Who Is Brook?

Brook, also known by his stage name "Soul King" Brook, is the musician of the Straw Hat Pirates in the anime and manga series One Piece. He plays a variety of instruments, most notably the violin, and fills the crew's long voyages with music. He is a living skeleton who was brought back to life by the power of the Revive-Revive Fruit, or Yomi Yomi no Mi. After being isolated for 50 years in the Florian Triangle, he becomes the eighth member of the crew after the Straw Hats help him retrieve his shadow from the Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria.

Appearance

Brook is a tall skeleton with a distinctive afro, who wears formal attire. As a human, Brook was a tall, tan, and skinny man who was the impromptu captain of the Rumbar Pirates. He wore shades, had a slight goatee, and a distinctive scar on his forehead that remained as a crack in his skull after he became a skeleton. The only other remaining element of his human form is his large, voluminous afro, which he protects fiercely.

Pre-timeskip, Brook dresses like a gentleman in a black coat with yellow-orange inner linings, black trousers, a black top hat, and carries a cane sword with a purple hilt. Following his two-year separation from the Straw Hat Pirates, Brook becomes a world-famous rock star known as "Soul King" and changes his style to match. His clothes become more vibrant and high-end, including heart-shaped sunglasses, a yellow feather boa, a top hat with a giant crown on the brim, and red-orange trousers with a floral design.

Personality

Brook is a combination of a polite, dignified gentleman and a humorous pervert. He is well-known for his signature "Yohohoho" laugh and his frequent bone-related jokes, as well as regularly asking to see women’s panties. Despite his goofy persona, he is brave and has a strong sense of honor, as shown by his desire to fulfill his promise to the island whale, Laboon, who he promised to see after sailing the Grand Line over 50 years ago. He is deeply grateful to the Straw Hats for ending his 50 years of isolation and is fiercely loyal to his crewmates.

Background

Brook was the impromptu captain and musician of the Rumbar Pirates, a pirate crew of fellow musicians. The original captain of the Rumbar Pirates was Calico Yorki, a music-loving pirate who brought Laboon to the Twin Capes. The crew made a promise to their pet whale, Laboon, that they would return for him after sailing the Grand Line. However, Yorki fell ill with a fatal disease in the Grand Line, leaving the crew under Brook's leadership. Yorki and several other crew members who contracted the deadly disease, attempted to exit the Grand Line through the Calm Belt, though it is unknown whether they succeeded, however, most speculate that they did not live.

The Rumbar Pirates died from poison after an unspecified enemy crew attacked them in the Florian Triangle. After his death, he was brought back to life by the power of his Devil Fruit, the Revive-Revive Fruit, or Yomi Yomi no Mi. Unfortunately, Brook's soul wandered for so long that his body had completely decayed into a skeleton by the time he found it. The only thing that remained intact was his afro, which he attributes to having "strong roots". Brook remained isolated on his ghost ship for 50 years, until he met the Straw Hat Pirates. He was invited to join the crew by Luffy the moment he saw him, but Brook didn’t officially join until after they helped him retrieve his shadow, which had been stolen by the Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria.

Powers and Abilities

Brook is a swordsman, musician, and the user of the Yomi Yomi no Mi (Revive-Revive Fruit), a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows his soul to return to his body after dying once.

Devil Fruit

Brook ate the Yomi Yomi no Mi (Revive-Revive Fruit), a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. Its initial power granted him a second chance at life after his first death, allowing his soul to return and reanimate his body, which had decayed into a skeleton. After the time skip, Brook's mastery of his Devil Fruit evolved significantly, unlocking new soul-based abilities.

• Resurrection: The Yomi Yomi no Mi's primary function is to bring its user back to life one time. After his first death, Brook's soul wandered for a year in the misty Florian Triangle before finding and re-inhabiting his skeletal remains.

• Pseudo-Immortality: Due to Brook’s skeletal state he can be damaged and feels pain, but his skeletal body can survive injuries that would be fatal to a normal person.

