One Piece fans may already know who killed Joy Boy, and it explains an enigmatic apology

On May 27, 2024, fans can expect the release of One Piece chapter 1115. This highly-anticipated chapter will unveil fresh details about the Void Century and shock readers with the revelation of JoyBoy’s death.

The chapter revolved around Vegapunk’s speech, which has been a consistent theme in recent chapters. Vegapunk disclosed the extent to which the sea level has increased since the original world was submerged underwater.

However, the final revelation in the chapter was confusing as Vegapunk disclosed that Joy’s death brought about the end of the Void Century, yet did not disclose the identity of the first pirate to conquer the Grand Line. Imu’s possession of the colossal Straw Hat suggests a connection to JoyBoy’s death. However, it is possible that one of JoyBoy’s crew members was responsible for his demise – although not in the manner that fans had anticipated.

Please note: This article may contain spoilers from the One Piece manga series and is also written with the author’s personal opinions.

The Mystery of JoyBoy’s Killer in One Piece

Monkey D Luffy (Gear 5) as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

JoyBoy, a renowned figure of the Grand Line, was first introduced in One Piece 628 on Fisherman Island. Interestingly, his name was brought to light through an apologetic letter he wrote. This letter was specifically addressed to the Fisherman species, where he expressed his regret for not being able to assist them in reaching the Sun.

He also made a pledge to come back one day and keep his promise.

As previously stated, JoyBoy’s connection to Fisherman Island showed his desire for the race to prosper and break free from their oppressors. Following their encounter with Fisherman Island, Zunesha, the giant elephant that carries Zou, playfully referenced JoyBoy’s name. Additionally, Zunesha hinted at a connection between Luffy and JoyBoy by declaring Luffy as the next incarnation of JoyBoy.

Monkey D Luffy as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

During the Egghead arc, it was alluded that JoyBoy had a connection with the Iron Giant and that he needed to apologize to him. It was also disclosed that Vegapunk mentioned JoyBoy as the original pirate in his message, and revealed that he possessed the ability to stretch his body, implying that he possessed the same devil fruit as Monkey D Luffy (the Human-Human fruit, Model: Nika).

Finally, in chapter 1115, Vegapunk disclosed that JoyBoy battled against the coalition of the 20 Kingdoms, which later became known as the World Government, and ultimately perished. This event marked the conclusion of the Void Century. Returning to the original question, who was responsible for JoyBoy’s death?

The Giant Straw Hat as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

During One Piece episode 885, viewers were shocked to discover a Giant Straw Hat hidden in a cold room within the Holy Land of Mariejois. It was revealed that only Imu had possession of this mysterious hat, leading fans to speculate that it may have belonged to JoyBoy. However, the question remains: why would Imu choose to keep such a significant item hidden from the rest of the world?

During their visit to Egghead Island, the Straw Hats learned from Vegapunk that his goal was to develop an endless energy source capable of powering all systems in the world. One of the objectives of this project was to provide energy for the Iron Giant. Although Vegapunk successfully created Mother Flame during his research, it proved to be insufficient in powering the Iron Giant.

The Iron Giant waking up due to the drums of liberation (Image via Shueisha)

During the attack on Egghead Island by the Five Elders, spectators witnessed the Iron Giant moving as a result of the drums of liberation resonating from Luffy’s Gear 5. Therefore, Luffy’s Gear 5 proved to be a stronger and more powerful energy source than Mother Flame.

JoyBoy’s possession of the same devil fruit may have granted him the same abilities to control the Iron Giant. This could explain why Imu, with the assistance of the 20 Kingdoms, was able to defeat JoyBoy and imprison him in the cold room of Mariejois. It is possible that JoyBoy’s energy was crucial in activating the Ancient Weapons that Vegapunk had mentioned in chapter 1115. The question remains, who was responsible for JoyBoy’s demise?

The Iron Giant apologizing to JoyBoy (Image via Shueisha)

According to Vegapunk, the Iron Giant had once attacked the Holy Land of Mariejois. This suggests that the Iron Giant may have gone to the Holy Land to eliminate JoyBoy and end his suffering, ultimately aiding Imu in their quest to harm others.

This is further evidenced by the fact that the Iron Giant’s initial words upon starting to move were an apology to JoyBoy. Despite ultimately killing JoyBoy for his own and the world’s benefit, the Iron Giant still expressed remorse for taking the life of the man who had given him power.