The Devil is Here, and Their Name is Imu
One Piece Chapter 1150 Review/Recap
If anyone still had doubts about what Imu is supposed to be in One Piece, that’s been put to rest. Imu is, in no uncertain terms, the series version of the Devil. Not only have they fooled the world into thinking they don’t exist, but they’ve made most of those who do know of their existence see them as a God. And as we see in this new chapter of the manga, the Devil can bring out the worst in anyone, even those who are good!
Recap
Having used some sort of power to possess the body of Gunko, Imu proceeds to make their prescence known in Elbaph. Unleashing a massive burst of Haki to knock the Giant kids and adults out, Imu transforms Gunko into a clsssical depiction of the Devil before berating their followers for failing to handle things in Elbaph. Taking command of the situation by having Sommers take charge of the kids, the Devil turns their attention to establishing proper authority in the land of Giants.
Singling out Dorry and Brogy to be the new rulers of Elbaph, Imu proceeds to blow off Brogy’s arm before summoning a demonic book and casting a dark circle. Uttering the words “Domi Reversi,” the other Giants watch in horror as Brogy is sucked underneath. When he emerges, he’s several times bigger, more violent, and sporting a demonic look. It gets worse, though, as Dorry and several Giants have met a similar fate. Impressed with their new minions, Imu commands them to kill Jarul and proclaim themselves to be the new kings of Elbaph. And in a final double-page spread, we see the truly horrifying forces the Devil has summoned to conquer Elbaph, forcing everyone to run in terror!
Review
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about, people: Imu is the Devil. They can possess others, transform them into demonic servants in exchange for their lifespans, and desire absolute control over all they see. Those are all the hallmarks of the Devil and they are named Imu. And they might be the most terrifying thing that Luffy and the others may ever face.
There is a heated debate throughout the fandom about the nature of Imu and whether or not they’re even human or an actual human. If the Revolutionaries’ theory holds up, then Imu is one of the original founders of the World Government, made immortal through the power of the Op-Op Fruit. This chapter seems to support that, as Imu says they must use someone’s life force to fuel their powers. Being immortal would eliminate this drawback on themselves. We still don’t know whether Imu’s powers are from a Devil Fruit or something completely alien, but if it’s the former, it’s likely one of the strongest Fruits in existence. Strong enough to turn someone into an actual Devil and defy all logic and reason to do whatever they wanted.
Imu is the Antithesis to Joy Boy
Which only makes Luffy’s role as the next Joy Boy all the more important.
The previous arc all but confirmed that Luffy has become the newest incarnation of the Sun God, Nika. Nika is the ultimate embodiment of joy, laughter, and freedom. Therefore, Imu serves as their antithesis. They can perform feats on a similar scale, but they’re about power, subjugation, and control. This last part is especially telling since Imu’s main priority this chapter is to establish order and control over Elbaph rather than destroy it outright. They are everything that Luffy naturally opposes, and thus will inevitably clash.
This is brilliant on Oda’s part. If Luffy is meant to be the second coming of Pirate Jesus, then it would make sense to have him battle the Devil themselves. And if it wasn’t Blackbeard, it would be Imu. And right now, Luffy is the only one who can save Elbaph! Hopefully, the next few chapters will see him finally recover enough to join the battle, because right now, the situation feels hopeless.
I Give “Domi Reversi” a 4.5/5
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