Many One Piece Characters Are Criticizing Oda For Making Whitebeard Abandon Rocks
The latest revelations from the God Valley flashback have sparked a strange kind of backlash — not just from fans, but “in-universe” as well. After recent chapters suggested that Whitebeard chose to walk away from Rocks D. Xebec at God Valley rather than die by his captain’s side, many readers are joking that even One Piece characters themselves would be furious with Eiichiro Oda’s decision. For a pirate who would later be hailed as the “Strongest Man in the World” and a symbol of loyalty, seeing a younger Whitebeard turn his back on his crew’s doomed leader has left the fandom divided, confused, and very loud online.
In fan discussions, imagined reactions from characters have taken over timelines: Marco “calling out” the retcon, Ace “refusing to believe” his old man would ever abandon a comrade, and even Blackbeard “thanking Oda” for exposing a flaw he can exploit. Behind the humor, though, there’s a real debate. Many readers feel that this choice undercuts Whitebeard’s legendary image, while others argue it adds painful, human complexity to a man who didn’t become the fatherly emperor he is remembered as overnight.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
All of this controversy is unfolding inside what has quickly become one of the most captivating storylines in One Piece history. The God Valley Incident has turned from a vague piece of lore into a fully realized saga, bringing together titans like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and the shadowy Imu. The flashback doesn’t feel like a side note — it plays more like a historical epic, peeling back the curtain on how the current world order was forged.
By placing a young Whitebeard right in the middle of this chaos, Oda has forced fans to confront the gap between the myth and the man. The Whitebeard who ruled the seas in the New World is a different figure from the conflicted, ambitious crew member serving under Rocks. For some, his decision to walk away feels like a betrayal of the idealized “father” they know. For others, it’s the painful moment that forces him to redefine what family and loyalty really mean — a turning point that eventually leads to the man who would give his life protecting his sons at Marineford.
“Even Whitebeard Would Be Mad At Oda”
On social media, fans have turned their frustration into comedy. Memes imagine Whitebeard slamming his bisento into Oda’s desk, demanding a rewrite; Marco filing a complaint with the author; and Ace insisting that the “real” Whitebeard would never do such a thing. These fictional “criticisms” from the characters capture what many readers are feeling: that making Whitebeard abandon Rocks clashes with their long-held perception of his unwavering pride and loyalty.
At the same time, some argue that this is exactly the point. A younger Whitebeard bound to a ruthless captain like Rocks is not yet the man who builds a found family on his ship. His decision to walk away — whether out of disillusionment, survival, or outright refusal to follow Rocks’ path — can be read as the moment he rejects one kind of pirate era to create his own. In that interpretation, Oda isn’t tearing Whitebeard down — he’s showing the painful choice that made him who he is.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
Amid all this discourse, one thing is clear: fans are completely locked into the past right now. Many readers say they don’t even want to return to Luffy and the Straw Hats just yet. The God Valley storyline, with its grim atmosphere, brutal politics, and high-stakes history, feels to many like the most intense One Piece has been in years.
While the Straw Hats remain the emotional core of the series, this arc offers something totally different: the chance to watch the legends in their prime, make terrible mistakes, and shape the world we’ve known for over two decades. One comment circulating online sums it up: going back to the present day after God Valley will feel like “waking up from a dream.” For now, the fandom is content to stay in that dream a little longer — even if it means watching their heroes, like Whitebeard, make choices they’re not ready to forgive.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Legacy
Whether you love or hate the idea of Whitebeard abandoning Rocks, there’s no denying what this flashback has accomplished. After more than twenty years of serialization, Oda is still finding ways to challenge how fans see their favorite characters. Instead of preserving Whitebeard as a flawless legend carved in stone, he’s being treated like a person who had to grow into the role of “father” and “strongest man.”
The God Valley arc’s scale, emotion, and intricate connections to the present have reminded many readers of what they consider the series’ golden eras — arcs where mystery, world-building, and personal tragedy blend together seamlessly. Even as some worry that returning to the Straw Hats will break the spell, others see this as the balance that keeps One Piece timeless: a story willing to move between myth and memory, between pirates who are symbols and pirates who are flawed, frightened, and still changing.
No matter how the God Valley flashback ends, one thing is certain: it has already secured its place as one of the defining chapters of One Piece. And whether they’re serious or joking, fans will be talking about “Whitebeard abandoning Rocks” — and whether Oda was right to write it that way — for a very long time.
