Character Discussion What purpose does Kidd serve that Blackbeard doesn't?

Better "rival"?

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hedera__helix

hedera__helix

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#1
#1
It seems like Kidd's defining character trait is "Luffy's rival". This was sort of believable pre-timeskip when he had a higher bounty (even if it was only because he harmed civilians), but now that he hasn't accomplished much in the New World, and most readers don't really consider him a serious threat for the title of Pirate King like they do Blackbeard, what purpose does Kidd serve that Blackbeard doesn't?

Blackbeard is much stronger and despite limited panel time, has a much more well-defined character that directly foils Luffy. I'm not sure what Kidd could possibly offer to the story that Blackbeard can't. Isn't it more fun to see Luffy try to surpass someone who is clearly way ahead of him than compete with someone lagging behind?
 
H

humanbeing

#4
#4
Kid is a pirate with principles. he is not one who will betray someone.
Black Beard is the worst ever. he kills his comrades, he kills his captain and kills people for no reason but to get their DF. it doesn't matter if they are foes , friends or no relation at all.
 
ShinmenTakezo

ShinmenTakezo

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#6
#6
humanbeing said:
Kid is a pirate with principles. he is not one who will betray someone.
Black Beard is the worst ever. he kills his comrades, he kills his captain and kills people for no reason but to get their DF. it doesn't matter if they are foes , friends or no relation at all.
Click to expand...
Blackbeard is the best pirate since he is the most free. Being shackled by morals imposed on you is not really being free.
Luffy works because the morals he carries, he is not bound by them, but he wants to carry them.
 
G

God Buggy

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#7
#7
Blackbeard is clealry "the" pirate enemy when it comes to Luffy. The two worstgen members who are making it to the very top and that shooked the world with what they achieved, the two Ds, all the parallels they share as well as their striking differences, their history, a relationship that has been built up since pre timeskip and a dynamic that strikes on many different levels, the emotional one included. Blackbeard being always at least one step ahead. There are a shit ton of things when it comes to BB.

Kid is not that, not even close. As much as they are drawn competing in the Udon prison or playing at who takes the fire attack from Meme. Weaker than Luffy and Zoro, far weaker crew, a striking difference from BB and Luffy's continuos victories/achievements and his failures and general portrayal. And I believe that by the end of Wano, the gap with Luffy and everything he achieved will only have gotten bigger.

In a more distant future? Yes, Kidd status and perception compared to Luffy and his crew could change.
 
The White Crane

The White Crane

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#8
#8
hedera__helix said:
It seems like Kidd's defining character trait is "Luffy's rival". This was sort of believable pre-timeskip when he had a higher bounty (even if it was only because he harmed civilians), but now that he hasn't accomplished much in the New World, and most readers don't really consider him a serious threat for the title of Pirate King like they do Blackbeard, what purpose does Kidd serve that Blackbeard doesn't?

Blackbeard is much stronger and despite limited panel time, has a much more well-defined character that directly foils Luffy. I'm not sure what Kidd could possibly offer to the story that Blackbeard can't. Isn't it more fun to see Luffy try to surpass someone who is clearly way ahead of him than compete with someone lagging behind?
Click to expand...
Well, Kidd is gonna be Luffy's cheerleader like Law. :brootea:

Blackbeard is gonna be exposed as a fraud and die. :luffydab:
 
Garp the Fist

Garp the Fist

Bwahahahaha
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#10
#10
Kid’s purpose is to be a tsundere ally to Luffy.

As a rival he’s a disaster since not only is Luffy blatantly stronger than him, miles further ahead than him on the road to being Pirate King, Kid has a got a crew that barring Killer is complete fodder. And Killer’s blatantly weaker than Zoro as well.

Kid could have been an interesting arc antagonist before we got to the Yonko, but now... there’s just no point. He could never compete with Blackbeard, but if he‘d been a villain when he still had a higher bounty than Luffy, Killer higher than Zoro, then became the tsundere ally he could at least come across better. Hell, that’s Dragon Ball’s MO. But now Kid is really not any different to Law, he’s just got one good crewmate instead of none and more of an attitude.

Whereas Blackbeard is evil Luffy with an evil Strawhat crew who has been rising steadily in the world at the same time as the Strawhats, and is far more important than Kid in every respect. He’s even got a better grudge with Shanks than Kid has.
 
Finalbeta

Finalbeta

Hero of Albion
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#12
#12
I guess living truth EoS and be his next big rival post EoS perhaps if that will even exist. Just like Coby is slowly unfolding etc. His CoC should decidedly help him at least have a shot, but he will probably never reach Luffy's level or get even close though so I think that's also a defiance not to undervalue when judging the premise.
 
S

sneko

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#13
#13
So far all these supernova have been just allies of the strawhats helping them in beating the enemy, with hawkins and apoo as the sole exception
 
Roo

Roo

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#19
#19
Blackbeard is the final villain, nobody looks at Bakugo and thought damn that guy is a huge piece of shit that must be stopped

shit even in Naruto Sasuke was mainly just doing his thing. Blackbeard is more like Madara in this case
 
uyuu

uyuu

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#20
#20
Kidd is Luffy's gimmick rival, just like (Punk Hazard + Dressrosa) Law but imo not as well in execution. While Teach is like his polar opposite or his nemesis, i think they have different role.
 
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