Who will be next Admiral?

[MiyamotoMusashi]

...
Just the fact that in every arc, various members of the main cast (The Strawhats) grow stronger in terms of combat completely throws this statement out of the window.

Luffy cannot achieve his goal which is to become Pirate King without getting much stronger.
Zoro cannot achieve his goal which is to become Best Swordsman without getting much stronger.
We find out they get stronger through battles.

I'm gonna need you to explain what you mean by your statement since I hope you mean something else.

Battles are part of One Piece, they are inevitable to reach the goals of the SHs, never denied that but a battle manga is a piece that builds his premise on the fighting as the goal and as main focus which does not apply to OP. I have seen the term falsely used a lot of times. Everybody is free to take what they want from the story, in this case the battles for you i guess, but calling it a battle manga reduces the content only to that which does not do justice to One Piece.

 

[EddyBob15]

We already have thoughts that whoever Akainu sent after Luffy and Law is an admiral, though I hope that's not the case, otherwise Luffy might fight them instead of Doflamingo. Besides, it seems too soon for Luffy to go up against an admiral (and win).

 

[Ninomiya]

Battles are part of One Piece, they are inevitable to reach the goals of the SHs, never denied that but a battle manga is a piece that builds his premise on the fighting as the goal and as main focus which does not apply to OP. I have seen the term falsely used a lot of times. Everybody is free to take what they want from the story, in this case the battles for you i guess, but calling it a battle manga reduces the content only to that which does not do justice to One Piece.

I understand what you're saying now but "Battle" isn't actually a genre. Genre's are School Life, Sports, Action, Adventure, Romance, Shounen, Shoujo, Mystery etc.

One Piece, Naruto, Bleach are all battle mangas. But Battle is just a term to define the concept in which the vast majority of challenges are overcome.
In One Piece, it is a fact that the challenges towards the main cast are most commonly overcome through combat.
Therefore it is a battle manga.

Battle isn't the main goal of any manga. Luffy wants to find One Piece, Naruto wants to be Hokage and rescue a friend, Natsu completes missions in the hope to re-unite with Igneel etc.
So it technically still correct to call One Piece a battle manga but you're right its much more than just Battles.

We already have thoughts that whoever Akainu sent after Luffy and Law is an admiral, though I hope that's not the case, otherwise Luffy might fight them instead of Doflamingo. Besides, it seems too soon for Luffy to go up against an admiral (and win).

I agree here. I don't think its time for Luffy to simply take out an Admiral. If he does it would need to be an insane battle and not a Luffy VS Blueno situation.
Then again it could be a situation where the fight doesn't necessarily end. Something thats common in One Piece.

 

[EddyBob15]

Since there's a lot of clues that this Fujitora is an admiral, then that leaves one more unknown admiral. Of course, the concept that Coby has become an admiral at this point would be hard to swallow.

 

[MiyamotoMusashi]

Since there's a lot of clues that this Fujitora is an admiral, then that leaves one more unknown admiral. Of course, the concept that Coby has become an admiral at this point would be hard to swallow.

There could be more than 3 Admirals. Coby is a Captain.

 

[Ninomiya]

There could be more than 3 Admirals. Coby is a Captain.

I agree. I think there could be more than 3.
Wasn't Garp constantly offered position of Admiral?
I always thought it was due to the lack of beastly powerful VA's that there were only 3.

 

[MiyamotoMusashi]

I agree. I think there could be more than 3.
Wasn't Garp constantly offered position of Admiral?
I always thought it was due to the lack of beastly powerful VA's that there were only 3.

