In One Piece, Joyboy has made his first significant appearance, and it provides a clear explanation for the giant straw hat. The latest chapter might be the most revealing one yet, confirming several popular fan theories.
Joyboy is first seen in chapter #1122 of One Piece, appearing as a silhouette in Emet’s flashback. He is shown wearing a straw hat and has a fake wooden leg and arm, which suggests he might be the mysterious character with the eyepatch that Oda hinted at years ago.
The most important reveal in the chapter is that Joyboy seems to be very tall compared to Emet, almost matching the size of the giant robot’s face. This suggests that the giant straw hat hidden at Mariejois could belong to Joyboy, as it fits someone of his size. The chapter could also help uncover Joyboy’s true identity and race, and whether he was indeed a giant or a pirate, as fans have speculated.
Joyboy’s Official Debut Disproves Key Fan Theories
Though Joyboy’s silhouette was seen in chapter #1115 when Vegapunk talked about Joyboy’s defeat, that was likely just Vegapunk’s interpretation. The latest chapter marks Joyboy’s first official appearance and his first speaking role in the series.
In Emet’s flashback, Joyboy appears briefly but confirms and disproves several fan theories about him. The main takeaway is that Joyboy was definitely not a Buccaneer, as he has a regular human-like physique similar to Luffy’s, not the stocky build typical of Buccaneers.
Chapter #1122 also rules out the theory that Joyboy was a Giant, as he appears too short for that. However, he is still taller than an average human in One Piece. Despite some panels being distorted by perspective, one panel showing both Emet and Joyboy from a distance provides a clear comparison of Joyboy’s size relative to Emet.
One Piece Reveals Joyboy’s Height: Slightly Shorter Than Giants, Aligns with Straw Hat Size
Joyboy’s height is first suggested by a panel in chapter #1067, where Luffy is seen standing on Emet’s head. Luffy looks like a tiny speck compared to Emet, while Joyboy appears to be about the same size as Emet’s face, or slightly shorter. This would make Joyboy roughly half the size of a regular Giant.
Chapter #1111 showed that Emet is much larger than today’s Giants when the Marines reported his size. Comparing a panel of Giants from chapter #1110 with one of Emet in chapter #1116 shows that Emet is about three times the size of a normal Giant, making him around 60 meters tall, similar to an Ancient Giant.
Considering this, and the average height of Giants at Egghead, Joyboy was likely around ten to eleven meters tall. This height would fit perfectly with the giant straw hat at Mariejois, which would be too small for a Giant but just right for someone a bit taller than Kaido and Whitebeard, who are around six to seven meters tall.
Symbol of Inherited Will or More? New Insights from Latest One Piece Chapter
The idea that the giant straw hat at Mariejois could belong to Joyboy raises interesting questions about its purpose and meaning. The straw hat Luffy cherishes originally belonged to Roger, who passed it to Shanks and then to Luffy. This has led many to think the hat might represent fate or inherited will.
Joyboy wearing a similar hat suggests that the straw hat could also symbolize Joyboy’s inherited will. However, whether the hat has more than symbolic meaning remains unclear. Joyboy’s appearance in the latest chapter of One Piece opens up new theories and analyses that will likely continue to evolve in the upcoming chapters and arcs of the Final Saga.
