One Piece is not only the greatest selling manga series of all time, but it is also one of the greatest selling comic book franchises period. It regularly stacks up to juggernauts like Superman, Batman, and Spiderman, in yearly sales, and looks to be showing no signs of stopping.
The series is led by protagonist Monkey D. Luffy, who has ambitions to be the ‘Pirate King’, a title beholden to the pirate with the most influence.
Of course, this isn’t an easy journey, and in his quest, Luffy and his famous Straw hat crew have had to face a massive number of dangerous enemies and locales.
There have been some major victories, some major losses, and even some lasting scars throughout Luffy’s many battles towards his goals.
However, though Luffy is definitely the character with the most screen time in the series, there are still some grand mysteries surrounding him, such as who his mother is, and what the ‘D.’ in his name actually refers to. A commonly brought-up question with regards to the character is how he got his scars.
Let’s take a look at Luffy’s journey so far to find out exactly where his scars came from! (Beware! Spoilers abound below!)
An important distinction we must first make is between the two characteristic scars that Luffy has. He has one just under his left eye, and another across his chest in the post-timeskip period. Let’s talk about the facial scar first.
Luffy earned his eye scar during the very first chapter of the manga series, within the first few series. Luffy, at the time aged 7, takes a small knife and plunges it just under his eye to prove that he is more manly than his idol Shanks assumes.
Of course, this causes Luffy a great deal of pain, and he must get the wound sewn up. His mentor and idol, Shanks, berates him for the act, as it proves that Luffy is rash, and still not yet ready for the dangers of the sea.
This scar is still present on Luffy’s face to this very day and is an iconic image of the series. The scar was first accrued in the anime in episode 4, as the anime version of the series chose to save Luffy’s backstory for the fourth episode.
How Did Luffy Get His Chest Scar?
At around the halfway point of the series, in chapter 598 of the manga, and episode 517 of the anime, One Piece underwent a ‘time skip’ of around 2 years. During this time, the Strawhat crew were separated and chose to train and develop their abilities.
This meant that, once the characters reunited, they looked slightly different from how they did two years prior. Every major character received altered designs, with some supporting facial hair, taller bodies, and even a few scars!
One of the most striking character design changes was the large ‘X’-shaped scar now present on Luffy’s chest. For a long time, and even now, people wonder where that scar came from, as it is not necessarily directly addressed in either the manga or the anime.
The scar was in fact a result of the battle of Marineford which took place over the course of chapters 550 and 580 of the manga, and episodes 457 and 489 of the anime.
Of course, one of the most pivotal turning points during the battle of Marineford was the death of Portgas D. Ace. Luffy had spent a fair number of story arcs working desperately to save his ill-fated brother, and yet, with just one punch, Navy admiral Akainu was able to dash all of those hopes.
Akainu punched a hole right through the center of Portgas D. Ace, inflicting wounds that killed him shortly after. Luffy had to watch as his brother died, right there, in his arms. This is one of the biggest twists in the series and is a massive moment in Luffy’s life.
Of course, in order to signify that, series author Eiichiro Oda chose to give Luffy that distinct ‘X’-shaped scar on his chest. This is a permanent reminder of what Luffy has lost, and is something that drives him forward to this day.
How Did Zoro Get The Scar On His Left Eye?
As well as his captain and best friend Luffy, Zoro also suffered wounds of his own. During his two-year training with rival Dracule Mihawk.
Zoro, ever loyal to his title as a swordsman, and dedicated to his goals of one day dethroning Mihawk, takes Mihawk’s knife that previously defeated him in the East Blue and throws it in the air, to see if he is worthy to stand up to Mihawk.
The knife falls onto Zoro and he subsequently loses his eye. However, he does not let this get him down, and it just further spurns him on to be the greatest swordsman that ever lived.
Let’s Conclude
So there we have it! Luffy gained both of his iconic scars at very different but distinct points in his life. His first was gained towards the start of his journey, long before he ever took to the seas, and his second was gained as a result of his valiant efforts in the battle of Marineford to save his brother’s life.
Scars are a great way to have important events and moments of a character’s life permanently etched into their design. Luffy’s serve as a reminder of his tenacity, as well as the great risks and challenges he’s had to face in searching for his lofty ambitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is One Piece Ever Going To End?
One Piece has earned itself a reputation as one of the longest currently running manga series ever produced. Both the anime and manga versions of the series have exceeded 1,000 chapters and episodes respectively, and there is still plenty of content left in store.
However, recent story developments would suggest that One Piece has around 200 – 300 chapters worth of content still left.
What Is Luffy Age?
Presently in the story, Luffy is around the age of 19. Before the mid-series time skip, Luffy was around 17 years of age.
What Exactly Is One Piece?
It is still unclear, as of yet, what the actual One Piece, that the series is named after, is. However, we do know that it is a treasure of some kind!
