I think the best plot twists are the ones we don't see coming. In respect to this, I have decided to create a theory with absolutely zero evidence. That Imu is the original Joyboy.
Basically, I think that the original joyboy could have turned evil. Having attained an immense amount of power, he became corrupted and wished to rule over the world. Betraying Nika's ideals of freedom, the gomu gomu no mi, which is said to have a sentience of its own, left Joyboy. Yet by this point, Imu was already too powerful and nobody would be able to stop him.
And so, the gomu gomu no mi waited for hundreds of years until a person came about who bore the will needed to defeat Imu, that being Luffy. That hat we saw in mariejois? That was actually Imu's old hat, which he wore while using G5's giant form.
While there is absolutely zero evidence for this theory, I think it would create a very compelling narrative if Oda did something like this. If Teach is darkness, the opposite of the sun, Luffy, then what is Imu? Well, what if Imu is an older, more jaded version of Luffy? A joyboy who grew up and no longer saw a world worth smiling for.
But who knows, there are a million ways Oda could take this character.
Basically, I think that the original joyboy could have turned evil. Having attained an immense amount of power, he became corrupted and wished to rule over the world. Betraying Nika's ideals of freedom, the gomu gomu no mi, which is said to have a sentience of its own, left Joyboy. Yet by this point, Imu was already too powerful and nobody would be able to stop him.
And so, the gomu gomu no mi waited for hundreds of years until a person came about who bore the will needed to defeat Imu, that being Luffy. That hat we saw in mariejois? That was actually Imu's old hat, which he wore while using G5's giant form.
While there is absolutely zero evidence for this theory, I think it would create a very compelling narrative if Oda did something like this. If Teach is darkness, the opposite of the sun, Luffy, then what is Imu? Well, what if Imu is an older, more jaded version of Luffy? A joyboy who grew up and no longer saw a world worth smiling for.
But who knows, there are a million ways Oda could take this character.