From the in-story perspective, i think you are right. From what we have seen of the VAs, none of them except Garp deserves to be an Admiral. From the meta perspective though, i think it has got more to do with Oda´s desire to follow a certain theme for the Admirals. All three pre-timeskip admirals are based upon Japanese actors and are drawn to resemble them, and their birthdays are the same as the said actors.
Their aliases are taken from Momotarō legends, they are a pheasant, a dog and a monkey who assisted the boy hero, Momotarō, on his adventures. Coincidentally, each personality fits the aliases (Aokiji, the pheasant, is somewhat lazy; Kizaru, the monkey, is quite absent-minded and irresponsible; and Akainu, the dog, is very loyal).

I would not be surprised if the new Admirals + Kizaru also follow a certain theme. Aohige of APForums suggested for example that there could be 4 Admirals in total now, following the parts of the Japanese, mythical creature Nue . The creature has the head of a monkey (Kizaru), the legs of a tiger (Fujitora), the body of a tanuki and the tail of a snake.

 

[Kaiten]

I think Momonga will be the next Admiral. So far, the outfit of the admirals has been coordinated to match their codename. Kizaru wore a jacket with yellow pinstripes. Aokiji a blue shirt beneath his vest. Akainu was dressed in a red suit. His shirt was also red, with a floral print. Momonga's has purple hair, and his suit had purple pinstripes. He is the only VA, as of Marineford, to wear purple. Stainless also wore purple, during the Shichibukai meeting, after Alabasta. But he changed color scheme for the War. Fujitora means (roughly) purple tiger, so I expect an admiral with a (shade of) purple theme.

 

[Samui]

I think Momonga will be the next Admiral. So far, the outfit of the admirals has been coordinated to match their codename. Kizaru wore a jacket with yellow pinstripes. Aokiji a blue shirt beneath his vest. Akainu was dressed in a red suit. His shirt was also red, with a floral print. Momonga's has purple hair, and his suit had purple pinstripes. He is the only VA, as of Marineford, to wear purple. Stainless also wore purple, during the Shichibukai meeting, after Alabasta. But he changed color scheme for the War. Fujitora means (roughly) purple tiger, so I expect an admiral with a (shade of) purple theme.

We've already seen him post time skip, he's still the commander of G-1 (now placed instead of Marineford) just like he was pre-TS. Plus, if he turns out to be the new Admiral it will further ruin the already ruined power relations between Luffy-Shuzo-Momonga-Ain-Zoro (Ain, like Monet, was destroyed by Zoro; Ain defeated Shuzo; Shuzo and Momonga were equal; Luffy defeated Shuzo) in the anime.

 

[Kaiten]

Ain isn't a canon character.

When did we see him, post timeskip? As far as I remember, he has not been officially named, or identified with a template.

 

[goldb]

We saw him when intel went back to G-1 that Luffy was spotted on Sabaody. It was a panel or 2, so it still stands to be seen if he is an Admiral or remains a VA. We assume( as it hasn't been stated to my knowledge) that he is the leader of G-1; as was Sengoku also, when he was still Admiral back during the Ohara incident.

When we first heard of Fujitora, I immediately thought of Momonga and as he wasn't reintroduced after the timeskip, it could still be him. BUT I'd like for this to be a new character. Seeing as Akainu is FA and his brand of justice, I was more inclined to Onigumo being a new Admiral but as it's doubtlessly been pointed out, besides Smoker, we've not seen any extensive fights by VAs to judge power, though it is not the only requirement of an Admiral.

 

[Kaiten]

We saw him when intel went back to G-1 that Luffy was spotted on Sabaody. It was a panel or 2, so it still stands to be seen if he is an Admiral or remains a VA. We assume( as it hasn't been stated to my knowledge) that he is the leader of G-1; as was Sengoku also, when he was still Admiral back during the Ohara incident.

From what I understand, that scene was altered in the anime to make it look less like Momonga. I'm not sure if that is true; I don't watch the anime, and don't believe everything I read on the internet. I think this is the page you are referring to (thank you google). It does look a lot like him. If it is him, his rank was not given, so we can't rule out the possibility he is an Admiral.

