Believe It or Not, One Piece Shares a Tie With DC Comics All Thanks to Aquaman

Aside from the fact that both One Piece and Aquaman are set in ocean-centric worlds with heroes deeply connected to the sea, there don't appear to be many similarities between these popular action adventures. However, despite the vastness of the open ocean, even in the manga-comic continuum - there are only a few degrees of separation between those who live on or beneath its waters.

Fans of both One Piece and Aquaman have long speculated that the Straw Hat Pirates and the King of Atlantis would inevitably cross paths, given their shared domain of the high seas. Thanks to Brandon Thomas and Diego Olortegui's 2021 six-issue miniseries Aquaman: The Becoming, this speculation has become a reality to some extent. With a few quick cameos, the series establishes that not only did the Straw Hats and Aquaman travel in the same circles, but the iconic pirate crew is now officially part of Aquaman canon within the DC Comics universe.

Aqualad Brings Together Two Of The Best Sea-Based Sagas Ever

A Rare One Piece Crossover That's Too Much Fun To Miss

One Piece Easter Eggs in Aquaman The Becoming

Thomas and Olorteguistory's story revolves around Aqualad, Aquaman's trusted sidekick, who finds himself in a desperate bid to clear his name. Accused of destroying parts of Aquaman's palace and training facility, Aqualad faces a daunting threat to his future collaborations with Aquaman and -more pressing still- his freedom. Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates intersect with Aqualad's plight indirectly, crossing paths in Amnesty Bay. This quaint town holds a special place in Aquaman's heart, being his childhood hometown where he often seeks refuge from the pressures and stresses of ruling Atlantis.

Aqualad is a current resident of Amnesty Bay, and one day, while visiting its beach and boardwalk, fans are treated to a series of One Piece Easter eggs. These include two beachgoers who unmistakably resemble Nico Robin and Nami, as well as two boardwalk businesses that bear a striking resemblance to the Baratie eatery where Sanji once worked and the Franky House workshop. In the foreground of one panel, there’s even a passerby on his phone who is the spitting image of Usopp.

One Piece And Aquaman Were Made For Each Other

Given the plethora of One Piece references, it's tempting to speculate that Amnesty Bay might be the elusive Laugh Tale. Though these are obviously just fun little references by the Aqualad creative team, it's tempting to imagine this coastal town is simply another stopover in the Straw Hats' ongoing quest for the One Piece. As a pirate adventure, One Piece emphasizes the thrill of the high seas. Nevertheless, even the most seasoned pirates cannot remain at sea indefinitely. The need for a port of call is inevitable, allowing crews to resupply and repair their vessels, take on or drop off passengers, and gather crucial information.

Over the years, the Straw Hat Pirates must have made hundreds of stopovers across the world, with some of their most memorable adventures unfolding in the towns they've visited along the way. In this case, the reasons for the Straw Hat Pirates’ stop in Amnesty Bay seem —for all intents and purposes— to be centered on a little rest and relaxation. If that is indeed the case, they couldn’t have chosen a better spot. In addition to its bucolic surroundings, the picturesque coastal town is, naturally, easily accessible by sea.

However, there’s a more intriguing reason they might have stopped there: information. Indeed, if anyone could assist the Straw Hats in their quest to find Laugh Tale, who better than the King of Atlantis, with his unparalleled access to the knowledge of all the fish in the sea? Given that Amnesty Bay is dear to Aquaman, it’s inevitable that the Straw Hats will encounter him eventually. Indeed, while their appearance was brief, it certainly laid the groundwork for potential future collaborations between One Piece and Aquaman —collaborations with serious promise.

One Piece

Created by: Eiichiro Oda
First Film: One Piece: The Movie

Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history's longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix's 2023 adaptation.