Ace

Ace · alive · Whitebeard Pirates

Arc-by-arc updates

Elbaf — named by Imu as Luffy’s slain brother (Ch. 1189) — mentioned

Backstory revealed in Wano (Ch. 999 — flashback) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Years before the raid, as a Whitebeard 2nd Division Commander, Ace came to Wano alone to “take Kaido’s head”; finding Kaido away, he flattened the defenders, freed a haul of abducted children, and befriended Kaido’s child Yamato (pp. 3-8).
• Urged Yamato not to let Kaido “chain your heart,” cheered Yamato’s smashing of the dragon statue, and left it as “a warning to Kaido” plus a promise to return (pp. 6-8).
• Named the rising rookies (Kid/Law/Bege) and praised his “massive” little brother Luffy, “the toughest of all,” who “won’t be setting sail for a few years yet” (pp. 7-8).
• Aboard the Whitebeard ship, insisted on hunting Kaido to keep “a promise”; Blackbeard (then a crewmate) and Marco reveal Ace inherited Oden’s old 2nd Division seat (pp. 12-13). See Ace Whitebeard Second Division Commander Reveal.

Wano Country (flashback, ~4 yrs ago) — Amigasa Village; befriends Otama (Ch. 912) — flashback appearance; advances last_appearance

• ~4 years ago, during his early pirate days, Ace and his crew (the Spade Pirates, shown as “Ace’s group”) shipwrecked near Amigasa Village in Kuri, Wano. Bound by the starving villagers, he easily broke free; after his crew ate the village’s last food and water, his group ultimately saved the village and stayed several weeks (pp. 7-8, 13).
• Befriended young Otama, asked her to become “a bewitching kunoichi,” and promised to return with a bigger crew and take her to sea (pp. 8, 12-13) — why Otama still waits for him.
• Places Ace among Wano’s woven-hat people — see Ace Learned Straw-Hat Weaving From The Wano People.

Wano Country — posthumous: Otama of Kuri awaits his promised return (Ch. 911) — referenced (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

Dressrosa — posthumous: his final wish revealed (Ch. 792) — reported (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Doflamingo reveals (via the Blackbeard Pirates who captured Ace at Banaro Island) Ace’s last words on learning of his execution: “Don’t tell my brother.” (pp. 3-4) — Ace’s selflessness, shielding Luffy from the knowledge. The Blackbeard Pirates tried to contact the then-Warlord Doflamingo (“the commander”) before handing Ace to the Navy, which is how Doflamingo knew.

Dressrosa — posthumous; the contested Mera Mera no Mi (Ch. 720) — posthumous reference (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Mentioned (not shown). His reborn Mera Mera no Mi is the contested Colosseum prize. Burgess recalls that Ace (“the original one”) turned down a place with Blackbeard; Luffy and Rebecca both fight to claim or deny the fruit in Ace’s name (pp. 11, 19).

Dressrosa — the Mera Mera no Mi reborn as the Coliseum prize (Ch. 702) — posthumous reference (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Two years after Ace’s death at Marineford, his Mera Mera no Mi (“Flame-Flame Fruit”) has re-manifested in the world and is offered by Doflamingo as the grand prize of the Corrida Coliseum tournament on Dressrosa (pp. 11–12, 15). The announcer recaps Ace as “the 2nd division leader of the infamous Whitebeard crew and son of the king of the pirates” who “perished in the Paramount War at Marineford two years past.” See Doflamingo Baits Luffy With Aces Reborn Flame-Flame Fruit As Coliseum Prize.

Post-War — grave shown; childhood + Impel Down flashbacks (Ch. 590) — grave/flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• His grave (headstone “PORTGAS-D-ACE”) stands beside Whitebeard’s in the New World, tended by Shanks (p.8).
• A childhood flashback at Foosha shows young Ace bickering with young Luffy (p.6); an Impel-Down flashback shows Ace charging Jinbei to look after Luffy — “TAKE CARE OF HIM, OKAY?” (p.18). See Jinbei Charged By Dying Ace To Look After Luffy.

Post-War — flashback close: departure at 17 (Ch. 589) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• After Sabo’s death, comforts/kicks a despairing Luffy and frames the brothers’ creed — “I’m not gonna die!! …Sabo told me to take care of you!!”; they don’t know who killed Sabo but will live free and become pirates (pp.5-6).
• Sets sail from the shores of Mt. Corvo at 17, a “quiet” departure — narration: “Ace, the son of the Pirate King, has grown up hidden from the world” (p.13); leaves Dadan a parting “Thanks for everything” (p.14). Later becomes a famous pirate captain (Spade Pirates) — Luffy reads of “a picture of his pirate ship and crew” in the newspaper (p.15).

Post-War — childhood flashback / “Sabo’s Ocean” (Ch. 588) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Survived the Gray Terminal fire with Dadan by hiding in the middle forest by the river; on the night of the fire he beat Bluejam, then stole medicine in town to keep the badly-burned Dadan alive and carried her home on his back (pp. 9-11).
• Reunites with Luffy (“How dare you kill me off, you idiot!”); on learning Sabo’s boat was shot by the Celestial Dragon Saint Jalmac, flies into a rage to avenge him and is physically restrained by Dadan and the bandits (pp. 10, 16).
• Garp tells Dadan he “couldn’t bring himself to hate Ace” and took him under his wing; compares Ace to his father Roger (“the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”, pp. 12-13). See Will of D.

Post-War — childhood flashback / the Gray Terminal fire (Ch. 587) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Cornered by Bluejam in the inferno; defends the absent Sabo against Bluejam’s “rich-boy slumming” slander (“Stop talking about Sabo like that!! …Sabo doesn’t think like that!”) and is slashed for it (pp. 7-8).
• “I WILL NEVER RUN AWAY!!” (p. 11, chapter title) — refuses Dadan’s order to flee and turns back for those left behind. The origin of the credo that drives his Marineford turn-back. Stays behind with Dadan to fight Bluejam; afterward “Ace and Dadan didn’t come back” (pp. 12-16).

Post-War — childhood flashback / the Gray Terminal fire (Ch. 586) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Child Ace refuses to give up Sabo (“YEAH! WE’RE BROTHERS!”); he and Luffy unknowingly plant Bluejam’s arson materials on a paid “delivery job” (pp. 2-3, 13). In the fire he cuts himself and Luffy free and flees, vowing to protect Luffy (pp. 17-19).

