Within the popular manga and anime One Piece, the characters Monkey D. Luffy and Franky hold quite an interesting relationship for many followers.
How They Met and Their First Conflict
Frankie was introduced as anything but friendly to Luffy. Chapter 336 of the manga found Franky confronting Luffy, full of raging emotion: his house destroyed, and many of his men beaten. After this, many things happened that complicated things between them.
Frankie's transition from an enemy to a main character and member of the Straw Hat Pirates was gradual. It finally happened in manga chapter 439, titled "Third and Seventh". This was greatly influenced by the events that occurred during the Enies Lobby arc when Franky helped the Straw Hats in their main mission to rescue Nico Robin from CP9.
Shared Personality Traits
Initially at loggerheads with each other, neither Franky nor Luffy can be accused of being a match to one another. Both personalities are characterized by their wild, rowdy, and sometimes eccentric behavior. But the one notable difference can be seen in the attitude of Luffy, who is more likely to get into unnecessary fights. This dynamic has rendered the relationship within the crew equally fascinating owing to such similarities and differences.
The 6.5-Year Silence
If ever one of the more interesting things about Luffy and Franky's relationship is the fact that they apparently spent 6.5 years without talking to one another. This is surprising if one considers the fact that by then, supposedly, they were already on the same crew, travelling on the same ship, and having adventures. This resulted in many fans' believing that the silence is just testament to One Piece's changed narrative focus; that One Piece went from an adventure with the Straw Hat crew to an adventure of Luffy, especially after the Impel arc.
Franky in the Straw Hat Pirates
Franky belongs to a rather important position in the crew by being the shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates. He is also one of the crew's Senior Officers and a valuable member of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Apart from his normal abilities as a cyborg and his overall talent in shipbuilding, he is a valuable asset to Luffy and the rest of the crew.
While his relationship with Luffy has been somewhat complicated, Franky's relations with the remaining members of this motley crew have been equally memorable. Franky and Brook often get called the "resident weirdos" due to their strange looks and quirky personalities, which adds to the group dynamics of the Straw Hat Pirates.