Much A piece fans might consider Mihawk’s original feat a silly joke made just to make the swordsman seem even more impressive. Still, it was an incredibly iconic moment that perfectly showcased his personality. This is another example of mangaka Eiichiro Oda making the sillier parts of his character design more meaningful.
One Piece’s art style and tone is often criticized for being too silly and cartoonish. However, this has the counter-intuitive advantage of making the more exotic threats the series presents feel more natural and menacing. It can also cause audiences to ignore eerie details that hint at tragic events until much later, making those moments have a greater emotional impact. Arguably the best example is the ever-smiling Wano people who can’t stop laughing after being disfigured by pollution. While not all of these small details have tragic results, many still make sense in more subtle ways.
Mihawk’s tiny sword hints at his character in One Piece
During Zoro’s first encounter with the greatest swordsman of all time, Dracule Mihawk, the warlord initially refused to fight him with his larger sword, Yoru, instead using a single blade. miniature which he kept in a cross worn around his neck. It’s a humorous moment that justifies Mihawk wearing the cross in a world that may not have a form of Christianity, but more than that, it shows his complete devotion to the blade . The cross is often a symbol of devotion to which those who wear it pray, but for Mihawk, a sword serving that role shows how devoted he is to the blade.
This is fitting because of Mihawk’s serious attitude. Mihawk has no interest in anything other than practicing and applying his sword skills and has little time for frivolous things. The fact that he used his small sword against Zoro seemed silly at first, but it negated the man’s true skill, which he used that small sword to show off. . As the battle continues, both Zoro and the audience are forced to see Mihawk’s cross sword as himself, as a powerful object worthy of respect, which also shows the fact that even threats The most ridiculous looking in One Piece can also be extremely dangerous for those who are not prepared for it.
Mihawk’s larger sword Yoru also uses a similar cross pattern, but is less metaphorical than his smaller weapon. This is part of what makes Oda’s approach to incorporating goofy character designs into his story engaging rather than offensive. By making every little detail important, A piece can turn an object as silly as Mihawk’s tiny blade into a poignant symbol that reveals much about its owner.
