One Piece’s Luffy and Gol D. Roger have some pretty remarkable similarities and a very, very complicated relationship.

One Piece may revolve around the actions of its protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, but none of the events of the series would be possible were it not for the influence of a different figure — Gol D. Roger. By the time that the Straw Hat Pirates set sail in the Grand Line, Roger is more myth than man, having served as the catalyst for the Golden Age of Pirates decades before the series. Thanks to his legendary status and long list of accomplishments, the King of the Pirates is one of the most interesting characters in the entire series. One of the more noteworthy parts of his character is his striking similarity to Monkey D. Luffy, who seems poised to follow in Roger’s footsteps as the series approaches its final narrative.

The similarities between Monkey D. Luffy and Gol D. Roger aren’t just coincidental. Luffy’s motivations are heavily inspired by Roger’s own achievements and exploits, and as Luffy has continued on his journey to find One Piece and inherit the title of Pirate King, the comparisons between the two have only grown. Even if the Straw Hat Pirate don’t traverse the Grand Line and find the One Piece (which he undoubtedly will) like the Roger Pirates, then there are still countless similarities between the pair.

Gol D. Roger has been largely absent from One Piece since appearing in the Kozuki Oden flashback during the Wano Arc, but as Monkey D. Luffy and his crew once again sail into uncharted waters, the King of the Pirates is poised to make his return to the series. With the initiation of the God Valley flashback, there’s a chance that the legendary pirate’s striking resemblance to Luffy will be made even more clear in the near future.

More Than Just A Fashion Statement

Of the many parallels that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has drawn between Monkey D. Luffy and Gol D. Roger, the most easily noticeable is the straw hat that they both wear. This hat symbolizes Luffy’s journey to become the King of the Pirates since Shanks gave it to him many years before, so it’s only appropriate that the clothing item is also intrinsically related to Roger. As revealed by Silvers Rayleigh, the straw hat once belonged to Gol D. Roger, who was first seen wearing it when he met his first mate many years before. Before his execution, Roger gave the hat to Shanks, creating a clear throughline between the three legendary pirates.

While not much is known about Roger’s exploits — and especially his early years as a pirate — Rayleigh’s story about his first meeting with the King of the Pirates draws an interesting parallel with Roronoa Zoro and Monkey D. Luffy’s first encounter. Roronoa Zoro and SIlvers Rayleigh are both exceptional swordsmen; in addition to being the first mates of their respective crews, they’re also the first pirates to join their captain’s crews. This, coupled with the fact that they both notice the iconic straw hat upon meeting their future captains, is more than enough to start drawing clear comparisons between Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Luffy.

The Will of D.

Monkey D. Luffy and Gol D. Roger don’t seem to be immediately related (although Eiichiro Oda has certainly left room for this idea), but they do share a type of bond that borders on familial. As indicated by their middle initial (which is also carried by Roger’s son, Luffy’s father and Luffy’s grandfather), they are all carriers of the Will of D. This rare trait is said to be carried by those who are the natural enemies of the Celestial Dragons, and considering the rebellious nature of those who bear it, there is almost certainly some truth to this statement.

The fact that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Luffy share this trait isn’t their most unique similarity; however, it’s one of the most important given their desire to uncover the most forbidden secret in One Piece. The Will of D. is almost certainly an important part of the Void Century, so hopefully the series’ final saga will shed some light on the topic in the near future.

The Voice of All Things

Based on the few scenes that Gol D. Roger has appeared in, his personality is very similar to Monkey D. Luffy’s. Whether or not this is related to their ultra-rare ability to understand the Voice of All Things remains to be seen, but as the Poneglyphs become more important to the current narrative, this trait will almost certainly become more significant. This ability allows Roger and Luffy to understand the words and sentiments expressed by all things, including seemingly inanimate objects like the Poneglyphs.

Whereas Gol D. Roger was known to be very adept at both hearing and speaking while using the Voice the All Things, Monkey D. Luffy is only able to hear when he unconsciously uses the technique. The fact that they share this ability is arguably their most important similarity as pirates, but if Luffy wants to follow Roger’s footsteps and travel to Laugh Tale, he’ll likely need to learn how to control the Voice of All Things.

Loguetown: A Beginning & An End

Loguetown is a notable landmark in the One Piece universe for several reasons, but it’s best known as the birthplace of Gol D. Roger and the site of public execution. The Straw Hat Pirates visit this location at the end of the East Blue Saga, creating one of the first clear parallels between the captain of the Roger Pirates and the individual who would eventually inherit his will, Monkey D. Luffy. The Loguetown Arc sees Luffy captured by Buggy the Clown, at which point he is nearly executed on the very same platform that died on 22 years earlier.

Just like Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Luffy smiles moments before his execution; however, unlike the King of the Pirates, Luffy is miraculously saved by a lightning strike, sparing him from an early demise. Unfazed by the situation, the Straw Hat Pirates then vow to accomplish their dreams before setting out toward the Grand Line. In a way, Loguetown serves as Roger’s end and Luffy’s beginning, making the small East Blue town the intersection point of the two most important pirates in One Piece history.

Src: cbr.com