One Piece Spinoff Manga to Chronicle Ace’s Early Adventures, Eiichiro Oda Undergoes Eye Surgery

A new spinoff miniseries of the wildly popular One Piece manga is set to hit the shelves in Spring 2024, according to an announcement by VIZ Media. The upcoming manga will adapt the two-part One Piece: Ace’s Story novels, penned by authors Sho Hinata and Tatsuya Hamazaki, and feature an official English translation. The renowned artist Boichi, known for his work on the popular Shonen series Dr. Stone, is responsible for illustrating the spinoff.

The miniseries will serve as a prequel, focusing on the thrilling adventures of Ace, leader of the Spade Pirates, as it delves into the origins of his Mera Mera no Mi Devil Fruit. This power grants Ace the formidable fire abilities that led to his moniker “Fire Fist” Ace. The story will seamlessly integrate with the official One Piece manga, as confirmed by the creator, Eiichiro Oda.

Ace has long been a fan-favorite character, admired for his incredible Devil Fruit abilities, his inspiring role in Luffy’s life, and his unwavering compassion. Although not biologically related to the protagonist, Ace holds the esteemed title of “sworn brother” to both Luffy and Sabo.

One Piece fans eagerly await the release of this prequel miniseries, which promises to enrich and expand upon the captivating world of One Piece. The anime series by Toei Animation continues to garner accolades for its latest season, and fans anticipate the franchise’s transition to live-action with a Netflix adaptation currently in development.

However, the One Piece manga is currently on a four-week hiatus as creator Eiichiro Oda prepares for eye surgery. Fans hope that this procedure will enable the artist to better manage his health struggles and continue to bring the captivating world of One Piece to life.