A beforehand unseen prototype of Eiichiro’s Oda’s One Piece manga has been unveiled by the collection’ very first editor.
Initially titled Ahead, it dates again to 1994 when Oda was simply 19, and provides a glimpse into the concepts that may ultimately evolve into the One Piece collection.
Ahead incorporates a protagonist named Monkey D. Pao, an optimistic boy whose design bears a hanging resemblance to Luffy. Pao’s bandana even sports activities a sample harking back to the Gomu Gomu no Mi, the Satan Fruit that grants Luffy his rubber-like skills.
One other key character in Ahead is Rizel, a woman thief who shares similarities with Nami. The prototype additionally sheds gentle on the collection’ formative crew dynamic.
In keeping with Oda’s early drafts, Nami was initially meant to be the primary crewmate to hitch Luffy on his journey. This element was mirrored by her presence on the quilt of Chapter 1 alongside a then-absent Zoro.
It additionally featured a personality named Merry, the Spirit of the Rubber Tree, who’s a whopping 5008 years previous and possesses fun eerily just like the mysterious Nika’s “Wahahaha”.
This revelation has followers suggesting Oda may need envisioned the Gomu Gomu no Mi and even Merry possessing a will of its personal because the very starting. It additionally foreshadows the Gomu Gomu no Mi’s connection to the Solar God Nika.
Furthermore, Oda had beforehand revealed that his prototype works, similar to Monsters, featured characters and themes that later advanced into One Piece characters.
The samurai Ryuma, who seems alongside a dragon in Monsters, is an instance of this.
Oda at all times wished to attract a mix of samurai and knight. This concept finally manifested within the characters of Zoro and Sanji.
“Ryuma the samurai has appeared together with the dragon in my prototype works, MONSTERS. I at all times wish to draw the mix of samurai & knight in MONSTERS, however in the long run they’ve turn out to be the prototype model of Zoro & Sanji“.
One Piece began serializing on Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Bounce Journal from 1997. The manga, which is at present in its ultimate saga, has turn out to be one of the best promoting manga collection in historical past.
The chapters of the manga have been collected into 108 tankobon volumes as of March 2024. An anime adaptation by Toei Animation has been airing since 1999. In the meantime, a remake of the anime to cater to new audiences is at present underneath manufacturing at WIT Studios – titled The One Piece.
Supply: Library of Ohara
