From the very first chapter of One Piece, creator Eiichiro Oda established the unmatched importance of Pirate King Gol D. Roger. As the only person in history to hold the title of Pirate King, Roger is seen as the most pivotal figure in the series, having sparked the entire Great Pirate Era with his famous last words on the execution platform.
Throughout the story, Roger’s legend remained untarnished. However, with the highly anticipated flashbacks to the ancient era in the Elbaf Arc, fans have begun to turn away from him. Instead, they are focusing on another legendary figure from that time, whom they believe is the true heir to Roger’s title. What has caused this surprising shift?
Fans see a different side of Roger in the Elbaf flashbacks
For years, fans eagerly awaited flashbacks to the golden age of Roger, Garp, and Whitebeard. These flashbacks began in the Elbaf Arc, portraying these characters at their peak.
This sparked the first major controversy among fans regarding Roger. His first appearance in these flashbacks, in Chapter 1156, shows him as a lovestruck and somewhat foolish young man desperately chasing after Shakky, who completely ignores his advances. While this was clearly meant for comedic effect and succeeded in that, many felt it significantly diminished Roger’s original charisma.
Originally, Roger was depicted as an almost mythical figure, both inspiring and fearsome. But in the flashbacks, Oda portrays him much like Luffy: a cheerful, carefree pirate. This portrayal has lessened Roger’s initial appeal, leading many to feel his greatness has been downplayed.
Furthermore, during the confrontation between Roger and Garp in Chapter 1156, fans felt that Garp’s punch not only caused physical harm but was also humiliating. Subsequent chapters delve deeper into Roger’s unrequited love for Shakky, who ultimately ends up with his best friend.
This new emotional angle has led many fans to reevaluate Roger’s previous appearances, pointing out several flaws in the Pirate King’s character.
Fans mock Roger and his crew for knowing the world’s greatest secrets and how to prevent them from becoming problems, yet leaving those issues for future generations to solve. There is also much ridicule over how some of the greatest figures in history died fighting the World Government, while Roger’s death was relatively peaceful.
Even for someone remembered as one of the strongest ever, Roger’s combat record is underwhelming. He teamed up with Garp to defeat Rocks D. Xebec, never defeated Whitebeard, only beat Shiki thanks to an unusual storm, and had to sneak past Big Mom to steal a Poneglyph instead of facing her directly.
These points contribute to why many now view Roger as overrated and undeserving of the Pirate King title.
Fans believe someone else deserves the Pirate King title
When considering the traditional definition of a “pirate,” most fans agree that no one fits better than the legendary Davy D. Xebec (Rocks D. Xebec).
Although much of his name has been erased from history, the actions Xebec took in just a few chapters confirm him as one of the most complex and powerful characters in the series, embodying the perfect definition of a pirate.
Throughout his career, Rocks D. Xebec killed an admiral, assembled the strongest crew in history (including Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom), and was the first to bring direct war to the World Government.
Initially, he sought to become king of the world, but after starting a family, he matured significantly. His main goal at God Valley was to protect his family, showing Rocks as a compelling and multi-dimensional character. Thanks to his incredible strength, unwavering attitude, and lasting legend, Davy D. Xebec is widely considered by fans as a far more fitting candidate for the title of the first Pirate King.