One Piece is full of heartbreaking moments. From the heartbreaking death of Ace and Whitebeard to the terror of Ohara’s destruction, Eiichiro Oda has consistently demonstrated that his narrative is not merely an action-filled romp on the high seas but an emotionally shattering epic that makes its characters suffer beyond imagination.
But of all the heartbreaking panels in One Piece, maybe the darkest and most emotionally unsettling is the one that shows Bartholomew Kuma holding Ginny’s dead body inside a chapel. This panel stands out among fans for a simple but eerie reason, and that is Oda doesn’t reveal the complete horror of what happened in its graphic entirety.
The darkest panel in One Piece: Kuma holding Ginny’s lifeless body
Unlike most other deaths in One Piece, where the repercussions are spelled out through injuries or final words, Ginny’s death is left to our imagination. We know that she suffered from a disease so awful that even the World Government did not want anything to do with her, and we catch only glimpses of her weak and ruined body.
The pain Kuma would have experienced at that time is something that words cannot possibly convey. More sadly, Ginny’s final words were never heard by Kuma. She had no desire to burden him with Bonney, but he took on the responsibility nonetheless.
Comment
byu/Even-Run-5274 from discussion
inPiratefolk
One of the strongest aspects of One Piece has always been its dedication to consequence. When Ace died at Marineford, there was no ‘deus ex machina’ resurrection, no convenient means by which to reverse Luffy’s suffering. The consequences of that loss influenced Luffy’s life in deep and lasting ways.
The same with Whitebeard’s death, the devastation of Ohara, and even the tragedy of Noland, the man accused of being a liar when he was actually a hero. And that is precisely why, fans feel that having written one of the most heart-wrenching backstories in the whole series, Oda can’t just take the easy route and ‘fix’ Kuma’s backstory.
The pain of Kuma, his sacrifices, and the horrific price he paid to save Bonney would all be undermined if he were to revert back to his previous persona without any consequences. The narrative has already established that Kuma’s destiny is irreversible. He voluntarily gave himself up to the World Government, fully aware of what it would mean.
He was transformed into a machine, deprived of his humanity, and experimented upon until he became an empty shell. To suggest that there’s an easy way to bring him back goes against the emotional impact of his sacrifice.
The parallels to Ace’s Death: Living with the consequences
There has been a lot of speculation regarding the possibility of Bonney joining the Straw Hats as their 11th member. With her deep bond with Kuma and recent encounters with the crew, the theory isn’t without merit.
But if Oda exploits Kuma’s fix as a means to justify Bonney’s inclusion while simultaneously erasing the emotional stakes of his story, it would be an injustice to both characters. In Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece, Kuma’s story is one of ultimate sacrifice.
He didn’t save Bonney so she could just take his place as a Straw Hat. He saved her so she could forge her own path. Therefore, fans feel that to minimize his purpose to a stepping stone for her character development would be a mistake.
The Straw Hats don’t require another member at the expense of eliminating one of the greatest tragedies in the series. For example, if Ace’s death served as the catalyst for Luffy’s increased strength, then Kuma’s tragedy must be the same for Bonney.
She now directly understands the world’s cruelty and the real price of defying the Celestial Dragons. If Oda wants to make Bonney truly developed and more than just a plot device, she must continue the legacy of Kuma.
One Piece is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