When we first heard of Fujitora, I immediately thought of Momonga and as he wasn't reintroduced after the timeskip, it could still be him. BUT I'd like for this to be a new character. Seeing as Akainu is FA and his brand of justice, I was more inclined to Onigumo being a new Admiral but as it's doubtlessly been pointed out, besides Smoker, we've not seen any extensive fights by VAs to judge power, though it is not the only requirement of an Admiral.

There are two positions open, Kuzan and Akainu both need to be replaced. We could still have an established character, and a new character promoted.

 

[Samui]

Still, Oda wouldn't show him post-TS in G-1 if he got promoted. We know he was G-1 commander pre-TS, we see him there post TS, so I see no reason to assume he got promoted.

 

[Ninomiya]

though it is not the only requirement of an Admiral.

Personally, I feel it should be a massive requirement.
In my view of an Admiral, being Admiral level means you are significantly strong than the VA's.

However, I'm not expecting the new Admiral to be Akainu/Aokiji level though. Thats beast. I won't complain if he is though.

 

[Kaiten]

Still, Oda wouldn't show him post-TS in G-1 if he got promoted. We know he was G-1 commander pre-TS, we see him there post TS, so I see no reason to assume he got promoted.

I am not assuming anything. It is just a guess, based on the very little information we have. I don't claim to be right, and don't care if I am, or not. No one can yet claim a right answer, there is to little information. No one can claim an answer is wrong yet either, short of saying something truly ridiculous.

Personally, I feel it should be a massive requirement.
In my view of an Admiral, being Admiral level means you are significantly strong than the VA's.

However, I'm not expecting the new Admiral to be Akainu/Aokiji level though. Thats beast. I won't complain if he is though.

Vice-Admiral is the rank directly below Admiral. Kizaru, Aokiji, and Akainu all once served as Vice-Admiral themselves. The new Admiral will be a long serving Marine, who has risen through the ranks. It is reasonable to think that at least one of the new Admiral will be promoted from Vice-Admiral.

 

[Ninomiya]

Vice-Admiral is the rank directly below Admiral. Kizaru, Aokiji, and Akainu all once served as Vice-Admiral themselves. The new Admiral will be a long serving Marine, who has risen through the ranks. It is reasonable to think that at least one of the new Admiral will be promoted from Vice-Admiral.

That wasn't what I was getting at.
I'm saying, in terms of strength, he should be somewhat significantly above VA level.
Otherwise he won't carry the fear that the title "Admiral" holds.

 

[goldb]

From what I understand, that scene was altered in the anime to make it look less like Momonga. I'm not sure if that is true; I don't watch the anime, and don't believe everything I read on the internet. I think this is the page you are referring to (thank you google). It does look a lot like him. If it is him, his rank was not given, so we can't rule out the possibility he is an Admiral.

Yes, that. I don't recall the scene from the anime and had assumed he didn't have any dialogues( I really should've checked ), thanks. The point about his rank not being announced still stands.

Slight deviation; until confirmed we can only speculate that there are only 3 available Admiral positions. For all we know, this could've been something Sengoku put into place during his tenure that Akainu has expanded on. I wouldn't put it past him but I have to say the rank and fear rising from it loses a bit of significance(right word here?) the more there are.

Also to add to the power level discussion, I'd like to point out this scene where Saul had warned Robin to run away from Kuzan as his strength was "extraordinary"; this is a VA talking about another member of the same rank. I'm with Kaiten that even among VAs there are seniors and junior due to tenure but I also think there is some power separation, hence we may have "admiral level" VAs( i.e Garp, most notably. Though his level would most likely be experience and tenure based than simply power). Granted, we don't know who was the senior/junior between Saul and Kuzan, though I'd very much assume Saul to be the senior( as a giant he was possibly quite older).

 

[Kaiten]

Yes, that. I don't recall the scene from the anime and had assumed he didn't have any dialogues( I really should've checked ), thanks. The point about his rank not being announced still stands.

