Prepare to be amazed! The world of One Piece, a manga and anime juggernaut, the best-selling manga of all time and one of the best-selling books in history, is known for its epic scope, intricate world-building, and, yes, a certain level of absurdity. It's a journey that began with a simple quest for treasure, but has blossomed into a sprawling narrative filled with complex themes like fighting against a corrupt world government, imperialism, censorship, and slavery. But here's where it gets truly interesting: the creator, Eiichiro Oda, has a knack for planting seeds that bloom decades later.
The story starts with a young boy named Monkey D. Luffy, who sets out to sea to find a legendary treasure and become king of the pirates. This seemingly simple premise unfolds into an epic story that is worth the time to embark on.
Take the Skypeia arc, for instance. Initially, it was a divisive story arc among fans, perceived by some as lacking momentum. However, it later became arguably the most important story arc when it came to the lore of One Piece. Similarly, the Davy Back Fight, introduced in chapter 306, didn't truly become relevant until chapter 1155—a testament to Oda's long game.
And now, after 23 years, Oda has finally delivered on the silliest joke in the entire One Piece saga. In chapter 1165, a flashback set nearly 40 years before Luffy's adventures, we meet a character who bears a striking resemblance to Marco the Phoenix, the 1st division commander of the Whitebeard pirates. His name? Polo. Gram Polo, who is very clearly meant to be Marco's father. Yes, you read that right: a Marco Polo joke.
This is the kind of humor we've come to expect from Oda, who, by the way, was inspired by Tom and Jerry for Luffy's ultimate power. It's also far from the first name pun in One Piece, as Oda loves including them, whether it's for attack names or character names. Usopp is famously a play on the Japanese word for lies, which he was known to be fond of in the beginning. Likewise, there is a character named Captain John, as in his last name is literally Captain, or how Kosuki Oden (named after the stew) suggested a bunch of oden ingredients when naming his son.
Currently, the One Piece manga is engrossed in a lengthy flashback, brimming with lore, and unveiling huge revelations about characters active before Luffy's time. The story is clearly building towards its final confrontation, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. And yet, Oda remains true to form, weaving in incredibly silly jokes.
With the anime set to shift to a seasonal format next year, we'll have to wait a bit longer to see Polo's debut on screen. But it's comforting to know that even as One Piece approaches its climax, Oda still makes time for a good, dumb pun. What do you think of Oda's humor? Do you appreciate the long game he plays with his jokes?
