One Piece all but confirms Imu personally knew Joy Boy in latest spoilers

Modified Aug 04, 2024 19:29 GMT

One Piece all but confirms Imu personally knew Joy Boy in latest spoilers (Image via Toei Animation)

With the release of One Piece’s full summary spoilers for the upcoming issue, fans were anticipating a full explanation of Emeth using Joy Boy’s Conqueror’s Haki. While fans did get additional details on how Emeth came to store Joy Boy’s Haki within him, fans also got the full context of its effects, suggesting it to be one of the series’ most powerful.

While the impact the blast of Conqueror’s Haki had on those in Egghead’s vicinity helped to illustrate this, what was truly impressive was the Haki apparently reaching Imu in Mariejois. Shortly after the blast was unleashed, Imu was said to have fallen to his knees and began screaming, per the latest One Piece spoilers.

However, what truly shocked fans was Imu thinking of the name “Joy Boy” to himself at the time, seemingly recognizing the Haki and accurately deducing it as the legendary figure’s. With this, the series all but confirms that Imu did indeed personally know Joy Boy, in turn suggesting that Imu was indeed alive during the Void Century (as many had already theorized) and much more.

One Piece fans finally have their first real clue to Imu’s origins, relation to Joy Boy after chapter 1122 spoilers

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It’s best to first establish that author and illustrator Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga series has overtly established that Conqueror’s Haki specifically has a unique feel to it for each person.

One of the best examples of this is when Luffy activated his Gear 5 form during the Wano arc, with Sanji, Marco, Kid, Law, and Hyogoro recognizing the resultant blast of Haki as his. While Kaido didn’t recognize it, this could be due to his not being as close with Luffy as the others.

With this in mind, Imu saying Joy Boy’s name after being affected by his Conqueror’s Haki (seemingly to the point of being in pain) is undoubtedly more than a coincidence. The fact that this is Oda’s manga further supports this, with every choice the author makes having a purpose even if it may not be clear at the moment said choice is made.

Thus, there are multiple things that can be inferred from Imu both recognizing and seemingly being caused pain by Joy Boy’s Conqueror’s Haki. First, it’s clear that Imu knew Joy Boy during the time he was alive, or is at least experienced enough with his Conqueror’s Haki to recognize it. In turn, this suggests that Imu has been alive for quite some time, possibly even since the Void Century.

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To further this point, the most likely explanation is that Imu and Joy Boy knew each other quite well during One Piece’s Void Century, either as allies-turned-foes or as enemies from the start. With Conqueror’s Haki being a major component of fights in the series’ contemporary events, the same almost certainly rings true for the Void Century War. Thus, Imu and Joy Boy likely clashed with Conqueror’s Haki many times.

Imu seemingly being caused pain by Joy Boy’s Haki is also significant, as it suggests that Joy Boy was stronger than Imu (at least when it comes to Conqueror’s Haki). This could explain why the coalition of kingdoms which would later become the World Government had to be formed; Imu could not beat Joy Boy on his own and thus began recruiting allies.

Furthermore, this could lead to the reveal of what Zunesha’s crime was. Zunesha may have been approached by Imu, who knew he couldn’t defeat Joy Boy without underhanded tactics and somehow convinced them to betray Joy Boy. This could’ve led to Zunesha’s punishment of walking the seas for eternity, as they explain when One Piece fans first meet them.

Final thoughts

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While all of the above is speculative, Oda’s modus operandi when it comes to writing his story suggests that there is deep meaning to be found in this key moment of Imu’s weakness. Combined with what fans already know of Joy Boy and the Void Century War, the dots can be connected as to how Imu’s reign and the series’ world, as fans know it, came to be.

However, fans will be left without answers for quite some time, as Oda’s manga will be on a break following chapter 1122’s release for Weekly Shonen Jump’s Obon holiday publication break. Thankfully, the series is expected to return on Monday, August 19, 2024, with the latest spoilers claiming there is no planned break week from Oda following chapter 1122’s release.