Koby || Marine Captain

APPEARANCE : In his first appearance, Koby was a small, timid, chubby boy with kobi pink hair and round-frame glasses.

Due to the passage of time and Garp's training, Koby has grown thinner and taller, standing close to Luffy in height. He has also gained a cross-shaped scar above his right eye, presumably earned under Garp's heavy-handed tutelage. His hair has grown longer and shaggier since his growth spurt, but it has retained its kobi pink color.

Koby wears a standard-issue Marine jacket, pants, and neckerchief as well as a brightly patterned bandanna worn tied across his forehead. Koby's glasses are still present, but he has adopted the habit of wearing them pushed up on his forehead, occasionally using them for reading.

After the timeskip, Koby has grown even taller, reaching Garp's shoulders. He now wears a scarf, a senior officer's Marine coat with the word "justice" on it, a merit on his jacket, and a new bandanna. The scar on his forehead also has grown wider.

PERSONALITY :

Koby was first introduced as the Alvida Pirates' hapless ship caretaker who lived in fear of both the ship's crew and captain. Two years of forced servitude had robbed him of all hope of escaping as well as his dream of becoming a Marine, leaving him with few goals other than avoiding being bludgeoned to death by Alvida's iron mace. Luffy was less than impressed with Koby's cowardice, describing him as "pretty stupid and useless...and kinda wimpy too". However, Luffy's boundless optimism and single-minded pursuit of his dream rekindled a similar conviction in the downtrodden ship caretaker, allowing him to defy his captors, even under the threat of a brutal death by Alvida's mace.[1]

As the pair continued in their travels, Koby remained timid and cautious, often relying on Luffy to perform dangerous tasks and becoming alarmed by his companion's reckless behavior.

He was also shown to be perceptive, noting that it was "strange" for the citizens of Shells Town to be afraid of a Marine Captain and telling Luffy that he had "a bad feeling about this." Koby's naïve belief in the blanket integrity of the Marines was dashed when he witnessed the actions of Axe-Hand Morgan and his son, but it only strengthened his resolve to become, in his words, "a real Marine."[17]

Under Garp's instruction, Koby's timidity has been replaced with confidence, although he remains polite, self-effacing, and apologetic if he feels he has done something overly ambitious (such as publicly stating his goal to become a Marine admiral). He continues to be an emotional, compassionate person who can easily be driven to tears for a variety of reasons, which led to Zoro jocularly calling him a "crybaby" during their reunion at Water 7.[18]

Koby is also completely selfless with immense compassion, being devoted to helping people both civilians and his fellow Marines unconditionally which earned him immense popularity.

Koby does not act with the reckless bravery that many characters in the series exhibit, but rather on moral compunction. He has put his life on the line at least twice for the sake of what he feels is right, most notably at the Summit War of Marineford where he brought fighting to a standstill by facing down Admiral Akainu and bought the precious seconds needed for Luffy to escape.[19]

Koby has an immense amount of determination. In the early days of his training as a Marine when he was still weak, he would train relentlessly non-stop by punching battleships which could only be done by powerful Marines such as Garp and Kuzan due to acknowledging his lack of fighting talent. Despite his already exhaustive training session with Garp, he continued to train on a daily basis despite his hands would keep bleeding from the injuries.

For all he has done and is capable of doing, Koby is rather humble, as he denied Kyros' claim of him being a hero during the Rocky Port Incident and did not claim credit for stopping a torpedo that was aiming at the Dressrosa and Prodence Kingdom ships. [20] He felt ashamed for thinking Marines had come to rescue him and considered it thinking that the world revolved around him when trying to escape from Hachinosu and was shocked when he discovered they had come for him.[16]

Relationships Abilities and Powers History Past Koby Getting on Wrong Boat Koby getting on the wrong boat. Koby was born eighteen years ago in the East Blue.[8] At age fourteen, while on a fishing trip, he accidentally boarded a ship with the Alvida Pirates. Defenseless and terrified, Koby effectively became a slave to the pirates (who kept him alive mainly for his navigational knowledge) on their island hideout. Here, he endured constant menial labor and beatings, particularly from Alvida herself, who often used her mace to force him into flattering her beauty and power. Over time he grew resentful of all pirates, developing dreams of escaping and becoming a Marine, and so began building an escape boat in secret.[29][30]