Post-War — childhood flashback / the sworn-brother pact (Ch. 585) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Flashback (deceased). Childhood on Dawn Island: trains and spars constantly with Luffy and Sabo (Ace wins — the tally board, p. 3) and steals food with them in Goa Kingdom’s Central Town.
• Speaks his lifelong credo (p. 12): “I don’t care if they call me a villain! I’ll make the whole world know my name!” — resonant with his hidden Roger lineage.
• With Sabo and Luffy exchanges sake cups to become sworn brothers — a bond that “will never be broken” (pp. 13-14). See Sworn Sibling Sake-Cup Ceremony, Ace and Luffy Sworn-Brotherhood Sake-Cup Ceremony.
• Defends Sabo when Bluejam and Sabo’s aristocrat father come to take him back (pp. 18-19).

Post-War — childhood flashback / “Incident with Porchemy” (Ch. 584) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Flashback (deceased). Shown ~age 10 at Gray Terminal; with Sabo he has saved stolen money for five years toward a pirate ship, cached in the Middle Forest between Mt. Corvo and Gray Terminal.
• Rescues the tortured young Luffy from Bluejam Pirates enforcer Porchemy, defeating Porchemy with the pirate’s own cutlass — “If I lose to a kid… I’ll hang up my cutlass!!” (p. 11). Furious that Luffy nearly died for him, then bonds with Luffy after Luffy’s “I got nobody else!!” plea; together they decide to need each other.
• Dramatic irony (p. 14): “What if Gold Roger had a kid?” — unknowingly naming his own father. See D, Will of D.

Post-War — childhood flashback (Ch. 583) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Flashback (deceased). Child Ace already lives with the Dadan Family on Mt. Corvo; cold and hostile to the newly-arrived Luffy (spits on him, cuts a rope bridge to strand him, pp. 4-5).
• Has a five-year partnership with Sabo at Gray Terminal, pickpocketing the town and saving a hidden treasure to buy a pirate ship (p. 12).
• Robbed Captain Bluejam’s couriers; when courier Porchemy closes in, Ace flees with Sabo, abandoning the bound Luffy — who calls out Ace’s name to Porchemy (“that idiot!”), pp. 15-16.

Post-War — death confirmed + childhood flashback (Ch. 582) — flashback / aftermath (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Ace’s death is confirmed to Luffy on-page; “the war is over” (pp. 13-14).
• His dying request to Jinbei — “look after my little brother… if I die” — is shown (p. 13), motivating Jinbei to stay with Luffy. See Jinbei Charged By Dying Ace To Look After Luffy.
• Childhood flashback introduces young Ace (10 yrs ago), three years older than Luffy, captioned “Portgaz D. Ace,” already a ward of the Dadan Family on Mt. Corvo (pp. 18-19). Restates the D. initial.

Marineford — flashback: Ace entrusts Luffy to Jinbei (Ch. 577) — flashback (deceased); does not advance last_appearance

• Flashback (deceased). The Impel Down conversation is replayed: Ace entrusts Luffy to Jinbei — “…can you please look after my little brother?” (p. 7). See Jimbei Would Give His Life To Stop This War.

Marineford — Ace’s death ripples across the battlefield (Ch. 575) — aftermath; Ace does not appear on-page

• His death (prior chapter) ripples across the battlefield — “Fire Fist Ace is dead!” — shattering Luffy and igniting Whitebeard’s voiceless rage (pp. 2-3).
• The sworn-brother sake-cup vow with Luffy surfaces in Luffy’s collapse: “we’re brothers!” (p. 2). See Ace-Luffy Sworn-Brother Sake-Cup Vow Recalled In Luffys Collapse.
• His final wish — that Luffy live — drives Marco and Jinbei to protect Luffy (p. 5).

Summit War / Marineford — death (Ch. 574) — shown; Ace dies

• Dies in Luffy’s arms from the magma wound he took shielding Luffy from Akainu in Ch. 573 — “my guts have been burned out,” no doctor can save him (p. 9).
• Reveals his true lifelong wish was never fame, only to know whether he should have been born and whether anyone wanted him; his last words “Thank you… for loving me!!” are that answer (pp. 12–15). Pays off Ace’s Was-I-Worth-Being-Born Question To Garp.
• References a third little brother, Sabo (p. 10) — first on-page mention; the crossed-out S in his “ASCE” back tattoo (p. 15). See Ace References Lost Third Brother Sabo And ASCE Tattoo.
• Asks Luffy to pass his regards to Dadan and to relay his final words to everyone; admits “I wasn’t able to see your dream through to the end” — entrusting his unfinished will to Luffy (p. 11). See Ace Entrusts His Unfinished Dream To Luffy Inherited Will, Will of D.
• Closing flashback reaffirms his birth name: “His name is Gol D. Ace” — his mother Portgaz D. Rouge names him (p. 17).

Summit War — freed; turns back for Whitebeard’s honor; mortally wounded (Ch. 573) — shown

• Freed from the platform, Ace runs for the captured warship with Luffy, both carried/escorted by Jinbei (pp. 8, 10). Recalls Whitebeard asking “…with me as your father? Were you happy…” and answering “Of course!!” (p. 9).
• Akainu brands Whitebeard “a loser from a bygone era” and the Whitebeard Pirates “a pack of cowards” (p. 11); Ace turns back — “Take that back!!” — refusing to let Whitebeard be slandered (pp. 11–13). Declares “The name of this era is ‘Whitebeard’!!” (p. 14).
• Akainu’s magma burns Ace’s fire-Logia body — “my magma can burn even you… my powers are far superior to yours” (p. 14): the transitive Logia matrix (fire < magma) demonstrated on-page. See Mera Mera no Mi, Nature of Devil Fruits, Ace Smoke-Vs-Fire Logia-Pair Combat Stalemate.
• Shields a collapsed Luffy from Akainu’s magma fist and is run through — mortally wounded (pp. 16–17).

Marineford — freed and re-powered; fights at Luffy’s side (Ch. 572) — shown

• Freed from the execution platform — the seastone shackles come off and his Logia Mera Mera no Mi flames roar back (pp. 2–7: “FIRE FIST ACE… is FREE!!”). Asks Luffy “Can you still fight?!”
• Fights back-to-back with Luffy as adults for the first time; thanks him (“I never dreamed I’d see the day…when you had to save me. Thanks, Luffy”) and insists on protecting him “for now.” Luffy: “I’ll surpass you one of these days, Ace!” → Ace: “You’ve gotten a lot stronger, Luffy!”
• Named techniques on-page (Mera Mera no Mi): “Fire Pillar!!” (p. 3), “Fire Fist!!” (p. 7), “Mirror Flame!!” (p. 9, countering Aokiji’s Hie Hie no Mi “Pheasant Peck”).

