Helmeppo

Lieutenant Commander Helmeppo is a Marine officer and the son of ex-Marine Captain "Axe-Hand" Morgan. Once a civilian who shamelessly exploited his father's status, he (together with Koby) underwent extensive training under Vice-Admiral Garp to become a full-fledged serviceman, currently holding the rank of lieutenant commander.

Due to his actions during his initial appearance, he can be considered a supporting antagonist of the Romance Dawn Arc. He and Koby are also the protagonists of Diary of Koby-Meppo Cover Page Serial.

Appearance
Helmeppo is a lanky, average-sized young man with a distinctive cleft chin and light blonde hair.

Originally, he wore his hair in a bizarre mushroom-shaped style, coupled with flashy leisure suits (and what appeared to be a rubber-band ring on his left hand). After his father was ousted from power, he was "demoted" to a standard Marine chore-boy uniform.

Under the training of Vice-Admiral Garp, he became notably taller and more muscular. By the time he progressed to Chief Petty Officer, he started to wear his hair in a broad ponytail, coupled with a white shirt, pale green vest over it, purple slacks, black gloves, and a rather odd-looking black visor over his eyes.

At his current rank of Lieutenant Commander, he has donned a brimmed white hat and junior Marine officer's overcoat. Unlike most other Marines of similar rank, he wears this coat conventionally (i.e. with arms in the sleeves).

Personality
Ha ha ha! You're not bowing your heads low enough, scum! I'll tell my father on all of you!

During his father's rule over the 153rd Branch and Shells Town, Helmeppo was spoiled and obnoxious, constantly exploiting anyone he could with threats of arrest and execution. Whenever his status failed to protect him, he would inevitably collapse into total cowardice. Even at his worst, however, he was notably sentimental, showing small mercies unknown to Morgan.

He lost his luxurious life that he had under his father's rank after his father was kicked out. He was forced to become a chore boy alongside Koby, whose friendly approaches were turned down. Part of Helmeppo was still loyal to his father which was evident when he was seen crying before his father's execution. However, he later realizes that his father is as brutal and murderous as the pirates, causing Helmeppo to oppose and disown him. This finally cut his last tie to his father and pushed him to change, becoming braver and less of a spoiled brat. Eventually, he and Koby become good friends.

Helmeppo matures by the events of Water 7, even referring to his younger self as "that bratty, selfish son who lived off his father's status". Now a lieutenant commander alongside Koby, he continues his training in the Marines. He was deeply (and comically) upset when Zoro and Luffy did not recognize him..

Helmeppo seems to be more levelheaded than Koby when it comes down to analyzing situations, as Koby is more aggressive. After the time skip, he has developed a penchant for being overly formal, even with Koby.

Morgan
Helmeppo previously thought that he had a very good relationship with his father Morgan. Before meeting Monkey D. Luffy and Koby, Helmeppo took advantage of his father's position as a tyrannical Marine Captain to act as he pleased, believing his father would back him up should anything threaten or displease him. To his shock, however, when Helmeppo tried to call for his father to get back at Luffy for punching him, Morgan instead smashed his son with the back of his ax-hand for trying to order him around, revealing that he had no fatherly affection for him and even considered Helmeppo a worthless son not worth hitting. Despite this, Helmeppo remained delusional of his relationship with his father and tried to assist him in defeating Luffy by taking Koby hostage. After Morgan was stripped of his rank and incarcerated, he escaped and took his son hostage, at which point Helmeppo finally disowned his father and changed his personality.

Monkey D Garp
Garp is the mentor of Helmeppo and Koby. He keeps them out of trouble and ensures that they are not slacking off. If they do get out of hand, he knocks them around to ensure they know their place.

Koby
Helmeppo first "met" Koby by holding him at gunpoint, in a desperate (and unsuccessful) ploy to stall Luffy. Despite this, Koby remained good-natured toward Helmeppo after Morgan's defeat sent Helmeppo into the same chore-boy station as Koby himself.

He was forced to become a chore boy alongside Koby, and despite Koby's good-natured attempts to befriend him, he refused any of it. After being kidnapped by his own father and held hostage, Helmeppo disowned his father and started changing, becoming braver and less of a spoiled brat. Eventually, Koby and Helmeppo become good friends. Now they are working together. In addition, Helmeppo seems to care for Koby, and he rushed to help him after being defeated by Luffy.

Straw Hat Pirates
Initially, Helmeppo feared both Roronoa Zoro and Monkey D. Luffy for defying his status, crossing into outright resentment after they toppled Morgan - and by extension himself - from power. Over time, however, he came to recognize them as vital to his maturation, and tried to reconcile with them during their brief reunion at Water 7 (though the Straw Hats, to his annoyance, largely dismissed him while marveling at Koby's development).

