Movie
Description
Bon Kurei, whose real name is Bentham and who is also known by his Baroque Works code name Mr. 2, is a former officer agent of the criminal organization Baroque Works. He first appears during the Straw Hat Pirates' journey to the desert kingdom of Alabasta. His origins trace back to the East Blue, and he consumed the Mane Mane no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, at around the age of twelve.
In terms of appearance, Bentham is a tall individual who presents himself as an okama, a Japanese term for a cross-dresser. He wears flamboyant, swan-themed ballet clothes, typically consisting of a pink overcoat and medieval-style shorts, paired with heavy makeup. The swans on his shoulders are arranged to resemble the number two, his agent code. His physique is notably muscular, a result of his rigorous training in his unique martial art.
Bentham possesses a highly flamboyant and theatrical personality, expressed through his love of singing, dancing, and dramatic spins, which often exasperates his more serious colleagues. Despite his role as an assassin for Baroque Works, his most defining characteristic is his profound and unwavering loyalty to friendship. He places the concept of friendship above all else, a value he refers to as the okama way. This commitment often leads him to perform great acts of self-sacrifice for those he considers friends, even former enemies. He speaks with a feminine-assertive cadence, often ending his sentences with a particular inflection, and has catchphrases that punctuate his energetic speech. He is also known to enjoy unusual food combinations, such as octopus ice cream.
His primary role in the Alabasta story begins as an antagonist. The Straw Hats first encounter him by chance at sea, where his entertaining demeanor and ability to transform immediately endear him to Monkey D. Luffy, Usopp, and Tony Tony Chopper. An initial bond of friendship is formed before his identity as a Baroque Works officer is revealed. Later, he is central to the organization's plan to destabilize Alabasta, using his powers to impersonate King Nefertari Cobra and incite the rebel army. This forces him into direct conflict with the Straw Hats. He engages in a prolonged and intense battle against Sanji in the city of Alubarna, where his Okama Kenpo proves to be a formidable match for Sanji's black-leg style.
His key relationships are defined by his contrasting allegiances. Within Baroque Works, his emotional and poetic nature creates friction, particularly with the cold-hearted Mr. 1, Daz Bones. Despite this, he shows a protective instinct towards the lower-ranking soldiers under his command. His relationship with the Straw Hat Pirates is the most significant. From a brief friendship, it evolves into a profound mutual respect, especially with Luffy, who affectionately calls him Bon-chan. After being defeated by Sanji, Bentham betrays Baroque Works to help the Straw Hats escape from the Marines, hiding their ship, the Going Merry, and declaring his desire for their friendship to continue. This act of loyalty marks a turning point in his development, showing his complete rejection of his former life as a hired assassin in favor of living by his own code of honor.
Bentham's abilities are a combination of his Devil Fruit power and his unique fighting style. The Mane Mane no Mi allows him to transform into an exact physical copy of any person whose face he has touched with his right hand. This duplication extends to their voice, body shape, and even their stature. He can revert to his original form by touching his face with his left hand. A skilled user of this power, he can also create composite faces, mixing features from different people he has memorized. This ability makes him a master of infiltration and deception.
Complementing his Devil Fruit is Okama Kenpo, a martial arts style he developed himself that fuses powerful, acrobatic kicks and strikes with ballet dancing. This style allows him to perform high-speed spins, flips, and precise kicks with great force. His agility and speed are notable, allowing him to match opponents like Sanji. For enhanced offense, he can remove the metal swan heads from his shoulders and attach them to his shoes, turning his kicks into powerful, rifle-like strikes. His techniques are named with a mix of ballet terminology and flamboyant phrases, such as Swan Arabesque and Memoir of that Summer Day. He also possesses significant stamina and endurance, able to recover from severe injuries and withstand harsh conditions.
In terms of appearance, Bentham is a tall individual who presents himself as an okama, a Japanese term for a cross-dresser. He wears flamboyant, swan-themed ballet clothes, typically consisting of a pink overcoat and medieval-style shorts, paired with heavy makeup. The swans on his shoulders are arranged to resemble the number two, his agent code. His physique is notably muscular, a result of his rigorous training in his unique martial art.
Bentham possesses a highly flamboyant and theatrical personality, expressed through his love of singing, dancing, and dramatic spins, which often exasperates his more serious colleagues. Despite his role as an assassin for Baroque Works, his most defining characteristic is his profound and unwavering loyalty to friendship. He places the concept of friendship above all else, a value he refers to as the okama way. This commitment often leads him to perform great acts of self-sacrifice for those he considers friends, even former enemies. He speaks with a feminine-assertive cadence, often ending his sentences with a particular inflection, and has catchphrases that punctuate his energetic speech. He is also known to enjoy unusual food combinations, such as octopus ice cream.
His primary role in the Alabasta story begins as an antagonist. The Straw Hats first encounter him by chance at sea, where his entertaining demeanor and ability to transform immediately endear him to Monkey D. Luffy, Usopp, and Tony Tony Chopper. An initial bond of friendship is formed before his identity as a Baroque Works officer is revealed. Later, he is central to the organization's plan to destabilize Alabasta, using his powers to impersonate King Nefertari Cobra and incite the rebel army. This forces him into direct conflict with the Straw Hats. He engages in a prolonged and intense battle against Sanji in the city of Alubarna, where his Okama Kenpo proves to be a formidable match for Sanji's black-leg style.
His key relationships are defined by his contrasting allegiances. Within Baroque Works, his emotional and poetic nature creates friction, particularly with the cold-hearted Mr. 1, Daz Bones. Despite this, he shows a protective instinct towards the lower-ranking soldiers under his command. His relationship with the Straw Hat Pirates is the most significant. From a brief friendship, it evolves into a profound mutual respect, especially with Luffy, who affectionately calls him Bon-chan. After being defeated by Sanji, Bentham betrays Baroque Works to help the Straw Hats escape from the Marines, hiding their ship, the Going Merry, and declaring his desire for their friendship to continue. This act of loyalty marks a turning point in his development, showing his complete rejection of his former life as a hired assassin in favor of living by his own code of honor.
Bentham's abilities are a combination of his Devil Fruit power and his unique fighting style. The Mane Mane no Mi allows him to transform into an exact physical copy of any person whose face he has touched with his right hand. This duplication extends to their voice, body shape, and even their stature. He can revert to his original form by touching his face with his left hand. A skilled user of this power, he can also create composite faces, mixing features from different people he has memorized. This ability makes him a master of infiltration and deception.
Complementing his Devil Fruit is Okama Kenpo, a martial arts style he developed himself that fuses powerful, acrobatic kicks and strikes with ballet dancing. This style allows him to perform high-speed spins, flips, and precise kicks with great force. His agility and speed are notable, allowing him to match opponents like Sanji. For enhanced offense, he can remove the metal swan heads from his shoulders and attach them to his shoes, turning his kicks into powerful, rifle-like strikes. His techniques are named with a mix of ballet terminology and flamboyant phrases, such as Swan Arabesque and Memoir of that Summer Day. He also possesses significant stamina and endurance, able to recover from severe injuries and withstand harsh conditions.