East Blue Saga Romance Dawn Arc Luffy Emerges From Barrel in the Manga Koby and his crewmates find Luffy inside a barrel. Two years into his plight, after a seemingly routine day cleaning Alvida's ship and enduring the pirates' abuse, Koby retrieved a barrel that had washed ashore, unaware it actually contained Monkey D. Luffy (who had hidden inside to survive a whirlpool). Thinking the barrel held alcohol, senior pirates Heppoko, Peppoko and Poppoko seized it, only for Luffy to burst out. In the ensuing confusion, Luffy was knocked into the nearby woods, where Koby followed; after introductions, Luffy asked for a boat, and Koby presented his self-made escape boat, admitting he no longer had the courage to use it himself.[29]

Unimpressed, Luffy declared his dream to become Pirate King or die trying. Moved by Luffy's resolve, Koby began voicing his own dream, only faltering when Alvida emerged and destroyed the boat. Thinking Luffy a bounty hunter hired to capture her, Alvida demanded Koby reaffirm his loyalty, only for Luffy to casually defy her and her vanity. Following Luffy's example, Koby swallowed his fears and joined in the insults. He stood firm as the enraged Alvida prepared to kill him, but Luffy blocked Alvida's mace with his rubber body and defeated her with a single punch. Luffy then exacted a new boat from Alvida's men, taking Koby on as his first traveling companion.

153rd Branch Infobox Koby and Luffy arrive at Shells Town's Marine base. As they set off to sea, Koby was concerned about what Luffy's fate in the Grand Line would be, and Luffy said he would recruit a strong crew starting with the bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro.[29] With Koby navigating, the pair reached Shells Town, where Zoro had been imprisoned by the Marines' 153rd Branch. Though Koby was initially terrified by Zoro's reputation, they soon realized the town was actually under threat from the tyrannical Captain Morgan and his son Helmeppo, who had unjustly imprisoned Zoro for defying them to save a girl named Rika.

Helmeppo then came into the village, mentioning to Luffy how he planned to execute Zoro in three days despite giving Zoro a chance at freedom, and Koby watched as Luffy punched him for dishonestly imprisoning Zoro.[31] Koby held Luffy back from attacking Helmeppo further, and grew worried as Helmeppo went away and promised revenge. Luffy went to go recruit Zoro, and a little while later, Koby went to free Zoro because he wanted to uphold real justice as a Marine. He was shot in the shoulder by a Marine,[32] but decided to stay and continue freeing Zoro. Koby revealed Helmeppo's deception to Zoro and said that Luffy had attacked Helmeppo because of this. Suddenly, the two of them were surrounded by Marines.

Helmeppo Threatens Koby Helmeppo threatening to shoot Koby. The Marines shot at Koby and Zoro, but they were suddenly shielded by Luffy, whose rubber body shot the bullets back, and Koby fainted after seeing this.[33] He came to soon afterward, only to see the Marines charging at them with swords. However, Luffy freed Zoro and the two pirates took out the Marines. As Luffy fought Morgan, Koby called for him to defeat the Marines, and was shocked as Morgan sliced an entire fence in two with his axe hand. Koby watched as Luffy overwhelmed Morgan, but he was held at gunpoint by Helmeppo in an attempt to stop Luffy. Koby said he was not afraid of death and watched as Luffy punched Helmeppo while Zoro struck Morgan down.[34] To Koby's surprise, the Marines then celebrated their captain's defeat.

Luffy vs. Koby Luffy punches Koby. Koby, Luffy, and Zoro then went to Rika's mother's restaurant, and Koby reflected that Luffy and Zoro were the first friends he made. The Marines then came in and asked Luffy and Zoro to leave the island since they were pirates, and they asked if Koby was with them. Koby denied it, but Luffy started telling the Marines about his past with Alvida. This caused Koby to punch Luffy and the two to get into a fight, but as they were broken up, Koby knew that Luffy did that to distance the two of them and allow him to join the Marines. He then asked to join the Marines, and although they were aware of his past, they agreed to his request. As Luffy and Zoro prepared to sail away, Koby came and saluted them in thanks, and to his surprise he was joined by the rest of the Marines as they thanked Luffy and Zoro for their actions.[35]

Diary of Koby-Meppo Koby and Helmeppo Training Hard Koby and Helmeppo training hard to become great Marines. After joining the Marines, Koby and Helmeppo started out as Marine chore boys at the 153rd Branch in Shells Town.[36] The two were later tasked with chore duty on a ship transferring the prisoner Morgan. As Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp was taking Morgan into his custody, Morgan caught Garp off-guard and slashed him before taking Helmeppo hostage.[37] Morgan fled on a small boat with his hostage and the Marines prepared to fire on the small vessel. However, Koby, not willing to let them kill his friend, scared them away with a gun. Bogard sliced Koby's guns into pieces, but Garp stepped in before the two could continue fighting. Though Morgan escaped,[38] the bravery shown by the two earned them the attention of Garp, who took the two under his wing as pupils.[39] Koby and Helmeppo accompanied the vice admiral to Marineford to train under him.[40] Despite the harsh training under Garp, Koby continued to force himself to train even harder in his spare time by punching retired battleships non-stop due to acknowledging his complete lack of talent in fighting. He would persist in this brutal training method despite the intense pain and bleeding.[41]