What opinions - if any - Helmeppo holds on the crew's subsequent members are unknown.

Soro
Helmeppo was fond of his pet wolf Soro, allowing it to freely roam Shells Town - and swiftly having Zoro arrested for killing the creature. However, he does not appear to have grieved much over the death itself, never directly mentioning it in any of his (witnessed) interactions with Zoro.

Rika
Rika - like most of Shells Town - abhorred Helmeppo during Morgan's reign, even cheering Luffy for punching him. In turn, Helmeppo had no compunctions about verbally or physically bullying her, though he was notably disturbed by the idea of killing her.

After Morgan's downfall, Rika apparently warmed to the newly-disgraced Helmeppo, due in part to Koby's budding friendship with him. When the two chore-boys were permanently transferred to Marine Headquarters, Rika was upset to the point of tears.

Physical Abilities
In the beginning, Helmeppo was a typical weakling who relied on his father's status to get whatever he wanted. But after a harsh training regimen under Garp, Helmeppo gained great physical prowess. He was able to jump very high while intercepting Zoro.

After the two year timeskip, he became powerful enough to become a lieutenant commander, and overpower an entire pirate crew by himself with great ease.

Swordsmanship
Helmeppo is considerably skilled in swordsmanship. He was able to force Zoro on the defensive for a few seconds before ultimately losing. After the timeskip, his swordsmanship has greatly increased, able to cause considerable damage to a pirate submarine while underwater.

Weapons
As a civilian, Helmeppo showed some interest in collecting weapons (including Zoro's Meito), but no desire or ability to use any of them apart from a single pistol.

As a full-fledged Marine, Helmeppo's weapons of choice are a pair of kukri, which he keeps at the back of his waist on his belt. He was seen using them against Zoro when they met again in Water 7. However, he was still no match for Zoro.

After the time-skip, Helmeppo wields a larger pair of kukri.

Haki
Helmeppo has implied that he is able to use Kenbunshoku Haki. He commented on how impressive Koby's Haki was compared to his own, in that Koby was able to sense an underwater attack on the ships of the Prodence and Dressrosa Kingdoms when he could not.

Romance Dawn Arc
As son of the 153rd Branch's Captain Morgan, Helmeppo led a carefree, luxurious life, constantly using his father's authority to command lesser Marines and bully the citizens of surrounding Shells Town. One particular day, he let his pet wolf Soro roam the town, only for traveling bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro to kill it for attacking a young girl named Rika. Furious, Helmeppo had Zoro arrested and his swords confiscated, but promised a full pardon if Zoro could survive a month detained without food.

However, after nine days of starvation failed to break Zoro, Helmeppo (with his father's tacit approval) decided to execute the bounty hunter as a warning to the townsfolk. Around the same time, reports of the arrest led rookie pirate Monkey D. Luffy and aspiring Marine Koby to Shells Town, partly in hopes of recruiting Zoro. On seeing Helmeppo taunt Zoro, destroy the onigiri brought by a guilt-stricken Rika, order her physically tossed from the grounds, and publicly announce Zoro's impending execution, Luffy furiously punched him.



Shocked and humiliated, Helmeppo immediately fled to his father and demanded retribution; to his further shock, Morgan replied with a blow of his own, declared executing Rika the higher priority, and promptly cut down a subordinate for objecting. Shortly after, Luffy - now seeking to retrieve Zoro's swords - caught up and took Helmeppo captive.

Dragged along as both an unwitting guide and a human shield against pursuing Marines, Helmeppo quickly fainted. Later, he woke to find Luffy, Koby, and Zoro openly defying the 153rd Branch, Luffy in particular easily outfighting Morgan. Desperate, Helmeppo tried to take Koby hostage with a pistol, but was punched unconscious by Luffy.

Diary of Koby-Meppo
After Morgan was arrested, Helmeppo - apparently lacking any other relatives - was allowed to stay at the 153rd Branch, but as a chore-boy. Already indignant at losing so many luxuries and privileges, Helmeppo was furious at having to work alongside the willing recruit Koby, and spent much of his free time trying to curse Luffy with voodoo dolls.



The two were later tasked with chore duty on a ship transferring the prisoner Morgan. As they cleaned the ship's weapons, Helmeppo was worried about his father possibly getting the death penalty. As Vice Admiral Garp was taking Morgan into his custody, Koby had to restrain Helmeppo. However, Morgan caught Garp off-guard and slashed him before taking Helmeppo hostage in the process. Morgan then escaped with Helmeppo on a small boat.

