Summary
One Piecehas been on a spree to deliver some of the best story arcs in the history of the shōnen adventure anime. Currently, the Egghead Island Arc is going on in theOne Piecemanga and now that the anime is also headed towards it, it is certain that a lot of mysteries about different characters and plot points are going to get solved. Some new mysteries will also arise soon. One such mystery that has got the fans of the franchise all hooked is the one revolving around the backstory of the former warlord of the sea and commander of the Revolutionary Army, Bartholomew Kuma.
The mystery of Kuma’s past life has been a topic of intense discussion and speculation among the fans. However, like all the othermysteries and secrets inOne Piece, only one man knew this: the creator of the manga himself, Eiichiro Oda. Oda finally decided to introduce the backstory of Kuma in the ongoing Egghead Island Arc of the franchise. He let the fans of the franchise find out the origins of Kuma and how he eventually became who the fans know as the cyborg Kuma. Oda also gave Kuma’sDevil Fruit power a symbolic meaningthat suits him the best. Let’s explore Bartholomew Kuma’s hand of liberation.
The Buccaneer Legacy and Trauma
It was revealed by Oda during the Egghead Island Arc that Kuma belongs to an almost extinct special race of tall and strong humanoids known to the world as the Buccaneers. Kuma and his parents were abducted and enslaved by the Celestial Dragons as shown in a flashback. During that time, he met his future co-commander of the Revolutionary Army, Emporio Ivankov, and his friend and future wife Ginny at God Valley. They together liberated the slaves at God Valley using Kuma’snewfound Devil Fruit powers. Kuma settled down with Ginny and eventually married her in the Sorbet Kingdom. He used his Devil Fruit’s power to help the local people, such as old citizens of the kingdom, by taking out their pain and physical sufferings and inflicting them on himself with the power of his Nikyu Nikyu no Mi fruit.
Liberating The Straw Hats
Kuma introduced himself to the Straw Hat Pirates at the end of Thriller Bark Arc. He defeated them and made adeal with Roronoa Zorothat he would leave Monkey D. Luffy if the latter would take the suffering and pain that Kuma planned to inflict on Luffy on himself. However, as it was revealed recently, Kuma, being a good friend of the father of Luffy and former comrade Monkey D. Dragon, was testing his friend’s prodigal son and his friends. During the Sabaody Archipelago Arc, Kumaseparated the Straw Hatsand sent them to different places amid the chaos that they got themselves into after Luffy punched a Celestial Dragon and got Marine Admiral Kizaru and his nephew Sentomaru looking to capture the Straw Hats. Kuma sent the Straw Hats to places where they would be safe and become powerful enough to tolerate the rest of their journey in the New World.
The Straw Hat Pirates have becomeone of the most formidablepirate crews in the world ofOne Piecenow, with their captain becoming the newest addition to the list of Emperors of the Sea. It would not have been possible without Kuma carefully executing his plan to disperse them and ensuring that when they return after the time skip, they return stronger, wiser, and overall just better. Therefore, in a way, Kumaliberated the Straw Hatsby unlocking their limitless potential to grow as the new generational warriors and gave them the much-needed push.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Kuma loved all beings, he loved the people of the Sorbet Kingdom, and he loved his friends, but he loved his wife and best friend Ginny the most. Their daughter Bonny was the only and most memorabilia that Kuma had after Ginny died of the rare Sapphire Scales disease after having been abducted by a Celestial Dragon and afterward left to die. Bonny somehow inherited the same disease that killed her mother Ginny.Kuma sought out Dr. Vegapunk, and upon the suggestion of Dragon, the former agreed to cure Bonny and free her from the disease. But this came at the cost of Kuma’s own life and giving up something precious to every living being, their free will, memories, and personality.
To give his daughter a new and healthy life, Kuma decided to meet the stipulations put before him by St. Jaygarcia Saturn and became a cyborg after agreeing to give up his memories, free will, and personality. Kuma is undoubtedly a great example of anindividual going to impossible extentsto save his loved ones and sacrifice himself for the good of society. Therefore, Kuma, who was initially thought to be a villain and a mysterious character by the fans ofOne Piece,has turned out to be one of the most benevolent and altruistic characters in the entire franchise. Fans are not only praising the character of Kuma after the recent revelations but also pouring their love onto it. This is a precedent of top-notch character writing as shown so gracefully yet again by Eiichiro Oda.
