One Piece: 7 Characters Who Need A Novel Adaptation

Being one of the longest-running anime series has its pros and cons. The length of the manga allows the author to explain almost every single event without having to rush through it. Among the few disadvantages associated with such titles is the lack of screen time for some characters, which is understandable considering the authors have to focus on more important things.

One Piece is no exception, and there have been quite a few characters who have had to settle for a limited number of appearances. To counter this problem, some characters have received novel adaptations that elaborate on their past. This is a great idea, and more novels could help fans learn more about their favorite characters.

7 Dracule Mihawk

Strongest Swordsman In The World

Not many One Piece characters can move the needle quite like Dracule Mihawk. Although he is the strongest swordsman in the world, Mihawk doesn’t go out of his way to boast about his accolades. However, he can be arrogant whenever he is fighting an inferior opponent.

Dracule Mihawk has a large fan following, and it’s all thanks to his cool character and overwhelming sword skills. Mihawk’s past has been revealed in bits and pieces to the audience, but there are still many loose ends that can easily be covered in a novel. It could encompass his time as a young swordsman and his journey to becoming the person with the most refined sword skills.

6 Whitebeard

Strongest Pirate In Different Eras

Edward Newgate is one of the many One Piece characters that are based on real-life individuals. In this case, his name has been taken from Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. Whitebeard was from the era of Gol D. Roger, and he was considered the only person to rival the strength of the Pirate King.

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There are other aspects of his life that remain in the dark. Fans don’t know how he ate his Devil Fruit or how he joined the Rocks Pirates. A novel covering these two things would certainly sell like hotcakes.

5 Shanks

One Of The Most Popular Characters

Shanks is arguably the most well-known red-haired anime character, which is rather remarkable considering his limited appearances. He has managed to cement his place in the hearts of the fans in just a few appearances. Shanks is an extremely powerful character who is capable of taking down a pirate with a 3 billion beri bounty with a single attack.

Much about Shanks and his past remains a mystery, making him the perfect fit for a novel adaptation. It would be an excellent idea to include his heartbreak after losing his captain and how he managed to overcome it. Furthermore, the audience would enjoy seeing how Shanks met his crewmates and formed the Red Hair Pirates.

4 Monkey D. Garp

Legendary Marine Hero

Monkey D. Garp is hailed as the Hero of the Marines for his efforts during the God Valley Incident, in which he saved the Celestial Dragons from the attack of Rocks D. Xebec and his crew. The incident made him popular, but Garp was not too fond of it, mainly because he had to ally with Roger.

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What makes Garp an ideal candidate for a novel adaptation is that there are many aspects of his life that haven’t been fully explored in the manga. His motivation to join the Marines, how he felt after Dragon’s decision, his relationship with Roger, etcetera, all remain unknown. So, there is no doubt that fans would love to learn more about one of the most iconic characters in One Piece.

3 Crocodile

One Of The Smartest Characters

Crocodile is indubitably one of the oddest characters in the series. Following his defeat to Luffy, everyone assumed that he was the weakest Shichibukai, but his feats in the Marineford arc proved otherwise. In the arc, he stopped Ace’s execution, clashed evenly with Doflamingo, and halted Akainu’s progress.

It was also confirmed that he fought with Whitebeard in the past and lived to tell the tale. These things paint a completely different picture of Crocodile. A novel that covers his life up to the point where he becomes a Shichibukai would do wonders for his character.

2 Monkey D. Dragon

Most Wanted Man

Monkey D. Dragon is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, making him one of the most important characters in One Piece. At one point, he was affiliated with the Marines but decided to leave after seeing their lack of morals.

Aside from this piece of information, Dragon’s past is shrouded in mystery. Fans have no idea about his relationship with Garp, who his wife is, or what kind of powers he has. Also, it is unknown what position Dragon held when he was working for the Marines. Most of these things can easily be stuffed within a novel, and it will add another layer of depth to his character.

1 Gol D. Roger

The Pirate King

Gol D. Roger is the only person who managed to conquer the Grandline, resulting in his coronation as the Pirate King. Roger began his adventure when he met Rayleigh, and the rest is history. In the last few arcs, Oda has revealed more about Roger, but it is not nearly enough.

There is a lot of potential in a novel for Roger, as it could cover how he came up with the idea of becoming a pirate, his journey up to the point that he met Rayleigh, his mysterious illness, and his battles with other notable pirates of his era.

One Piece (1999)

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Studio

Toei Animation

Creator

Eiichiro Oda