Marineford — Luffy breaks through the flames to reach him (Ch. 571) — shown

• Watches Luffy fight Garp and the platform burn while cuffed and powerless — “Fire Fist doesn’t have his powers right now!!” (p. 16). As the flames part he sees his brother reach him: ”…Luffy!! You never change… and you get yourself in big trouble!!” (pp. 16–17). Still in seastone shackles at chapter’s end (not yet freed).

Marineford — chained as Luffy reaches the bridge (Ch. 570) — shown

• Still chained on the execution platform as Luffy fights toward him; Luffy cries “I’m here, Ace!!” (p. 13). The B&W title page (p. 1) frames a lone, funereal Ace on a raft under a blackened sun — a mood-omen for his peril .

Marineford / Summit War — addressed by Pops; watches Luffy (Ch. 569) — shown

• Whitebeard addresses him directly — “…until I’ve guided my sons toward a brighter future!! Right, Ace?” (p. 13) — and Ace reacts in shock to Luffy’s Conqueror’s-Haki burst (p. 16).

Summit War — survivor-guilt on the platform; childhood “should I have been born?” flashback (Ch. 568) — shown (present + flashback)

• On the execution platform, wracked with guilt: “Pops… Luffy… all my shipmates… They’re all bleeding and dying for me!! …I’m so torn up inside!” (p. 8).
• Flashback (home island): hears the world condemn his father Roger (“should never have been born… the worst catastrophe”); asks Garp “Would it have been better if I was never born?” → “Only time can answer that question.” (pp. 5-7). Roots Ace’s existential arc; ties to Will of D. Seeds Ace’s Was-I-Worth-Being-Born Question To Garp.

Marineford (Ch. 566)

• On the execution platform; Sengoku orders his beheading carried out immediately, but the two executioners are cut down by Crocodile before the blow lands (pp. 5-6).
• Reacts to Little Oars Jr. collapsing while crying out for him as the giant breaks the encirclement wall (“Oars!!”); Whitebeard reaches the plaza and orders the raid to save him.

Marineford (Ch. 565)

• The execution is announced as proceeding — “…of Portgaz D. Ace!! The execution… we will now perform” (p. 9).
• Reacts to Little Oars Jr. rising again though mortally wounded (“Oars!!”); his brother Luffy breaks into the sealed bay to reach him.

Marineford (Ch. 564)

• Still chained on the execution platform, watching the battle; reacts to Little Oars Jr.’s fall with a quiet “Oars…” as the giant’s body jams the Encirclement Wall (p. 15); the chapter ends with Akainu’s Meteor Volcano falling toward him (pp. 16-17).

Summit War — One Man, One Heart (Ch. 563) — shown; the war turns on his paternity

• On-page on the execution platform; reacts to the unfolding betrayal and Whitebeard’s charge — “Pops…” (p. 17).
• Reaffirmed publicly as Gold Roger’s son (“Ace is indeed Gold Roger’s son,” p. 9); his paternity is the lever Akainu used to turn Squard (whose crew Roger had annihilated) against Whitebeard (p. 6).

Marineford (Ch. 559)

• Bound on the execution platform above the burning bay; internal “destiny” monologue — “I don’t care what the future holds for me. I accept it. …I accept the blade that would execute me” (p. 2). See Ace Accepts The Blade That Would Execute Him Destiny Monologue.
• Hears Luffy and the breakout vow to save him (“Just you wait!! We’re coming to save you!!”), then resolves: “I’m sorry, everyone. I won’t fight it anymore.” (pp. 2-3).

Marineford — rejects the rescue (Ch. 558) — screams at Luffy to leave; the sworn-brotherhood reaffirmed

• From the scaffold, screams at Luffy to leave: “We went to sea separately!! … There’s no place for you in my life!! I have my own friends!! I have my own adventures!! … You think I’d let myself be rescued by a weakling like you?! … Beat it, Luffy!!” (pp. 10-11). Privately: “Please, Luffy. I don’t want you to get killed for me.” / “It’s my own fault I’m here.”
• The sworn-brotherhood is reaffirmed via flashback (sake-cup ceremony, p. 12); Marines confirm Ace and Luffy are sworn, not blood, brothers (“Ace’s parents died before Luffy was born”, p. 13).
• Cross-link Aces Dont Come Here Luffy Doomed-Rescue Foreboding, Ace and Luffy Sworn-Brotherhood Sake-Cup Ceremony.

Marineford (Ch. 557)

• Execution moved up to “less than three hours” / “ahead of schedule.” Sees Luffy crash into the bay and screams his name from the scaffold (chapter’s final panel).

Marineford — execution moved up; pleads for Luffy (Ch. 556) — shown

• On the execution platform; internally pleads “Don’t hit Luffy, you old geezer…” as Garp wavers. His execution is set to be moved up (pp. 14-15).

Marineford — backstory flashback; Spade Pirates → Whitebeard’s son (Ch. 552) — shown (present + flashback)

• Present day: shackled to the Marineford scaffold, defiant as the war opens (“So get ready, you Navy dogs!!”, p. 17).
• Origin shown: set out as captain of the Spade Pirates, a famous Logia rookie who turned down a Seven Warlords offer (p. 6). See Seven Warlords of the Sea.
• Fought Jinbei to a five-day draw (pp. 7-8) before going to take Whitebeard’s head; lost, and traded his own life for his crew’s freedom (p. 9) — Whitebeard spared him: “become my son” (p. 10).
• Tried to assassinate the sleeping Whitebeard ~100 times before accepting the back-tattoo mark and rising to 2nd Division Commander (after making the Doma gang surrender) (pp. 11-13). See Ace Second Division Commander Whitebeard Pirates Rank Tier, Ace Whitebeard Tattoo Back Mark.
• Accepted Teach into his division (“I don’t care who your father was — we’re all children of the sea!”, p. 13); after Teach killed Thatch and fled, chased him against Whitebeard’s warning (p. 14) — the chase that led to his capture and the present war. See Blackbeard Killed Shipmate And Jumped Ship Reveal.

