This article contains spoilers for the Elbaf arc in One Piece.
Overview
- Shanks’ Acquisition of the Gomu Gomu no Mi
- Luffy’s Consumption of the Devil Fruit
- Hints About Previous Nika Devil Fruit Users in Film Red
Quick Navigation
- Luffy’s Discovery and Consumption of the Gomu Gomu no Mi
- Oda’s Near-Reveal of the Last Gomu Gomu no Mi User
The Final Saga of One Piece unfolds a treasure trove of secrets about its universe. A major plot twist involves the Gomu Gomu no Mi, also known as the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. This remarkable Devil Fruit is integral to the storyline, as it possesses divine powers. While Luffy is the current bearer of this ability, he is not the first; other users have existed before him, some of whom have been hinted at in Eiichiro Oda’s recent works.
Luffy’s Encounter with the Gomu Gomu no Mi
Initially, the Gomu Gomu no Mi seemed to be an ordinary Devil Fruit when Luffy first consumed it. However, its extraordinary nature was later revealed. Shanks and his crew had stolen the fruit long before Luffy stumbled upon it in his hometown of Fushia Village, East Blue. The moment Luffy ingested it, his journey as the Rubber Man began.
The one I truly hold a grudge against is Shanks, who stole the fruit from me 13 years ago! — Who’s Who
During the Wano Country arc, fans discovered that the fruit’s actual name is the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, unveiling its godlike powers. As Luffy awakened these abilities, the true extent of the Sun God Nika’s powers came to light.
Oda’s Almost-Reveal of the Previous Gomu Gomu no Mi User
The Original Concept for Film Red
As it currently stands, the Gomu Gomu no Mi’s importance is well established, yet the identities of its previous users remain largely mysterious. Notably, Joy Boy has been identified as a previous user, having held the powers before Luffy. He lived during the Void Century, a period crucial to the history of One Piece where significant events unfolded. Notably, Joy Boy possessed the ability to stretch and shrink, embodying the essence of the Sun God Nika.
Just like Nika from the tales of Elbaf, Joy Boy had the power to shrink and stretch! — Vegapunk
Interestingly, Oda initially planned for the storyline of One Piece: Film Red to delve into the background of the Gomu Gomu no Mi’s previous user, potentially allowing Luffy to interact with this character in a time-travel scenario. However, this concept ultimately did not reach fruition.
Oda is known for his strategic narrative choices, and it is unlikely he would reveal pivotal historical figures such as Joy Boy through a film. The intention may have been to explore Luffy’s connection to this past user without disclosing details about the Void Century in a secondary medium.
Although Joy Boy may be recognized as the earliest known user of the Nika fruit, it is presumed that there were others before Luffy, based on Oda’s speculative storytelling methods. It has been established that the Gomu Gomu no Mi was last awakened during the Void Century, marking Joy Boy as the fruit’s first awakened user, with Luffy now following nearly 800 years later.
The anticipation around whether fans will witness the legacy of previous bearers of the Gomu Gomu no Mi continues to build. Presently, the creative direction lies with Oda and the team behind Film Red, leaving many questions unanswered.
Chapter 1145 of One Piece is set for release soon, with its scheduled drop on April 6, 2025. Readers can expect the chapter to be available on Manga Plus.