see BB wanting Marco's power - it seems like a perfect bypass to the Yami Yami no Mi's weaknesses (that is, if he can absorb more than one other fruit).

That's like insulting the memory of Whitebeard. His allies called him their father and as far as I can see, they were close to him too, so why would they want to ally up with the murderer of their "father" that obviously loved them?

[Calchexas]

Honestly, there's way more "evidence" supporting Lafitte to be first mate of the Blackbeard Pirates than Zoro being first mate of the Strawhats. In addition to representing his crew at Mariejois, he oversees the devil fruit heist more prominently than any other crew member, stands like a "prospector" next to Teach when he reveals his Gura Gura, and is the first in line to vouch for his captain.

However, none of that is true evidence, since all it shows for sure is that Lafitte is loyal. And given that knife in the back to Thatch, we know just how much BB cares about loyalty...lol.

Still, I'm super-excited to see the Blackbeards for the first time since the timeskip. That SBS pic of Teach might've just added a bit more credibility to the cerberus theory... :P

[Md-Martin]

That SBS pic of Teach might've just added a bit more credibility to the cerberus theory... :P

Elaborate. To me he just looks like a sad kid.

[Calchexas]

^ Sure thing. In the picture, there is a waning crescent moon in the upper left corner. Perhaps Oda is going to use an amalgamation of werewolf mythology and underworld mythology, and make Teach turn into a monster whenever the new moon comes?

Eh...The more I write about it, the more absurd it sounds.

/end troll logic.

[Baou Zakurga]

Still, I'm super-excited to see the Blackbeards for the first time since the timeskip. That SBS pic of Teach might've just added a bit more credibility to the cerberus theory... :P

Complete opposite.It shows he cried at night,and now he uses darkness as his weapon to rule the world.

[kagehisa]

Here's my theory:

Shanks has been trying to obtain the One Piece ever since Roger died. However, due to the fact that either he is not a "D", or lacks some other aspect, he is essentially never able to obtain the One Piece using his own power. So for a long period of time, Shanks basically hit a dead end.

This is why Shanks got so excited when he met Luffy in the East Blue. We can recall Rayleigh quoting Shanks "I saw a kid in the East Blue that said the exact same things as Captain Roger"...

Through Luffy, Shanks has discovered a way of finally obtaining OP. However, how can a pirate inspire a young innocent child into a life of piracy? Shanks needed to do something dramatic in order to increase his "standing" in the eyes of Luffy.
Thus, he lost an arm. Let's think about this, who here honestly believes that Shanks could not evade or otherwise defeat that puny little "Sea King". Furthermore, giving Luffy the straw hat and instilling in his little childish mind all these grand stories of piracy, Shanks basically brainwashed (Garp's words) Luffy into trying to become the Pirate King.

When Rayleigh asked Shanks how he lost his arm, Shanks did not say something like "oh I was careless so a sea king bit it off". Instead, his answer was "I bet my arm, on the new generation".
The word "bet" implies to me that Shanks made a CONSCIOUS decision to lose that arm, and that it wasnt by carelessness or accident that he lost it.

Now let's look at the current situation. As far as we've seen, Shanks' crew appears to be the most laid-back out of all the high-tier pirates. For someone who supposedly believed in the same things Roger did, and seeks the OP, he sure isnt doing all that much...all his crew does is drink and party all day...he doesn't need to be a Yonkou to do that. In fact, if Shanks's true motivation was just to find a good place and settle down/chill, then he could have just stayed in Windmill village with Makino. Obviously, his continued presence in the New World shows us that he has Higher goals.

Now leading up to the prediction: Shanks realized that he lacked what was necessary to obtain the OP, so he found a way to use Luffy (whom he probably saw as a re-incarnation of Roger) to get it for him instead. When Luffy finally reaches Raftel, we will see Shanks swoop in to claim the OP. Obviously I'm not saying Shanks will be the "Aizen" of One Piece, but there's definitely more to him than just a "role-model" archetype.