Marineford — origin broadcast; Spade Pirates + Dadan upbringing revealed (Ch. 551) — shown

• The world learns Ace is Gold Roger’s son via newspaper extras (pp. 2-4); Sengoku narrates his full origin as the execution rationale.
• Birth name “Gol D. Ace” (Roger chose it; “Anne” if a girl); his mother Portgaz D. Rouge carried the pregnancy ~20 months by sheer will to evade the Government’s bloodline-hunt, named him, then died — she gave him her own surname Portgas to bury Roger’s blood (pp. 6-7). See Roger.
• Garp brought infant Ace to Dadan to raise (young Luffy left there too) (p. 7).
• Ace rose “at an amazing speed as the captain of the Spade Pirates” before Whitebeard took him in (p. 7).
• Rejects Sengoku’s framing: “Whitebeard is my only father!! I joined Pops to help HIM become King of the Pirates!” (pp. 8-9). Calls to Whitebeard on his arrival: “Pops!!” (p. 19).

Marineford — parentage broadcast to the world (Ch. 550) — shown

• Kneels in chains atop the Marineford execution platform, three hours from execution; named “Portgaz D. Ace, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates” (p. 10).
• Insists “Whitebeard’s my father!! There’s nobody else!!” (p. 15) — then Sengoku publicly reveals his true parents.
• Parentage made canon on-page: mother = Portgaz D. Rouge of Baterilla, South Blue; father = Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King. Roger was executed 1 yr 3 mo before Ace’s birth; Rouge carried him 20 months and died saving him (pp. 16-19). “The blood of the most terrible fiend the world has ever known runs through your veins.” See Roger, Rouge’s Twenty-Month Pregnancy Hides The Pirate King’s Heir, Garp Secretly Raised Roger’s Son At Rouge’s Dying Request.

Marineford — escorted to the execution platform (Ch. 549) — shown

• At Navy HQ, three hours before the noon execution, escorted up the stairs to the execution platform in chains (pp. 18-20).
• Childhood-oath flashback with Luffy as he is walked out: “Listen, Luffy! …live our lives without regrets!”; “Someday we’ll go to sea and live however we want!”; “A LIFE OF TRUE FREEDOM!!” (pp. 18-20). Tragic-irony foreshadow against the scaffold. See Ace Life Of True Freedom Execution-Platform Oath.

Summit War — referenced as the execution clock (Ch. 545) — does not appear

• Does not appear on-page; his impending public execution at Marineford is the breakout’s clock — set for “four and a half hours” out, driving the escapees’ race to seize a ship (p. 5). See Thirty-Three-Hour Clock To Aces Execution.

Impel Down / Banaro flashback — recontextualized (Ch. 544) — flashback

• Banaro flashback (pp. 2-4): Ace was captured by Blackbeard because he intercepted Teach’s plan to take Luffy at Water 7 — “He’s my brother!!” Teach frames Ace’s imprisonment as the price of Luffy’s life. See Blackbeard Killed Shipmate And Jumped Ship Reveal.

Summit War — referenced as the execution-bound brother (off-page) (Ch. 543)

• Referenced throughout as Luffy’s execution-bound brother. Blackbeard names Ace as his “old division leader” (p. 19) — pinning Teech as a former subordinate in Ace’s Whitebeard Pirates 2nd Division before his defection. See Blackbeard Killed Shipmate And Jumped Ship Reveal.

Summit War — Marineford intake; shackled on the platform (Ch. 542) — shown

• Transported to Marineford and shackled onto the execution platform (p. 2): “…your shackles have been locked… Once you’re on top of the execution platform… Take a good look at the sky… you’ll never see it again.”
• Execution clock: “Ace is going to be executed in just over five hours” (p. 3). See Thirty-Three-Hour Clock To Aces Execution.

Impel Down — transported toward Marineford (referenced, off-page) (Ch. 540)

• Removed from his Level 6 cell minutes before Luffy’s arrival, loaded onto the big elevator, and shipped toward Navy Headquarters for execution: “Ace boy is on his way to Navy Headquarters. Just give it up. Leave the rest to Whitebeard” (pp. 5-6, 13).
• His Vivre Card (in Luffy’s keeping) is used to track him — now pointing straight up to the surface (p. 12). See Ace.

Impel Down — Level 6; transfer to Marineford ordered (Ch. 539) — shown; “where the gallows awaits you”

• Shown chained on Level 6; informed he will be handed over at 9
  AM and shipped to Marineford, “where the gallows awaits you” (p. 19). VIZ on-page spelling: “Portgaz D. Ace” (pp. 15, 19).
• His vivre card (held by Luffy) confirms he is still alive and located below New Kama Land — drives Luffy’s descent (p. 12).
• Cross-link Luffy, Impel Down.

Impel Down — Level 6; execution clock set (Ch. 538) — shown

• Confirmed held on Level 6 of Impel Down, in the cell beside Jimbei; the two converse about “that woman” who visited and whether her message was true (“I’m sorry, Jimbei…”, p. 16).
• Execution scheduled: to be transported from Impel Down to Navy HQ in the morning (in 7-8 hours) and publicly executed at 3 p.m. (pp. 13-14). See Thirty-Three-Hour Clock To Aces Execution.
• On Luffy: “He’s a reckless idiot!! … My brother has always been foolhardy!!” (p. 17) — reaffirms the Luffy/Ace brotherhood. A jailer arrives to collect “death-row prisoner Portgaz D. Ace.”
• Cross-link Jinbei.

Marineford / Summit War lead-up (Ch. 536) — referenced, not shown

• Drives Luffy’s will to live inside Impel Down (“I’M NOT GONNA DIE… UNTIL I’VE RESCUED ACE!!”); the closing caption counts down 26 hours until Ace’s public execution (pp. 10, 19). (Referenced only — no scalar change; the execution itself is forward.)

Impel Down (Ch. 533) — execution clock fixed (mentioned, off-page)

• At Impel Down’s rear passage, guards fix the timetable for Portgaz D. Ace’s public execution: set for 3 PM the next day (~29 hours), with Ace to be “escorted out tomorrow morning — that will be the end of it” (p. 2). The precise war-clock that drives the Summit War. See Aces Public Execution Will Mean War With Whitebeard.

Impel Down — “Don’t come here, Luffy!” (Ch. 532) — shadowed

• Chapter-closing shadowed panel: Ace — already aware (since Ch. 531) that Luffy has broken in — internally pleads “Don’t come here… Luffy!” as all Impel Down forces mass on Level 4 (p. 20). Tragic-irony foreboding for the rescue. See Aces Dont Come Here Luffy Doomed-Rescue Foreboding.

