User blog comment:Videogamep/Why is Sabo Such a Big Deal?/@comment-9022101-20131213004702

I think the reasoning behind his hype is a few things, some of which DP said in his comment below. First of all, he was a fan favorite. We saw very little of him, but he still is mentioned along with the main heroes and villians when people talk about major characters. Second, his "death" seemed more of an example of World Noble brutality, something we had already seen a lot (*cough* Sabaody *cough*), but there was contreversy with killing a child in a manga that has gained fans of all ages. Other deaths in the series (Bellmere, Hililuck, Ace) have had much more purpose. Sabo's, however, was just another example of cruelty. This kind of relates to Pell. We didn't know too much about him, then all of a sudden he makes this big sacrifice and seems to function only as a plot device with wings. He was also (but not as much of) a fan favorite. We have all seen that Oda doesn't off-screen kill. If someone dies, we will be sure to see it (Ace, Whitebeard, Bellmere, Hililuck, Tiger). I don't think I'm the only one who belives this, and that's why there is disupte over Kuina & Tashigi and contemplation about Yorki and some of the Ohara people. There is my two cents.