The late Portgas D. Ace of the Whitebeard Pirates is one of the most iconic characters in the long-running manga and anime series One Piece. Despite his tragic death during the Paramount War arc, Ace continues to be a fan favorite character thanks to his fiery Devil Fruit powers, bad boy attitude, and signature tattoo – the letters "ASCE" across his upper arm.
But what exactly is the meaning behind Ace‘s cryptic tattoo? Why did he always go shirtless to display that specific ink? And what clues does it give about the overall mysteries of the world of One Piece? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about Ace‘s iconic body art.
The Origins of the ASCE Tattoo
During a flashback in the One Piece anime, we see that Ace originally got a tattoo featuring just his own name. But at some point, he added an "S" to the design, which he then later crossed out.
This "S" stood for Sabo, who was Ace‘s sworn brother along with Luffy when they were young. Sabo was apparently killed at a young age, so Ace got the tattoo with his brother‘s initial to commemorate their bond.
However, later in the Dressrosa arc, it‘s revealed that Sabo actually survived. The crossed out "S" then took on a new meaning – representing Ace‘s regret over believing Sabo had died all those years ago.
So the first two letters in Ace‘s tattoo – the "AS" with a cross through it – represent his childhood bond with Sabo, the grief over losing him, and finally the joy over learning his brother was alive after all.
The Mystery of the CE Letters
But what about the "CE" portion of Ace‘s arm ink? Rather than just spell out his own name, there are a few fan theories about what these final letters could stand for:
-
C for "Crybaby" – Ace and Sabo‘s old nickname for Luffy when they were kids, due to him always crying. The "C" could represent Ace‘s bond with his younger brother.
-
E for "Edward Newgate" – Whitebeard‘s real first name was Edward. The "E" may symbolize Ace‘s adoption by Whitebeard as his 2nd Division Commander into his crew and wider "family."
So while the letters literally just spell out Ace‘s name, they likely have a deeper symbolic meaning as well related to his bonds with his sworn brothers Luffy and Sabo, as well as Whitebeard, his captain and father figure.
Why Ace Always Went Shirtless
Ever wonder why Ace was always walking around bare-chested displaying his tattoo for all to see? It wasn‘t just Oda‘s way of giving the anime more eye candy and fan service!
Ace intentionally showed off his ASCE tattoo whenever possible in order to proudly display his membership in Whitebeard‘s crew. As the 2nd division commander, he wore the tattoo like a badge of honor, using it to signal his allegiance to his captain and his new pirate family.
By constantly showcasing the tattoo, Ace made it clear to all in the One Piece world that he was under the protection of the mighty Whitebeard. So the tattoo represents Ace‘s devotion to the Whitebeard Pirates nearly as much as his actual name.
The Significance of the D Initial
The mystery behind the D initial is one of the biggest questions in the overall lore of One Piece. Ace, along with Monkey D. Luffy, Monkey D. Dragon, and Monkey D. Garp all bear the initial D in their names. But what does this strange letter signify?
Several hypotheses exist about the Will of D and its meaning:
-
Inherited will/genes – Only certain bloodlines bear the D initial and it‘s passed down genetically
-
Natural enemies of the Celestial Dragons – The D clan opposed the Twenty Kingdoms who founded the World Government
-
God‘s archenemy – In some regions they are called the "enemies of God"
-
D stands for "danger" – The Five Elders claimed the D‘s spell trouble
So while the origins of the D remain a mystery, it clearly signifies you are part of a very special and significant bloodline. The fact that both Luffy and Ace inherited the D initial from their lineage hints at a shared destiny between the two brothers.
The Symbolic Significance of Luffy‘s Straw Hat
While we‘re on the topic of iconic One Piece symbols, we can‘t forget Monkey D. Luffy‘s ever-present straw hat! This tattered headgear may seem insignificant, but it carries deep meaning in the manga.
Luffy received the hat from the legendary pirate Red-Hair Shanks when he was just seven years old. After Shanks lost his arm saving Luffy from a sea monster, he entrusted the young boy with his straw hat, telling him to return it once he became a great pirate.
This straw hat represents Luffy‘s promise to Shanks to become the King of the Pirates one day and return the hat to its rightful owner. Though others like Nami have worn it on occasion, the hat ultimately belongs to Luffy and signifies his destiny and ambition.
Just like Ace‘s tattoo carried his dreams and bonds, Luffy‘s hat symbolizes his commitment to fulfilling his promise to Shanks and achieving his goal of becoming King of the Pirates.
How Devil Fruits Cause Water Weakness
As powerful as Devil Fruits are in the One Piece world, they come with one fatal weakness – the sea and water sap away the strength of any Devil Fruit user. But how exactly does water nullify a person‘s powers?
It seems seawater and any large standing body of water is what robs Devil Fruit users of their energy and abilities. Even submerging in a bath tub can make them too weak to use their powers.
However, small splashes or sprays of water don‘t have the same effect – it needs to be full bodily submersion. And other liquids like milk or soup don‘t sap a user‘s powers the way water does.
While the mechanics behind this water weakness aren‘t fully clear, it likely has to do with the "sea devil" that gives the fruit their power being counteracted when submerged. And thanks to this fatal flaw, Devil Fruit users are robbed of their swimming abilities as well!
Speculation on the Final Straw Hat Count
One final mystery surrounding One Piece is just how many crew members will make up the Straw Hat Pirates by the end of the story. While they currently number 10 people, fans speculate that number could grow.
A color spread cover page for One Piece Chapter 861 featured 13 shadowy figures that seemed to represent Luffy‘s full crew. Three figures didn‘t match any current Straw Hats, hinting there could be three more yet to join.
Given how long One Piece has left to run, it‘s very possible Luffy will gather three more nakama on his quest to become King of the Pirates. If the fan theory is correct, by the end we may see a Straw Hat crew with lucky number 13 members in all!
Ace‘s Legacy Lives On
Ace‘s tragic death at Marineford left fans heartbroken, but he remains one of One Piece‘s most popular characters, in no small part due to his iconic tattoo. But the ASCE ink was more than just body art – it symbolized Ace‘s bonds, dreams, and devotion to his found family.
While many details around Ace‘s backstory and heritage remain uncertain, the mystery is part of what makes him such an intriguing character. We can only hope that before One Piece ends, we‘ll finally get definitive answers about Ace‘s past as well as the meaning behind the Will of D.