Impel Down — Hancock’s visit (Ch. 531) — shown

• Held in his cell on the deep prison floor; receives a Warlord “visitor,” Boa Hancock (pp. 6-8).
• Asks Hancock what she wants; she answers only that Luffy “was afraid you’d be mad at him if he came” (pp. 8, 13).
• Stunned reveal beat: Ace realizes “She said my little brother… is here!” — learning Luffy has come to break him out (p. 13).

Impel Down — Level 6; listening to Jinbei (Ch. 529) — shown

• Chained in Level 6, listening to Jimbei. Recalls he and Jimbei nearly killed each other in the past (“And you almost killed ME!” / “I seem to remember that you almost killed me once…”, p. 3). Tells Jimbei to stop (“You’re only making me feel worse… Stop it, Jimbei.”, p. 5).

Impel Down — chained, awaiting execution (Ch. 528) — shown

• Shown chained on the Impel Down level where “Fire Fist” Ace is held (pp. 16, 19), beside a captive Jimbei.
• Refuses Jimbei’s self-sacrifice and refuses to die: “That means nothing to me! I don’t care if I’m one of the Seven Warlords! I can’t die yet!” (p. 19) — death-row defiance pre-loading the Marineford rescue. See Jimbei Would Give His Life To Stop This War.

Impel Down — referenced; Luffy storms the prison (Ch. 527) — off-page

• Referenced as held in Impel Down (Luffy believes “Level 5”); prisoners recall having been “drinking buddies” with the captured “Fire Fist” Ace (p. 6); Luffy: “I hope Ace is okay!” (p. 15).

Impel Down — confirmed inmate; Luffy en route (Ch. 526) — off-page

• Confirmed an Impel Down inmate (endured the baptism ritual “without batting an eyelid”); prisoners believe he is held on Level 5 (pp. 6, 18). Off-page this chapter — Luffy is en route to him via the Vivre Card.

Impel Down — Garp’s visit; disowns his father (Ch. 525) — shown

• Garp visits Ace chained in his cell (continuing Ch. 523); Ace disowns his “good-for-nothing father” — “I don’t even remember him” — and says he owes the name Portgas to his mother (pp. 2-3). See Ace Disowns His Father And Keeps His Mothers Name Portgas.
• In flashback, recalls Whitebeard’s adoption offer — “Be my son! Under my name… go wreak havoc on these seas!” — and declares “Whitebeard… is my only father!!” (p. 3).
• Garp frames both Luffy and Ace as carrying “world-class criminal blood” that barred them from the Navy (p. 2).
• 33 hours remain until his execution (p. 17). See Thirty-Three-Hour Clock To Aces Execution.

Impel Down — six days to execution (Ch. 524) — shown

• Resigned in his cell as the war becomes unstoppable: “Whitebeard won’t stop if you die. Nothing can prevent this war now!” — narration frames it as the world having “angered the King of the Sea.” See Aces Public Execution Will Mean War With Whitebeard.

Impel Down — chained, awaiting execution (Ch. 523) — shown

• Held chained and bloodied deep in Impel Down; Garp descends to his cell (“Are you still alive… Ace?”, p. 13). Ace calls him “old man.”
• Whitebeard moves to free him; the Navy’s whole war plan hinges on keeping Ace “in custody” (pp. 11–13). See Aces Public Execution Will Mean War With Whitebeard.

Summit War — execution details relayed at Amazon Lily (referenced, not on-page) (Ch. 522)

• Grandma Nyon relays to Luffy the news that Ace (“Whitebeard’s powerful underling,” VIZ on-page name Portgaz D. Ace) is to be publicly executed in six days in an open square at Marineford (pp. 7-9).
• Ace was captured by Blackbeard (who was thereby made a Warlord) and is held in Impel Down; the Gates of Justice WG-current links Impel Down, Marineford and Enies Lobby (pp. 8, 10).
• His Vivre Card in Luffy’s hat-band is shown shrunk to a tenth of its original size — on-page proof of his life in peril; Luffy resolves to break into Impel Down to save him (pp. 11-12). See Ace’s Vivre Card Scorched And Shrinking Signals His Life In Peril.

Summit War prologue — execution time + place set (Ch. 516)

• Newspaper (off-page): the WG has SET the time and place of Portgas D. Ace’s public execution — Marineford, the town of Navy HQ, exactly one week out (pp. 10, 14). “Whitebeard is sure to make a move” (p. 15); the Warlords are summoned to oppose him. Seeds Aces Public Execution Will Mean War With Whitebeard.

Summit War — execution announced (referenced, not on-page) (Ch. 501)

• A worldwide newspaper announces that “Fire Fist” Ace, commander of Whitebeard’s Second Division, is to be publicly executed (pp. 18-19). Ace himself is not shown. Seeds Aces Public Execution Will Mean War With Whitebeard; the execution + war land forward of this window.

(referenced, not on-page) Ch. 489 — his Vivre Card is shown scorched and shrinking

• The slip Ace gave Luffy in Ch. 159 is revealed to be Life Paper and shown charred and smaller, “on the verge of being snuffed out” — the first signal that Ace’s life is in grave danger (p. 20). See Ace, Ace’s Vivre Card Scorched And Shrinking Signals His Life In Peril, Ace Vivre Card Given To Luffy Hang On To It Always, Vivre Card.

Mentioned — captured, awaiting execution (Ch. 486)

• Newspaper reports Ace was captured by Blackbeard and is “currently awaiting execution in the great prison of Impel Down”; “the government scored a big win” against Whitebeard (p. 3). See Blackbeards Warlord Seat And Aces Impel Down Execution Announced.

