As one ofthe longest anime of all timeand a manga with over 1000 chapters, it’s no surpriseOne Piecehas a massive cast of characters. There are 10 members of the Straw Hat crew at this time, including the captain, Monkey D. Luffy. Plus,One Piecehas no shortage of villains, with every arc introducing new antagonists for the Straw Hats to face off against. However, some arcs bring back villains from the past, like in Wano, which sees Big Mom return and team up with Kaido. This is also the case for some ofOne Piece’ssupport characters.
Vivi, for instance, is an honorary Straw Hatintroduced in Alabasta, the next saga the live-actionOne Piecewill adapt for Netflix. At the end of Alabasta, Vivi chooses to stay in her country, but she would love to reunite with the Straw Hats again in the future. While Vivi has yet to meet with the Straw Hats, she has returned, and in a massive way.There are plenty of other characters who’ve come and gone fromOne Piece.Their stories, while expanded on, have yet to fully conclude, especially the following nine.
7Johnny and Yosaku
Before Luffy, Zoro Teamed Up With These Bounty Hunters
Before Luffy entered each Straw Hats' life, these characters had prior relationships, friends, and enemies. Nami, against her will, was part of Arlong’s crew, Robin was Crocodile’s right hand, Franky had the Franky family, and so on. Even Zoro traveled with others before Luffy and he crossed paths, teaming up with Johnny and Yosaku as bounty hunters. Not much is revealed about their past together other than that they were bounty hunters, andgetting more of them could expand on Zoro’s past life working other roles.
Johnny and Yosaku are also massive allies of the Straw Hats during Baratie and Arlong Park, but that is the last time they team up with the Straw Hats. While they pause being Bounty Hunters to become fishermen in Nami’s village, according to the manga,it is shocking we’ve yet to see them make a grander return, especially now that Luffy and the Straw Hats have a fleet. AsOne Pieceenters its endgamesaga, it would make sense for the allies of the Straw Hats to band together, including the likes of pirates, former villains, and former bounty hunters like Johnny and Yosaku.
6Smoker
Tashigi Has Returned, But Smoker Is Still Missing In Action
WithSeason 2 of the NetflixOne Pieceon the way, Smokeris set to make his debut. Smoker is a Marine who initially has his sights set on Monkey D. Luffy and his crew; however, post-time skip, he eventually must team up with the Straw Hats for the greater good to save kidnapped children who were experimented on by Caeser Clown. Smoker has a very clear moral code, but asOne Piecehas gone on and revealed the true colors of the World Government, it’s become more apparent thatSmoker does not fully agree with the systemhe works under.
Smoker’s unique perspective of what a Marine should be vs. what they actually are makes him a stand-out character, especially when it comes to his partnership with Tashigi, a Marine who also has a strict moral code, one that does not always line up with what the World Government wants. While Tashigi has recently returned as part of the Coby’s rescue mission, Smoker has been missing in action since Punk Hazard, where he teamed up with the Straw Hats. As the issues with the World Government become more and more apparent,Smoker’s return feels inevitable, as his perspective on it feels essential.
5Gecko Moria
Perona Teased A Reunion With Gecko Moria
Gecko Moria meets the Straw Hats in Thriller Bark, and while he initially proves to be a massive threat, putting several Straw Hats, including Luffy, in grave danger thanks to his Devil Fruit ability, Luffy and the crew are able to beat him, but that is not the last time Luffy sees Gecko Moria. He fights alongside the Marines in Marineford, but sinceGecko Moria does not impress the World Government, he is stripped of his title. In tandem, he is also supposed to have been killed off by Doflamingo.
Gecko Moria escapes, despite Doflamingo being one ofthe bestOne Piecevillains, but without his Warlord privileges and no crew, his chances of survival greatly dwindle. While this could have been the last the audience sees him, two things make it seem like he is destined to return. One,Perona leaves Mihawk to search for Gecko Moriaafter learning he’s alive. Two, the Blackbeard Pirates killed Absalom, Gecko Moria’s former crew mate, stealing his Devil Fruit. With Blackbeard being one of the major antagonists, it would not be surprising to see Gecko Moria return in some capacity, especially alongside Perona.
