“Soul King” Brookthe musician of the Straw Hat Pirates, also serves as one of their two swordsmen and a Senior Officer of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. He is the ninth member of the crew and officially joined after the events of the Thriller Bark Arc. Brook’s character is unique not only for his musical talents but also for his ability to wield a sword with great skill.

Brook ate the Yomi Yomi no Mi, a Devil Fruit that granted him the ability to return to life after dying once. Initially, this power simply allowed him to come back to life; however, over time, Brook learned to tap into the deeper abilities of the fruit, gaining significant control over his own soul as well as the ability to interact with the souls of others. These abilities play a crucial role in both combat and his personal journey.

Before joining the Straw Hat Pirates, Brook was a member of the Rumbar Pirates. Tragically, he and his crew perished, but Brook’s Devil Fruit allowed him to return from the dead. Unfortunately, due to the long time it took for his soul to locate his body, Brook’s body had decayed, leaving him as a living skeleton with only his afro intact. Brook spent 50 years drifting in isolation within the Florian Triangle before encountering Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hats during the Thriller Bark Arc. He quickly formed a bond with them, assisting them during the arc before officially becoming part of the crew.

Brook’s lifelong dream is to reunite with his old friend Laboon, a whale who resides at Reverse Mountain under the care of Crocus. This reunion, which would fulfill a promise made decades earlier when Brook was still with the Rumbar Pirates, is a driving force behind his journey with the Straw Hats.

Brook initially earned a bounty of Beli33,000,000 during his time with the Rumbar Pirates. After the events of the Dressrosa Arc, his bounty was raised to Beli83,000,000. Following his role in the Raid on Onigashima, Brook’s bounty increased to Beli383,000,000, reflecting his growth in strength and notoriety as a key member of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Before Death
Before his death,Brookwas a tall, slender man with a distinctive, unique appearance. His skin was tan, and his thin frame made him appear even taller. Brook’s face featured a prominent scar on his forehead, which resembled a diagonal omega sign (Ω). This scar remained visible even after his death, appearing as a distinctive crack across his skull in his skeletal state. Brook also sported a slight goatee on his chin and had sideburns, adding to his distinguished look.

Brook was typically seen wearing shades, which concealed his eyes, further adding to his enigmatic persona. His clothing and overall style mirrored the flamboyant and iconic looks of famous music artists such asOzzy Osbourne,Jimi Hendrix, andSlash, with whom he shared an affinity for extravagant attire and distinctive hair. This rockstar-like appearance was a fitting reflection of Brook’s role as the musician of theStraw Hat Pirates, aligning with his carefree, soulful personality.

Before the Timeskip
Brook is an extremely tall skeleton, standing at 266 cm (8’8½”), making him the second tallest member of theStraw Hat Pirates, surpassed only byJinbe. Despite his skeletal appearance, Brook still retains his iconic afro, which he attributes to the strong roots of his hair, even after death.

Brook’s style before the timeskip was that of a classic gentleman. His outfit consisted of formal attire, including a black coat, top hat, trousers, and his signature afro. The inner lining of his coat was yellow-orange, and he wore a blue cravat tied around his neck. Brook’s skeletal frame combined with his refined clothing created a striking contrast, highlighting his dignified and eccentric personality.

In addition to his attire, Brook carried a cane sword, with the cane’s outer covering being purple, adding to his gentlemanly aesthetic. Due to the many years he spent in isolation before joining the Straw Hats, his clothing had become somewhat tattered, a visual reminder of his long, lonely existence drifting in theFlorian Triangle. Despite the wear and tear on his clothes, Brook maintained his elegant appearance, embodying a sense of pride and composure even in his skeletal form.

After the two-year timeskip, Brook adopted a more vibrant and flamboyant appearance, reflecting his status as a rock star. He grew to an impressive height of 277 cm (9’1″), despite being a skeleton. His outfit during the Return to Sabaody Arc through the Fish-Man Island Arc featured heart-shaped sunglasses, a yellow feather boa, and a new top hat with a giant crown on the brim. He paired these with orange-red trousers that had a floral design, fully embracing his rock star persona.

• Punk Hazard Arc:Brook donned a flashy striped coat that he took from a member ofBrownbeard’s Centaur Patrol Unit, adding to his eccentric style.

• Dressrosa Arc:Brook wore a dark magenta long-coat with an upturned collar and yellow pants. While briefly shown onZou, he also sported a pink shirt with a white polka-dot pattern (resemblingSMILE fruits), orange and yellow striped trousers, and dark-colored pointed shoes. His accessories included his pre-timeskip top hat, a blue bead necklace, and traditional black sunglasses, which replaced his heart-shaped pair.

• Zou Arc:Brook added a dark-colored coat with a fluffy lining to his secondDressrosaoutfit, along with a larger top hat embellished with beads. Due to the attention of his canine Mink admirers, who chased and chewed on him, Brook’s coat became tattered by the time he reunited with Luffy’s group.

• Whole Cake Island Arc:During this arc, Brook wore a long, fancy overcoat with puffy sleeves, tall black boots, and a decorative scarf wrapped around his head. He also wore plain black shades. After being stripped of his clothes by theBig Mom Pirates, he was left with a simple sleeveless cloak fastened by a rope. When he later met theFire Tank Pirates, he donned a large fedora, a black and red striped vest over a dark shirt, a yellow ascot, and brown trousers. For the operation to sabotageBig Mom’s Tea Party, Brook disguised himself by wearing an oversizedLuffymask and hat, allowing him to get close enough to destroyCarmel’sphoto.

• Wano Country Arc:UsingKin’emon’sabilities, Brook took on the appearance of a ghost to blend intoWano. He wore a pure white kimono, a triangle-shaped headband, and had two arrows stuck in his body, resembling agasha-dokuro(giant skeleton spirit).Orochi’s Oniwabanshumistook him for a ghost. Before theRaid on Onigashima, Brook wore samurai armor complete with a kabuto helmet and cape, wielding a katana instead of his usual shikomizue. For the actual raid, he switched to a black vest, cravat, and top hat, later donning aBeasts Piratesdisguise given to him by Kin’emon, which included a dark fur coat and a one-horned hat.

• Egghead Arc:Upon reaching the control tower, Brook changes into a thick long yellow coat with the number “3” on it. He also wears a futuristic helmet with goggles, an antenna, and a chinstrap, along with orange gloves and blackDOM Shoes, reflecting the arc’s technological setting.