Post-Enies Lobby — Banaro Island duel (Ch. 441) — Ace vs Blackbeard; full Mera Mera arsenal; “I will make Whitebeard the King of the Pirates”; manhunt reaches its confrontation

• The Drum/Alabasta manhunt reaches its on-page confrontation — Ace has cornered Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach) on Banaro Island in the Grand Line and they fight directly. Partial payoff of Ace Blackbeard Pursuit Mission Debut / Ace Pursuing Blackbeard Manhunt Doctrine.
• Full Mera Mera no Mi arsenal demonstrated on-page — named techniques: Firefly, Fiery Doll, St. Elmo’s Fire, Spears made of fire, Cross Fire, Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor (pp. 10-18). Ace’s fire actually burns Teach (“HOT! HOT! HOT!”), exposing the Yami Yami’s pain-amplifying weakness.
• Tactical adaptation — once Teach reveals his touch cancels Devil Fruit powers, Ace declares “Then I just have to make sure you don’t touch me” and fights at range (p. 14).
• Creed restated (pp. 18-19): “I’ll never live my life with regrets… If I bowed down to power, what’s the point in living?” Refuses Teach’s invitation to join him.
• LOAD-BEARING goal restatement (p. 19): “I will make Whitebeard… the King of the Pirates.” Recurrence/evidence for Ill Help Whitebeard Become King Of The Pirates Doctrine.
• Closing tell (p. 19): the duel ends on an off-frame explosion with narration calling it “the trigger for the major events that were to follow”; the final panel is Ace’s twin-smiley hat lying in the sand — prop-tell Banaro Island Duel Named As The Trigger For Major Events To Follow. (last_appearance ADVANCES 0440→0441; Ace’s capture / Marineford remains forward.)

Post-Enies Lobby — Banaro Island (Ch. 440) — catches Blackbeard; refuses the partnership; the duel begins

• Ace finally catches Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teech) on Banaro Island, three days before the Straw Hats’ new bounties circulate (pp. 11–13).
• Refuses Teach’s offer to conquer the world together — “He’s my brother!” — when Teach announces he intends to kill Luffy at Water Seven and gift him to the government (p. 13).
• Combat: Fire Gun, Flame Commandment, Fire Pillar, Fire Fist (pp. 14–15); Teach scolds his own crew (“Ogre”/Burgess) for attacking without orders (p. 15).
• The fight resolves into a Logia clash as Teach’s darkness power emerges (pp. 18–19). (last_appearance ADVANCES 0434→0440; Ace’s capture / Marineford remains forward.) Cross-link Ace Pursuing Blackbeard Manhunt Doctrine, Banaro Island.

Catches up to Blackbeard (Ch. 434) — discussed at the Shanks↔Whitebeard summit; arrives at Teach’s ship

• Discussed by Shanks and Whitebeard as the officer hunting Blackbeard (Teach); “good enough to become the second division leader” but his “fame and trust are complicating this issue” — Shanks wants him called off (p. 13). Whitebeard refuses (owes his dead sons vengeance, p. 14).
• Final pages: Ace arrives at Teach’s ship — “Hold on, Teach… I’ve been looking for you!” (p. 20). Loads the Ace-vs-Blackbeard duel. (last_appearance ADVANCES 0233→0434.) Cross-link Ace Pursuing Blackbeard Manhunt Doctrine, Ace Great Search For Blackbeard Cover Serial Loads Marineford.

Mentioned — Water Seven aftermath (Ch. 432)

• Garp reveals he raised both Luffy and Ace and “entrusted you and Ace to a friend of mine for training” (p. 4) — first on-page statement that Garp was the guardian of both boys and arranged their shared upbringing under an off-panel friend. Seeds Garp Entrusted Luffy And Ace To A Friend For Training. Cross-link Garp, Luffy.

Jaya era — Buggy/Alvida island (Ch. 233)

• Ace crashes the Buggy Pirates + Alvida treasure-hunt celebration searching for food (p. 12), introducing himself only as “Ace.” Recognized by Buggy’s crew as “Fire Fist Ace” and named on-page again as the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates (p. 12). Narcoleptic tell recurs — falls asleep mid-scene (“He fell asleep!!”). Described by Buggy as one of Whitebeard’s men, the crew “closest to the One Piece” (p. 13). His presence triggers Buggy’s Whitebeard-reverence monologue.
• Note: reconfirms role/second-division-commander (already canonized Ch. 157/159) — recurrence, not a new reveal.

Alabasta era — Ch. 0177 chapter title splash (Ch. 177 p. 1) — cowboy-hat + horse wandering composition; first cover-art-style chapter-title splash since the Ch. 0159 brotherhood-canonization

• Chapter title splash — cowboy-hat-and-horse wandering composition (Ch. 177 p. 1). Ace seated on a tree stump in wide-brim cowboy-hat + pukka-bead necklace, with a tall lanky horse beside him also wearing the wide-brim hat. First Ace cover-art-style chapter title splash since the Ch. 0159 brotherhood-canonization. Composes Ace as a wandering-rōnin-with-his-horse figure. Pre-loads the Ace cover-narrative sub-arc (the Ace’s Adventures spin-off cover-story which runs across forward chapters, depicting Ace’s pre-Whitebeard-affiliation wandering). The horse is unnamed in this chapter — possibly the start of a recurring cover-narrative companion. Cross-link Ace Chapter Title Splash Cowboy-Horse Wandering Beat (new).
• Cross-link Ace Chapter Title Splash Cowboy-Horse Wandering Beat (new).

Alabasta — Vol. 19 bonus map vignette (Ch. 176) — Map-recap vignette: campsite munching beat

• Map-recap vignette in the Vol. 19 Alabasta Kingdom strategic atlas (Ch. 176 p. 21). Visual: Ace at a campsite MUNCH MUNCH (cowboy-hat + freckled smile, sitting at a fire). Re-affirms his off-route Alabasta-presence (he is somewhere in the desert but operationally off-frame in the main narrative since Ch. 0159).

Alabasta (Ch. 160) — off-page brother; Ace-paper-Vivre-Card sewn into Luffy’s hat-band by Nami; Ace-name uttered in Strawhat ritual-preservation beat

• Off-page brother — paper-source-of-the-Vivre-Card-sewn-into-hat-band (Ch. 160 p. 3). Luffy hands Nami the paper Ace gave him (Ch. 0159); Nami sews it into Luffy’s straw-hat band on Luffy’s request: “Well, whatever it is, Ace told me to hang on to it. And I’m gonna!!” / Luffy: “Great, Nami! Now it’s safe. I’ll never lose it.” — Vivi (background): “But what is it, anyway?” / Nami: “I don’t know…”. First on-page Ace-name-utterance in the Alabasta-arc-interior chapter following the brother-reunion — Ace told me anchors the Vivre Card prop to its off-page giver. Cross-link Ace (Ch. 0160 sewn-in-hat-band evidence add), Ace Vivre Card Given To Luffy Hang On To It Always (Ch. 0160 permanent-storage evidence add), Nami (sewing-partner), Luffy (carrier).
• No on-page Ace presence in Ch. 0160 — the paper-prop is on-page, but Ace himself is off-page (presumably continuing the Blackbeard pursuit per Ch. 0159 register).

