Marcus Mars

Saint Marcus Mars is one of the Five Elders who publicly head the World Government, holding the title of Warrior God of Environment.

Along with the other Elders, he is one of the overarching antagonists of the entire One Piece series, especially in its Final Saga.

Appearance

Mars is a very tall and thin, elderly man with long white hair, including a mustache and goatee which reach down to his upper chest. He wears a navy blue suit over a black tie and a white buttoned shirt, as well as navy blue pants.

Personality

Like the other Elders, Mars cares about the balance in the world maintained by the Three Great Powers and wishes to maintain it. This also includes preserving the image of the World Government by keeping the events of the Void Century a secret, and he and the other Elders will immediately have anyone destroyed who is found to be studying it. During the Ohara Incident, he was courteous to Clover, acknowledging the scholar’s achievements and justifying the danger of reviving the ancient weapons. At the time of ordering the killing of scholars, Mars was seriously embarrassed when he gave that order. He appears to view the Nefertari Family’s rejection of life on Mary Geoise harshly, as he stated that such an action makes them traitors. He will obey any order given by Imu without question, as he views Imu to be a “creator” who alone has the power to shape the course of the world. Mars has been shown to be extremely callous, as he had no issue with annihilating a highly populated country and justified it because its populace had started to show signs of rebellion.

While other Elders have occasionally struggled with their composure in the wake of massive threats, Mars has always been shown with a calm and stoic demeanor. He seems to keep profiles on people, allowing him to be discerning when discussing them, as he knew that Shanks’ personality made his contact with Whitebeard less threatening. He also knew that Blackbeard’s past would give him a great advantage in replacing Whitebeard as an Emperor, and wanted to know the connection between Luffy and Rayleigh.

Like the other Elders, he has little tolerance for people of lower rank challenging their authority, as shown during the Elders’ meeting with Marine Fleet Admiral Sakazuki.

Abilities and Powers

As a member of the Five Elders, Mars is one of the few to have the “highest authority of the World Government”, being above even the World Nobles. He has control over every facet of the World Government, including the police, the Marines, and Cipher Pol, and even the Fleet Admiral of the Marines is incapable of challenging his power. As a result, he has authority to declare a Buster Call, and he and the other Elders can use their great degree of power to manipulate the media and withhold facts from the general public, including erasing entire segments of history, most notably the Void Century. The only known person who seems to outrank the World Nobles is Imu.

Transformation

Mars has an ability that allows him to transform into a giant bird-like creature, it also has a ring around it. In this form, he could withstand a point-blank blast of fire from Sabo without difficulty. It is unknown if this power is related to a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.

Weapons

Mars carries a flintlock, which he intended to use to execute Nefertari Cobra for seeing Imu.

History

Past

As recognition for his genius inventions in MADS, Dr. Vegapunk was invited to Mary Geoise for an audience with the Five Elders.

Twenty years before the start of the series, Mars was with the other Elders (Topman Warcury and Shepherd Ju Peter) as he spoke to Professor Clover, an archaeologist from Ohara who was revealed to have been studying the Poneglyphs. He warned that the Poneglyphs would result in the return of the Ancient Weapons that would bring crisis to the world, but Clover revealed that he had discovered the truth about a Great Kingdom that was destroyed by the World Government. This caused Mars and the Five Elders to immediately order for Ohara and its scholars to be destroyed with a Buster Call.

Less than fourteen years ago (over ten years since Gol D. Roger’s execution), Spandam persuaded the Five Elders to give him the authority to seek out the blueprints for Pluton.

Sky Island Saga

Jaya Arc

A Marine came to the Room of Authority to report that Shanks had made contact with Whitebeard. Although the prospect of two of the Four Emperors meeting was dangerous, Mars stated that Shanks did not want to change the world under his own will. The Five Elders then talked about finding a replacement for Crocodile’s position in the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Water 7 Saga

Long Ring Long Land Arc

The Five Elders got a call that Marine Admiral Aokiji had gone off on his own.

Post-Enies Lobby Arc

The Five Elders received a report that Shanks had successfully met with Whitebeard himself, to their shock.

Summit War Saga

Post-War Arc

The Five Elders talked about the aftermath of the Summit War of Marineford, and Mars wondered about Luffy’s connection to Silvers Rayleigh. They then talked about Blackbeard’s rise to power, with Mars noting that he was very familiar with Whitebeard’s former territory.

Dressrosa Saga

Dressrosa Arc

Fleet Admiral Sakazuki came to the Room of Authority to question the Five Elders about why they let Donquixote Doflamingo use the World Nobles’ authority to misinform the entire world. The Elders reminded Sakazuki of his place and reprimanded his insolence, when a Marine came in and revealed that Luffy and Trafalgar Law’s alliance had taken down Doflamingo, and that their victory had been broadcast to the entire world, shocking the Elders and Sakazuki.

Whole Cake Island Saga

Levely Arc

As the Levely was beginning, the Five Elders were approached by Shanks. Because of his position, they reluctantly allowed him to talk to them about a certain pirate, although Mars stated that Shanks was not suitable to get involved with politics. After meeting with Shanks, they headed toward the Empty Throne, and talked about how King Nefertari Cobra of Arabasta had requested to meet with them. Upon reaching the Empty Throne, they knelt before its occupant Imu as they requested that Imu tell them the name of the “light” that needed to be extinguished from history.

