Absalom
Absalom of the Graveyard was one of the Mysterious Four and a high-ranking member of the Moria crew. As the leader of the Soldier Zombies and General Zombies on Thriller Bark, he possessed the powers of the Suke Suke no Mi (Clear-Clear Fruit), allowing him to turn himself and anything he touched invisible. This ability made him a terrifying hunter and a master of surprise attacks. Absalom’s body was heavily modified by Dr. Hogback, stitched together with the skin and muscles of lions and other wild beasts to grant him superhuman strength and durability. Despite his formidable power, he was ultimately defeated by Sanji during the Thriller Bark Arc, though his legacy continued as a key figure in the underworld before his eventual demise at the hands of the Blackbeard Pirates.
Perona
Perona, known as the Ghost Princess, was the commander of the Wild Zombies and Surprise Zombies. She is one of the most beloved members of the Moria crew due to her unique gothic aesthetic and devastating Devil Fruit ability. Perona ate the Horo Horo no Mi (Hollow-Hollow Fruit), which allows her to create and control ghosts. Her Negative Hollows can drain the will to live from anyone they pass through, making even the strongest warriors fall to their knees in despair. During the Thriller Bark incident, she proved to be a major obstacle for the Straw Hats, nearly defeating the entire crew until she encountered Usopp, whose natural negativity made him immune to her powers. Perona eventually formed an unlikely bond with Roronoa Zoro and Dracule Mihawk during the time skip.
Dr. Hogback
Dr. Hogback is the brilliant but twisted surgeon responsible for the physical creation of the Thriller Bark zombies. A world-renowned medical genius, Hogback became obsessed with the idea of bringing the dead back to life, which led him to join forces with Gecko Moria. While he lacks the combat prowess of Absalom or Perona, his role in the Moria crew was indispensable. He used his surgical expertise to reconstruct corpses, enhancing them with animal parts and durable materials to create the perfect vessels for stolen shadows. His arrogance and lack of respect for human life were on full display during his confrontation with Tony Tony Chopper, who was horrified by Hogback’s desecration of medical ethics.
Key Zombies
The strength of the Thriller Bark zombies came from the combination of Hogback’s surgical skills and Moria’s Kage Kage no Mi. Several notable zombies stood out during the arc:
- Ryuma: A legendary samurai from Wano Country whose corpse was reanimated with Brook’s shadow. He was a master swordsman who wielded the Black Blade, Shusui.
- Lola: The captain of the Rolling Pirates whose shadow was placed into a warthog zombie. Unlike most zombies, she retained a strong, obsessive desire to marry.
- Jigoro: A powerful zombie swordsman who possessed Zoro’s shadow, displaying the same stubbornness and Three-Sword Style techniques.
- Inuppe: A penguin-dog hybrid zombie that held Sanji’s shadow, inheriting his chivalry and signature kicking style.
Oars
Oars, the Special Zombie #900, was the crowning achievement of the Moria crew. Known as the Continent-Puller, Oars was an ancient giant significantly larger than standard giants. Gecko Moria placed Luffy’s shadow into Oars, creating a behemoth with the strength of a giant and the rubbery agility and fighting spirit of Monkey D. Luffy. Oars was a unique threat because Moria could enter a cockpit in the giant's stomach to manipulate its body directly, allowing Oars to stretch like rubber despite not having eaten a Devil Fruit. It took the combined effort of the entire Straw Hat crew to finally bring down this massive undead threat.
How Shadows Work
The mechanics of the Thriller Bark zombies are governed by the Kage Kage no Mi. Gecko Moria can physically cut a person's shadow away from their body. Once removed, the original person (the "vessel") will vaporize if exposed to direct sunlight. The stolen shadow is then placed into a prepared corpse. The resulting zombie inherits the combat skills, personality traits, and muscle memory of the shadow's original owner. However, over time, the shadow's will is suppressed by Moria's power, making the zombie a loyal servant. The only way to purify a zombie is to force it to swallow salt, which neutralizes the Devil Fruit power and returns the shadow to its rightful owner.
FAQ
What happened to the Moria crew after Thriller Bark?
After their defeat, the crew disbanded. Absalom became an undercover reporter, Perona stayed with Mihawk, and Moria was nearly assassinated at Marineford before escaping to the New World.
Who was the strongest zombie in Moria's army?
Oars was the strongest due to his massive size and Luffy’s shadow, though Ryuma was the most skilled in terms of pure technique.
Can the zombies use Devil Fruit powers?
Generally, no. Zombies only inherit the physical skills and Haki of the shadow's owner. Oars was only able to "mimic" rubber powers through Moria’s direct manipulation.
