The recent stretch of the One Piece manga (and anime) has brought fans deep into the legendary God Valley Incident — a key flashback that occurs around 38 years before the main storyline.
In this flashback, the powerful pirate Rocks D. Xebec clashes with the allied forces of Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp. Meanwhile, the enigmatic CelestialDragon figure Imu appears to be rewinding and rewriting the roles of Rocks and his legendary crew in ways that many in the fandom are reacting to strongly.
So Why the Backlash?
There are three major threads fueling fandom discontent:
- Hero/Villain Reversal — Traditionally, Rocks’ legacy has been presented as one of chaotic evil: a pirate whose power and ambition threatened both pirate and government alike. But recent revelations show Imu and the World Government apparatus re-writing history such that Rocks is now cast in a different light, and certain actors (like Roger and Garp) are being reframed too. Fans feel this upends long-held impressions of characters without enough build-up.
- Momentum Shift Away from the Straw Hats — Many fans have noted that the current arc has them so immersed in the God Valley flashback that they’re reluctant to return to the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates. One post put it bluntly:
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
The sense: this past-story has become the story, and fans aren’t sure they want to go back yet.
- Scope & Pacing Concerns — This flashback involves multiple legendary figures (Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, Roger, Rocks) and world-shaking events. The longer we stay there, the more the present-day narrative seems on pause. Many fear that an over-focus on the past could undermine the momentum built by the main storyline. Articles examining the incident call it “one of the most important plotlines” in the series.
What’s Changing? The Rewriting of Rocks’ Narrative
Here’s a closer look at what’s shifted:
- Rocks was long the captain of the infamous Rocks Pirates, a force that disbanded after the God Valley Incident.
- Now, Imu (the shadowy figure who leads the Celestial Dragons’ real world government) appears to be reversing key parts of the Rocks story: re-positioning them not just as villains, but as catalysts, victims, or even pawns in a larger scheme.
- Fans say this kind of “history rewrite” feels like it upends what the series has built for decades, and not everyone is comfortable with it yet.
Why the God Valley arc Feels Different — and Powerful
Despite the reservations, much of the fandom agrees: this arc is special.
- It offers the “true history” of the One Piece world — secrets about the World Government, Celestial Dragons, early piracy, and hidden legacies.
- The setting of God Valley (an island in the West Blue that vanished after the incident) adds mystery and stakes.
- The cast is extraordinary — legendary figures the story has teased for years are now all in one place.
- The tone is darker, more mythic; many fans say it recalls One Piece’s earlier era of world-building.
So, What’s the Fan Dilemma?
The fandom seems torn:
- On one hand: “This is the most thrilling part of One Piece in years.” The lore, the scale, the stakes — it’s all there.
- On the other hand: “When do we go back to Luffy and the Straw Hats?” The fear is the present narrative could suffer if the flashback dominates indefinitely.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re excited or skeptical, one thing is clear: the God Valley saga is defining the current moment of One Piece. The fact that the fandom is clashing over it is itself a sign of how deeply invested fans are.
If you’re one of those fans loving the flashback — you’re not alone. If you’re itching to get back to the Straw Hats — you’re not alone either.
Either way, the rewriting of Rocks by Imu is stirring the pot, and it’s going to have lasting impact on how we view this world and its characters.
