The Huge Length of One Piece Became a Curse When Eiichiro Oda Forgot About One Character That Has Killed More Pirates Than The World Government

One Piece has been ongoing for decades now, and even though Eiichiro Oda masterfully ties up most loose ends, there are still some minor events that remain unaddressed.

SUMMARY

The length of One Piece has given fans many great memories to hold dear, however, it also leaves them with questions that don’t get answered for years.
The best example of how the series’ length is both a strength and a weakness at the same time is Laboon of the Rumbar Pirates.
Laboon has caused the deaths of many pirates, but the Navy has never tried to capture or restrain it, which is quite bizarre.

Throughout One Piece, Eiichiro Oda has excellently connected many plot lines together, creating a continuous stream of events. For instance, the return of Crocodile and Bon Chan in Impel Down or Kuma’s connection to Luffy’s journey. All these coincidences that tie together different phases of the overarching narrative wouldn’t have been possible without the thousands of chapters.

However, the length of the series is a double-edged sword and leaves many plot points unanswered as well. A character who showcases how the length of One Piece is both a blessing and a curse is Laboon. The giant whale’s character arc highlights how the length of the series gives room for valuable developments while leaving some important events unaddressed.

Laboon and her constant war with the Red Line

Laboon was a part of the Rumbar Pirates, Brook’s former crew in One Piece. The Rumbar Pirates left Laboon with Crocus while entering the Grand Line as they feared Laboon was just a baby and the vast treacherous seas were unforgiving. Laboon patiently waited for the Pirates’ potential return but when Crocus revealed that the Rumbar Pirates were probably dead, Laboon started banging his head with Red Line, trying to break through to reunite with his crew.

Laboon and the wound on her head | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

Laboon is gigantic, and the only reason the Straw Hats were able to survive after their initial face-off with Laboon was due to their strength and Luffy’s Devil Fruit. There must have been many pirates who were far weaker than the Straw Hats and were swallowed by Laboon as they found themselves surprised and shaken by Laboon’s banging. It’s concerning how Eiichiro Oda has never addressed the deaths caused by Laboon’s behavior.

He must have swallowed hundreds of pirates or more before calming down after the Straw Hats’ arrival. Moreover, Laboon was a pirate as well. The Navy’s lack of actions against Laboon sparks questions. It’s bizarre how they didn’t try to constrain him in some way or the other. There are possible explanations that explain this gap, perhaps Laboon was making the Navy’s work easier.

Brook plays the violin to baby Laboon | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

After all, it’s safe to assume that pirates who can’t even survive Laboon’s wrath were probably quite weak. Hence, not a cause of concern for the Navy, so they turned a blind eye to whatever was happening. There’s no way of knowing the reason why Oda never addressed this until the mangaka confirms it himself, however, there’s another plot event involving Laboon, which is extremely exciting.

When will Laboon reunite with Brook and Straw Hats?

The revelation of Brook’s connection with Laboon was truly heartwarming. Brook’s desire to reunite with his precious nakama became an important event that fans have been eagerly waiting for. Moreover, it’s not Brook who will return to Laboon but his entire crew. It’ll be touching to see Laboon’s long wait coming to an end, but it’s safe to assume that this reunion won’t happen anytime soon.

Brook and Luffy talk about Laboon during Thriller Bark | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

Egghead lasted for two years, and Elbaf has only just begun. So, both Laboon and fans will have to wait for some more time before the Straw Hats return to the Grand Line to fulfill their promise. Well, that just proves the point how One Piece‘s length is both a blessing and a curse.