Who killed Joy Boy? Was it Imu, the World Government or his own ally?

SUMMARY

Joy Boy’s death is related to the sleeping Iron Giant which had attacked the Mary Geoise 200 years ago.
The Iron Giant is powered by Luffy and attacked the World Government quarters as it had contained Joy Boy for centuries.
The Giant killed Joy Boy to rid him of his suffering at the hands of the Government.

Chapter 1115 of One Piece showed a continuation of Vegapunk’s message to the world. The genius scientist explained that it took an alliance of 20 nations to defeat Joy Boy. Yet, who murdered Joy Boy is still unclear.

Eiichiro Oda’s habit is to sprinkle Easter Eggs all throughout One Piece so that readers can piece them together to make their own theory. Similarly, if you treat the manga chapters like puzzle pieces then you are bound to have suspicions about who could have killed Joy Boy.

All the Hints Sprinkled in One Piece Regarding Joy Boy

Dr. Vegapunk reveals Joy Boy was the First Pirate in One Piece | Viz Media
Joy Boy played a great role as a liberator during the Void Century. He is also the first man to ever become a pirate. We learn about him from the messages recorded in Poneglyphs. One Poneglyph contained an apology to the Fish-Man Island’s merpeople. Joy Boy apologized for being unable to liberate them and promised that he would return to fulfill his promise.

Later, when Luffy attained Gear 5, it was confirmed that Luffy was the second coming of Joy Boy. Another essential piece of info is the Iron Giant. This behemoth robot was created around 900 years ago and attacked Mary Geoise around 200 years ago. Since it was created during the Void Century, its full capabilities are unknown

It was powered by the Drums of Liberation when Luffy activated his Gear 5. When the Iron Giant woke up from its slumber, it apologized to Joy Boy.

It was also revealed that Joy Boy’s death caused the end of the Void Century and the grand battle that happened is the cause of the fragmented islands of the world at present.

Joyboy’s straw hat | Viz Media
In episode 885 of One Piece, a Giant Straw Hat similar to the one Luffy wears was shown in a room at the Holy Land of Mariejois. Imu was the only one who could access it. But what is a giant hat doing there? Who is the killer of Joy Boy, prepare for the theory that will blow your mind.

Who Killed Joy Boy During the Void Century in One Piece?

The Iron Giant apologizing to Joy Boy holds a key element to discovering Joy Boy’s murderer. The power source for the robot is unknown and Luffy even concluded that it was programmed to be autonomous. Yet, the giant woke up in the presence of Joy Boy’s reincarnation.
The Iron Giant apologizing to Joyboy (Credit: Viz Media)
Even Vegapunk’s Moth Flame wasn’t enough to awaken the robot. A theory states that it is Joy Boy’s aura or presence that triggers the Giant Robot to function. So Gear 5 serves as a huge energy production plant.

If Joy Boy had the same Devil Fruit, it means that the Iron Giant was able to function when Joy Boy was alive. The power of the Iron Giant could be one of the reasons why it took the forces of 20 allied countries to defeat the rebels.
Gear 5 Luffy in One Piece |Crunchyroll
This could be why the World Government was after Joy Boy, to use his power source for themselves. What if Joy Boy’s energy after being defeated is still being used to power the Ancient Weapons? What if the man was barely kept alive for the sake of the World Government?

Once again, the answer lies with the Iron Giant’s apology, the same robot who invaded Mary Geoise around 200 years ago. What if, in order to free Joy Boy of his misery, the Iron Giant decided to kill the man? His apology stems from the fact that he had to kill the guy who gave him life.