One Piece Chapter 1181 Spoilers Hint How Imu Is Related to Joyboy

With the upcoming One Piece Chapter 1181 surfacing on the internet, things are getting more intriguing than ever before. As we were reading the spoilers for the upcoming chapter, a particular statement caught our eye, which yet again indicates a deeper lore, like the “Maki” reveal in Chapter 1180. There is also a summary of Chapter 1181 spoilers available by the trusted manga leaker @pewpiece (via X):

— Pew (@pewpiece) April 21, 2026

From what we could gather after analyzing the panel and available information, it seems Saint Nerona Imu and Joyboy share a more intimate past than we had thought. Here’s what was revealed and what we personally think of it in this article.

One Piece Chapter 1181: Imu and Joyboy Might Be Closer Than We Think

As we progress further into the story, it seems the mangaka Eiichiro Oda has massive reveals and hints lined up one after another. Just recently, it was the “Maki” reveal with Chapter 1180, and now this with the upcoming chapter. In Chapter 1181, Imu explains that humanity’s desire for “power” leads to “corruption” while fighting Loki. While the prince of Elbaph defies his words, Imu replies that true happiness only comes under “domination”.

This is where things get interesting: As Imu narrates these words, the panels show a dark silhouette with a hat. If this wasn’t clear enough, the dark (shaded in the manga) figure is none other than Joyboy, which Imu also clarifies with the following statement:

Isn’t that right, Joyboy!!!

From the panels, it seems that Joyboy and Imu were friends, and this was something Imu mentioned to the former in the past. This hints towards a more disagreement-ish relationship they had in the past, of course, only time and Eiichiro Oda will reveal. In the meantime, here are some of the possible connections we think both might have shared in the past.

Possible Theories About Imu and Joyboy’s Relationship in the Past

The recent spoilers honestly open up a lot of possibilities towards the relationship that Imu and Joyboy might have carried in the past; a close friendship is something none of us would have thought in a million years, until Oda’s small panel in the upcoming Chapter 1181. If they were close, then the possibility could be that they were friends 900 years ago, before becoming enemies, which can very well tie directly into the Void Century conflict.

On the topic of exploring possibilities, hear this: Imu and Joyboy started on the same side as good friends. However, Imu betrayed Joyboy, and the two became powerful rivals from intimate friends. This betrayal could have led to the fall of the Ancient Kingdom and the rise of the World Government we know today. There’s also the ideological barrier that could have been a possibility: Joyboy believed in freedom and liberation, while Imu firmly believed in absolute rule and order.

If we really put our mind to it, the possibilities are endless and can be anything, but one thing we know for sure is that Imu and Joyboy weren’t just simple rivals and enemies – they have a much deeper connection in the past. Imu’s anger and fear towards Joyboy can well stem from past trauma and loss of a good friend, rather than the return of an old enemy in the face of the Straw Hat Pirates’ captain, Monkey D. Luffy.

CREATOR	Eiichiro Oda
CHAPTER 1181 RELEASE DATE	April 26, 2026
MAL RATING (As of April 22, 2026)	9.21/10
WHERE TO READ	MangaPlus, Viz Media

What are your thoughts on the spoilers from the upcoming Chapter 1181? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

All Episodes of One Piece are available to watch on Crunchyroll, and you can read the manga officially on the MangaPlus and Viz Media app and website.