Between these two, I have to go for Whitebeard’s death scene.
Although many may not suspect it (especially
@Kejon after our Lhitebeard vs ChAdmiral Papazuki discussion
), Whitebeard is in fact my favorite One Piece character.
It was Whitebeard that actually got me into One Piece in the first place after I watched a video on YouTube (“Top 10 Badarse Old Men in Anime” I believe it was).
During the entirety of Marineford Arc, I was on the edge of my seat, constantly wondering whether this elderly titan of old would overcome all obstacles and rescue his son or if his age, ill health, and wounds would bring this mighty legend down permanently.
I held my breath whenever he was injured, I broke into a grin when he powered through it regardless.
Whitebeard’s entire personality, philosophy, moral code and compassion made me enjoy this character more than any other in OP. I also have a soft spot for elderly badarses.
His entire story was of a man that was once the undisputed greatest but had been laid low by the passing of time, that no matter how great you once were that you are only as good as your next fight.
Whitebeard was completely dominated by the Admirals yet he kept going regardless of the odds against him because even though Whitebeard himself admitted he was no longer the strongest, he would live as he always had, enjoying life to it’s fullest, protecting his children to the end and never backing down on his moral code.
Even when it was obvious Whitebeard was going to die, I still hoped in vain that somehow, Oda would keep him alive, no matter how big the arse pull.
Yet when he finally passed away, he did so content with life because of the time he spent well with his family and because he always did everything he could to always protect them right until his dying breath.
Not only that but he even denied the Marines from profiting from his son’s death by uttering his last words for the world to hear. He reignited the flames of people’s dreams. In the end, all the World Government’s might was rendered moot by Whitebeard’s final words. It was a beautiful, somber moment.
When it was revealed how many injuries it took to finally kill him, when not even death itself could make him fall to his knees and when that jacket fell off and revealed that Whitebeard never once turned his back on a fight, that secured his position as my favorite character in all of One Piece. A fitting end for the greatest legend of the seas.
This panel also reminds me of a time of fond memories back when OP was my favorite fictional series of all time. A good time before the mediocrity of the Post-TS happened.
Whitebeard is easily the best thing Oda has ever created. I only hope he does not ruin him in anyway, though I fear how all this Rocks Pirates and Miss Bakkin business may go plot wise.