4Doflamingo
Doflamingo Knows A Major Secret About The Celestial Dragons
Doflamingo is one of the most powerful members ofOne Piece’sSeven Warlords, and he successfully executes Crocodile’s plans for Alabasta in Dressrosa, usurping the royal family and taking control over the country.The hype around Doflamingo is massive, especially given his past with Law. His arc certainly delivers, with Luffy and Law having one of the bestOne Piecefights against Doflamingo, but once again, the Straw Hats are victorious, and Doflamingo is arrested, but even from prison, he teases his importance later on.
While chained to the ground, he remarks about knowing a great secret concerning the Celestial Dragons – the ruling class. While unclear what that secret may be, it appears to be a game-changing, dark secret about the World Government. It also appears this is not a lie, as Doflamingo is a descendant of Celestial Dragons. While more mysteries are being revealed, especially with the Egghead and Elbaph arcs in the manga,Doflamingo’s secret is still a mystery, and his return will likely shed light on it.
3Arlong
One Piece Failed To Bring Arlong Back For Fishman Island
One of the biggest bads in earlyOne Pieceis Arlong. He enslaved Nami as his navigator, feeding her false promises about her and her island’s freedom for the right price – a nearly impossible goal he intended to collect without following through on his end of the deal.Arlong is also the first major look at the oppressive nature of the World Government, especially with regard to Fishmen. Despite this,Arlong and the Sun Pirateshave not been seen since being bested by Luffy.
Even when the Straw Hats make it to Fishmen Island, Arlong is missing. Sure,he is present in flashbacks, and his impact is deeply felt, but Arlong himself is gone, though he is supposedly still alive. Given what Arlong represents, how the recent revelations in Egghead’s manga chapter impact Fishmen and Mermaids, and how he is one of the earliest big bads inOne Piece, his return, in some capacity, feels inevitable. Plus, it would be satisfying to see his reaction to the Straw Hats having Jimbe, his former crew mate, on their side.
2Katakuri
Katakuri’s Family Is In Trouble, And Big Mom Can’t Help
While Katakuri is not the main antagonist in Whole Cake Island, his fight with Luffy is that arc’s best fight; although, it is incredibly long. There is mutual respect between the two, despite being on opposing sides and Luffy besting him. While there is this respect, things are complicated, as Katakuri is deeply loyal to his family, despite Big Mom’s abuse and manipulation of her children. With Luffy and the Straw Hats allied with Law and Kid, the men who brought down Big Mom, that leaves theBig Mom Pirates' leadership role open for someone like Katakuri.
Plus, as her son, Katakuri could go up against the Straw Hats once more. However,the Straw Hat Pirates and Big Mom Pirates may have a surprise alliance because they share a mutual enemy:Blackbeard. Blackbeard kidnapped Pudding, Katakuri’s sister. As someone deeply protective of his family, it’s a matter of time before Katakuri returns to save his sister. If it is a full-on war between the Straw Hats and Blackbeard, it would make sense to team up with other pirates who despise Blackbeard.
1Bon Clay
Mr. 2 Should Make Another Return After Their Last Sacrifice
Of all the characters who deserve a grand return, there is none more deserving than Bon Clay, also known as Mr. 2 from Baroque Works. While they started off as a supporting villain, Bon Clay quickly endears themself to the Straw Hats as their friend. Bon Clay is so much more than a friend though, as they sacrifice themself to help the Straw Hats escape the Marines, thus being imprisoned in Impel Down. Thankfully, Bon Clay sees Luffy again here, and once more proves they are one of the best honorary Straw Hats. If it were not for Bon Clay in Impel Down,One Piecewould be over.
Bon Clay saves Luffy’s life despite the ridiculous odds against them. Along with that, Bon Clay once more sacrifices their freedom just so Luffy and the others can escape in the hopes of saving Ace from execution. Impel Down is already hell on Earth, and chances are, it will get worse for Bon Clay given what they’ve done for Luffy. However,there is still hope that Bon Clay is alive and can come back. If anyone is deserving, it is the character who has given the Straw Hats so much without expecting anything in return.
