One Piece has an overwhelming amount of characters that get hard to track and trace back to the overall journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew. Each character has their own motives and actions that come full circle and take part in the story we know so far. Even insignificant marines like Helmeppo have become important figures in One Piece, thanks to his budding friendship with Koby and growing morals. However, it seems Oda has forgotten an important marine in Luffy’s journey, Smoker.
The Vice Admiral has chased Luffy around the Grand Line since Loguetown to catch him, just to disappear. Smoker hasn’t shown up in the series for ages with his last real appearance taking place in the Dressrosa Arc where he got thoroughly defeated by Doflamingo but saved by Aokiji before the last blow. The most recent panel of him was on a Billower Bike in the New World with Tashigi. Will the marine rival of Luffy ever return?
The Character Assassination of Smoker in One Piece
Smoker is one of the rare righteous marines who has little power in his field and yet shows defiance. He knew Luffy was a significant threat to the World Government and kept chasing him and the Straw Hat crew down. However, he also acted as his ally in several arcs. His eyes were opened to the corruption of the World Government in Alabasta when they turned their eyes away from Crocodile’s invasion due to his status as a warlord. Moreover, in Punk Hazard, he realizes Caeser Clown’s crimes are more grave at the moment and even faces internal marine betrayal by Vergo.
After Luffy and Law’s actions in Dressrosa, Smoker hasn’t been seen as a significant figure in the series at all. He hasn’t bothered to chase down Luffy once again, despite his continuous pursuit. Even the Egghead Arc didn’t bother to involve the marine. It would’ve been the perfect moment for Smoker to realize the pirate’s level up to Gear 5. However, there’s also no evidence the Vice Admiral quit his search for Luffy.
Fans are pretty disappointed by Smoker’s decrease in relevance to the story of One Piece. Once the marine rival and an obstacle to Luffy, he has been sidelined hard, replaced by Fujitora instead. It’s actually quite jarring to not have him appear. Eiichiro Oda clearly hasn’t forgotten about him either. Perhaps the Final Saga will have a way to make him relevant again with his mysterious crate.
Smoker’s Future: What Could Be Store For the Marine?
Many fans want the Vice Admiral to be promoted to Admiral at some point in the story or at the least we find out that he got the position but declined it, like Monkey D. Garp. Smoker seems to know what’s right from wrong, even allowing and assisting Luffy to do the same. While Doflamingo did do a number on him, he could heal and get stronger.
In a twist of events, Oda could also make him a future Straw Hat. That theory is rather outlandish and will never happen but tempting. Perhaps the marine will understand his Devil Fruit better and actually use it more effectively as his abilities are rather underwhelming. Still, we all agree Smoker’s absence is odd and want him back in One Piece.
One Piece is available on Crunchyroll.
