Koby

Koby, the Hero, holds the rank of a Marine Captain and trained under Vice Admiral Garp's guidance alongside Helmeppo. Currently, he serves as a member of the Marine special forces unit known as SWORD. In the past, Koby found himself trapped as a caretaker on a pirate ship belonging to the Alvida Pirates. However, fate smiled upon him when he was rescued by Luffy, becoming the first friend Luffy made on his journey. Later on, after becoming a full-fledged Marine, Koby reunited with Luffy during the Post-Enies Lobby Arc.

 

Over time, he gained fame and recognition for his heroic actions during the Rocky Port Incident. Unfortunately, Koby's path crossed with the Blackbeard Pirates, resulting in a failed attempt to arrest Boa Hancock and subsequent imprisonment. Fortunately, with the help of Perona, his fellow SWORD colleagues, and his mentor Garp, he managed to escape the clutches of the Blackbeard Pirates. As a symbol of his heroic deeds, Koby's status as a hero earned him a 5-star bounty from the Cross Guild, amounting to 500,000,000 Beli. He also stands as an ally of Luffy during the Romance Dawn Arc. Koby, together with Helmeppo, played central roles in the Diary of Koby-Meppo Cover Page Serial and appeared as supporting antagonists during the Post-Enies Lobby Arc. Additionally, he briefly took on an antagonistic role in the Marineford Arc. During his time on Hachinosu, Koby faced the menacing Teach, who had plans to use the lives of Marines as leverage to turn the island into a World Government-affiliated nation. Koby firmly resisted the idea, standing his ground as a member of SWORD. Despite the perilous situation, he eventually escaped the island, thanks to Perona's help, and coordinated the rescue of other prisoners. When Garp and SWORD came to his aid, Koby was both relieved and surprised. However, his joy was short-lived as Kuzan's actions put his friend Hibari in danger. Koby pleaded with Kuzan to release Hibari but found himself caught in the middle of Garp's and Shiryu's confrontation. In a daring effort to save Garp, Koby displayed remarkable strength and managed to foil Pizarro's plans. Despite his courage, Koby was torn between selflessness and wanting his crew to save themselves. Ultimately, he had to face the difficult choice of leaving with his crew or continuing to put himself at risk. Through it all, Koby's journey showcases his growth, bravery, and dedication as he navigates the challenging world of pirates and Marines.

 

Trivia

• A fan once asked why Koby looked so different from his first appearance. According to Oda, Koby just went through a growth spurt and tightened his muscles with discipline (due to Garp's training).
• In the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th fan polls of most popular characters, Koby was ranked 18th, 54th, 54th, 37th, 58th, and 42th respectively. He was not part of the 2nd fan poll.
• The Shonen Jump magazine version of Chapter 956 erroneously listed Koby as a Rear Admiral. The Volume 95 version corrected that Koby's rank was still Captain.
• In the spin-off manga One Piece: Kobiyama Who Looks Like Koby - Two Piece in a Pod, the titular character, Kobiyama, is a boy who resembles Koby before Garp's training.
• Koby's favorite foods are Rika's onigiri and buttered potatoes, and his least favorite food is black coffee.
• Koby's animal resemblance is a dolphin.
• Koby's hobby is sea fishing.