One Piece Star's 10-Episode Superhero Series Is The Boys Meets The Umbrella Academy
Netflix’s One Piece boasts one of the best casts in fantasy TV history. A lot seems to work in the anime adaptation’s favor. However, if it wasn’t for its talented roster, the live-action adaptation on Netflix would not have been half as successful. Interesting, many of One Piece‘s main cast members were relatively obscure before they starred in the acclaimed Netflix fantasy series.
Even the lead, Iñaki Godoy, was not known for many prominent roles on the small screen before he donned Luffy’s straw hat. However, viewers who have been familiar with his journey as an actor would know that he also served as one of the leads in a forgotten superhero series, The Imperfects. Created for Netflix, the show premiered in September 2022 before being canceled after one season.
Despite earning decent reviews from viewers and critics, The Imperfects struggled to leave its mark. Now that streaming services keep churning out superhero content on a consistent basis, The Imperfect is buried under the shadow of massive franchises. Yet, in 2026, the series is worth remembering, especially because it is somewhat reminiscent of hit long-running shows like The Boys and The Umbrella Academy.
Iñaki Godoy’s Character In The Imperfects Was Nothing Like One Piece’s Luffy
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Iñaki Godoy played Juan Ruiz in The Imperfects. Like One Piece‘s Monkey D. Luffy, Juan, too, possesses superpowers in the series. He has the ability to turn into a deadly Chupacabra with fangs, claws, and feral instincts. However, as a character, Juan is nothing like One Piece‘s lively and flamboyant Luffy.
Luffy carries himself with unshakable confidence and remains incredibly optimistic even during the darkest of times. He is also incredibly fearless and usually has full control over his Devil Fruit powers. Iñaki Godoy’s character from The Imperfects, in contrast, is always full of doubt and vulnerabilities. He almost fears his superpowers and often ends up losing control over his feral instincts.
While Luffy’s journey is driven by his desire to find the titular treasure, Juan only hopes to cure himself and protect his loved ones from himself. Even when he works in a team, Juan is far less magnetic and more reluctant than One Piece‘s Luffy. He is portrayed more as a tragic hero who struggles to accept himself, while Luffy is a high-energy hero with infectious warmth.
Despite the contrasts between the two characters, Iñaki Godoy carries them with ease. He perfectly embodies Luffy in Neftlix’s live-action anime adaptation, and it is hard to see anyone else in the role. His portrayal of a damaged character, like Juan in The Imperfects, also perfectly establishes that he is set to play Luffy’s darker and more emotional arcs in the near future.
The Imperfects Is The Perfect Superhero Show For Fans Of The Boys & Umbrella Academy
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Iñaki Godoy alone is a good reason to watch Netflix’s The Imperfects, even though it was canceled after just one season. However, the show’s primary appeal lies in its subtle subversion of conventional superhero tropes. The original series is more like The Boys and The Umbrella Academy than the MCU or DCU’s additions to the superhero genre.
Through characters like Iñaki Godoy’s Juan, the show highlights how having superpowers can be more of a curse than a blessing. Just like the supes in The Boys, the superpowered characters in The Imperfects, too, experience extreme side effects. The show even gives its superheroes a more corporate and experimental angle, reminiscent of The Boys‘ Compound V and Vought Industries.
Packed with dark comedy, the Netflix superhero show also features heroes who are less fixated on fighting crime and more focused on finding those who “modified” them. Similar to The Umbrella Academy, The Imperfects does not shy away from bending the superhero genre and leaning into quirky storytelling.
Like The Umbrella Academy, The Boys, and One Piece, The Imperfects also features a set of incredibly unorthodox heroes who have strangely specific abilities and find family among other misfits.
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