ONE PIECE Analysis! – Are Shanks and Blackbeard Confirmed as “Allies”? Are the New Four Emperors’ Wanted Posters Linked by “Three Scars”? Is the Foreshadowing from the Book of Revelation? - Manga Analysis

With Luffy defeating Kaidou in Gear 5, the Wano Country arc has finally concluded. ONE PIECE is now nearing its final chapters.

Among the strongest pirates in ONE PIECE are “Red-Haired” Shanks and “Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach).” Shanks is portrayed as a benevolent elder brother figure, while Blackbeard is the quintessential villain. They are beloved as completely opposing characters.

However, there is a possibility that “Red-Haired Shanks and Blackbeard Teach might become allies.”

The key foreshadowing for this was revealed in ONE PIECE Chapter 1053 through the new Four Emperors’ wanted posters. In this discussion, I want to explore the possibility of these two becoming allies. If they were to join forces, it’s conceivable that Buggy might ultimately become the Pirate King.

Table of contents

The Perpetrator and Victim of the Three Scars
The New Wanted Posters Are Divided into “Perpetrators” and “Victims”
1. Was Buggy’s Cross Guild also foreshadowing?
Why Has Blackbeard’s Position Changed on the New Wanted Posters?
Shanks Was Always Next to Luffy and Blackbeard
The Theory of “Red-Haired” Shanks and Blackbeard Being Allies from the Book of Revelation
1. Is “Red-Haired” Shanks Acting to Help Blackbeard?

The Perpetrator and Victim of the Three Scars

First, let’s analyze the “commonality” among the new Four Emperors.

In conclusion, the major commonality among the new Four Emperors is the “three scars.”

It goes without saying that the mention of three scars immediately brings to mind the three scars over “Red-Haired Shanks'” left eye.

The one who inflicted these three scars on Shanks‘ left eye was “Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach).” Although Blackbeard no longer possesses them, it has been subtly depicted that in his younger days, Blackbeard favored a weapon with three claws.

On the other hand, Luffy’s “straw hat given to him by Shanks” was also damaged by an attack from Buggy. During this incident, Buggy used three knives. Consequently, just like Shanks‘ three scars on his left eye, the straw hat also ended up with three holes (which Nami later repaired).

Since this straw hat was entrusted to Luffy by “Red-Haired Shanks,” it means that Buggy effectively inflicted three scars on both Luffy and Red-Haired Shanks. Therefore, if this is foreshadowing the defeat of the two Four Emperors, it might also be hinting at “Buggy becoming the new Pirate King.”

The New Wanted Posters Are Divided into “Perpetrators” and “Victims”

In other words, when considering the new wanted posters from the perspective of the three scars, they can be divided into the “victim group” and the “perpetrator group.”

When slightly modifying the new wanted posters, the left side represents the “perpetrator team” and the right side represents the “victim team.” By using arrows to vectorially express perpetrator → victim, they intersect at the center of the posters, forming a kind of “X” mark.

As a symbol, X often represents a “matchup.” For instance, “A × B” suggests a confrontation between A and B. For example, “Luffy × Kaidou” represents the battle between Luffy and Kaidou.

Therefore, in the case of the new wanted posters of the Four Emperors, it suggests that the left side’s group of Buggy and Blackbeard and the right side’s group of Shanks and Luffy will fight each other. Matchups like “Blackbeard vs. Luffy” and “Buggy vs. Red-Haired Shanks” come to mind.

Was Buggy’s Cross Guild also foreshadowing?

Thus, logically, the possibility arises that “Blackbeard & Buggy” and “Red-Haired Shanks & Luffy” might each form their own alliances. Luffy might join forces with Shanks when he returns the straw hat.

However, this scenario lacks a sense of surprise. Buggy, who teamed up with Luffy in Impel Down, has more of an ally vibe similar to Luffy than an enemy. Hence, the most surprising combination would be “Blackbeard and Red-Haired Shanks forming an alliance.”

This suggests a final conflict structure of “Luffy & Buggy VS Red-Haired Shanks & Blackbeard.”

At the very least, the concept of “cross” in the new Four Emperors’ wanted posters seems important, as evidenced by Buggy forming the “Cross Guild” with Sir Crocodile and Dracule Mihawk.

This organization aims to place bounties on Admirals, but the reason it’s named Cross Guild is connected to the foreshadowing in the new Four Emperors’ wanted posters.

