Warning: contains spoilers for One Piece chapter #1055
The newest villain in One Piece who stands in the path of the Straw Hat Pirates is already a huge disappointment. The Marine Admiral Aramaki, also known as Ryokugyu (Green Bull), made their debut right after the end of the climatic battle between Luffy and Kaido, trying to hit the Straw Hats and take the head of their captain while they were still recovering. However, this new, much-anticipated character failed to impress.
The Admirals are the most powerful Marines, considered one of the three "Great Powers" of the world due to the military potential that each one possesses. Ryokugyu was the last Admiral of the "new generation" to make his debut. Until recently, readers only caught a glimpse of his silhouette and knew he was involved in a big battle against Luffy's brother, Sabo and the other Commanders of the Revolutionary Army, but his look and powers were still a mystery. When Ryokugyu suddenly showed up on Wano it was a shocker because the Straw Hats were still recovering from the hardest battle of their lives, and to face such a powerful opponent at that moment could spell disaster. The Admiral's powers also proved to be dangerous, as he ate the Mori Mori no Mi Logia-type Devil Fruit, which allows him to create, control, and transform his body into plant life.
Despite all the hype behind his debut, however, Ryokugyu ended up being the least impressive of the Admirals. Considering that the Navy represents law and order in the world of One Piece, the most important Marines all have a strong, and often unique, ideal of "justice". Ryokugyu's idea of "justice", however, seems really petty. In chapter #1054 of One Piece, he expresses his belief that humankind has survived throughout the ages by creating and defining who is "inferior" because discrimination creates solace and justice. Because Wano is not affiliated with the World Government, its citizens can be killed without remorse. Despite all this big talk, when Shanks threatens Ryokugyu with his Conqueror Haki in chapter #1055, the Marine tucks his tail and leaves Wano without even putting up a fight.
Even an extremist like Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, who killed Luffy's brother Ace, still impressed readers with his unbending belief in "Absolute Justice", the uncompromising eradication of evil and crime at all costs, including sacrificing innocent lives. Compared to that, Ryokugyu's idea of discrimination as a key tenet of human society looks pretty shallow. Also, while his powers look impressive, Ryokugyu did not transmit that aura of absolute strength that the other Admirals had at their debut, and his hasty retreat from Shanks surely did not help with that. It could simply be that, at this late stage of the story, Luffy and his friends are so powerful that even the mighty Marine Admirals have lost part of their mystique.
It's easy to predict that, at some point in the future, Luffy and the Straw Hats will have to face Ryokugyu again, perhaps in the final showdown between the pirates and the Navy. Regardless of how that will go, Ryokugyu's debut remains a major disappointment, especially considering that he came right after Kaido, who was without a doubt the most impressive villain in One Piece history.
Look for One Piece's newest chapter when it releases on Viz Media's website.