• Astral Projection: Brook can detach his soul from his skeleton and move independently as a ghost. In this form, he can pass through walls and scout areas his body cannot physically enter.

• Soul Energy Manipulation: After training, Brook mastered his soul's energy, which is what animates his skeletal body. He can:

• Skeletal Body Repair: Reattach severed body parts, including his own head, by pulling them together with soul tendrils.

• Sword Imbuement: Channel the "chills of the Underworld" into his sword, Soul Solid, to create freezing attacks.

• Target Other Souls: Affect and overpower weaker souls, which was particularly useful against Big Mom's Homies during the Whole Cake Island arc.

• Musical Hypnotism: Brook can infuse his music with his soul energy to influence the emotions of others. He can play a soothing melody to put enemies to sleep or create an illusion that makes opponents think they are at a festival and drop their guard.

Combat Abilities

Brook is a master swordsman whose combat abilities revolve around his unique skeletal physiology and the power of the Yomi Yomi no Mi Devil Fruit. By channeling his soul's energy, he can perform incredibly swift, ice-based attacks that can affect both physical bodies and the souls of his opponents.

• Master Swordsman: Brook is an adept fencer who uses a shikomizue (a cane sword) named Soul Solid. His fighting style emphasizes quick thrusts and precise slashes.

• "Chills of the Underworld": By channeling his soul's cold energy through his sword, Soul Solid, he can generate freezing attacks. These freezing techniques can cover the ground in ice or freeze an opponent's blood upon being cut.

• Enhanced Speed: Due to his light, skeletal frame, Brook has immense speed. His swift attacks are often unnoticed until after they have landed and he has sheathed his sword.

• Physical Prowess: Despite having no muscle tissue, he possesses a superhuman level of strength and stamina. He can also jump to great heights and run on water.

• Immunity to Elements: His skeletal form makes him resistant to lightning and extreme cold.

Musician Skills

Brook is a master musician with a range of musical skills that he uses for entertainment, emotional connection, and powerful combat.

• Plays All Instruments: As the Straw Hat Pirates' musician, Brook is capable of playing any musical instrument with a high degree of skill. He is most often seen with a violin or a guitar.

• Talented Vocalist: A skilled singer, Brook's most iconic song that he sings is "Binks' Sake," a nostalgic pirate anthem that evokes powerful memories for him and his former crew, the Rumbar Pirates.

• World-Famous Rock Star: During the two-year time skip, Brook became a globally renowned rock star known as "Soul King." His albums sold millions of copies, and his concerts were known to move his fans to tears and fainting spells.

• Uplifts Spirits: Brook's music can deeply affect the emotions of those who hear it. It helped him cope with his long isolation and has been shown to encourage and inspire others. When he played his song on Namakura Island, for instance, it inspired a cult to fight back against their invaders.

• Hypnosis: He can use his music for direct hypnosis. With his "Party Music" technique, he can make enemies believe they are in a festival, causing them to drop their guard and become vulnerable to suggestion.

• Emotional Manipulation: Combining his music and soul abilities, Brook can influence and stir the emotions of his listeners. His music has the power to change attitudes and rally people. 

• Lullaby Parry: By strumming his violin with his sword, Brook creates a soothing tune that can instantly put his enemies to sleep.

Goals and Reputation

Brook's ultimate goal in One Piece is to reunite with his former friend, the whale Laboon, at Reverse Mountain, fulfilling a promise he made with his deceased crew, the Rumbar Pirates, to circle the Grand Line and return to them. He also aims to deliver a Tone Dial containing the Rumbar Pirates' last song to Laboon, as well as carry on their wish to reach the end of the Grand Line and return once more.

Brook is widely known as the official musician of the Straw Hat Pirates, a role Luffy has wanted for his crew since the beginning of his journey. Brook also has an world-wide reputation as the famous rockstar "Soul King" and carries a current bounty of 383,000,000 Berries. Brook's bounty increased significantly after the Straw Hat crew's involvement in the Raid on Onigashima during the Wano arc. He was also officially recognized as one of Monkey D. Luffy's Senior Officers at this time.