In fact, when considering the new Four Emperors’ wanted posters, if we link characters with the same “sword,” it shows that “Luffy and Buggy” and “Red-Haired and Blackbeard” are each connected.

Why Has Blackbeard’s Position Changed on the New Wanted Posters?

There is a strong theory that “Red-Haired” Shanks is a traitor.

When Shanks said to Luffy, “This is my precious hat. Come back and return it someday,” his eyes were shaded, giving a sense of him plotting something evil. Shanks, who expressed his irritation at his three scars, might very well join forces with Blackbeard, the one who gave him those scars.

Let’s take a look at the old Four Emperors’ wanted posters from the time of Kaidou and others.

On the cover of volume 95 of ONE PIECE, the position of “Red-Haired” Shanks hasn’t changed, but Blackbeard‘s position has moved from the bottom right to the bottom left. Buggy is placed where Big Mum used to be, and if we put Luffy where Kaidou was, it makes sense.

Why was Blackbeard‘s position intentionally changed? There must be a deeper meaning behind it.

Shanks Was Always Next to Luffy and Blackbeard

Looking back at “Red-Haired” Shanks, he was often depicted next to both Blackbeard and Luffy.

It’s well known that Shanks was always drawn among the initial character introductions in the comics. This gave a sense of security as a big brother figure who always watched over Monkey D. Luffy. However, it could also mean he was constantly monitoring Luffy’s actions.

Shanks was also often paired with Blackbeard on the covers of the comics, not just in the Four Emperors’ wanted posters. This suggests that Shanks is considered a character linked to both Luffy and Blackbeard.

Therefore, it becomes evident that Shanks might not necessarily be Luffy’s ally. By the same logic, Shanks might very well side with Blackbeard, whom he has always been depicted next to.

This raises two possibilities: Blackbeard and Shanks might be enemies, thus placed together due to their rivalry, or they might be allies, intentionally depicted together.

Rather than forming alliances among “perpetrators” and “victims,” it’s likely that alliances are formed between those who have directly inflicted and received the three scars. The Wano Country arc is full of betrayals, making the possibility of Shanks betraying Luffy the most intriguing.

At the very least, the three swords Luffy appears to be holding on the cover of volume 95 of ONE PIECE hint at the three scars, which are indeed a crucial foreshadowing element in the wanted posters of the Four Emperors.

The Theory of “Red-Haired” Shanks and Blackbeard Being Allies from the Book of Revelation

Let’s further explore the theory that “Red-Haired” Shanks and Blackbeard might be allies from a religious perspective.

In conclusion, the “Book of Revelation” holds the key.

The Book of Revelation is the most important prophetic book in the New Testament, predicting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and is considered the most crucial revelation in Christianity.

In the Book of Revelation, there are two monstrous figures: the “Red Dragon” and the “Beast.”

The characteristics of these creatures are that the former is a dragon with “seven heads and ten horns,” while the latter is a beast with “ten horns and seven heads.” As both have seven heads, it indicates that these two creatures originally represented a single unified entity.

Furthermore, the first beast is described as a chimera with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. A chimera is a creature with multiple sets of different genetic information within the same body. Similarly, Blackbeard‘s body was described as “abnormal” by Marco.

Additionally, the theory that Blackbeard‘s Devil Fruit abilities relate to Cerberus, a creature with three heads, has been around for a long time. This implies that the “Red Dragon with seven heads” in the Book of Revelation could represent “Red-Haired” Shanks, and the “Beast with seven heads” could represent Blackbeard.

Is “Red-Haired” Shanks Acting to Help Blackbeard?

In the tapestry depicting the Beast from Revelation, there is a scene where the Red Dragon gives authority to the Beast. If we consider “Red-Haired” Shanks as the Red Dragon, it suggests that Shanks might be secretly supporting Blackbeard.

The Red Dragon also symbolizes Satan, who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Thus, the theory based on the Book of Revelation not only supports the notion of Shanks as a traitor but also suggests that Shanks is chasing Blackbeard to help him.

In fact, “Red-Haired” Shanks, who brokered peace during the Marineford War, did not finish off Blackbeard. If Shanks harbored such deep resentment, he would have killed Blackbeard on the spot, especially if he hated him enough to plead with the Five Elders.

Allowing Blackbeard to escape would only strengthen the Blackbeard Pirates. Shanks, being wise, must have understood this. By deliberately bringing the war to an end, Shanks created a situation that benefitted Blackbeard, which could be interpreted as intentional if Shanks and Blackbeard were indeed allies.