One Piece: Joy Boy’s Real Successor Has Already Been Revealed, And It Isn’t Luffy

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece‘s Elbaf Arc.

The story of *One Piece* is currently centered around the intense events unfolding in the Elbaf arc. Throughout this arc, creator Eiichiro Oda has revealed significant details about key figures from the past, such as Rocks D. Xebec and Imu. We’re also learning more about Joy Boy, also known as the Sun God Nika, who is revered by the giants of Elbaf. As shown in the Egghead arc, Joy Boy originated from the prosperous Ancient Kingdom, which was ultimately defeated in a war against twenty other kingdoms. Joy Boy perished at the end of that conflict.

Despite Joy Boy’s death, his dreams and goals live on through others – a core idea in One Piece. This concept of Inherited Will is what makes the story so unique. While Monkey D. Luffy is clearly carrying Joy Boy’s will, there might be another person destined to fulfill it, potentially someone related to Joy Boy by family. Many fans now believe this person is Red-haired Shanks, and clues from the Elbaf flashback strongly suggest this possibility, even if it seems surprising.

Shanks Could Be Connected To Joy Boy Through Lineage

Shanks Is From God Valley Where the Buccaneers Lived

  • Joy Boy And Shanks Share Many Similarities
  • Shanks’s Haki Is Comparable To Joy Boy

Let’s be clear: Shanks won’t be the one to free the world in *One Piece*, and he isn’t Joy Boy. He doesn’t have the powers of the Nika fruit, nor is he the Warrior of Liberation, meaning he’ll never fulfill that role. However, when considering family connections, the story becomes more complicated.

He was the first man to set out to sea. The first to ever be called a pirate! — Dr. Vegapunk

One Piece frequently explores the idea of ‘Inherited Will,’ but family connections are also important. A prime example is Blackbeard, who is a descendant of Davy Jones, a figure from the distant past who caused significant problems for the World Government.

Many One Piece fans know that Shanks is the son of Garling Figarland, making him part-Celestial Dragon. But a crucial detail often overlooked is the identity of his mother. She was originally from God Valley, the Island of Fate, a place with strong ties to the Davy Clan. Some members of this clan were also Buccaneers, suggesting a deep connection between the island’s inhabitants, Joy Boy, Davy Jones, and the entire Buccaneer lineage.

Listen, Harald. I have a hidden name. It’s Davy D. Xebec. — Rocks D. Xebec to Harald

Shanks’s Mother Is An Important Character

The Red Hair Is More Important Than Fans Think

Interestingly, Eiichiro Oda recently revealed that Shanks didn’t get his red hair from his father – it was actually inherited from his mother! While Shanks’s father, Garling, has blond hair, Shanks’s mother is the one with red hair. Shanks clearly admires his mother, basing his entire image – including his nickname ‘Red Hair’ and the name of his crew – on her. He even considers a particular sake from God Valley to be the best he’s ever tasted. Oda has intentionally kept Shanks’s mother’s face hidden from fans, suggesting she’s a very important character and the omission isn’t accidental.

Shanks is known as the Child of Destiny, and although he isn’t Joy Boy himself, he seems to be a descendant of Joy Boy – a connection the author, Oda, has suggested throughout the story. Early drafts of *One Piece* featured a red-haired pirate with an eye patch, often confused with Zoro, but clearly based on Shanks. Oda plans to reintroduce a pirate with an eye patch in the final part of the story, potentially as Joy Boy. This character could be Shanks’s ancestor from the Void Century, essentially meaning Shanks is connected to the original Joy Boy.

Shanks And Joy Boy Look Alike

Oda Has Highlighted Similarities

I’ve been thinking about the big names in *One Piece* – people like Davy Jones, Rocks, Roger, and Whitebeard – and it seems odd that everyone assumes they all had children, but Joy Boy didn’t. It’s much more probable that Joy Boy *did* have a child, and that child eventually ended up in God Valley. Considering everything, I think Shanks’s mother is probably a descendant of Joy Boy.

Fans have noticed striking similarities between Shanks and the legendary Joy Boy throughout the *One Piece* series. In chapter 626, Joy Boy first appears, and his outline closely resembles Shanks. More recently, in chapter 1122, Joy Boy was depicted wearing clothing very similar to Shanks’-even the iconic Straw Hat. Both characters are also known for possessing incredibly powerful Haki. This connection was further emphasized in the Egghead arc, where Oda directly compared Joy Boy’s Haki to that of Shanks, suggesting a possible inherent trait within their lineage.

Shanks And Joy Boy Are Related

Shanks’s Mother Carries Joy Boy’s Blood

Many fans believe Shanks and Joy Boy share striking similarities in appearance, power, and even how they act. The story suggests Shanks has a special destiny, being born on an island with ties to the mysteries of the past, a legendary clan, and pirate history. We don’t know anything about Shanks’s mother, and the evidence points to him potentially *being* the current Joy Boy – meaning he’s a descendant. However, Shanks isn’t the one meant to defeat Imu. Instead, Joy Boy’s true will lives on in Luffy, with Shanks acting as a key supporter and working to bring peace to the world. Hopefully, the author will reveal more about Shanks soon, and fans can continue enjoying the unfolding story.

One Piece Chapter 1161 is scheduled for release this week, as usual on Sundays. While it becomes available in Japan at midnight on Monday (JST), most international fans will be able to read it on September 28, 2025. The official release date is September 28th, and the chapter will be available to read for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-09-25 01:39