With Crocodile set to make his debut in organization called Baroque Works.

Since being kicked through his own HQ by Luffy, Arlong has never resurfaced in the One Piece manga. Crocodile, on the other hand, has enjoyed a recurring presence, allowing Oda to progressively flesh the character out. Even so, One Piece's source material has danced around two critical elements of Crocodile's backstory, but despite staying remarkably faithful to Oda's vision until now, Netflix's One Piece season 2 could finally dive into the hidden mysteries of Crocodile's past.

One Piece Season 2 May Reveal How Crocodile Lost His Hand

A Mystery One Piece Has Left Unanswered For 25 Years

Crocodile makes his first One Piece appearance bearing a golden hook where his left hand used to be. As well as being the most striking part of his design, Crocodile also utilizes the hook as a weapon during fights. Strangely - especially given Oda's fondness for long, emotional flashbacks - One Piece has never addressed how Crocodile lost his hand.

While plenty of pirates carry injuries in One Piece's world - the perils of the job are numerous, after all - Crocodile's unique golden hook is evidently hiding a deeper story, and as the sinister sand-wielder becomes more prominent in the narrative, this missing chapter of his past becomes more glaring.

"Even a throwaway line would prove an exciting way to embellish Crocodile's live-action presence."

Perhaps Crocodile lost his left hand fighting other famous One Piece characters such as Red-Haired Shanks or Whitebeard. Maybe the same incident that deprived Crocodile of his left hand facilitated his ascension into the Seven Warlords. This is where One Piece season 2 can step in. Since the Arabasta arc is being saved for One Piece season 3, Netflix's series will have room to explore characters more fully over the next two seasons, in addition to the benefit of knowing where Crocodile's arc will take him later in the story.

Indeed, Joe Manganiello has already dropped a small hint that One Piece's live-action adaptation could potentially resolve the question over Crocodile's hand. The actor explained,

"It made me think about, 'How did I lose this?' Because there are things that have never been explained about the character in either the manga or the anime, and I had the opportunity to talk to Oda about my thoughts on where his scar came from, how the lost limb happened, and the hook was replaced."

While it seems like Manganiello has been seeking answers to Crocodile's darkest secrets merely in the name of improving his portrayal, he and Oda discussing how the character lost his hand gives a slither of hope that One Piece could weave that vital snippet of information into season 2. Even a throwaway line would prove an exciting way to embellish Crocodile's live-action presence with juicy details even manga readers were unaware of.

One Piece Season 2 Can Also Reveal If Crocodile Was Female At Birth

Will One Piece Season 2 Confirm A Popular Fan Theory?

There is a long-held One Piece fan theory that Crocodile was female at birth. Such speculation derives almost entirely from a comment made by Ivankov, a character whose Devil Fruit allows them to control and change hormones. While working together to help Luffy (reluctantly, in Crocodile's case), Ivankov revealed they knew a secret about Crocodile that would be revealed if the ex-Baroque Works chief betrayed them.

Netflix's live-action adaptation would be the perfect way to provide some sort of answer.

Given the nature of Ivankov's powers, the notion that Crocodile transitioned from female to male became a popular one among One Piece fans, and since the manga has still not clarified which information Ivankov was referring to, the theory remains alive. Intriguingly, Netflix's first season of One Piece became part of that conversation in 2023.

Crocodile has been confirmed as one of several One Piece characters who were present when Gold Roger died, and during a live-action flashback to the Pirate King's execution, the camera lingered on a specific woman in the crowd. Like Crocodile, the woman had dark, slicked-back hair, and an earring in her right ear. She was also undeniably prominent in the episode, and there are no One Piece characters who obviously match her appearance.

If live-action One Piece is teasing the possibility of Crocodile being female at birth, the character's full debut in season 2 may continue stoking the fire. Perhaps another vague comment is made, similar to the Ivankov line that sparked the idea in the first place. Even something as simple as Crocodile gently implying that they once looked different would be enough to tacitly the original theory, adding intrigue and depth behind One Piece's new villain.

The story behind Crocodile's golden hook and Ivankov's secret may be tidbits the One Piece manga intends to leave unknown forever. Netflix's live-action adaptation would be the perfect way to provide some sort of answer for fans, while simultaneously giving Crocodile a slightly different flavor compared to the original character. Revealing new details also affords Joe Manganiello's Crocodile a more unpredictable edge - even for viewers who have spent years in the character's company via One Piece's manga and anime.

Netflix's One Piece Should Expand On The Manga (But Not Outright Change It)

One Piece Can Maintain Its Successful Live-Action Formula

Authenticity to the manga has been one of One Piece's greatest strengths, and that philosophy should continue in season 2. At the same time, Netflix's adaptation clearly recognizes that a shot-for-shot remake is not feasible, and small, tasteful adjustments were made throughout season 1. These adjustments work best when they expand upon and embellish material that already exists in canon, and shining a light upon details about Crocodile's past is a great example of that approach.

Rather than rewriting One Piece lore, discussing the loss of Crocodile's left hand or his brush with Ivankov will simply fill gaps left behind by Oda himself. Crucially, Joe Manganiello's comments also suggest that any embellishments made to Crocodile's backstory in live-action are coming from the franchise's creator himself, meaning Netflix's One Piece will still be honoring Oda's original vision, even when including brand-new plot points.

If One Piece season 2 follows the manga, Crocodile won't become a major player until season 3.

In One Piece season 1, this involved additions like Zoro fighting an agent of Baroque Works, a wanted poster for future Straw Hat Fleet member Cavendish, and Kaya kissing Usopp. None of these developments happened in the manga, but the first two made logical sense within One Piece's chronology, and Usopp's kiss with Kaya merely represented a natural evolution of the original story. Unraveling Crocodile's mysteries could do the same in One Piece season 2.