One Piece’s storytelling brilliance shines through Eiichiro Oda’s use of character parallels to highlight core themes like legacy, freedom, and inheritance. Throughout the series, Monkey D. Luffy has often been compared to the legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger, marking him as Roger’s true successor. But it’s not just Luffy, Oda is revealing that the entire Straw Hat crew shares more similarities with Roger’s pirate crew than fans might have realized.
Just as Roger had his “wings” in Silvers Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban, Luffy’s crew has two pillars in Zoro and Sanji. These two aren’t only the strongest members but also fiercely loyal and capable of making sound decisions when Luffy is absent.
While Rayleigh was introduced back in the Sabaody Arc, Gaban only recently appeared in the Elbaf Arc. Though hints about these parallels existed before, the cover of chapter 1156 officially confirmed this connection.
Chapter 1156 Cover Confirms Key Member Parallels
The official One Piece X account shared a time-lapse video of Oda drawing this chapter’s cover. Originally, Oda planned a brighter scene showing the Straw Hats playing with animals. However, he shifted focus to the Straw Hats’ “Monster Trio” and the strongest members of Roger’s crew. The final design places Nami at the center, flanked by Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
This cover reinforces Sanji’s crucial role in the Straw Hats, a topic often debated among fans. If Gaban was Roger’s right-hand man, Sanji is often seen as Luffy’s right-hand. The parallel between Zoro and Rayleigh is clear, they are both swordsmen and first mates. Although Oda has hinted that Zoro and Sanji are equally powerful, fan biases still spark debate.
On Roger’s ship, Rayleigh and Gaban frequently competed for second-in-command, a rivalry mirrored by Zoro and Sanji. From their first meeting, these two have been rivals, constantly pushing each other to grow stronger.
While Zoro has awakened Conqueror’s Haki, Sanji is no less formidable. With the developments in the Elbaf Arc, it seems the Straw Hats’ three strongest members will soon showcase remarkable growth, bringing them closer to surpassing even the Pirate King and his legendary crew.