The same question continues to baffle fans of the new One Piece live-action as well as first-time anime watchers: Is Gol D Roger Related to Garp? The answer is a complicated no.
The Pirate King, Gol D Roger is not directly related to the Hero of the Marines, Monkey D Garp.
They did cross paths briefly. They were both sworn enemies and unlikely allies, and Garp’s bloodline is not directly related to Roger’s. Roger had a son before his death – named Portgas D. Ace, who Garp adopted and raised alongside his own grandson. Ace and Luffy went on to become adoptive brothers, but this bond did not unite their families.
To unpack the meaning of all this and the relationship between Garp and Roger, let us dive into the past, present, and possibly future of Monkey D Luffy’s story in One Piece.
The bond between Garp and Roger in One Piece
As the strongest and most notable figureheads of both the marine and the pirate worlds, it is natural that Garp and Gol D Roger would be sworn enemies. However, more often than not, they were also unlikely allies.
The series’ namesake, the One Piece, was discovered by Gol D. Roger, the fabled king of the pirates before his execution. Portgas D. Rouge, Ace’s mother, was Gol D. Roger’s mistress. Sadly, Ace was born after his father had been put to death. Ace is therefore essentially a pirate prince and the son of the person Luffy most aspires to be like. Rouge chose Monkey D. Garp to raise her son despite the fact that it could appear odd for someone who frequently engaged in combat with Gol D. Roger as a Marine to rear a child.
However, this made more sense in the context of their shared history. It was revealed that Garp and Roger had teamed up to vanquish Rocks D Xebec, the most powerful pirate in recent history with a crew filled with future Emperors of the Sea. As such, while deeming them friends would be too much of a stretch, Garp and Roger were definitely begrudging allies who somehow trusted each other when it was most necessary.
Luffy and Ace: Descendants of Garp and Roger in One Piece
One notable aspect of the connection between Garp and Roger is Gol D. Roger’s son, Portgas D. Ace, who was reared as the adoptive older brother of Luffy, Garp’s grandson. The marine’s grandson and the pirate king’s son developed a special familial bond that goes beyond blood ties. This relationship instills a sense of linked kin in Luffy and Roger’s history, linking their destiny in unexpected ways.
The fact that Luffy has Ace as his sworn brother is a matter of destiny. This is because he is attempting to locate the One Piece and take over as the new pirate king. Ace is the very first person from Luffy’s family whom we meet. He helps his brother and his Straw Hat crew the first moment they meet. Although they are sworn brothers as opposed to blood brothers, this fact does not diminish their love for each other in the slightest.
At one point, Ace sacrifices himself so Luffy can escape, and if that isn’t real brotherhood, we don’t know what is. Garp’s love for his adoptive grandson Ace is no less valid, as made evident by his grief after the latter’s death. The families of Roger and Garp remain tied together by filial bonds of love, despite their lacking any blood ties.
Monkey D Luffy: Crossroad of Garp’s and Roger’s Dreams
Since his grandson’s birth, Monkey D Garp had wished for Luffy to become a hero of the marines and follow in his stead. But as fate would have it, his plucky grandson chased after the pirate king’s aspirations instead! To say Garp was unhappy with his grandson’s decision would be a major understatement. But despite his best attempts to beat Luffy into submission and force him to become a marine, the latter’s will proved indomitable.
As such, while Luffy is Garp’s biological descendant, he is the spiritual successor of Gol D Roger. In fact, Luffy’s relationship with Roger can be thought of as far deeper than his relationship with his own grandfather. They have shared experiences and unknown abilities that very few in the One Piece world share. For instance, Luffy has the uncommon ability to comprehend the Voice of All Things, a power that Roger also possessed. This shared ability suggests a deep bond, implying that they are tied by a fate that spans centuries.
The connections between the events in Loguetown, a significant locale in the universe, provide an additional degree of complication. Both Roger and Luffy found themselves in perilous situations on an execution platform in Loguetown. However, while Roger’s sacrifice was voluntary, Luffy was rescued by unforeseen circumstances—in both cases, lightning hitting the execution platform. The echoes of their trips resonate through this shared space, representing a conceptual thread that connects their stories.
The ‘Will of D.’, a mysterious idea that forms a fundamental thread in mythos, is another perplexing connection that unites these two people. Both Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Luffy have the mystery beginning ‘D.’ in their names, which is a signal of significance that connects them to a deeper ancestry. While all aspects and significance of this ancestry remain unknown, it establishes a compelling link that emphasizes their shared journey.
What is the Will of D?
It is time to address the elephant in the room. Hello Zunesha! While this sounds like a bad joke on face value, it is inextricably linked to the topic at hand. Zunesha the elephant is an 800-year-old elephant that has been wandering the seas since the Void Century – a time that is regarded to be devoid of information.
However, what is known about this era are that the World Government was formed while Joyboy, speculated to be the first member possessing the Will of D, lived during this time. The members of this D clan are fated to have godly wills, coupled with the ability to lead lives of high spirit and cheer, carrying a smile to their final moments as a defiance of the fear of death.
Whether the Will of D is a spiritual or metaphysical connection that binds all free-spirited people of the One Piece world or a special power belonging to members of a clan is yet to be known. What we have seen, however, is that it is possessed by marines and pirates, heroes and villains alike.
Members of the D clan
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Known D clan Members
And highly possible of being D clan members in One Piece pic.twitter.com/q6mZyDTdix— KING OF PIRATES (@LuffyTheJoyboy) June 13, 2023
Some of the notable members of the elusive D clan except for Garp, Roger, Luffy, Ace, and Rouge are:
- Nefertari D Lily: A figure from the world who lived during the Void Century. She was the monarch of Arabasta during the time and, by all accounts, one of the most prominent figures during the Great War. Nefertari D. Lily seemed to have been on the side of the Ancient Kingdom, although she pretended to be on the cause of the World Government for a particular reason.
- Marshall D Teach: The terrible captain of the Blackbeard Pirates who ranks with the Yonko of the world. Blackbeard is exceedingly powerful and can compete with the other Yonko. During the Grudge War, he easily annihilated the remaining members of the legendary Whitebeard Pirates, establishing himself as a formidable pirate for good.
- Rocks D Xebec: Captain of the infamous Rocks Pirates, he was Roger’s most formidable foe. He controlled the oceans of the world alone over 40 years ago with subjects like Edward Newgate or Whitebeard, Kaido the future King of the Beasts, Charlotte Linlin who would be known as Big Mom, and even Shiki the Golden Lion. Rocks acted as a terrorist and declared war on the World Government, which was unprecedented at the time. He was eventually defeated by Garp and Roger, who worked together to defeat the Rocks Pirates.
- Trafalgar D Water Law: A member of the Worst Generation, he was born in the North Blue town of Flevance. The entire village was killed as a result of the Amber Lead Disease, leaving him as the sole survivor. Corazon saved Law and taught him about the D becoming the Gods’ foes.
The link between Gol D. Roger, Monkey D Garp, and Monkey D. Luffy is woven with threads of common experiences, intriguing heritage, and intertwined fates in the magnificent tapestry of One Piece. Future revelations may provide further insight on the intricate link between these great figures as well as the elusive Will of D uniting them all as the series continues under the skillful hand of Eiichiro Oda.
