Marco the Phoenix is a powerful character in the One Piece manga and anime series, scripted and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. First featured in chapter 434 of the manga and episode 316 of the anime, Marco becomes a supporting protagonist and 1st division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the most powerful pirate crews in the One Piece world. He also participated in the major events of the series, including the Marineford War and the Wano Land arc, which underlines his importance in the series.
Appearance
Marco is a tall, slim man with a pineapple-shaped blond hairstyle, which seems to be his trademark. He has been depicted wearing an open purple jacket, light blue pants held up by a dark blue belt, and a light blue sash around his waist. Maybe the most distinctive feature about him, however, would be the tattoo of the Whitebeard Pirates' Jolly Roger on his chest, proof of his final devotion to the crew. In Phoenix Form, Marco's appearance is drastically different as he is covered with blue and yellow flames all over his body to resemble a mythical bird.
Personal Information
First name: Marco
Nickname: "Marco the Phoenix
Age: 45 (pre-timeskip) 47 (post-timeskip)
Birthday: October 5th
Height: 203 cm (6'8")
Bounty: Unknown
Devil Fruit: Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix (Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix)
Position: 1st Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates (former) Doctor
Personality
Marco is known for his calm and collected personality; he doesn't get easily flustered even in cases of great danger. He shows this during the Marineford War when he is the only one who remains calm and unperturbed amidst all the chaotic battling around him. He has a very keen sense of loyalty, such that despite many other people having forsaken Whitebeard during his death, he stuck by his side, and later was willing to help the Straw Hat Pirates. There is a commanding aura about Marco, in which he demands respect from his enemies and friends alike. Experience in battles and strategic thinking may turn into a great advantage during combat.
Combat Styles
The center of Marco's fighting style is his Devil Fruit Power, the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix. This mythic Zoan-type Devil Fruit is what will transform Marco into a Phoenix—a legendary bird known for its regenerative powers.
Marco's transformation is an important tactical advantage. Activating his phoenix form allows him to be covered by blue flames of resurrection, giving him near invincibility and a few far-reaching regenerative powers. The flame is not ordinary; it's mystic in nature, which means that instead of burning, these flames heal; thus Marco can recover from injuries that others would have succumbed to. This will also make him a brilliant fighter, especially against very powerful opponents, as shown in his fights at Marineford.
Apart from his full phoenix form, Marco can change into a half-man, half-phoenix form. In the form, he retains all of the human abilities while proliferating on the physical enhancement of the Phoenix, including strength, speed, and the added advantage of flight. Marco uses aerial combat techniques to great effect in this half-state, often comboing with powerful kicks and knee strikes suing his phoenix talons.
Other than his Devil Fruit powers, Marco has shown the mysterious power called Haki, which allows him to possess different abilities. Marco is able to use both Observation Haki and Armament Haki. The former will allow him to sense the flow of an opponent to dodge their attack and track enemies, while the latter enables him to increase his defense and offense by hardening his body or any other object his body comes in contact with. However, for the time being, he has not been seen using these more complex forms of Haki, like seeing the future.
Marco's fighting styles and abilities were massively taken up in highly decisive arcs within the series. One very good example would be the Marineford War, wherein he became so brutally injured yet still maintained combat effectiveness against higher-tier foes like Admirals Kizaru and Akainu. He also showed his tactical mind in leadership when he was leading the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates after the death of their captain, and then later allying himself with the Straw Hat Pirates during the Wano Land Arc.
History
Early days with the Whitebeard Pirates
Marco, more popularly known as "Marco the Phoenix," was originally an apprentice on the legendary pirate Edward Newgate's vessel, better known as Whitebeard. The Whitebeard pirates were awesome in power but big on brotherhood; they referred to one another as family. Marco, who started as a young apprentice, became commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' 1st Division after time had passed, showing he is incredibly capable and a good leader.
