Garp Finally Joins One Piece's Pirates, & It's Even Better Than I Expected

One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy’s journey to become the next King of the Pirates, and while much of the story focuses on the various pirate crews sailing the Grand Line, it also shines plenty of light on their natural adversaries, the Marines. Of the Marines’ ranks, none are more integral to One Piece‘s plot than the rebellious Vice Admiral, Monkey D. Garp.

A custom image featuring Rocks D. Xebec, Imu, and Captain John in One Piece Chapter 1163 and Monkey D. Garp laughing in the One Piece anime

Garp has been largely absent from One Piece since his capture at the hands of the Blackbeard Pirates, but after the events of Chapter 1163, the Marines’ most important moment in the entire series is just around the corner. With a battle against the Grand Line’s biggest villain looming on the horizon, Garp the Fist is finally set to team up with the most unlikely of allies — pirates.

Monkey D. Garp Teams Up With One Piece’s Most Notorious Villains

Kaido, Big Mom, Whitebeard, Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, and Monkey D. Garp attack Imu and Saturn in One Piece Chapter 1163

Of all the characters present at the God Valley Incident, none stands out more than Monkey D. Garp. Luffy’s grandfather is the only high-ranking Marine of note who is present during the catastrophic event, having arrived for the sole purpose of fighting his rival, Gol D. Roger. As a result, Garp is also the only notable Marine to see Imu’s horrifying arrival, which puts him in a difficult situation during One Piece Chapter 1163.

Given Imu’s indiscriminate violence and monstrous form, it’s only natural that any normal person — regardless of whether they’re a Marine, a pirate, or a normal civilian — would see them as a threat. Add in Garp’s pre-established disdain for authority, and Chapter 1163 marked the perfect set of circumstances for the future Hero of the Marines to finally do the unthinkable and join forces with the very pirates he regularly hunts down.

After seeing Imu with his own eyes, Garp immediately launches an attack on the mysterious character alongside the likes of Roger, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido and Rocks D. Xebec, signaling the beginning of one of the most unlikely team-ups in One Piece history. Whether Garp chooses to continue his assault on Imu remains to be seen, but for the time being, he’ll likely need to shift his focus to defeating Rocks, who ends One Piece Chapter 1163 by seemingly being possessed by Imu’s Domi Reversi technique.

Fans have known that Garp and Roger played a role in Rocks D. Xebec’s defeat since the Wano Arc; however, the reveal that this trio’s fight follows their assault on Imu himself is completely new information. The Hero of the Marines and the King of the Pirates’ legacies are becoming clearer with each passing chapter, and in the case of the former, their actions at the God Valley Incident also reframe one of the most heartbreaking moments in all of One Piece.

The God Valley Flashback Makes Garp’s Role in the Marineford Arc Even More Interesting

Monkey D. Garp and Portgas D. Ace sit together on the execution platform in One Piece's Marineford Arc

Garp and Ace's death in the One Piece anime.

Monkey D. Garp, Luffy's Grandfather in One Piece, with Ace and Luffy as kids

For many fans, Garp’s decision to stand by while Portgas D. Ace — his adoptive grandson — was set to be executed was the Vice Admiral’s lowest moment in the entire series. Although Garp did express his desire to attack Akainu for his actions, Luffy’s grandfather largely watched as the Summit War unfolded, infuriating both Monkey D. Luffy and One Piece fans who expected the rebellious Marine to finally stand up to the powers that be.

While this is certainly a valid perspective, it’s interesting to note that Garp did not choose to stand by during the God Valley Incident; instead, he sprang to action at the mere sight of Imu, attacking him at full strength despite knowing that the character was part of the Five Elders’ governing body. It’s rare that any Marine defies a superior’s orders, let alone attack the highest ranking authority in the World Government with the intent to kill, so for Garp to do so asserts that the Hero of the Marines would go to any length to fight in the name of justice.

Keeping with this logic, the events of Chapter 1163 reinforce the idea that Garp wasn’t struggling to act while Ace was being executed — he was struggling to stay true to his own values. If Garp was willing to join forces with pirates and attack the World Government’s shadow leader, it’s hard to believe that he would balk at the idea of standing up to the likes of Sengoku, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji during the Marineford Arc. Instead, Garp viewed Ace’s actions as those of someone who chose to be a criminal, which is why he ultimately stood by rather than rescuing the grandson he loved so dearly.

Looking ahead, Garp’s upcoming clash with Rocks D. Xebec now carries more weight than ever. To defeat the newest victim of Imu’s Domi Reversi technique, the Vice Admiral’s idea of justice will continue to be tested, as he has no other option than continuing his tenuous alliance with the pirates facing off against Rocks. That said, if there’s anything the Hero of the Marines has proven during his time in One Piece, it’s that he will stay true to himself until the very end, leaving little room that he and whoever he allies himself with will get things taken care of.

Garp Finally Joins One Piece’s Pirates, & It’s Even Better Than I Expected

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