So far, theories about Imu have been all over the place, ranging from a demonic origin to connections with the Lunarian race. The biggest reason for these speculations is that in the manga, Imu is always heavily shadowed, and creator Eiichiro Oda has yet to reveal the character’s official skin color.
However, the latest move from the production team may have accidentally confirmed a crucial detail.
One Piece Volume 115 cover hints at Imu’s official skin color
The official One Piece X (Twitter) account recently unveiled the cover for Volume 115, set to release on July 3, 2026. The cover features Loki, Ragnir, Luffy in his Gear 5 form wielding lightning, and notably Gunko while possessed by Imu.
What shocked online detectives is that Gunko’s skin is distinctly red. This is no coincidence. In a time-lapse video showing Oda’s process sketching this cover, fans noticed he experimented with many different skin tones before settling on red for Gunko.
Many believe that Gunko’s red skin while possessed indicates that Imu’s own skin is red. Longtime fans know Oda typically finalizes a character’s official colors only when they appear on a volume cover.
Previously, in Volume 113, Oda also changed the color palettes of the Holy Knights multiple times before settling on the final versions used by the anime. This means the red tone is unlikely to be just a random lighting effect.
Debunking the popular “Fallen Lunarian” theory
Before Volume 115’s release, Imu’s heavily shadowed appearance in the manga led fans to assume the World Government’s leader has dark skin. Combined with black wings and strange marks on the face, the theory that Imu is a Lunarian (like King) gained huge popularity across forums.
Some even speculated Imu might be a “fallen Lunarian” similar to the fallen angel Lucifer, or a hybrid between the Ancient Giants and Lunarians due to his towering build.
However, if the red skin detail on the Volume 115 cover is true, all these theories are effectively discarded. Fans will have to rethink Imu’s origins from scratch.
That said, red skin fits well with the demonic theme surrounding this character. Interestingly, in Japanese mythology, some Oni (demons) have blue skin, a color Oda also considered for Gunko during the cover’s sketching process before finalizing red.
When will we get an official confirmation?
Although the evidence is strong, nothing is official until Imu appears in a colored illustration or a future volume cover. Imu’s debut in the anime is expected to be far off, possibly as late as 2028 if the anime continues adapting one chapter per episode and airs about 26 episodes per year.
The good news is fans will see Gunko possessed by Imu in the 2026 anime season before the next hiatus. By then, all doubts should be cleared up!