Just one of the Five Elders, Saint Jay Garcia Saturn is also known as the Minister of Science for Mary Geoise. He’s a villainous type despite his seemingly quiet appearance, and has incredible depths of villainy that he’s not afraid to delve deep into. With the massive evil of the Gorosei being built up, Saint Jay Garcia Saturn is certainly the best way to introduce this massive threat and its power to the One Piece world.
This article contains spoilers for One Piece. Catch up on Viz or MangaPlus before reading further!
Who is Saint Jay Garcia Saturn?
One of the Five Elders, otherwise known as the Gorosei, Saint Jay Garcia Saturn is their Minister of Science. It’s no coincidence he practices that as mad science too, because Jay Garcia Saturn will go to the most unethical depths possible. Whether it involves testing his new experiments out on slaves or even just the unwitting people of the Grand Line, Saturn has no qualms about who he hurts. Often when confronted with his crimes, he’ll simply ask why a god should be concerned with the lives of ants below him.
While his Devil Fruit power is still unknown, it seems to be based on the ancient Ushi Oni yokai from Japanese folklore. It gives him terrifying horns and a massive spider body, allowing him to tower over others with ease. It’s one of the most terrifyingly deadly Devil Fruits seen in the series. Now, after the events atop Mary Geoise, the Revolutionaries know that he’s just the first in a line of monsters.
Five Elders
Those who rule at the top of the world, the Five Elders are supposed to be a wise council. They have final approval over decisions in the Reverie, and are easily able to shoot down any new rules the monarchies come to terms on if they need to. Despite the illusion that they are the ultimate authority who rule based on a democratic basis, the Gorosei are only the front for something much more sinister. They fall in line with the one who stands above them, who only they themselves know about. Imu, the one above all, is the true leader, and can make Saturn quake in his boots if they feel like turning up the heat.
Despite his gruff appearance, Saturn is one of the more reserved of the Gorosei. His responses often seem calm and measured, as if he’s a voice of reason in the room. That said, when it comes to orders from Imu, he takes on a fearfulness like a person trying to placate an animal that could kill him at any time. There’s a terrifying power dynamic to the Gorosei, and Saturn is only the first example of how that dynamic works. Probably a good thing for him he won’t be there to see the dynamic breakdown after Egghead Island.
Unethical Experiments
Saturn has a pretty known penchant among the Gorosei for being a man of science, much like Vegapunk or Vinsmoke Judge. Except he leaves any sense of ethical treatment for his subjects at the door, with absolutely no compassion or feeling for their pain at all. He’ll put ordinary people through some of the worst torture imaginable, with no regard as to what state it may leave them in. If someone dies during his experiments, it is simply their fault for not being strong enough to handle the immense strain of his genius.
Though they haven’t been very explored, the main experiment from Saturn that’s been shown off is the Sapphire Scale. This disease covers the infected person’s body with bright blue scales hard as jewels. The disease reacts with sunlight too, even the light reflected off the moon, slowly spreading the scales across the infected’s body. It’s one of the most terribly painful ways to die, as evidenced by Ginny who gave herself up to save Bonney from the disease.
Unknown Devil Fruit
Post-time skip One Piece has really been going all out with the interesting Devil Fruit types. While Saturn and the other Gorosei have still not gotten names for their Fruits, they do have strange characteristics. Saturn is the only one seen so far, taking the appearance of what’s believed as a Ushi Oni from Japanese yokai folklore. This massive spider-ox creature was known for being able to spit venom, and constantly regrow limbs whenever they were lost. Saturn proves it pretty well at this point too, already regrowing a whole hand on Egghead Island.
The full extent of this power is still unknown. Saturn has been able to pop Marine heads with just a look, so there’s definitely no shortage of ridiculous violence behind it. Otherwise, he’s shown the powers to shoot small energy beams, and also his incredibly sharp spider legs can stab through even Kuma. The most terrifying part? He was summoned in his Devil Fruit form to Egghead, from a ship off the coast, by rising up from a freakin’ pentagram like some demon. When you want to make someone look evil, always go with the demon look.
Kuma’s Enemy
Yeah, when it turns out that Saturn is the one who’s been making Kuma’s life a living hell since he was a kid, things don’t go well. The man goes on a straight-up evil tirade, revealing that he was the one to infect Ginny with the Sapphire Scale before making Kuma bargain to cure Bonney. Even Vegapunk is taken aback as the only person in the world who knows how to cure the disease, never believing it would have been made by his boss. It’s almost the ultimate evil deed, taking Ginny, Kuma’s true love, and turning her into a dying statue before passing the disease onto her daughter. Kuma raises Bonney like his own though, and journeys out to sea to find a cure for her.
Even after finding the cure with Vegapunk, Kuma is given an ultimatum by Saturn to have Bonney cured. He must become the living weapon, Pacifista, and give up his free will as a person. This means that even when Bonney is better, Kuma will only be there physically, a shell of the man he once was. Despite the loss of his self, Kuma agrees with no hesitation to cure the daughter he so loves, while Saturn simply smiles knowing that he’s orchestrated the last Buccaneer’s downfall.
Egghead Island Incident
Until the Egghead Island Incident goes down, with Saturn showing up in person to fight an Emperor’s crew. The Straw Hats arrive at Egghead Island just as Cipher Pol 9 gets there to assassinate Vegapunk. Thanks to their presence, Admiral Kizaru and almost twenty-five other ships surround Egghead for a Buster Call, with nobody realizing that Jay Garcia Saturn has come along for the show. Turns out he would be needed by the World Government too, because even Kizaru’s light isn’t enough to stand up to Gear Fifth.
Egghead is still unfolding, but with the current chapter, Kuma shows up to deliver a punch to end all punches straight to Saturn’s face. It’s incredibly cathartic, giving some well-earned justice to a character that’s been dragged through the mud constantly. Saturn isn’t particularly bothered though, and shows off regenerating powers again. Regrowing his hand and sealing up gaping holes in his body, Saturn returns to the fight. Now he’s determined to finally kill Kuma and rid the World Government of the Buccaneer blight.