Alabasta — Nanohana (Ch. 159) — Come On — brother-reunion canonized; Vivre Card given to Luffy; Whitebeard mark / Flame-Flame fruit / Fire Fist named-attack / 2nd Division Commander rank / Blackbeard pursuit ALL canonized; declines-to-fight-Luffy departure covenant

• Brother-reunion (Ch. 159 pp. 4-19). Ace appears on the Going Merry mid-Marine-flight, sitting on the railing. Luffy: “Geez… I never thought… I’d meet you here, Ace.” Ace deflects flight-instinct: “This is no time to talk, Luffy. Make your getaway. I’ll catch up to you later… …after I take care of these guys.” Greeting to crew: “Greetings, all. Thanks for looking after my kid brother.” — first on-page Ace-self-identifies-as-Luffy’s-brother beat. Luffy reveals: “Ace is three years older than me. He left the island three years earlier. He’s a pirate. He’s after the One Piece too.” / “Imagine that, two brothers who both ate the Devil Fruit.” / “Even when Ace hadn’t eaten the Devil Fruit and I had… I still couldn’t beat him up.” Cross-link Luffy Has An Older Brother Ace Reveal (new — load-bearing), Two Devil Fruit Eating Brothers Doctrine (new).
• Whitebeard’s mark tattooed on his back (Ch. 159 p. 10) — Usopp recognizes it: “Is that tattoo on your back White-beard… White-beard’s mark?” Ace: “Yes, and I’m very proud of it.” First on-page Whitebeard jolly roger (cross-skull and crossbones). Cross-link Ace Whitebeard Tattoo Back Mark (new — load-bearing).
• Recruits Luffy and crew for Whitebeard — declined (Ch. 159 pp. 9-10) — “So how ‘bout joining Whitebeard’s Pirates? Your friends can come too. … Whitebeard is the greatest pirate I’ve ever known. I’m gonna help him become King of the Pirates. It’s not gonna be you, Luffy!!” Luffy: “No thanks.” / “Then I guess we gotta fight!!” — Ace declines to fight here (“My business here is almost finished.”). First on-page Whitebeard-vs-Luffy structural-rivalry installation through Ace. Cross-link Whitebeard Greatest Pirate Ive Ever Known Doctrine (new — load-bearing), Ill Help Whitebeard Become King Of The Pirates Doctrine (new — load-bearing).
• First on-page reference to his Devil Fruit — Flame-Flame powers (Ch. 159 p. 10) — “Don’t bother. I took care of them with my Flame-Flame powers.” Ace’s self-identification of his fruit. The forward-canon romanization Mera Mera no Mi is not yet uttered on-page. Cross-link Ace Mera Mera No Mi Flame-Flame Fruit Debut (new).
• LOAD-BEARING — Gives Luffy the Vivre Card (Ch. 159 pp. 13-14) — Ace flicks a small piece of paper at Luffy: “I wanted you to have that. Here.” / “Hang on to it! Always!” / “That piece of paper will bring us together again.” Luffy: “Huh? It’s just a piece of paper.” First on-page Vivre Card / Life Card in the series. Mechanic-name forward-canon; the prop is framed only as a brother-to-brother fate-paper. Cross-link Ace (new — load-bearing), Ace Vivre Card Given To Luffy Hang On To It Always (new — load-bearing).
• LOAD-BEARING — Reveals he is hunting Blackbeard (Ch. 159 p. 15) — “He was one of my henchmen. He used to belong to Whitebeard’s Second Division. He’s been calling himself ‘Blackbeard’ lately. He committed the worst crime possible for a pirate. He killed a shipmate and jumped ship. I’m on the trail of a major outlaw right now. As his commander, I’m responsible. If it wasn’t for that, I’d never even come to a backwater port like this.” First on-page Ace-vs-Blackbeard pursuit canonization and first on-page Blackbeard-origin-story reveal. Cross-link Blackbeard (Ch. 159 origin canonization), Ace Blackbeard Pursuit Mission Debut (new), Blackbeard Killed Shipmate And Jumped Ship Reveal (new — load-bearing).
• 2nd Division Commander rank Marine-canonized (Ch. 159 pp. 15-16) — “As his commander, I’m responsible” (Ace) + Marine reaction (p. 16): “Whitebeard’s Second Division commander is here!?” / “It was definitely ‘Fire Fist’ Ace!! I saw him!!” — first on-page Ace-rank-and-epithet double-canonization. Cross-link Ace Whitebeard Second Division Commander Reveal (new), Ace Fire Fist Epithet Debut (new).
• LOAD-BEARING — Named attack FIRE FIST!!!! (Ch. 159 p. 18) — torches five Marine ships with a single flame-fist blast (KRAK KRAK KRAK). First on-page Ace named-attack and first on-page demonstration of the Mera Mera no Mi’s true scale (battleship-level destruction in one panel). Cross-link Mera Mera no Mi (Ch. 159 first-named-attack evidence add).
• Surname first-uttered (Ch. 159 p. 11) — Smoker: “PORTGAZ!! Why did he have to interfere!?” — first on-page Marine-recognition of Ace by surname-only (VIZ rendering Portgaz; forward-canon Portgas). Note: Smoker also drops the full Portgaz D. Ace in Ch. 157 — Ch. 159 re-utterance is Marine-on-ground-recognition register vs Ch. 157’s introduction-utterance.
• Departure covenant (Ch. 159 pp. 15, 19): “Next time we meet… will be on the high seas.” / “See you on the high seas… Luffy!!!” — installs the brother-departure covenant that re-keys at Marineford ~400 chapters later.