The Power of the Phoenix
Marco's real power lies within his Devil Fruit ability known as Tori Tori no Mi model: Phoenix—a Mythic Zoan type that allows him to transform into a phoenix. As such, he gains the power of regeneration, making him close to unbeatable in battle. His flames are colored blue and, unlike normal flames, have made it possible for him to recover from those injuries that would mean death for others.
The Battle of Marineford
One of the most significant events in Marco's history was his participation in the Battle of Marineford, a gigantic fight in which the Whitebeard Pirates, along with their allies, clashed against the Marines to rescue Portgas D. Ace. As a commander of the 1st Division, Marco thus played a very paramount role in that battle, showing his immense strength and resilience. This healing ability was most vital in intense combat against powerful enemies, like Admiral Kizaru and Akainu.
Though it came at the cost of victory—the death of Ace and Whitebeard, both of whom left a huge blow to Marco and, even more so, the Whitebeard Pirates—it was truly a Pyrrhic victory. What remained after Marineford was a crew with no leader and disbandment, with Marco taking over to become a caretaker for the legacy of his fallen captain.
War of Revenge
After the events of Marineford, Marco led the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates to avenge themselves on Blackbeard and his crew in a war known as the Revenge War. The purpose of this war was to avenge Whitebeard's death and repossess territories which Blackbeard had taken. Again, it ended up in failure for the Whitebeard Pirates, another huge loss for Marco and his remaining comrades. This defeat scattered the crew even more and threw Marco into a period of soul-searching and recuperation.
Whitebeard's Legacy Guardian
For a few years following the War of Revenge, Marco protected the home of Whitebeard on Sphinx Island and cared for the community there. In this way, he did more than just protect the community from harm; he ensured that the will of his deceased captain was handed down to the generations to come. This period of relative peace had allowed Marco to reflect on his past and the future of the pirate world, keeping himself strong for when needed.
Alliance with the Straw Hat Pirates
Marco's path crossed with the Straw Hat Pirates in the Wano Land arc. After receiving Nekomamushi's call for aid, Marco joined the Straw Hat Pirate Alliance to fight against Kaido's and Orochi's tyranny. In both battle and healing support, his contribution proved invaluable to the Alliance in the succeeding battles.
Marco's appearance in the Wano Arc proved he was still dedicated to justice and that he didn't back up on former comrades. Fights against such strong enemies as the King and Queen of the Beast Pirates showed that he preserved his physical strength and intellect.
Major Battles
One of his most prominent fights was during the Marineford War, where Marco battled the Marines in order to save Portgas D. Ace. Marco was able to fight Admiral Kizaru and did not sustain any damage from the light-based attacks due to his regenerative abilities. Marco's Blue Flames of Resurrection had the effect of rendering Kizaru's usually devastating attacks all but useless, showing the real healing ability of the fruit. He had the ability to recover fast from injuries, allowing him to be of vital importance on the battlefield by buying crucial time for his allies.
During the Wano Country arc, Marco engaged in a fight with the two highest-ranking subordinates of Kaido: King the Wildfire and Queen the Plague. It was in this fight that Marco's Flames of the Phoenix showed their strength by holding off King and Queen simultaneously, proving increased endurance and fighting ability. This battle played an important role in the Straw Hat Pirates' quest to overthrow tyrant Kaido's regime. Half-human and half-phoenix, Marco combined these forms together into a being with powerful aerial attacks and robust physical strikes that could stand up to the All-Stars.
Another noted fight was Marco against Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors. Here, it was indicated that Marco's flames of the phoenix might be able to overpower Prometheus, Big Mom's Sun Homie—something very noteworthy, since Prometheus is originally an extremist in firepower. Big Mom, having finally grabbed Marco by the neck, paused for a while, thus showing the potency and all-round nature of his Devil Fruit powers.
One of these confrontations pits him against the ruthless Admiral Akainu during the War of Marineford. Akainu's magma-based attacks are immensely destructive to the point that Marco could draw with him because of his regenerative flames, which helped in the endurance of heavy damage. While Marco failed to defeat Akainu per se, it still reflects that being as one of the top class fighters throughout this series.