While the One Piece live action shines throughout the world, the work of Eiichiro Oda It grows as an anime and manga among fans of the franchise. Details about the fate of the characters begin to be revealed, even before they happen, through the illustrations of the Japanese mangaka.
ATTENTION TO SPOILERS.
Those who saw the anime or read the manga know the sad fate of Ace, Luffy’s older brother. During the Marineford War, Ace is captured by the Marines and taken to the town’s central square.
There, he is sentenced to death by public execution. Luffy, desperate to save his brother, launches himself into the Navy’s attack and manages to reach Ace. However, Akainu, one of the three Navy admirals, appears and stands in their way.
Akainu, furious over the death of his partner, Borsalino, attacks Luffy with his “Magma Fist”. Ace, who cannot allow his brother to be hurt, stands in the way of the attack and takes the fatal blow.
And although Eiichiro Oda says that this death was always planned, the mangaka reveals a detail before it happens without realizing it. It was the fans who noticed it in the SBS of volume 61, according to the review Extra Life.
The expressions on Ace’s hat, which remains in Luffy’s hands after his death, always said what he wanted to say to him at the time of his death.
“I was also surprised when I first realized this point. The curious thing is that the coincidence became reality. For Ace’s expressions when he was dying, I drew those two panels side by side,” said Eiichiro Oda in an interview published by the aforementioned media.
Eiichiro Oda had already given other clues to Ace’s death before it happened. In chapter 234 of the manga, Ace has a conversation with Whitebeard in which he tells him that he is prepared to die.
Whitebeard asks Ace why he is so calm, and Ace replies, “Because I know that no matter what I do, I will always be in Luffy’s shadow. I will always be the older brother who couldn’t protect him. But if I die, Luffy will be able to move on and fulfill his dream. That is what I want”
This conversation is a clear clue that Ace is prepared to sacrifice himself for Luffy. However, many fans did not notice her until after the event.
Another clue Oda gave was the fact that Ace was always surrounded by death symbolism. His skull tattoo, his ability to burn the living, and his name, which means “one” in Japanese, are all symbols of death..
Oda also said in an interview that Ace’s death was something he had planned from the beginning. He said at the time that I wanted to create a moment that would be impactful and emotional for fans.