Alabasta — Nanohana (Ch. 158) — Landing in Alabasta — first on-page Mera Mera Logia demonstration (Sun Flare); first on-page Logia-vs-Logia stalemate (smoke vs. fire); brother-recognition cliffhanger (Luffy: ACE!?); first on-page Ace-rescues-Luffy beat

• First on-page Mera Mera no Mi demonstration (Ch. 158 p. 18) — Ace launches Sun Flare!!! — a flame-projectile that knocks Smoker off Luffy mid-White-Fist. The follow-up panel (p. 19) shows Ace’s body as flame (DO OO~~ / FWOOO), confirming Logia-class element-body morphology. The fruit name (Mera Mera no Mi) is not yet uttered on-page — only its element (fire) and Logia-class are demonstrated. Cross-link Mera Mera no Mi (new), Ace Mera Mera Logia Fire Combat-Debut (new — load-bearing).
• LOAD-BEARING — first on-page articulation of the Logia-vs-Logia stalemate doctrine (Ch. 158 p. 19) — Ace, mid-flame, to Smoker: “You may be smoke, but I’m fire.” / “We’re too evenly matched to settle this now.” First on-page Logia-vs-Logia elemental-pairing canonization in the series. The smoke (Moku Moku no Mi) vs. fire (Mera Mera no Mi) match is canonized as too-evenly-matched-to-settle. Pre-loads the transitive Logia-elemental-matrix (fire < magma → Ace dies to Akainu at Marineford). Cross-link Ace Smoke-Vs-Fire Logia-Pair Combat Stalemate (new — load-bearing).
• LOAD-BEARING — Ace rescues Luffy from Smoker (Ch. 158 p. 18) — Ace’s Sun-Flare knocks Smoker off Luffy mid-White-Fist. First on-page brother-as-rescuer beat — pre-loads the Marineford full-scale rescue arc dynamic.
• LOAD-BEARING — first on-page Ace-Luffy mutual recognition (Ch. 158 p. 19) — Ace (deadpan, half-smile, hand-raised greeting): “You never change, do you?” / “Eh, Luffy?” Luffy (wide-eyed, cold-sweat, shock-recognition): “ACE!?” — first on-page utterance of Ace by Luffy. Address-asymmetry (first-name-only, no honorific, no surname) signals a pre-existing intimate relationship pre-canon to the Strawhats. The crew watches uncomprehendingly (Nami: “Who is that!?”). Brother-reveal cliffhanger. Cross-link Ace Brother Of Luffy Reveal Implied (new — load-bearing).
• Parallel-composition continues — Ace and Luffy drawn in identical eat-poses inside the Spice Bean (pp. 7-10), continuing the Ch. 157 visual pre-tell of the brother-relationship.
• Smoker confrontation continues from Ch. 157 — Ace deflects Smoker’s “Can’t we try to get along?” (p. 6) with “That’s a dumb reason. …And you’re still a pirate!!!”, then ignores Smoker to ask about Luffy: “I’m looking for another pirate right now. I’m not interested in your head.” — pirate-hunting-another-pirate beat.
• Civilian rumor canonization continues (Ch. 158 p. 4) — Nanohana civilians whispering: “Did you hear that? He’s one of White Beard’s pirates.” The Whitebeard-Pirates affiliation rumor canonized in Ch. 157 sustains across into Ch. 158.

Alabasta — Nanohana (Ch. 157) — first conscious-on-page appearance; full name Portgaz D. Ace canonized; Whitebeard + Whitebeard Pirates + Second Division Commander register installed; looking for my kid brother cliffhanger; twin-skull cowboy-hat iconography canonized

Post-mortem — his fruit regrows (Ch. 703)

• Referenced: after Ace’s death Ch. 574, his Mera Mera no Mi regrew elsewhere in the world and became the Corrida Coliseum tournament prize on Dressrosa (p. 3). Luffy vows to win it so no one else inherits his brother’s power. Cross-link Mera Mera no Mi, Aces Flame Will Be Inherited By Someone.

Post-mortem — his flame passes to Sabo (Ch. 744)

Wano backstory (revealed Ch. 1000, flashback)

• Years ago (pre-Marineford) Ace visited Wano and befriended Yamato, “Kaido’s son” (pp. 6-9).
• Spoke of his little brother Luffy — that Luffy declared he’d be King of the Pirates and that no one (himself and Sabo) would let anyone laugh at that dream (pp. 6-7).
• Tore off a piece of his Vivre Card and gave it to Yamato so they could meet again (p. 9). The card later vanished at his death; Yamato learned of it — and that Ace was Roger’s son — via the newspaper (p. 9).

Cover-story appearances

Short-Term Cover Series No. 4 — Escapee — Opener (Ch. 182)

• First chapter of a new Ace short-term cover-serial (p. 1, cover-page). Full-page panel: Marine warship (twin-balloon-domes, MARINE / MAR placards on the hull, sail-rigging fully extended) at sea; tiny silhouetted figure (Ace) climbing the rigging mid-mast. Forward-canon: Ace pursuing Blackbeard aboard a Marine warship as part of his Whitebeard-Commander hunt.
• Cross-link Marines (Ch. 182 cover-art warship debut), Blackbeard (Ch. 182 implied pursuit-target), Ace Cover Series No 4 Escapee Marine-Warship-Stowaway Opener (new), Ace Pursues Blackbeard Aboard A Marine Warship Cover-Series Install (new).

Ace’s Great Search for Blackbeard — Cover serial FINALE (Ch. 305)

• The “Ace’s Great Search for Blackbeard” cover serial reaches its FINAL VOLUME: “In the Name of Pirates.” Final panel shows Ace seated cross-legged before his Whitebeard-crest jolly roger, arms crossed. Ace fails to capture Blackbeard but resolves to keep hunting him “in the name of pirates” — threading into the forward-canon Ace-vs-Blackbeard manhunt (Banaro → Marineford).
• Cover-story only — no in-narrative appearance; last_appearance stays at Ch. 233. See Aces-Great-Search-for-Blackbeard (now status: complete).

SBS reveals

Notes

• First-name-only self-introduction is deliberate withholding — Oda installs Ace in Ch. 154 and saves the Portgaz D. surname for the Alabasta-saga payoff. The D.-clan-membership is forward-canon installed via Kureha’s lineage-recognition, not via Ace’s own naming. Full-name canonization lands Ch. 157 p. 18 + p. 20 (Smoker / caption) — three chapters after his silhouette debut.
• The Spade Pirates (Ace’s first crew, predecessor to his Whitebeard tenure) are not yet established on-page; crews_served lists only the forward-canon Whitebeard affiliation that the back-tattoo glimpse implies + the Ch. 157 caption-canonization.
• The chapter does not name Ace’s Devil Fruit (Mera Mera no Mi). The smoking pipe and the “didn’t snow” aside (the day Ace arrived was unseasonably warm at Drum) is a possible Devil-Fruit-as-environmental-tell forward-seed — to be confirmed.
• Ch. 157 update: full name Portgaz D. Ace canonized; Second Division Commander rank canonized; Whitebeard affiliation canonized on-page; D. lineage canonized on-page (fourth D. after Roger, Luffy, Dragon); narcoleptic-sleep gag installed; twin-skull-mask cowboy hat iconography canonized; I’m just… looking for my kid brother cliffhanger pre-loads the Ch. 158+ brother-reveal.