Now here's where this post connects with the Blackbeard thread (and the paradigm shift / brainfuck begins):
I think that Shanks may have tried to use Blackbeard in the same manner, prior to meeting Luffy. Blackbeard caught on, and wasn't going to be a pawn on Shanks' chessboard, so they had a struggle and Shanks walked away with a scratch on his eye. I believe that at that time, Shanks should have been able to defeat Blackbeard if he really wanted to. But I think the reason Shanks did not kill BB on the spot, and continues to allow BB to roam the seas, is because he still sort of thinks of BB as a potential "ticket" to OP, in case his plan with Luffy fails.

Thoughts?

[Baou Zakurga]

Well,I agree on a few things,but disagree on others:

What I disagree with:

Shanks doesn't know how to get to Raftel-I think he does,he was there when it happened,the entire crew traveled together.But it seems that D people know how to get their naturally(or instinctively) but can tell other people how go get their(like Roger with whitebeard) but the way shanks sees it,it's not his place to find one piece.Hell,Buggy probably knows how to get their,the Roger pirates all may have made an agreement to never look for one piece,Like how the keep the secret thy were part of the crew

Which brings me to what i agree with- Shanks saw that Luffy is a d,and purposely 'brainwashed' him into piracy so he would fulfill what captain Roger wants:a D person to go out and be a pirate and find the one piece

[Refii]

Here's my theory:

Shanks has been trying to obtain the One Piece ever since Roger died. However, due to the fact that either he is not a "D", or lacks some other aspect, he is essentially never able to obtain the One Piece using his own power. So for a long period of time, Shanks basically hit a dead end.

This is why Shanks got so excited when he met Luffy in the East Blue. We can recall Rayleigh quoting Shanks "I saw a kid in the East Blue that said the exact same things as Captain Roger"...

Through Luffy, Shanks has discovered a way of finally obtaining OP. However, how can a pirate inspire a young innocent child into a life of piracy? Shanks needed to do something dramatic in order to increase his "standing" in the eyes of Luffy.
Thus, he lost an arm. Let's think about this, who here honestly believes that Shanks could not evade or otherwise defeat that puny little "Sea King". Furthermore, giving Luffy the straw hat and instilling in his little childish mind all these grand stories of piracy, Shanks basically brainwashed (Garp's words) Luffy into trying to become the Pirate King.

When Rayleigh asked Shanks how he lost his arm, Shanks did not say something like "oh I was careless so a sea king bit it off". Instead, his answer was "I bet my arm, on the new generation".
The word "bet" implies to me that Shanks made a CONSCIOUS decision to lose that arm, and that it wasnt by carelessness or accident that he lost it.

Now let's look at the current situation. As far as we've seen, Shanks' crew appears to be the most laid-back out of all the high-tier pirates. For someone who supposedly believed in the same things Roger did, and seeks the OP, he sure isnt doing all that much...all his crew does is drink and party all day...he doesn't need to be a Yonkou to do that. In fact, if Shanks's true motivation was just to find a good place and settle down/chill, then he could have just stayed in Windmill village with Makino. Obviously, his continued presence in the New World shows us that he has Higher goals.

Now leading up to the prediction: Shanks realized that he lacked what was necessary to obtain the OP, so he found a way to use Luffy (whom he probably saw as a re-incarnation of Roger) to get it for him instead. When Luffy finally reaches Raftel, we will see Shanks swoop in to claim the OP. Obviously I'm not saying Shanks will be the "Aizen" of One Piece, but there's definitely more to him than just a "role-model" archetype.

Now here's where this post connects with the Blackbeard thread (and the paradigm shift / brainfuck begins):
I think that Shanks may have tried to use Blackbeard in the same manner, prior to meeting Luffy. Blackbeard caught on, and wasn't going to be a pawn on Shanks' chessboard, so they had a struggle and Shanks walked away with a scratch on his eye. I believe that at that time, Shanks should have been able to defeat Blackbeard if he really wanted to. But I think the reason Shanks did not kill BB on the spot, and continues to allow BB to roam the seas, is because he still sort of thinks of BB as a potential "ticket" to OP, in case his plan with Luffy fails.

Thoughts?

My God, this is the most devious take on Shanks I've ever seen.

It's also way too much like Bleach and Naruto for my liking, Shanks has to die by Blackbeard's hand so that Luffy can surpass/avenge him.