On Morgan's escape vessel, Helmeppo finally made a decision and abandoned his father. Helmeppo swam back to the Marine ship, where he, Koby, and the other Marines apologized to Garp for the ruckus and called themselves worthless. Garp decided to take Helmeppo and Koby back with him to Marine Headquarters to train them.

Jango's Dance Paradise
He and Koby appear walking alongside Garp, showing some of their physical change during their training.

Post-Enies Lobby Arc
After the Straw Hat Pirates returned from their raid on Enies Lobby, Helmeppo and Koby confronted Zoro and Luffy respectively at Water 7, but both Marines were easily defeated. While Luffy and Zoro remembered Koby, they had no idea who Helmeppo was until he reminded them and they briefly recalled him as the annoying spoiled brat, much to Helmeppo's dismay.

Helmeppo was later shocked to hear from Garp that Revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon was his son and Luffy's father. He questioned how crazy the family was with so many infamous people in it.

Marineford Arc


Along with Monkey D. Garp and Koby, Helmeppo reported to Marine Headquarters to participate in the war against the Whitebeard Pirates. Three hours before Ace's execution, he was seen with Koby listening to Sengoku's speech about Ace's past. After hearing that Ace was Gol D. Roger's son, he and Koby came to a conclusion that Ace and Luffy were not real brothers. He ran away from the battle along with Koby and witnessed Akainu's wrath on a Marine who did the same. He and Koby then saw Luffy and company fall from the sky.

Luffy's unconventional arrival at Marineford had both him and Koby stunned. When Sengoku announced that Luffy is Dragon's son, Helmeppo and Koby were shocked to see that the Fleet Admiral decided to reveal such information.

Moments before the arrival of Red-Haired Shanks, he tried to help Koby get back on his feet while Koby was hearing voices in his head disappearing. When Koby tried to stop Admiral Akainu and the Marines from more needless fighting against pirates with no will to fight, Helmeppo panicked for the life of his friend, knowing that the Admiral would not accept something like that from an underling.

Post-War Arc


Koby was taken to the Marine Headquarters medical center along with other injured soldiers, and Helmeppo stayed at his bedside. Koby was still clearly traumatized by the events. Doctor Fishbonen told them that what Koby was feeling was Haki.

Doctor Fishbonen informed Koby that all Vice Admirals are able to use Haki, and that Garp should be able to help him. Helmeppo expressed envy that Koby seemed to have advanced in skill, though Koby claimed to not have known about the ability in the first place.

One Piece Film: Z
After Firs Island was destroyed by Z, Helmeppo appeared on a Marine battle ship along with Koby and Garp, who revealed to him the existence of Zephyr. Later, after the destruction of Secon Island, Garp and Sengoku explained to him about Zephyr's past.

One Piece: Stampede


He is one of the Marines who arrive at Delta Island to capture the pirates, where he faces several alongside Koby.

Afterward, he shows impressed when Douglas Bullet merges with several ships. Along with his companions, he offers to fight Bullet during a Buster Call on the island, despite Smoker asking they to withdraw, but is held by Hina and forced to leave the island.

Levely Arc
Helmeppo and Koby thwarted a pirate attack on the Dressrosa-Prodence Kingdom convoy to the Levely. After Koby stopped a torpedo launched by the pirates, Helmeppo attacked the pirates' submarine and defeated the pirates, freeing their prisoner in the process.

Major Battles

 * Helmeppo vs. Monkey D. Luffy
 * Helmeppo and Koby vs. Bogard
 * Helmeppo vs. Roronoa Zoro
 * Helmeppo vs. Komane's kidnappers

Filler Battles

 * Helmeppo and Koby vs. Morgan

Translation and Dubbing Issues
In the 4Kids-dubbed anime, the pistol that Helmeppo holds to Koby's head is digitally replaced with a bizarre device resembling a spring-loaded hammer. This edit is often mocked for its patchiness, as the "hammer" reverts to its original shape in several different shots.

Playable Appearances

 * Birth of Luffy's Dream Pirate Crew!
 * One Piece: Going Baseball
 * One Piece Treasure Cruise

Enemy Appearances

 * One Piece: Become the Pirate King!
 * One Piece (Game Boy Advance)

Support Appearances

 * One Piece: Gear Spirit
 * One Piece: Gigant Battle
 * One Piece: Dance Battle

Non-Playable Appearances

 * Grand Battle! Swan Colosseum
 * Grand Battle! 2
 * One Piece: Gigant Battle! 2 New World

Trivia

 * Helmeppo was shown to have smoked in One Piece Green: Secret Pieces.
 * Helmeppo was the second fastest of promotion in two years as the first was held by Koby, from Seaman Recruit to Lieutenant Commander.
 * His favorite foods are luxury steak and caviar.

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