Spoiler Alert !!!This article contains spoilers from One Piece manga.
The Final Saga keeps giving One Piece fans new mysteries to think about. Just when it feels like Eiichiro Oda has answered one big question, another one appears. After the dramatic ending of Chapter 1187, the early spoilers for Chapter 1188 have already sparked one of the biggest theories of the Final Saga.
The early spoilers claim that Imu remembers Joy Boy during the fight with Luffy, and the legendary warrior’s smile looks almost exactly like Luffy’s. That small detail has made many readers wonder if there is a much deeper connection between the two. Could Luffy somehow become the original Joy Boy through time travel, or is Oda simply showing that they share the same spirit?
Imu’s Memory of Joy Boy Could Connect Luffy to the Void Century
The early preview spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1188 suggest that Luffy and Imu’s battle becomes even more intense. Luffy reportedly uses another creative Gear 5 transformation by turning himself into a giant genie, showing once again how unpredictable his awakened Nika powers have become.
Imu vs Luffy in One Piece Chapter 1187. | Credit: Shueisha
But the biggest surprise may be Imu‘s memories. According to the early spoilers, Imu remembers Joy Boy, and his smile reportedly looks almost identical to Luffy’s. That single moment has raised an interesting question. What if the connection between Luffy and Joy Boy is much deeper than anyone expected?
The theory may sound impossible at first. However, One Piece has already shown that time travel exists. During the Wano arc, Kozuki Toki’s Time-Time Fruit allowed her to send herself and others into the future, proving that time can be manipulated in Oda’s world. While the fruit has never allowed anyone to travel to the past, it showed that time travel is already part of the story.
Another hint has helped keep the theory alive. In the Egghead Saga, it was shown that Emeth bears an X mark on its arm, which resembles the X mark on the Straw Hats’ arms that were used in Alabasta to secretly identify themselves. Oda has never given any explanation as to why Emeth also bears such a mark, making fans think that maybe it had something to do with Luffy or Joy Boy.
When those clues are combined with Imu remembering a Joy Boy who smiles just like Luffy, it becomes easier to understand why some believe Oda could be building toward a major time-travel twist. For now, though, it remains only a theory.
One Piece Chapter 1188 Points to Luffy Following Joy Boy’s Path
One Piece Chapter 1187 may actually point toward a different answer. When Imu calls him Joy Boy, Luffy immediately rejects the name. Instead, he proudly says that he is Monkey D. Luffy and the man who will become the King of the Pirates.
Credit: Shueisha
Credit: Shueisha
Credit: Shueisha
That moment reminds readers that Luffy doesn’t want to become someone else. He wants to achieve his dream as himself. The One Piece Chapter 1188 spoilers continue that idea. Along with Luffy’s new Gear 5 form, Imu reportedly changes their spear into a sword called Void, stabs Luffy, and says they know he is not Joy Boy because “Joy Boy would never be this weak.”
If that line is accurate, it suggests that Imu personally knew Joy Boy and sees Luffy as a different person who has not yet reached the legendary hero’s level.
That is why the simpler explanation may still be the strongest one. Instead of setting up a time-travel reveal, Oda could simply be showing that Luffy inherited Joy Boy’s will. The matching smile may represent their shared love of freedom, courage, and determination rather than proving they are literally the same person.
Series TitleOne PieceManga AuthorEiichiro OdaChapter 1188 Release Date (US)July 12, 2026Manga Rating (MAL) – as of July 10, 20269.21 / 10Where to ReadManga Plus by Shueisha, Viz Media
Now the big question: What do you think? Is Oda secretly setting up a time-travel twist, or does Luffy simply carry on Joy Boy’s legacy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
One Piece manga is currently available to read on Manga Plus by Shueisha.
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