Scratchmen Apoo
Scratchmen Apoo, known by his moniker "Roar of the Sea," is a character in the manga series ONE PIECE. Hailing from the Longarm Tribe on the Grand Line, he serves as the captain of the On Air Pirates and is recognized as one of the Eleven Supernovas who make up the Worst Generation. In the New World, he also works covertly as an informant and handler of the Numbers for the Beast Pirates.
Overview
Scratchmen Apoo, known by his moniker "Roar of the Sea," is a character in the manga series ONE PIECE. Hailing from the Longarm Tribe on the Grand Line, he serves as the captain of the On Air Pirates and is recognized as one of the Eleven Supernovas who make up the Worst Generation. In the New World, he also works covertly as an informant and handler of the Numbers for the Beast Pirates.
Appearance
Scratchmen Apoo is a male of the Longarm Tribe, distinguished by having an extra joint in his arms, rendering them noticeably longer than those of ordinary humans. He has long brown hair styled into a braid and unique teeth that resemble piano keys. In the animated adaptations, his eye color is depicted as brown in the television series and blue in the fourteenth theatrical film. He wears a Chinese-style long robe and eyeglasses. Prior to the two-year timeskip, he was equipped with headphones, which were later replaced by a black headset integrated with goggles.
Personality
Scratchmen Apoo possesses a cheerful and showy temperament, speaking with a distinct rhythmic cadence and enjoying music and spectacle. He has a troublesome habit of provoking powerful adversaries purely for entertainment, only to flee once he has angered them. Beneath his lighthearted exterior lies a calculating realist who prioritizes personal survival and tangible gains above all else. He holds no adherence to honor, loyalty, or pirate alliances, viewing joint ventures pragmatically and discarding them without hesitation whenever advantageous opportunity or self-preservation demands it.
Abilities
Scratchmen Apoo gained his powers by consuming the Paramecia-type Oto Oto no Mi, which allows him to transform his body parts into various musical instruments. By playing music using his teeth as piano keys, head as cymbals, chest as drums, and limbs as wind or string instruments, he creates unseen attacks, such as slicing soundwaves, explosive force, and heavy physical impacts. His targeting corresponds to his line of sight, though his sound-based attacks become ineffective if the target cannot hear the audio. In physical combat, he wields tonfas to maximize his Longarm reach. He can utilize Armament Haki and Observation Haki, demonstrates exceptional physical resilience against heavy attacks, and uses his musical powers to command the giant Numbers.
Background
Hailing from the Grand Line, Scratchmen Apoo rose to prominence as captain of the On Air Pirates, arriving at the Sabaody Archipelago as one of the Eleven Supernovas. During the turmoil on the archipelago, he launched a surprise attack against Admiral Kizaru before fleeing, though he was swiftly countered before successfully escaping into the New World. After failing an intrusion into Big Mom's territory, Apoo secretly aligned with Kaido of the Beast Pirates as an informant. He forged a deceitful pirate alliance with Eustass Kid and Basil Hawkins, intentionally luring Kaido to ambush his unwitting partners. During the raid on Onigashima in Wano Country, he acted as DJ during the festival and expertly navigated the chaotic battle, surviving the conflict intact through sheer persistence and opportunistic tactics.
Relationships
Scratchmen Apoo formed a secret pirate alliance with Eustass Kid and Basil Hawkins in the New World, only to betray them to Kaido of the Beast Pirates, earning him intense hatred from Eustass Kid. Within the Beast Pirates, he reported to Kaido as an informant and controlled the Numbers, sharing a performative camaraderie with Queen despite Queen's ruthless treatment of him. During the raid on Onigashima, he clashed with X Drake, though the two briefly joined forces against members of CP-0 when confronted by a common threat.
Trivia
The design and naming of Scratchmen Apoo are inspired by the historical 19th-century Chinese pirate Chui A-poo. Series creator Eiichiro Oda noted that if Apoo existed in the real world, his nationality would be Chinese and his profession would be a DJ. His favorite food is Tom Yum Goong, whereas his disliked food is mayonnaise. Additionally, removing "men" from his surname leaves "Scratch," referencing both the DJ turntablism technique and the educational programming language.