Summary
- One Piece cover stories expand on minor characters and add depth to the world.
- They offer humor, and adventure, and tie into larger plotlines.
- These side tales provide closure and enrich the main story’s universe.
In One Piece’s vast and intricate world, Eiichiro Oda has created an incredible universe filled with epic adventures, complex characters, and an ever-expanding lore. While the main storylines and arcs grab most of the attention, there’s another fascinating aspect of the series that often gets overlooked: the cover stories. These short, side stories presented on the cover pages of each chapter add depth to the world of One Piece and offer fans a chance to explore new characters, developments, and even mysteries that tie into the broader narrative.
1. Gedatsu’s Accidental Blue Sea Life
Perhaps one of the best cover stories is Gedatsu’s Accidental Blue-Sea Life from Chapters 314 to 348. Gedatsu is an oddball priest of Skypiea who accidentally falls from the sky islands to Alabasta where he meets Goro, who has a vision of opening up a hot spring resort. Gedatsu, in his usual absentminded manner, decides to help Goro by battling a giant mole, which they use to dig tunnels. Through their adventures, they strike it rich and create a successful hot spring, which even attracts Princess Vivi and other Alabasta royals.
2. Caribou’s Kehihihihi in the New World
Caribou’s Kehihihihi in the New World (Chapters 674 to 731) is a storyline that revolves around the infamous pirate Caribou after he gets defeated by Jinbe. He is washed up on an island where he is mistaken for the revolutionary leader Gaburu. Using this misunderstanding to his advantage, Caribou leads a rebellion against a member of the Beasts Pirates and ends up getting captured by X Drake and taken to Wano.
3. Gang Bege's Oh My Family
A Big Mom Pirate member and character is now seen getting an elaborate cover story; the title “Gang Bege’s Oh My Family,” runs from Chapter 948 up to Chapter 994. Through Bege trying to help in returning his wife, Chiffon, back with her twin sister Lola, alongside Pound as her dad, the events shed light more into the happenings around his family, wrapping a part that would remain somewhat unclear with how matters stood of Whole Cake Island’s story arcs.
This continues to bring into the mainstream some of the important characters for the future of One Piece: Prince Grus and Kujaku from SWORD. It is a good example of how the cover stories could wrap up loose ends or expand on side characters who will not be participating much in the main storylines.
4. The Stories of the Self-Proclaimed Straw Hat Grand Fleet
The Self-Proclaimed Straw Hat Grand Fleet begins their travels after the Dressrosa Arc (Chapters 864-919). This cover story is a mini-arcs series of mini-arcs in which the Straw Hat Grand Fleet travels across the Grand Line in individual adventures:
Cavendish Arc: Cavendish and his Beautiful Pirates sail the seas, being followed by fans.
Bartolomeo Arc: The Barto Club arrives on an island and clashes with the Red Hair Pirates.
Sai Arc: Sai’s romantic life takes a turn as he marries Baby 5 after ending his engagement to Uholisia.
Ideo Arc: The XXX Gym Martial Arts Alliance becomes pirates after helping to end a tribal conflict.
Leo Arc: The Tonta Corps sets out on their pirate journey and helps rebuild Alabasta.
Hajrudin Arc: The New Giant Warrior Pirates desert Buggy’s crew to start their own adventures.
Orlumbus Arc: Orlumbus embarks on piracy but chooses to help an island instead of plundering it.
Bellamy Side Story: Bellamy retires from piracy and opens a dyeing business. The cover story concludes with the fleet formally introducing themselves to the world, showing how these seemingly minor characters have grown and will play important roles in the future.
5. Miss Goldenweek’s ‘Operation: Meet Baroque Works’
This cover story (Chapters 359 to 413) focuses on the aftermath of the defeat of Baroque Works in the Arabasta arc. Miss Goldenweek, along with Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, tries to visit the former members of Baroque Works who are now imprisoned. In a chaotic turn of events, the trio ends up on a resort island where they come into contact with Marine officers, including Hina and Jango. With the help of an escaped Mr. 2, they manage to free most of the Baroque Works agents, though Crocodile, Daz Bonez, Bentham, and Galdino are sent to Impel Down.
This cover story is a fun way to revisit old characters from the Arabasta arc and provides closure to their storylines, showing how they’re trying to move on after their defeat.
6. CP9’s Independent Report
CP9’s Independent Report (Chapters 491 to 528) follows the surviving members of CP9 after their annihilation at Enies Lobby. They escape using Blueno’s Air Door and head to St. Poplar, where they perform street acts to earn money for Lucci’s hospital bills. Afterward, they defeat the Candy Pirates who had taken a mother and daughter hostage, though Lucci’s brutal justice scares the locals. Eventually, they return to their homeland and discover that a new generation of Cipher Pol agents is being trained.
This cover story provides interesting insights into the aftermath of Enies Lobby, showing the survival and resilience of CP9 members and their complicated relationship with Spandam, who sent Marines after them. It also sets the stage for the formation of NEO MADS, a new group of dangerous scientists.
7. Enel’s Great Space Operations
Enel’s Great Space Operations (Chapters 428 to 474) follows Enel’s journey to the moon, where he encounters the automata—small robots—and a group of Space Pirates. Through a series of events, Enel discovers his true origins, linking him to the larger world of One Piece and expanding the story into space. This cover story adds a layer of cosmic intrigue to the series, making it one of the most unique and adventurous side stories in One Piece.
8. Germa 66’s Ahh… An Emotionless Excursion
Germa 66’s Ahh… An Emotionless Excursion (Chapters 1035 to 1078) focuses on the Vinsmoke family as they escape from Big Mom’s island. The cover story shows the internal family drama between the Vinsmoke siblings, particularly as Niji and Yonji are captured by the Big Mom Pirates and imprisoned in a book. Eventually, Reiju and Ichiji rescue them, and Caesar Clown, who had been left behind on Whole Cake Island, joins them.
This cover story also runs along the history of MADS, the science organization that the Vinsmokes used to be a part of, bringing to light their rivalry with Dr. Vegapunk and how they eventually formed NEO MADS. The cover stories in One Piece are more than just brief side tales—they are integral parts of the One Piece universe that expand on minor characters, provide closure to unresolved plots, and enrich the world-building of the series. From Gedatsu’s quirky adventures to Enel’s cosmic revelations, these stories offer fans additional layers of depth and entertainment.
The next time you pick up the chapter of One Piece, give a thought to the little drawings on the cover pages-they’re not just something trivial. It speaks volumes to Eiichiro Oda’s ability to fashion a world as rich in humor and adventure off and on center stage.
