One Piece Secretly Revealed the Rocks Pirates 18 Years Ago

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After keeping fans in suspense for years, One Piece has finally unveiled the Rocks Pirates in full splendor, featuring their mysterious captain, Rocks D. Xebec himself. Surprisingly, it was disclosed that Rocks is Blackbeard’s father, generating a wave of fresh possibilities and theories regarding the two characters. More significantly, though, this revelation allowed fans to associate names with many previously unidentified faces they initially encountered during the Egghead Arc’s God Valley flashback.

In a fascinating turn of events, Chapters 1155 and 1156 of “One Piece” have not only confirmed the identities of several members of the infamous Rocks Pirate crew but also revealed that some of these pirates were introduced to us as far back as 18 years ago, although we were unaware at the time. Among these pirates are Smuggler Ganzui, the Cat-Fishman Barbell, Captain John, and Gill Bastar, who was the lead character in Oda’s debut manga “Wanted!”. Interestingly enough, these Rocks Pirates initially made their appearance in “One Piece” as General Zombies under Moria during the Thriller Bark Arc, specifically in Chapter 450, which was published in April 2007.

One Piece’s Thriller Bark Arc Introduced the Rocks Pirates as Zombies

Since Chapter 957 revealed Captain John as part of Rocks’ crew, fans have been swiftly speculating that perhaps other members of the General Zombies were once part of this fearsome group as well. The God Valley flashback in Chapter 1096 only served to heighten these assumptions. From recent chapters, it appears undeniable that Ganzui is indeed Zombie No. 889, given that he bears the same armor and long, flowing goatee in both his zombified state and in the flashbacks.

In the 112th volume of “One Piece”, the creator Oda explicitly verifies that a character previously seen – the General Zombie armed with numerous guns and the Rocks Pirate sporting sunglasses and multiple arms from Chapter 1096 at God Valley – are actually the same individual. However, he hasn’t shown up yet in the ongoing flashback sequence. This enigmatic figure is known as Gill Bastar from “Wanted!”, but we might get to know him more fully in future chapters.

The character resembling a barbell somewhat closely mirrors one of the General Zombies donning a helmet and spiky neck adornments, but there isn’t solid evidence beyond the likeness in appearance. Only the General Zombie with comprehensive armor from head to toe and elongated claw-like weapons appears in Chapter 1096. It remains uncertain which member of Rocks Pirates this zombie’s body might be associated with, but Kyo, also known as Silver Axe, is a potential match given his cape resembles the one worn by the enigmatic zombie. However, it’s plausible that, like Gill Bastar, this could be an unintroduced crew member yet to be revealed by fans.

One Piece’s New Reveal Completely Recontextualizes the Thriller Bark Arc

As an observer, I find myself marveling at this recent disclosure, a revelation that might forever alter the perspective of “One Piece” fans regarding the Thriller Bark Arc. It’s astonishing to ponder over the fact that the Straw Hat crew managed to confront and conquer these once formidable beings prior to the time skip, albeit in their diminished states.

Initially, the Thriller Bark Arc was renowned for its comedic elements, often hailed as one of the funniest arcs in “One Piece”. However, this new disclosure has led me to reconsider its significance. The Thriller Bark Arc could potentially be one of the most pivotal stops on the Straw Hat’s journey, given the implications of this new reveal.

Moreover, this revelation seems to bolster a widely held theory that Thriller Bark might actually be remnants of the fabled God Valley. This thought-provoking disclosure certainly adds an intriguing layer to the narrative and makes me eagerly anticipate what other secrets are yet to unfold in the world of “One Piece”.

In Chapter 957 of One Piece, Sengoku introduced the Rocks Pirates, a group that was initially established around six years ago. It seems likely that Oda is introducing a retcon with many of these pirates now revealed as General Zombies from Thriller Bark. However, this connection does fit well with the storyline, as Moria started creating his zombie army after losing to Kaido. This could be an interesting twist to challenge Kaido again, especially since his former crewmates are involved. Moreover, if the Thriller Bark Arc wasn’t fantastic already, this new revelation certainly makes it worth revisiting.

One Piece is available to read on Manga Plus and Viz Media.

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2025-08-11 17:16