Wano Country Saga

Wano Country Arc

Shortly following their meeting with Imu, the Elders granted Cobra the audience he requested at the Empty Throne. Cobra brought up his ancestor, Nefertari Lili who was one of the First Twenty founders of the World Government, but who disappeared following her decision to abdicate living in Mary Geoise; he asked if the Elders had any records of what became of Lili. The Elders claimed to have no answer for this, and Cobra then asked about the meaning of the initial D., revealing to the Elders’ shock that a letter from Lili had been passed down through the Nefertari Family. Imu then entered the room and sat on the Empty Throne, and the Elders were shocked at Imu’s decision to be revealed to Cobra. Imu talked with Cobra about Lili and the D., and the Elders drew flintlocks as they intended to execute Cobra for seeing Imu. Imu was the first to strike Cobra, but then along with the Elders was attacked by Sabo using Hiken. Following the attack, the Elders and Imu transformed into beastly forms and pursued Sabo as he fled the room with Cobra. Following another strike by Imu, Cobra sacrificed himself to allow Sabo to flee and was promptly killed; the Elders then noticed that Wapol had been spying on the affairs in the room through a small peephole.

Following the Levely’s conclusion, the Five Elders were in the Room of Authority discussing Sabo and the growing issues with Vegapunk on Egghead when they received a call from Imu, who wished to test out Vegapunk’s Mother Flame invention on the Lulusia Kingdom. Mars had no issue with this, saying the world moved as Imu dictated and noting that there were growing sentiments of rebellion in Lulusia. Imu also gave them the command to find and seize Nefertari Vivi.

They later discussed the Raid on Onigashima, namely the orders they had given to eliminate Nico Robin and prepare to have the Marines assume control of Wano Country in the aftermath of the battle. They then discussed the potential of the Gomu Gomu no Mi, or the “Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika” awakening, and commanded Guernica to interfere in the battle between Monkey D. Luffy and Kaidou to eliminate the former, who possessed the fruit’s power. Guernica sacrificed himself to allow Kaidou to inflict a deadly blow on Luffy. The Elders talked about how the fruit had eluded them for the last 800 years, and Mars noted that it seemed like it was actively doing so.

The Five Elders’ attempt to eliminate Luffy proved a failure, as they later came to learn that the Gomu Gomu no Mi had indeed been awakened and Kaidou and Big Mom had both fallen in battle. Because Wano’s borders were not opened as was initially expected, the Elders called off the Marine invasion but maintained the order for Robin to be captured.

The following events are Non-Canon and therefore not considered part of the Canon story.

One Piece Film: Red

The Five Elders watched Uta’s concert in Elegia from the Den Den Mushi. They discussed about Uta being the daughter of Shanks, a serious threat that was opposed to the Great Pirate Era, and how to stop her rebellion, though there was some hesitation among them to carry out her elimination as they worried, she may have been related to the Figarland Family. Also, they were very concerned about Uta’s connection with Tot Musica and they could not afford to be cautious if she summoned that as a threat. The Five Elders were the only ones who didn’t fall asleep to Uta’s powers as they already muted her songs. They were later informed by Lucci about an estimate being 70% of the world’s population would be pulled into Uta World.

The Five Elders, horrified, witnessed Uta turning everyone including Saint Charlos into inanimate objects. As they couldn’t afford more casualties, they had to make a decision even if a Celestial Dragon would get caught in the crossfire. They witnessed Tot Musica, finally summoned by Uta, attacking the Marine ships. After Tot Musica was defeated by Luffy and Shanks, the Five Elders witnessed Uta releasing everyone from the Uta World through singing.

Concludes non-canon section.

Final Saga

Egghead Arc

Having received their orders from Imu, the Elders then received a call from Marine Headquarters revealing they had traced Sabo to Lulusia, and the Elders took note of this stroke of fortune as the Lulusia Kingdom was completely annihilated by the Mother Flame soon afterward, with the Five Elders declaring it never existed in the first place.

The Five Elders also received a call by York, who was aspiring to become a Celestial Dragon, that Vegapunk was doing forbidden research on the Void Century and decided to send a squad of CP0-Agents to assassinate Vegapunk and all his satellites, including York.

Following Saturn departing to Egghead, the remaining elders in the Room of Authority were contacted by York again. While their conversation was overheard by Saturn and Kizaru, York asked them why they intended to kill her as well, with Marcus Mars replying she was still a Vegapunk after all. Upon the elders negotiating a deal with her, York revealed that she needed saving from Luffy before he kills her, much to Mars’s shock. After Luffy began speaking directly to the Five Elders, Mars tried to acquire information by asking him about his group’s condition, though another voice cut off Luffy before he could reveal too much information.

Major Battles

• Five Elders and Imu vs. Sabo

Merchandise

Video Games

Non-Playable Appearances

• One Piece: Grand Battle! 3
• One Piece: Grand Battle! Rush!
• One Piece Odyssey

Trivia

• Mars’ name is based on Mars, the fourth planet in the real-life Solar System, keeping in relation with the planet-themed names of the Five Elders.
  • Mars’ surname, Marcus, (as a given name and praenomen) is thought to have been derived from the Roman god of war Mars, meaning that both parts of his name share the same origin.
• Mars’ appearance may be based on Itagaki Taisuke, a Meiji Japanese politician who founded the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement and Japan’s first political party, the Liberal Party in the late 19th century. His elderly appearance includes a large, drooping mustache and a large beard split down the middle.

References