Hello denizens of Worst Gen. Most of you would know me as the Internet's resident Mihawk wanker fan, but it's probably safe to say that Mihawk isn't common to have as one's favourite character. Most people view him solely as Zoro's endgame or from a powerscaling perspective rather than as a character in his own right. I hope to persuade you that Dracule Mihawk is not merely a one-dimensional, stereotypical antagonist, but a complex, multifaceted character that experiences growth and development.
Most people assume that top tier characters, especially those with a more stoic disposition, are uninteresting and bland. Being at the top of their field, they don't have much room to grow and have little incentive to pursue continuous self-improvement. It baffles me, however, to see people accuse Mihawk of being bland, or worse, emotionless. He clearly does express emotions, and in fact has demonstrated some of the most positive character development for a non-protagonist. Let's look back to his debut at Baratie:
The first thing we learn about Mihawk is that he is extremely jaded and expresses a nihilistic view of defeat. He doesn't see defeat as an opportunity to learn and grow as Shanks does, but the end of one's hopes and dreams. It's pretty evident that by the time he meets Zoro, Mihawk has seen his fair share of reckless young upstarts attempting to claw their way to the top during the most cutthroat era of piracy to date. He's seen far too many individuals like Krieg; unscrupulous, hypocritical and utterly devoid of honour, to the point where he is genuinely shocked that Zoro would put his money where his mouth is and back up his convictions with action. Chapter 51 Mihawk is a world-weary loner, a man who has long achieved his dream, reached the end of his ambition, but has found it desperately isolating and unfulfilling. Meeting Zoro and Luffy, however, sparks the start of his character arc, the moment that Mihawk starts to believe in dreams and ambition again.
When Zoro declares his promise to Luffy, pay close attention to Oda's use of panelling in this chapter. Mihawk and Luffy are positioned on either side of Wado Ichimonji, symbolising Zoro's vow, his past and his future. Mihawk, whom Zoro set sail to meet, is on the right. Because manga is read from right to left, Mihawk represents Zoro's past ambition, his lone wolf lifestyle before he met Luffy. Luffy is on the left symbolising Zoro's newfound goal and selflessness. Both Mihawk and Luffy are portrayed grinning; they realise that Zoro has found a greater purpose in life, and his defeat can only spur him onwards to new heights. From the day he met them, Mihawk praised the bond between Luffy and Zoro, and you may notice that Zoro's displays of selfless loyalty to Luffy have been the only thing in the series to elicit a smile from Mihawk. Despite Mihawk's own isolation, he sees the beauty of trust, loyalty and companionship.
Another criticism I've heard is that Mihawk is apparently an asshole - an unhelpful, selfish man who cares only for his own pleasure. However, this could not be further from the truth.
Upon finding Zoro stranded on Kuraigana Island, Mihawk lent him a boat so he could return to Sabaody. He also offered Zoro shelter in his castle when it became clear that Zoro was injured and struggling against the baboons. In contrast, Ivankov refused to lend Sanji a boat at all and laughed at his predicament. Mihawk also remembered a story Shanks told him 10 years ago, and travelled all the way to the New World because he realised how important Luffy was to Shanks. These actions seem completely at odds with being selfish and an asshole. There's also the fact that Mihawk only decided to train Zoro because he admired Zoro's selflessness and willingness to sacrifice his pride.
The arrival of Zoro and Perona was a key stage in Mihawk's character development. Though he initially found Perona annoying and refused to oblige her request for a hot cocoa, the two of them are shown sharing wine during Zoro's flashback. It is strongly implied that Perona often spectated Zoro's training, treated his injuries and the three of them lived and cooked meals together much like a family. The fact that Mihawk and Perona were shown enjoying onigiri, Zoro's signature food, suggests that Zoro rubbed off on them both. In chapter 925, Mihawk demonstrates clear concern for Perona, making her feel touched and highly emotional. Mihawk even suggests that it would be good for her to leave, sensing that events at Reverie could potentially put her in danger.
Perhaps the clearest evidence of Mihawk's character development lies in his environment and how it has changed over time. When Zoro first arrived, Kuraigana was a wasteland, debris strewn everywhere and infested with humandrills who had only ever known violence. Over the timeskip, however, Mihawk, Perona and Zoro restored the island to an agricultural paradise, and even made peaceful farmers out of the humandrills. The revitalised landscape symbolises the change in Mihawk's state of mind, and how his newfound companionship has heightened his ability to work with others and improve his surroundings. Even in Japan, the Kuraigana Trio continues to capture readers' hearts and minds; Perona and Mihawk rank among the top 25 characters in the series, and their relationships with Zoro are the subject of many adventures in the spin-off manga One Piece Party. Zoro and Perona have clearly left their mark on Mihawk's character and encouraged him to develop a far healthier and more positive mindset. I look forward to seeing where Oda takes their relationship, particularly if Perona endangers herself trying to rescue Moria.
Hopefully I have convinced a few people to see Mihawk for the layered, nuanced character that he is, and have stirred up a bit of excitement for his next appearance. I will leave you all with some panels from One Piece Party, enjoy Mihawk slapping Zoro in the face and trying to draw graffiti on his back.
P.S. This is not a power level thread, this is solely about Mihawk's character and his relevance to the plot of OP.
Most people assume that top tier characters, especially those with a more stoic disposition, are uninteresting and bland. Being at the top of their field, they don't have much room to grow and have little incentive to pursue continuous self-improvement. It baffles me, however, to see people accuse Mihawk of being bland, or worse, emotionless. He clearly does express emotions, and in fact has demonstrated some of the most positive character development for a non-protagonist. Let's look back to his debut at Baratie:
When Zoro declares his promise to Luffy, pay close attention to Oda's use of panelling in this chapter. Mihawk and Luffy are positioned on either side of Wado Ichimonji, symbolising Zoro's vow, his past and his future. Mihawk, whom Zoro set sail to meet, is on the right. Because manga is read from right to left, Mihawk represents Zoro's past ambition, his lone wolf lifestyle before he met Luffy. Luffy is on the left symbolising Zoro's newfound goal and selflessness. Both Mihawk and Luffy are portrayed grinning; they realise that Zoro has found a greater purpose in life, and his defeat can only spur him onwards to new heights. From the day he met them, Mihawk praised the bond between Luffy and Zoro, and you may notice that Zoro's displays of selfless loyalty to Luffy have been the only thing in the series to elicit a smile from Mihawk. Despite Mihawk's own isolation, he sees the beauty of trust, loyalty and companionship.
Another criticism I've heard is that Mihawk is apparently an asshole - an unhelpful, selfish man who cares only for his own pleasure. However, this could not be further from the truth.
Hopefully I have convinced a few people to see Mihawk for the layered, nuanced character that he is, and have stirred up a bit of excitement for his next appearance. I will leave you all with some panels from One Piece Party, enjoy Mihawk slapping Zoro in the face and trying to draw graffiti on his back.
