One Piece has a vast cast of characters, which is part of its appeal. This deep and wide roster of characters fits the franchise's globe-trotting adventure storyline and helps make the world feel like a living, breathing place. Of these characters, Monkey D. Dragon is one of the most interesting as he plays a massive role in the story, and his importance is growing with every passing chapter as he seems to be a crucial part of the endgame.
Fans were first introduced to Monkey D. Dragon in the manga's 100th chapter, "The Legend Has Begun," and the anime's 52nd episode, titled "Buggy's Revenge! The Man Who Smiles at the Execution Platform!" both of which are part of the Loguetown arc. In both the anime and manga versions, Dragon makes his presence known during a fight between Luffy and Smoker, moments before Smoker looks set to land a killing blow against the pirate. But, thanks to a sudden gust of wind, everyone is tossed aside, letting Luffy escape and live to fight another day.
The History Of Monkey D. Dragon
However, it wouldn't be until later that fans and Luffy learned an important fact: Monkey D. Dragon is Luffy's long-lost father. In the 314th anime episode titled "The Strongest Family Lineage? Luffy's Father Revealed!" which adapted manga chapter 432, "Jack-in-the-Box," Garp tells Luffy that the man they met in Loguetown is his father and that his name is Monkey D. Dragon. Garp also reveals a lot more about Dragon, including that he is the leader of the Revolutionary Army. An independent militia group fighting with the all-powerful World Government intending to destroy and dismantle it by any means necessary, including overthrowing the World Nobles.
As the manga and anime have continued, fans have been taught more about Dragon and his history. Chapter 0 and its OVA adaptation, One Piece Film Strong World: Episode 0, showed that Dragon was present for the execution of Gol D. Roger and thus the speech that sparked the golden age of piracy. Unlike other characters who reacted with intense emotion, Dragon seemed neutral or stoic about the execution and the furor it caused, which is fascinating in its own right. A few years after the execution, Dragon would become the leader of a small military group called the Freedom Fighters. Dragon approached Vegapunk about joining this organization, but Vegapunk turned the offer down, arguing that the group's lack of resources meant that he could do little for them, even as a genius, as he couldn't build anything within the group's limited budget.
However, Dragon's life would change massively when the Annihilation of Ohara happened. After hearing that people were illegally researching Poneglyphs on the island, the World Government attacked the island with a Buster Call. This Buster Call reduced the island to rubble, killing nearly everyone present. One such person was Professor Clover, the library director, an old friend of Dragon's. A few months after the Buster Call, Dragon visited the island to pay his respects to the man. While doing so, he met Dr. Vegapunk, who was also there to pay their respects. As the pair discussed the events, they reflected on their past together, with Dragon seemingly begrudgingly accepting Vegapunk's decision to not join the Freedom Fighters previously. But, as the pair reflected on the destruction, Dragon vowed to make an army that could one day avenge the fallen of Ohara and take down the World Government, planting the seeds that would become the Revolutionary Army, a group Dragon formed with Emporio Ivankov and Bartholomew Kuma a short while later. Shaka told the Straw Hats this tale in Chapter 1066, titled "The Will of Ohara."
Over time, the Revolutionary Army became infamous as it helped various islands overthrow their World Government-aligned local rulers. It would also grow in power, amassing ships and armaments, including all the armaments made on Dressrosa. Several mighty people have joined the Revolutionary Army, including Luffy's sworn brother "Flame Emperor" Sabo, Pump-Pump Fruit user Belo Betty, and Shear-Shear Fruit user Inazuma. This mighty crew and his revolutionary actions led to Dragon becoming known as the world's worst criminal.
Events in the manga and anime have suggested that Monkey D. Dragon is a powerful and clever combatant and tactician. One of the first things to note about Monkey D. Dragon is the D in his name, as this means he is linked to the Will of D, a long-running mystery within the One Piece universe. This mystery suggests that those with the D middle name are special in some way, with many legends saying that those who hold the Will of D are the natural enemies of the Celestial Dragons.
Monkey D. Dragon's Powers And Skills
While Dragon's one-on-one combat skills have not been showcased fully, it's clear that he is powerful due to his position as head of the Revolutionary Army. Many of the army's members have been seen taking down powerful foes. This includes the army's second in command, Sabo, who holds victories over Diamante and Jesus Burgess before he even had access to a Devil Fruit. Once Sabo consumed the Flame-Flame Fruit, he could take down Jesus Burgess with little difficulty. In the One Piece world, the strongest person tends to take the highest rank in the crew, meaning that logic dictates that Dragon, as the Supreme Commander, must be at least on par with Sabo.
This is partially proved by Dragon's first appearance. When Smoker moves to attack Luffy, Dragon grabs the weapon Smoker is wielding, and Smoker doesn't seem to resist or counter this grab. Though it's unclear if Smoker couldn't counter this or if he didn't want to due to fearing Dragon's reprisal. But both options make it clear that Dragon is a feared and likely powerful man.
Many also believe that Dragon has a Devil Fruit power of his own, though at the current time, this power has not been named nor demonstrated. A popular fan theory argues that Dragon uses a fruit that gives him control of the wind or storms, as there are several moments when Dragon's appearance is marked by suddenly intense bouts of weather, most notably the massive, unnaturally powerful gust of wind that saves Luffy. However, it seems likely that the truth will be revealed as the One Piece story heads into its final arc.
Monkey D. Dragon is one of the most fascinating characters in One Piece, as, despite his limited screen time, it's clear that he plays a massive role in the ongoing storyline, one that will only grow as the story heads into its final stretch. Plus, while fans know a decent amount about Dragon, many important details about him remain a mystery, making him one of the most intriguing members of the already fantastic cast.
