Many Fans Are Calling Shanks “The 2nd Main Character” After Most Recent Chapter Release
Red-Haired Shanks has always been one of the most mysterious and beloved figures in One Piece, but after the most recent chapter, many fans feel he’s officially crossed a line: he no longer feels like a distant mentor or side character — he feels like the story’s “second main character.” Across social media, readers are joking (and half-serious) that Eiichiro Oda is running a “dual protagonist” series now, with one story following Luffy in the present and another orbiting around Shanks’ influence on the past, the world’s balance of power, and the series’ final mysteries.
Part of this perception comes from how the newest chapter places Shanks at the center of yet another world-defining moment, tying him directly into the lore of the Holy Knights, the Celestial Dragons, and Imu’s shadowy rule. Rather than being a cool uncle who shows up once every thousand chapters, Shanks has become a recurring axis around which major reveals spin. Each new scene with him doesn’t just hype his power — it reframes the entire narrative, making it feel like One Piece is as much his story as it is Luffy’s.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
The backdrop for this “second main character” conversation is the God Valley arc, which has become one of the most captivating storylines in One Piece history — and many fans aren’t ready for it to end. Eiichiro Oda’s exploration of this long-mysterious event has brought together legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the enigmatic Imu, creating a flashback that feels less like a detour and more like a second spine holding up the entire story.
Within this grand historical epic, Shanks is no longer just “the guy who inspired Luffy to set sail.” The God Valley flashback ties his origins, his connections, and his presence in the current era to some of the most important events in world history. The arc dives deep into the power struggles that shaped the modern world of One Piece, revealing long-hidden secrets about the Celestial Dragons and the early days of piracy.
For many, it’s a rare glimpse into the “true history” of the world — something fans have been waiting for since the manga’s earliest chapters. And every time Shanks appears in that context, it makes him feel less like a side character and more like a co-owner of the narrative, someone whose choices and existence are just as crucial as Luffy’s dream of becoming Pirate King.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
Surprisingly, many readers say they don’t want to go back to the Straw Hat Pirates just yet, and Shanks is a big part of that. Social media platforms are full of fans expressing that this arc feels like the most thrilling part of One Piece in years — with its dark tone, intense storytelling, and lore-heavy revelations. While Luffy and his crew are undeniably the heart of the series, the God Valley storyline offers something entirely different: a look at the legends and events that shaped everything we know before the Thousand Sunny ever touched the Grand Line.
In that space, Shanks isn’t just a fan-favorite cameo — he’s the bridge between eras. One fan summed it up best on X (formerly Twitter): “If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream — and Shanks is the guy narrating that dream.” The sentiment highlights a unique moment in the fandom, where the past has become more captivating than the present adventure, and Shanks is the face of that past.
This has sparked lively debate: some readers worry that giving Shanks so much spotlight risks overshadowing Luffy, while others argue that this is exactly what the final saga should be doing — colliding all of Oda’s long-planned secrets into a story where multiple “main characters” naturally emerge.
Shanks’ Growing Influence on the Final Saga
The more the manga leans into the God Valley incident and the Holy Knights, the harder it becomes to see Shanks as just another Yonko. He is tied to the Roger Pirates, quietly linked to the World Government’s highest secrets, and now repeatedly placed near the center of Imu’s unseen machinations.
Each revelation adds layers to his role:
- He’s a living relic of the old era, yet a key player in the current balance of power.
- He inspires Luffy while moving in completely different circles behind the scenes.
- He stands close enough to the throne of the world to scare even other emperors — yet still presents himself as a wandering, carefree pirate.
All of this combines to make Shanks feel like the only character who fully exists in both stories One Piece is telling right now: the youthful dream-chasing saga with Luffy, and the grim, political, historic narrative surrounding Imu and the Celestial Dragons.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Shanks’ Evolving Legacy
The enthusiasm surrounding the God Valley flashback — and Shanks’ expanding role within it — underscores Eiichiro Oda’s enduring genius as a storyteller. After more than two decades, he continues to surprise fans by revealing layers of history that connect generations of pirates, marines, and rulers, all while transforming once-mysterious side characters into central pillars of the plot.
The arc’s pacing, emotion, and scope have reminded readers of One Piece’s golden era — a blend of mystery, world-building, and drama that few series can match. Even as some fans fear that returning to the Straw Hats will slow the story’s momentum, others believe this balance between past and present is what makes One Piece timeless. Luffy remains the emotional core, but Shanks has become the narrative mirror — the man who shows what happens when a dreamer from a previous era reaches the very top of the world.
Whether the flashback ends soon or continues, the God Valley saga has already cemented itself as one of the most powerful and defining chapters in the series’ history. And with each new reveal, the fandom’s running joke sounds less like exaggeration and more like reality: Shanks isn’t just a supporting legend anymore — he’s starting to look like One Piece’s “second main character.”
