Certainly not the largest stop in the East Blue, Shells Town is at least important enough to kick off One Piece’s story. It’s Luffy’s first stop after the Goa Kingdom, and the first time he shows his role as a liberator in the story. Shell’s Town might just be a blip on the early radar of One Piece at this point in the story, but it’s still one of the vital points in Luffy’s journey.
This article contains spoilers for One Piece from almost twenty-five years ago. Catch up on Viz or MangaPlus before reading on, or don’t and be spoiled on something older than most viewers.
Where is Shells Town?
Shells Town is just slightly West of Goa Kingdom, where the story of One Piece begins. Luffy gets there through Alvida’s ship, commandeering it from the pirate Captain while freeing Koby in the process. When they stop in though, they find that the town is under tyrannical military control. Ax-Hand Morgan, a fearsome Marine Captain, rules over Shells Town with an iron fist, or ax, really. Despite the town being full of honest, hard-working people, Morgan has no care and will lock up any civilian or Marine that goes against him.
While it isn’t a major base like G-5 in the Grand Line, Shells Town does still function as a military base for the East Blue. There are other outposts along the sea, but Shells Town is the central base. It’s pretty strategic too, located more toward the center of the sea, almost equal distance from the Red Line and Calm Belt. This ensures they can cover the entire East Blue, with smaller outposts like in Loguetown or off the coast of Coco Village extending their reach.
Ax-Hand Morgan
When Luffy first arrives at Shells Town, it’s under the tyrannical rule of Ax-Hand Morgan, a Captain of the Marines. He’s totally without oversight working here, with no higher-ups calling his cruel tactics out whenever he abuses his power. The soldiers who work under him are too terrified to try rising up against him, but he finally makes the wrong move by tying up Roronoa Zoro for two weeks without food. Along with his asshole son Helmeppo, Ax-Hand Morgan sets in motion the collision of Straw Hat Luffy and Pirate Hunter Zoro.
In doing so, he also ensures his own fall from grace. Luffy and Zoro’s teamwork takes Morgan down. They go further, ensuring his own soldiers can finally arrest him. Now being held for his crimes, he’ll go on a brief adventure of his own as a prisoner, kidnapping Helmeppo and Koby as hostages. This will eventually lead them into Garp’s tutelage though, and bring about the brave Captain Koby, Hero of Rocky Port. When it comes to character arcs, Shellstown really is a huge origin point for quite a few big names.
Current Status
Shellstown is now a thriving port and military installation in the East Blue, under much more watchful eye. Garp leaves Bogard there to ensure that things run smoothly, and his sense of justice is much more steady than Morgan’s. Now, it exists as one of the more peaceful islands of the East Blue, all thanks to the help of a rubber boy in a Straw Hat when he began his journey. Shells Town will always hold a place in the story of One Piece, both as Koby’s first Marine post, and where Luffy met his First Mate.