That also is why I question how much that panel means. The character was not named, and his rank was never given.

Slight deviation; until confirmed we can only speculate that there are only 3 available Admiral positions. For all we know, this could've been something Sengoku put into place during his tenure that Akainu has expanded on. I wouldn't put it past him but I have to say the rank and fear rising from it loses a bit of significance(right word here?) the more there are.

True, there is nothing to say that there will still be exactly three Admirals. I do not think that the Marine would reduce the number of active Admiral after losing three senior officers, the turmoil caused by Whitebeard's death, and Akainu's desire to reassert control over the New World. I think it would make a lot of sense if he increased the number of Admiral positions, increasing Marine command and control capabilities. For conversations sake, I have been sticking with Admirals, including Kizaru. This topic is already hypothetical enough without also having to speculate on the total number of positions available.

Also to add to the power level discussion, I'd like to point out this scene where Saul had warned Robin to run away from Kuzan as his strength was "extraordinary"; this is a VA talking about another member of the same rank. I'm with Kaiten that even among VAs there are seniors and junior due to tenure but I also think there is some power separation, hence we may have "admiral level" VAs( i.e Garp, most notably. Though his level would most likely be experience and tenure based than simply power). Granted, we don't know who was the senior/junior between Saul and Kuzan, though I'd very much assume Saul to be the senior( as a giant he was possibly quite older).

There has to be some difference in power and experience. Garp was already a Vice-Admiral during Roger's time, and has turned down promotions to Admiral in the past (iirc). You can't tell me that Smoker, a Vice-Admiral two years or less, is as powerful as Garp. Vice-Admiral's of the same age do not even have to be of the same level. One VA could be more talented than his companions. We have seen so little from that rank, it's almost impossible to generalize. They can use haki, are third in command (behind Fleet Admiral, and Admiral's) of the Marine, and five of them at a time are sent on Buster Calls.

---------- Post added March 09, 2013 at 01:15 PM ---------- Previous post was March 08, 2013 at 11:00 PM ----------

It's also worth pointing out: Momonga was strong enough to slice open a sea king, from the inside out.

 

[kkck]

Well, as far as I can tell this fujitora guy is the new admiral. His name even fits the theme, purple or wisteria tiger. I have no idea if he will fit the logia theme the admirals seem to have though. Nor sure what element to associate with purple. Purple is something I would associate with poison but ceasar and magellan would pretty much cover that. Sludge element? Not sure what to make of that either.

Seeing that, if oda intends on keeping the colored animal thing then no of the VAs we know would be candidates to admirals unless the nickname is assigned after becoming an admiral.

---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------

Perhaps fujitora will have a plant element? it would be a weird element for a logia though, it would seem too much like a paramecia. Perhaps it has something to do with that purple plant that comes up when you google search wysteria. Perhaps his element will be something like byakuya's bankai and use those flowers/petals for a number of things?

 

[MiyamotoMusashi]

Well, as far as I can tell this fujitora guy is the new admiral. His name even fits the theme, purple or wisteria tiger. I have no idea if he will fit the logia theme the admirals seem to have though. Nor sure what element to associate with purple. Purple is something I would associate with poison but ceasar and magellan would pretty much cover that. Sludge element? Not sure what to make of that either.

Seeing that, if oda intends on keeping the colored animal thing then no of the VAs we know would be candidates to admirals unless the nickname is assigned after becoming an admiral.

---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------

Perhaps fujitora will have a plant element? it would be a weird element for a logia though, it would seem too much like a paramecia. Perhaps it has something to do with that purple plant that comes up when you google search wysteria. Perhaps his element will be something like byakuya's bankai and use those flowers/petals for a number of things?

I could imagine Oda following a new theme for the admirals, both for their names and appearances as well as their powers. I could imagine that they will all have different fighting styles, meaning 1 Logia, 1 Paramecia, 1 Zoan, probably mythical and 1 without fruit at all.