User blog comment:SeaTerror/Captain Morgan/@comment-1595565-20120806195828/@comment-1595565-20120806201157

That was only in the first half of the Grand Line, not counting recurring characters like Hatchan and and Keimi. So far, the only old characters encountered in the New World are ones who were to be expected for one reason or another. Smoker, Law, Tashigi, and Brownbeard. We knew Smoker and Tashigi were going to be transferred to the New World, everyone expected Law to be there due to being a supernova, and Brownbeard was introduced in the New World, so it was only a matter of time. I get the feeling the only old characters we'll see are some of WB's allies. The rest will be new.