Arabasta Saga Jango's Dance Paradise Garp's training made Koby and Helmeppo physically fitter. While taking a break, they walked past Hina's subordinates who were dancing and cleaning.[42]

Water 7 Saga Post-Enies Lobby Arc Luffy and Zoro Defeat Koby and Helmeppo Koby and Helmeppo are easily defeated by Luffy and Zoro. Koby went to Water 7 alongside Helmeppo when Garp paid Luffy a visit. On the vice admiral's order, Helmeppo charged at Zoro while Koby attacked Luffy. Both he and Helmeppo were easily beaten after a brief skirmish. Koby cheerfully admitted defeat and reintroduced himself to Luffy and Zoro, asking if they remembered him. Although the Straw Hat captain initially had trouble recognizing Koby due to his growth spurt, the trio were happily reunited. Koby, like the Straw Hat crew and the rest of Garp's men, was shocked when the vice admiral revealed that the revolutionary Dragon is his son and Luffy's father.[43]

After some time, Zoro went back inside with the other Straw Hats, leaving Luffy, Koby, and Helmeppo to sit outside and reminisce about their first meeting and the young Marine's journey to the Grand Line. Luffy insisted that the two Marines come in and share a meal with his crew, but Koby declined the invitation, saying that he and Luffy were members of opposing factions and that they should not be too friendly with one another. Before he left, Koby asked Luffy what he knew about the latter half of the Grand Line, which Marines and pirates call "the New World." He requested to meet the Straw Hat captain again in that sea, promising to be strong enough to fight and capture him.

Koby Reveals His Dream to Luffy Koby reveals to Luffy his dream of becoming an admiral. He became so worked up that he accidentally blurted out his dream of becoming an admiral before immediately collapsing in embarrassment. Luffy accepted Koby's ambitious proclamation as a certainty, saying that if the Marine wanted to fight with him in the New World, then he could not be anything other than an admiral. Koby was moved to tears by Luffy's unshakable faith in him and was teased by Zoro for still being a crybaby. Koby and Helmeppo departed, repeating their challenge to the Straw Hats to meet again in the New World.[44]

Koby saw Luffy one more time as he left Water 7 when Garp attacked. He was afraid the vice admiral would sink the Thousand Sunny and its crew but was relieved when the Straw Hats managed to escape.[45]

Summit War Saga Marineford Arc Koby and Helmeppo at Marineford Koby and Helmeppo at Marineford. Koby and Helmeppo reported to Marineford to participate in the war against the Whitebeard Pirates, and they were present for Sengoku's speech about Portgas D. Ace's past. After hearing that Ace was Gol D. Roger's son, the two came to a conclusion that Ace and Luffy were not biological brothers.[46]

Frightened by the display of power from both sides and the ensuing bloodshed as the Marines and Whitebeard's forces clash, Koby and Helmeppo ran away. By chance, they crossed paths with Akainu and, from their hiding place behind a wall, witnessed the admiral brutally punishing another Marine for deserting. They later overheard Sengoku's communication with Akainu through the admiral's Den Den Mushi, which revealed the fleet admiral's plan to ignore the schedule and execute Ace right away. It was then that they noticed Luffy's ship falling from the sky.[47] Upon seeing Luffy, Koby was utterly surprised. When Sengoku announced that Luffy is Dragon's son, Koby was shocked that the Fleet Admiral decided to reveal such information.

Luffy Defeats Koby at Marineford Luffy defeats Koby with just one blow. When Luffy was charging to the execution stand to rescue Ace, Koby blocked his path, determined to fight him. He told himself that, if he cowered away from the situation, he would not be able to improve. His resolve, however, was not enough as Koby was no match for Luffy and was defeated with a single punch. Luffy moved on, leaving Koby unconscious in the middle of the battlefield.[25]

Eventually, Koby woke up, distressed that the war was still raging despite the fact that Ace had been killed by Akainu. The trauma of the battle triggered his own Haki, allowing him to involuntarily sense every human presence nearby on the battlefield (described by Koby as voices inside his head). He was reduced to tears as he listened to the voices of the combatants disappearing one by one as they were killed. As the violence rose to a fever pitch, Koby screamed at the top of his lungs, begging both sides to stop throwing lives away for a war that no longer had any purpose.

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