For nearly three decades, the origins of Franky, the shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates, have remained one of the most intriguing mysteries in the legendary manga series. One piece. Now, series creator Eiichiro Oda has officially (or at least authoritatively) confirmed a major twist: Franky’s biological father is none other than the evil Queen.
A surprising “twist” from Oda
For years, fans have speculated about Franky’s past. He was introduced as Cutty Flam, an orphan abandoned at age 10, rescued by shipwright Tom on Water 7. His parents were unknown and remained a narrative gap.
The new revelation comes from the SBS (readers questions) section in volume 113, where a fan directly asked Oda if Queen is Franky’s father. Oda replied:
“Oh no… they noticed!… The year Queen’s son was born matches Franky’s. The year Queen abandoned her son matches the year Franky was saved by Tom. Readers knowing something the characters don’t is strange… I’ll have to bluff my way…”
While Oda’s response is somewhat playful, the implication is clear: Queen is Franky’s father.
The thematic and character implications
This revelation is significant for a few reasons:
- Franky and Queen both share cyborg modifications, science/engineering themes, and a disdain for “natural” limitations that in parallel now take on a familiar weight.
- Queen was one of the top commanders of the Beast Pirates (and former member of MADS), making him a great antagonist. Franky, as part of the Straw Hats, had previously fought against Queen without knowing their connection.
- The report highlights one of the One pieceThe enduring themes of: “The Family You Choose” (e.g., Tom, Iceburg, the Straw Hats) transcend biological lineage. Franky was raised by Tom, not his blood father.
Because the revelation didn’t happen in the actual story
Many fans note that, despite their connection, Franky and Queen never interact or explicitly acknowledge the relationship in the manga (particularly during the Wano story arc). Reasons may include:
- The SBS format allows Oda to eliminate background details without altering the pace of the main narrative.
- In the story, both characters have different names, altered appearances (especially considering their cyborg status), and little reason to be recognized. Reddit users pointed out: “Though Oda’s response makes it hard to tell whether he’s serious or just joking with us… It seems possible.”
- Therefore, at least for now, this could be understood as lore rather than an active plot thread.
What does it mean to move forward
With the final saga of One piece ongoing, this maternal/paternal background could open up future plots:
- Franky may revisit or reflect on his origins now that we know the blood connection.
- Themes of redemption, identity and legacy may come into play: How does Franky reconcile his father’s evil past with his own values?
- Perhaps Queen’s past with MADS, her connection to Vegapunk, or other hidden ties will be revisited in a larger context, and Franky’s connection will add more stakes.
Whether or not this revelation leads to a dramatic confrontation between father and son, it enriches the tapestry of One piece tradition. Franky’s journey from orphan to Straw Hat shipwright now carries a new undercurrent: he is the son of a villain he fought. The Truth deepens its narrative arc, even as it reminds us of it One piecefamily is more than blood.
Sources: gamek
