Boa Hancock

Boa Hancock (ボア･ハンコック, Boa Hankokku), also known as Pirate Empress (海賊女帝, Kaizoku Jotei), is a fictional character in the One Piece franchise created by Eiichiro Oda.

In this article, the surname is Boa.
Boa Hancock
One Piece character
First appearanceOne Piece chapter 516: "Pirate Empress Boa Hancock"(September 29, 2008)
Created byEiichiro Oda
Voiced byKotono Mitsuishi (older)
Kanae Itō (younger)
Lydia Mackay (Funimation)
In-universe information
Full nameBoa Hancock
AliasesSnake Princess (蛇姫, Hebihime)
Pirate Empress (海賊女帝, Kaizoku Jotei)
NicknameHammock (by Luffy)
AffiliationsKuja
Seven Warlords of the Sea (formerly)
Age29 (debut)
31 (after the timeskip)
Devil FruitLove-Love Fruit (メロメロの実, Mero Mero no Mi)[1]
Bounties1,659,000,000 (current)
80,000,000 (first known bounty)

She is the captain of the Kuja Pirates and was the only female member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea prior to the organization's disbandment. She often wears Chinese-style clothing and is often believed to represent Chinese female although having blue eyes. She is the current empress, known as the Snake Princess (蛇姫, Hebihime), of Amazon Lily, a Chinese-style kingdom, and rules over the Kuja tribe with her two younger Gorgon sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold.

Concept and creation

The character of Boa Hancock was created by manga artist Eiichiro Oda, the author of the manga series One Piece, and she made her first appearance in its 516th chapter, titled "Pirate Empress Boa Hancock", which was first published in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on September 29, 2008.[2] Some fans consider that she represents Chinese female emperor Wu Zetian, the first female emperor in Chinese history who came to rule the entire country nicely despite the rule that emperors can only inherited by male successors..

Appearances

In One Piece

Boa Hancock is a member of the all-female Kuja Tribe from the island of Amazon Lily.[ch. 515f.] Sold to the Celestial Dragons during childhood, she and her sisters are force-fed devil fruits and branded as slaves.[ch. 521] Eventually freed by Fisher Tiger, the three return to their people. Hancock becomes ruler and is referred to by her subjects as "Snake Princess".[ch. 516, 521] Leading the Kuja Pirates, she quickly gains infamy as the "Pirate Empress" and is offered membership in the Seven Warlords of the Sea.[ch. 516, 522] Despite resenting the World Government for her past enslavement, which she keeps a secret even from her kinswomen, Hancock accepts the position to protect her people. But when called upon to participate in the Government's war against the Whitebeard Pirates, she initially refuses and only reconsiders after falling in love with Luffy, who enlists her help to infiltrate Impel Down.[ch. 516f., 520–522] She is also often accompanied by her pet snake Salome (サロメ, Sarome), who also supports her in battles. After the most recent Levely, the Seven Warlords were disbanded, making her an enemy of the World Government again. A few weeks after her home was invaded by the Marines and the Blackbeard Pirates, she has decided to leave her home to protect her people and reunite with Luffy.

In other media

In the anime television series adaptation of One Piece, Hancock's voice actress is Kotono Mitsuishi.[3] In the Funimation English adaptation, her voice is supplied by Lydia Mackay.[4] Hancock is a major playable character in the Weekly Shōnen Jump's crossover fighting games J-Stars Victory VS and Jump Force.[5][6]

Powers and abilities

Devil Fruit

Hancock ate the Mero Mero no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows her petrify people into stone statues, so long as they feel attraction for her. She can completely turn people to stone by hitting them with any of a variety of heart-shaped long-range attacks, as well as partially transform them by striking them physically, only petrifying the area she struck. Thanks to Hancocks unparalleled beauty and charm, very few people (male and female alike) can resist her powers, allowing her to petrify whole crews with no difficulties. Even extremely powerful people are vulnerable to her power if they find Hancock attractive. She can also return her victims to normal if she chooses by blowing a kiss. Only she can undo the effects of her power, if she dies, the next user of the Mero Mero no Mi would not be able to free her victims. A would-be victim is immune to Hancock's power if they block out their "dirty thoughts", such as by feeling strong fear or pain, or if they are not attracted to her, such as a blind man not knowing how beautiful she is.

Haki

She is proficient in both Armament Haki,[7] and Observation Haki, as well as one of the few known characters who possess Conqueror's Haki.[8]

Reception

Popularity
Cosplay of Boa Hancock at the Anime Expo 2012.

Hancock's popularity has made her a frequent subject of cosplay, causing a trend among female fans of the series in which they attempt to replicate her iconic look.[9]

Critical response

Sean Cubillas of Comic Book Resources stated that Hancock is one of the strongest pirates in One Piece.[10]

References
  1. One Piece manga; chapter -516, page 17.
  2. Oda, Eiichiro (2009). "Chapter 516". One Piece. Vol. 53. Shueisha. ISBN 978-4-08-874640-1.
  3. Loveridge, Lynzee (June 10, 2015). "One Piece Creator's VIP Party Has Star-Studded Guest List". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  4. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 4, 2015). "Funimation Reveals Dub Cast for One Piece Season 7". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  5. Loo, Egan (December 11, 2013). "Jojo's, Nube Characters Join J-Stars Victory Vs. Game". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  6. Lima, Diego (January 29, 2019). "Jump Force: Yugi usa Slifer O Dragão dos Céus em vídeo de combate inédito". IGN Brazil (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  7. One Piece manga; chapter -599, page 15.
  8. One Piece manga; chapter -519, page 19.
  9. Davis, David (February 12, 2020). "One Piece: 10 Amazing Boa Hancock Cosplay That Look Just Like The Anime". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  10. Cubillas, Sean (March 24, 2020). "One Piece: 5 Characters Boa Hancock Can Defeat (& 5 She Can't)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
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