‘Whitebeard was a Buccaneer’ Theory, Explained

Even after all these years since Marineford, Whitebeard’s glory is yet to be matched by any character in One Piece. He was the strongest man in the world with a simple dream to have a family. While his character arc concluded during Marineford, Eiichiro Oda kept making small revelations about his life through flashbacks.

He’s still a prominent figure for both fans and the characters. Egghead Arc added a new layer to his character, as some fan theories regarding his race and origins, started to surface on the internet.

After Kuma’s flashback and the revelation about the Buccaneers, many fans suspect that Whitebeard might have been a Buccaneer himself. If this theory ends up being true, then many plot points related to Whitbeard will achieve new definitions, given the dark and tragic past of the endangered race. There are many hints that suggest this to be true, and here’s an explanation of why. 

Whitebeard Being a Buccaneer is a Very Real Possibility 

The existence of the Buccaneer race was confirmed with the God Valley flashback during Egghead Arc. It was an extremely rare and nearly extinct species, and those with Buccaneer origins were targeted by the world government. The reason behind their exploitation was an unrevealed crime they had committed against the world.

Their physical appearance was quite distinct as they were way bigger in size than humans. Their endurance and strength were also significantly better. Kuma was the last known Buccaneer survivor. 

After Eiichiro Oda revealed the truth about the Buccaneers, fans started to notice the similarities between Whitebeard and Kuma. Both of them looked identical with unnaturally large physique and pronounced facial features. Moreover, Whitebeard’s dream of wanting a family makes much more sense when one considers the tragedy of the Buccaneers. His past experiences must have been unpleasant if people had the knowledge that he was potentially a Buccaneer. 

During Marineford, he endured several life-threatening injuries but stood firm even in his passing. He didn’t falter in the least, proving his extraordinary strength and endurance. He held his sons close to his heart. Even after being betrayed by one of them, he only had the kindness to show them in return. He deeply cared about everyone he was associated with. If he belonged to the endangered race, his feelings were probably a result of losing everyone he once held dear. 

These Reddit theories also point out the instance when Marco was asked by Izo about his faith in God. Izo pointed out that Marco was acting like Whitebeard when he was drunk. It was revealed that while Whitebeard wasn’t overly outspoken about it, he would often talk about God when drunk. He could probably be talking about Sun God Nika. If that’s the case, then it’s quite relieving to know that he got to meet Luffy, who wields the fruit of Sun God Nika.

Other Characters Who Could be Buccaneers in One Piece

All these hints throughout One Piece suggest that Whitebeard being a Buccaneer theory isn’t completely senseless. It’s quite sound, and for similar reasons, there are many characters who could also have the Buccaneer Blood in their veins. While having large physiques isn’t completely uncommon in One Piece, Big Mom and Blackbeard still stand out.

They could also have a similar origin as Kuma. There’s a lot of information that Oda hasn’t yet revealed about the nearly-extinct race. When he properly delves into the subject, we’ll probably find out about the crime they had committed and if the Whitbeard fan theory has any sound roots. Until Oda decides it’s time to make the big revelation, all we can do is wait. 

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