How important is the Revolutionary Army in One Piece? Discover the members of this organization and its role in the series.
The world of One Piece has no shortage of factions chasing their own goals. While the focus is usually on the pirates or the World Government, there is a crucial third party that works in the background – the Revolutionary Army. This group doesn’t show up on our screens often, but when they do, a huge shift occurs. So, how important is the Revolutionary Army in One Piece?
The Revolutionary Army is an extremely important group that openly opposes the World Government and fights oppression. Let us take a closer look at what makes them so important.
What Is the Revolutionary Army in One Piece?
The Revolutionary Army is a military organization led by Monkey D. Dragon to oppose the World Government and Celestial Dragons. They recognize the unfair structure of the world and how Nobles trample on the nations below them. Unlike pirates, whose goals often rely on personal freedom or conquest, the Revolutionary Army is more all-encompassing and focuses on systemic change.
While both Revolutionaries and pirates often butt heads with the Marines, they are not friendly with each other. They differ in ideologies and also combat for the same resources. This is mainly seen in the many battles between the Revolutionary Army and the Blackbeard Pirates.
Revolutionaries mainly carry out their duty by targeting individual islands and kingdoms that serve the World Government. Recognizing that the problem is widespread, they assist the oppressed population in turning against their leaders. In the process, the group saves the enslaved and recruits all those who wish to join.
While they focus on liberation, the Revolutionaries are also practical and often give inspiration to populations to free themselves. They recognize that this is the only way for long-standing growth rather than being handed it on a silver platter. This was mainly seen in the Lulusia Kingdom, where they sprinkled the ideologies of freedom before the people turned against King Seki.
Notable Members of the Revolutionary Army
The Revolutionary Army has been shown to be a united organization towards the goal of the common good. They boast a roster of several distinctive characters who stick out among their peers.
1) Monkey D. Dragon –
Dragon is the father of Luffy and the most wanted criminal in the entire world. His vision for liberation is what mainly drives the Revolutionary Army. Though he seems extremely intimidating and powerful, Dragon cares about his allies a lot and doesn’t hesitate to show his empathy.
2) Sabo –
Luffy’s sworn brother, Sabo, is the Chief of Staff in the Revolutionary Army. He has quickly risen to fame due to his role at the Levely. Sabo has inherited the Flame-Flame Fruit from Ace and is one of the strongest and most charismatic members of his group.
3) Emporio Ivankov –
Ivankov is one of the founding members of the Revolutionary Army and the current commander who played a big role in the God Valley Incident. They were a key ally of Luffy at Impel Down and are known for their flamboyant persona and style. At the same time, Ivankov highly values bonds and connections, placing emphasis on freedom over all else.
4) Koala –
Koala is a deputy commander of the Revolutionary Army who was a slave but set free during Fisher Tiger’s attack on Mary Geoise. She is cheery, caring, and shares a close relationship with Sabo. Koala also teaches Fish-Man Karate to other Revolutionaries.
5) Karasu, Betty, Morley, and Lindbergh
Karasu, Betty, Morley, and Lindbergh are commanders of the North, East, West, and South Armies, respectively. Despite having drastically different personalities, they are compassionate in their own ways and follow Dragon’s dream.
The Controversy of the Revolutionary Army
The most common controversy surrounding the Revolutionary Army is that they’re simply not doing enough in the series. Right from the earliest chapters, Dragon and his group have been built up to be the greatest opposing force against the World Government.
Unfortunately, apart from serving as an underground organization silently empowering revolts and saving key characters, the Army has never done anything that actively turns heads in One Piece. Among the various members, the only one who has made visible contributions is Sabo, who has fought Admirals and even faced the Five Elders himself.
For an organization that is supposedly huge and constantly freeing the oppressed, we have not seen enough of them in the series. Another common point of discussion is the relevance of Dragon, a key figure who is an infamous criminal and Luffy’s father.
While he has not been shown a lot to attract intrigue, some fans believe it has removed the excitement from his character. The group’s involvement at the Levely has brought back some element of enthusiasm, but a few viewers believe it has been too long a wait.
At the same time, the other side of the argument is also equally vocal. Since Oda has shown to be a master at character writing and development, these fans trust in the creator to have a specific moment of shine for the Revolutionaries. Considering the vast amount of groups during the start of One Piece, it only makes sense to narrow them down towards the Final Saga before giving the Revolutionary Army their time to shine.
What Did the Revolutionary Army Do at the Levely?
The most memorable moment of the Revolutionary Army came from their recent involvement at the Levely. Sabo, Karasu, and others infiltrated Mary Geoise to save Kuma and declare war against the World Government. While fighting against the likes of Admiral Fujitora and Ryokugyu, they were able to retrieve Kuma.
At the same time, Sabo went missing and was revealed to be the killer of Nefertari Cobra. However, we find the truth later that Sabo intruded upon the meeting between the Five Elders, Imu, and Cobra. Discovering shocking truths about the Will of D. and the Void Century, Imu unleashed a devastating arrow attack that hurt Sabo and was fatal to Cobra.
Framing Sabo as the perpetrator, the World Government ended up destroying Lulusia. This was a shocking display of their cruelty while also giving a renewed sense of purpose and urgency to Dragon and the Revolutionaries.
The Revolutionary Army’s Role in the Final Saga
Now that we are into the Final Saga of One Piece, there have been several theories floating around regarding the Revolutionary Army’s role. Considering that Sabo has attracted Imu’s attention and Dragon has lost close friends such as Vegapunk, it is safe to say that there has never been a time of higher importance for them.
The Army’s connection to Robin and the Void Century likely makes them have a lot of crucial information. This could likely make them team up with the Straw Hat Pirates to find the One Piece.
Other theories include a valiant stand against the World Government, which results in their loss or Dragon’s death. This would give Luffy the motive and drive to defeat Imu for good. However, most will be hoping for an alliance between pirates and the Revolutionaries to defeat the World Government. Since they are against oppression, this would make them useful in building the new world after the deciding battle.
Conclusion
The Revolutionary Army represents all the key themes of One Piece – freedom, justice, and the fight against authoritarianism. Regardless of the complaints against them and the assumptions of their role, all fans are sincerely hoping to finally see Dragon and his allies in action for the sake of world peace.
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