Chapter 573: The Name of This Era Is 'Whitebeard'

Arc: Marineford · Saga: Summit War · Released: 2010-01-04 (est.)

Summary

Whitebeard’s quakes are tearing Marineford apart; the dying captain orders his crew to abandon him and flee with the freed Ace, intending to sink the whole island and “bring this era to a close” in exchange for his life. Buggy’s knocked-out video transponder snail wakes and the war broadcast resumes for the watching world. Marco leads the retreat; Jinbei carries the spent Luffy as he and Ace race for a captured warship. Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu) cuts them off and goads Ace by branding Whitebeard “a loser from a bygone era”; Ace turns back to defend his captain’s honor — “The name of this era is ‘Whitebeard’!!” Akainu’s magma burns Ace despite Ace’s fire-Logia intangibility (“my powers are far superior to yours”), then publicly names the brothers’ fathers — Roger and Dragon — and lunges for the collapsed Luffy. Ace throws himself in the way and is run through by the magma fist. The chapter ends on Ace, impaled and coughing blood, as Luffy looks on.

New reveals

• Whitebeard stays behind to destroy Marineford and “bring this era to a close,” ordering his crew to escape with Ace (pp. 3–5).
• Buggy’s video transponder snail wakes; the war broadcast is restored worldwide (p. 6).
• Magma > fire: Akainu’s magma burns Ace’s Logia body — “Getting careless because you’re a Logia type? My powers are far superior to yours!” (p. 14).
• Akainu broadcasts the D-brothers’ parentage — Ace’s father is Gold Roger (the Pirate King), Luffy’s is Dragon the Revolutionary; “you’re both criminals by blood” (pp. 12–15).
• Ace shields Luffy from Akainu’s magma fist and is run through (pp. 16–17).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Characters: Whitebeard (final stand), Ace, Luffy, Jinbei, Marco, Jozu (incapacitated), Blenheim (named, p. 8), Akainu/Sakazuki, Sengoku, Kizaru, Garp, Buggy, Hancock (read as the woman urging Luffy on, p. 10 — inference), Roger (named), Dragon (named).
• Crews: Whitebeard Pirates, Marines, Buggy Pirates.
• Fruits / props: Mera Mera no Mi (Ace’s fire, burned), Ace (p. 15), Den Den Mushi (the video broadcast).
• Location: Marineford.

Notable panels

• p. 1 — Standalone B&W chapter-title splash: a fanged bear/wolf-like beast in a harness with side-pouches.
• p. 2 — Marineford crumbling under Whitebeard’s quakes (“RMMMMMN!!”); Marines panic that “he’s really going to destroy the whole island.”
• p. 6 — Buggy’s video snail wakes; the war broadcast resumes and the whole world is shown watching.
• p. 9 — Ace’s memory of Whitebeard: “…with me as your father? Were you happy…” / Ace: “Of course!! Ga ha ha ha!!”
• p. 14 — Ace declares “The name of this era… is ‘Whitebeard’!!” as Akainu’s magma burns him.
• p. 16 — Full-page splash: Ace shields the collapsed Luffy and takes Akainu’s magma fist.
• p. 17 — Ace, run through, coughs blood as Luffy looks on; “To Be Continued in One Piece, Vol. 59!”

Open questions raised

• Will Whitebeard’s final stand actually sink Marineford, and what becomes of him? **
• Ace is mortally wounded — does he survive Akainu’s blow? **
• What does the watching world make of the public reveal that the Pirate King’s and the Revolutionary’s sons are sworn brothers?