[Triceron]

That sort of devious plotting is something I would expect Dragon to do more than Shanks. We know even less about Dragon and his motives on why he's protecting Luffy without showing himself. He saved Luffy at Loguetown from Smoker. He may also be behind Kuma's intervention at Sabaody, sending the Strawhats around the world to prepare for the New World. Why so shady?

As for Shanks, the only thing he did was plant the seed. He hasn't had any contact with Luffy until Marineford, to stop the war. If this was all a plan to use Luffy as a pawn, it would be too unreliable to work.

[parklane21]

I don't believe that a clash between Luffy and Shanks will ever happen... Simply, because Ben Beckman is not a swordsman.

[Relapse]

Here's my theory:

Shanks has been trying to obtain the One Piece ever since Roger died. However, due to the fact that either he is not a "D", or lacks some other aspect, he is essentially never able to obtain the One Piece using his own power. So for a long period of time, Shanks basically hit a dead end.

This is why Shanks got so excited when he met Luffy in the East Blue. We can recall Rayleigh quoting Shanks "I saw a kid in the East Blue that said the exact same things as Captain Roger"...

Through Luffy, Shanks has discovered a way of finally obtaining OP. However, how can a pirate inspire a young innocent child into a life of piracy? Shanks needed to do something dramatic in order to increase his "standing" in the eyes of Luffy.
Thus, he lost an arm. Let's think about this, who here honestly believes that Shanks could not evade or otherwise defeat that puny little "Sea King". Furthermore, giving Luffy the straw hat and instilling in his little childish mind all these grand stories of piracy, Shanks basically brainwashed (Garp's words) Luffy into trying to become the Pirate King.

When Rayleigh asked Shanks how he lost his arm, Shanks did not say something like "oh I was careless so a sea king bit it off". Instead, his answer was "I bet my arm, on the new generation".
The word "bet" implies to me that Shanks made a CONSCIOUS decision to lose that arm, and that it wasnt by carelessness or accident that he lost it.

Now let's look at the current situation. As far as we've seen, Shanks' crew appears to be the most laid-back out of all the high-tier pirates. For someone who supposedly believed in the same things Roger did, and seeks the OP, he sure isnt doing all that much...all his crew does is drink and party all day...he doesn't need to be a Yonkou to do that. In fact, if Shanks's true motivation was just to find a good place and settle down/chill, then he could have just stayed in Windmill village with Makino. Obviously, his continued presence in the New World shows us that he has Higher goals.

Now leading up to the prediction: Shanks realized that he lacked what was necessary to obtain the OP, so he found a way to use Luffy (whom he probably saw as a re-incarnation of Roger) to get it for him instead. When Luffy finally reaches Raftel, we will see Shanks swoop in to claim the OP. Obviously I'm not saying Shanks will be the "Aizen" of One Piece, but there's definitely more to him than just a "role-model" archetype.

Now here's where this post connects with the Blackbeard thread (and the paradigm shift / brainfuck begins):
I think that Shanks may have tried to use Blackbeard in the same manner, prior to meeting Luffy. Blackbeard caught on, and wasn't going to be a pawn on Shanks' chessboard, so they had a struggle and Shanks walked away with a scratch on his eye. I believe that at that time, Shanks should have been able to defeat Blackbeard if he really wanted to. But I think the reason Shanks did not kill BB on the spot, and continues to allow BB to roam the seas, is because he still sort of thinks of BB as a potential "ticket" to OP, in case his plan with Luffy fails.

Thoughts?

I don't quite agree with you there.

Although that sounds pretty amazing and is a (from what I've previously read) new twist on Shanks' character, I don't really think he has as much depth of character to be someone who would be so devious. You say that Shanks must have some reason for staying in the New World; Oda may not have created him that way at all. Shanks and his crew seem to be the most piratey of them all, and that was really what inspired Luffy. I agree that it's really stupid, but Shanks most likely did lose his arm to the Sea King because he was too slow - that act taught Luffy thatpirating isn't all fun - and that's it.
My thoughts are that Oda has simply written Shanks in as the purpose of being Luffy's idol and inspiration, and that's it. He'll have more to do with the story, I'm certain, but in the end he'll be surpassed by Luffy and possibly die to BB, which is what it looks to be shaping up like.

Of course, I could be horrifically wrong...but from what I've seen of Shanks' character, that seems to be all there is to him and anything else is mere speculation.