The fearsome Fishman, Arlong makes a big impression in One Piece despite barely appearing. He’s a major antagonist of the East Blue arc and has some backstory later in Fishman Island. Considering the knocks he took during the Arlong Park arc of One Piece, the fans are asking if Arlong is actually dead? Let’s delve into the article and find out!
Fair warning, this article contains spoilers for One Piece up to Chapter 1090. The manga is available online from Mangaplus and Viz, so read ahead with caution!
Who Is Arlong?
A fierce Fishman of the Saw-Tooth Shark variety, Arlong is a pirate with a grudge. He was raised in the Fishman District of Fishman Island and was one of Fisher Tiger’s top officers alongside Jimbei. While Arlong isn’t above working with humans, he’s not fond of them. If anything, he hates humans and blames them for the plight of Fishmen on the surface. His hatred is immense, and he’ll kill any humans he pleases if it brings him the slightest bit of joy. He sees them as nothing more than fodder, bodies to pile up for the Fishmen to stand on.
His savagery extends to his fighting style too, using his serrated nose to inflict damage on enemies. Arlong wields a massive ax-like blade too, which resembles his serrated nose. He takes over Pinwheel Village and kills Bellemere with no hesitation, instantly establishing him as a threat to the East Blue.
The Fishman Pirates
Arlong began his pirating journey with the Fishman Pirates led by Fisher Tiger. Despite his distrust of humans and disdain for the way the Ryugyu Dynasty went about things, Arlong takes the brand. This brand, a massive sun, is meant to cover up the Claw of the Celestial Dragons. This was branded on all the slaves that Fisher Tiger frees from Marijoa. Arlong later fashions his into his own symbol though, and creates the Arlong Pirates.
Even Koala wasn’t close to changing Arlong’s mind about humans. Although one wonders if it would be different had Fisher Tiger lived. When Tiger dies, Arlong goes on a rampage only to be arrested by the Navy. Jimbei forms the Sun Pirates, and when he takes the position of Warlord negotiates Arlong’s release. While he does this out of a sense of goodwill toward his old crewmate, Jimbei unintentionally sets Arlong loose on the East Blue.
Does Arlong Come Back?
As of yet, Arlong is still nowhere to be seen and no! Arlong is not dead. He was definitely arrested after the events of Arlong Park, as confirmed by Hatchan back at Sabaody Archipelago. That said, it’s unknown where exactly he ends up, as there’s no mention of him in Impel Down or after. So far, Arlong has only come back in the form of flashbacks to his time with the Fishman Pirates. That doesn’t rule out a reappearance in the future, but it does raise questions of if he’s not locked up in Impel Down, where the hell is he?
Only time will tell if Arlong makes it into the final saga of One Piece. At this rate with the final battle and Straw Hat Fleet looming ever closer, a few old faces should pop up. Arlong could be one of those since he’s not dead as far as we know, but where will his hatred of humans land him in the final battle? For a character that has only been seen in flashbacks in the last twenty years though, Arlong certainly made an impression with his time.
