One Piece Theory Suggests Fans Have Already Met the Successors of Joyboy’s Crew
Now that One Piece is entering its final arc, fans are coming up with new theories and building upon what they already know. The fans have set their eyes on the prize, and it’s the mysteries behind One Piece. One of the many mysteries of One Piece is Joy Boy and his connection to the series. Joy Boy has been one of the series’ most mysterious figures and for the past 900 years, there was little evidence of whether he even existed.
The first hint of Joy Boy came in chapter #628 when Nico Robin read off the Ryugu Poneglyph in Sea Forest. Joy Boy was then referenced numerous times making people wonder who this figure really was. Luckily, the Wano Arc revealed some major information regarding Joy Boy. After reading the Ryugu Poneglyph, Nico Robin noted it could be a letter of apology to the Fishmen. It was also revealed that Gol D. Roger wished he could live in the same era as Joy Boy upon learning the true history of the world at Laugh Tale.
The D. Clan Members Are Joy Boy’s Successors
While the identity of Joy Boy remains a mystery for now, fans are trying to determine whether Eiichiro Oda already hinted at the presence of Joy Boy’s successors. An X user, @GorgulhoJoao posted a tweet, saying if Joy Boy was the first pirate, the members of the D. clan are his crew, not by blood but as a gesture of nakamas. The post theorizes that just as ASL became brothers by drinking sake, the Joy Boy crew became family by putting the letter ‘D’ in the middle of their names.
If Joy Boy was the first pirate, for me the D are his crew, the first pirate crew, it's not something of blood but a gesture of nakamas
Just as ASL became brothers drinking sake, the Joy Boy crew became family by putting the letter D in the middle of their names pic.twitter.com/j07a0beoM4— João Gorgulho (@GorgulhoJoao) May 12, 2024
Also Read: One Piece: 7 Strongest Paramecia Devil Fruit Users in the Series, Ranked
Joy Boy is no doubt a prominent figure in the annals of One Piece history, despite the fact that his existence has been suppressed by the Gorosei and the World Government. Some other fans claim that Joy Boy is not actually a person, but a “mantle” given to anyone who is attempting to liberate the world from oppression. This idea is supported by King’s belief that Kaido could be a Joy Boy-like figure, and Kaido stating that Luffy cannot be Joy Boy.
Joy Boy Is a Mantle Earned By Those With The Power To Liberate The World
The theory that Joy Boy is not an actual person but a mantle inherited by those who have the power to liberate the world has been proven in Wano Arc when Zunesha announces that he can hear the “Drums of Liberation” once more and claims that Joy Boy has returned. Moreover, these drum beats happen to coincide with Luffy’s heartbeat and his Devil Fruit Awakening. Additionally, the manga switches over to the Gorosei’s point of view when the true power of Luffy’s Devil Fruit is revealed.
To put things into perspective, the character who possesses Nika’s power is said to grant the user’s body unparalleled freedom and one of the Gorosei mentions that the one who possesses the Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika is “the embodiment of the warrior of liberation.” This suggests that Luffy is not the reincarnation of Joy Boy, but rather it seems that Joy Boy is a title given to the one who holds the power to liberate the world. It also suggests that the original Joy Boy also had the powers of the Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika.
As fans gear up for the final saga of One Piece, there is no doubt that more secrets will be unveiled, and with that, we will finally get to know about Joy Boy and the elusive figure’s association with the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy.
One Piece is available to read on VIZ Media and MANGA Plus.
