The Thriller Bark Pirates in One Piece are hands down one of the most unique and unforgettable crews in the series. Led by the eccentric and formidable Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria, they live on Thriller Bark, a massive, ghostly ship that’s so huge, it feels more like an island than a vessel. With a spooky, horror-themed crew made up of zombies, ghosts, and other bizarre creations, the Thriller Bark Pirates bring a creepy, yet oddly captivating vibe to the story.
Let’s dive deeper into who these characters are, unravel their backstory, and see if Moria, their larger-than-life captain, really has the strength to back up his fearsome reputation.
Who Are the Thriller Bark Pirates?
The Thriller Bark Pirates are the main antagonists of the Thriller Bark Arc in One Piece. They’re based on the enormous Thriller Bark ship, which roams the Florian Triangle—a foggy, mysterious sea where ships are known to vanish without a trace. The eerie atmosphere around Thriller Bark makes it the perfect setting for this bizarre crew.
At the helm is Gecko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—a group of powerful pirates who’ve struck a deal with the World Government to maintain a kind of balance on the seas. But Moria’s not your typical pirate captain. Thanks to the powers of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, or Kage Kage no Mi, he can manipulate shadows in ways that are downright disturbing. His crew isn’t alive in the usual sense either. Instead of flesh-and-blood pirates, most of Moria’s “minions” are actually zombies—corpses brought back to life by stealing shadows from other people. It’s twisted, but it gives Moria a loyal, unbreakable army that doesn’t feel pain or fear.
Let’s meet the core members of this creepy crew and see what makes each of them tick.
Members of the Thriller Bark Pirates
The Thriller Bark Pirates aren’t just a random collection of undead. Each key member has their own twisted personality and unique abilities that make them stand out. Here’s a closer look at the main players:
Gecko Moria
Gecko Moria is a tall, bat-like figure with a sharp smile and a taste for the macabre. He wasn’t always a recluse hiding behind an army of zombies; once upon a time, Moria had dreams of becoming the Pirate King. He even sailed the treacherous waters of the New World, the second half of the Grand Line where only the strongest survive.
But after losing his entire crew in a devastating battle against Kaido, Moria’s spirit was shattered. He became jaded, choosing to rely on zombies rather than living crew members to avoid experiencing that kind of loss again.
With the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, Moria can remove people’s shadows and implant them into corpses, effectively turning them into obedient zombies. He can also manipulate shadows in other ways, using them as weapons or even creating a shadow shield. But is Moria actually strong? That’s a tough question. He’s powerful in his own way, his ability to create and control an army is no small feat. But his heavy reliance on that army has made him lazy and less capable in direct combat. Moria’s strength, at this point, is more about strategy and manipulation than raw fighting ability.
Hogback
Dr. Hogback is the twisted genius behind the zombie creations on Thriller Bark. Once a renowned surgeon known for his groundbreaking medical skills, Hogback’s obsession with reanimating the dead led him down a dark path.
He joined forces with Moria, eager to turn corpses into undead minions. Hogback’s role is crucial, he’s the one stitching up bodies and performing the bizarre “surgeries” needed to turn corpses into zombies. His most famous “project” is Victoria Cindry, a former actress he was infatuated with in life, whom he now keeps as his zombie servant.
Absalom
Absalom is probably one of the most unique members of the Thriller Bark Pirates, and that’s saying something. Thanks to modifications from Hogback, he’s a beast-man hybrid with the strength of a gorilla, the toughness of an elephant, and the agility of a cat.
To top it off, he ate the Clear-Clear Fruit (Suke Suke no Mi), which gives him the power to turn invisible. While this could make him a deadly assassin, Absalom tends to use his invisibility for…less noble purposes. He’s more of a sneaky troublemaker than a serious threat, but his powers still make him dangerous, especially for anyone wandering Thriller Bark unprepared.
Perona
Perona, the “Ghost Princess,” is one of the most intriguing members of Moria’s crew. With the Hollow-Hollow Fruit (Horo Horo no Mi), she can create ghostly apparitions called “Negative Hollows” that pass through people and drain their will to fight, leaving them overwhelmed by self-doubt.
The Zombies and Special Creations
Beyond Moria’s core crew, he has an army of zombies at his command. But a few stand out:
Oars
Oars is the crown jewel of Moria’s zombie army. He’s an ancient giant known as “The Continent-Puller” for his immense size and strength. After Moria steals Luffy’s shadow, he implants it in Oars, bringing the giant back to life with Luffy’s battle instincts and agility. The result is terrifying: a massive, powerful zombie with a fighting style eerily similar to Luffy’s. Oars is the Thriller Bark Pirates’ ultimate weapon, but his sheer size and power make him a bit hard to control.
Victoria Cindry
Victoria Cindry was a famous actress who died young, only to be resurrected by Hogback as a zombie. In life, Hogback adored her, but in death, she’s just another puppet. With no will of her own, she acts entirely under Hogback’s control, following his orders with eerie precision. Her story adds a tragic layer to the Thriller Bark Pirates, showing how far Hogback has fallen from his once-respected past.
Who’s the Strongest Member?
When it comes to raw physical power, Oars is undoubtedly the strongest, thanks to his colossal size and Luffy’s shadow enhancing his abilities. In terms of tactical power, Moria’s Shadow-Shadow Fruit gives him a lot of flexibility, letting him create an entire army and manipulate shadows in clever ways. But if we’re talking pure strength, Oars is the crew’s heavyweight.
Is Gecko Moria Actually Strong?
Moria’s strength is…complicated. His Shadow-Shadow Fruit powers give him incredible versatility, but he’s become dependent on his zombie army and lost some of his edge in hand-to-hand combat. After his crushing defeat at Kaido’s hands, he’s less willing to take risks. This over-reliance on zombies makes him vulnerable, as we see when he faces Luffy and the Straw Hats. Moria’s strength is impressive, but he lacks the fighting spirit of his Warlord peers, and it shows.
The Story of the Thriller Bark Pirates
Ultimately, Moria’s story is one of loss, bitterness, and an unhealthy obsession with avoiding pain. He dreams of becoming the Pirate King, but instead of building a living, breathing crew, he’s chosen to rely on zombies that don’t feel fear or pain. This choice defines his approach to power: avoid risk, avoid hurt, and let an undead army do the dirty work.
When the Straw Hat Pirates arrive at Thriller Bark, Moria sees them as perfect new “recruits” for his zombie army. The ensuing battle is intense, with the Straw Hats fighting off Moria’s minions, eventually taking on Oars and even Moria himself. The clash proves one thing: there’s no substitute for a loyal, living crew. In the end, Moria’s reliance on the undead becomes his undoing, and he learns the hard way that shortcuts don’t lead to the top.
