In One Piece chapter 1115, which is set to be released on May 27, 2024, new revelations about the Void Century and the death of JoyBoy are made. The chapter centers on Vegapunk’s speech, a recurring element in recent chapters, where he discloses significant information, including the rise in sea levels since the original world was submerged underwater.
However, the chapter’s conclusion, where Vegapunk states that JoyBoy’s death marked the end of the Void Century, leaves fans with lingering questions as he does not reveal the identity of JoyBoy’s killer.
One Piece Theory: Joy Boy’s Killer Identified
JoyBoy, first mentioned in One Piece chapter 628 through an apology letter to the Fishman species, is a legendary figure of the Grand Line. In the letter, JoyBoy expresses regret for failing to help the Fishman reach the surface but promises to fulfill this pledge in the future.
JoyBoy’s name and legacy are further explored through various arcs and characters, such as Zunesha, the giant elephant of Zou, who hints at a connection between JoyBoy and Monkey D. Luffy, suggesting Luffy as the next JoyBoy.
During the Egghead arc, JoyBoy’s link to the Iron Giant is teased. Vegapunk reveals that JoyBoy was the first pirate, possessing the same devil fruit as Luffy—the Human-Human fruit, Model: Nika, which grants the ability to stretch the body. Vegapunk also explains that JoyBoy fought against the alliance of the 20 Kingdoms, which would later form the World Government, and died, marking the end of the Void Century.
In episode 885, a Giant Straw Hat is shown inside a cold room in the Holy Land of Mariejois, accessible only to Imu. This hat is speculated to belong to JoyBoy, raising questions about Imu’s motives for keeping it hidden.
When the Straw Hats visit Egghead Island, Vegapunk discusses his attempt to create an infinite energy source to power the world’s systems, including the Iron Giant. Although he creates a weapon called Mother Flame, it is insufficient to power the Iron Giant, which eventually awakens due to Luffy’s Gear 5’s “drums of liberation.”
Vegapunk theorizes that JoyBoy’s similar powers might have been used to energize the Iron Giant, suggesting that Imu, with the help of the 20 Kingdoms, defeated JoyBoy. This defeat might be why Imu keeps JoyBoy’s Giant Straw Hat concealed.
Vegapunk suggests that the Iron Giant, which once attacked the Holy Land of Mariejois, might have killed JoyBoy. The Iron Giant’s first words upon reawakening—an apology to JoyBoy—imply it might have ended JoyBoy’s life to relieve him from his struggles, thus inadvertently aiding Imu.
Chapter 1115 provides critical insights into JoyBoy’s history, his connection with Luffy, and the potential circumstances surrounding his death, while leaving open the mystery of his true killer, speculated to be the Iron Giant acting under complex circumstances.
