One of One Piece’s most baffling fan theories could have some legitimacy behind it, but that doesn’t make it any less ridiculous.

The realm of One Piece fan theories is a wild place to explore, especially given the recent surge in popularity that the series has enjoyed since the airing of the live-action adaptation on Netflix. Whether it’s off-the-wall head canon or reasonable logic, there is a convoluted fan theory regarding virtually every single character in the series and why something is the way it’s presented in a piece of media. This is especially true in long-form storytelling mediums like manga, and doubly so for a series as long as One Piece.

One of the most popular — and, frankly, hilarious — One Piece fan theories revolves around the idea that Crocodile, the former leader of the notorious criminal organization known as Baroque Works, is the mother of the series’ happy-go-lucky protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. Considering Crocodile is confirmed to be a male character, he should seemingly be dismissed as a potential candidate to be the character’s mother; however, thanks to the powers of a particular Devil Fruit, anything is possible.

One Piece is quickly progressing into its final saga, and with each passing chapter, more and more information about the series’ mysterious lore comes to surface. Crocodile was reintroduced to the narrative during the debut of the newly-formed Cross Guild, so he could potentially re-enter the spotlight in the near future. This, coupled with Ivankov’s appearance in the God Valley flashback, may ultimately provide even more fuel to the infamous Crocomom theory.

The Origin Of The Female Crocodile Theory

In order to understand Crocodile’s complicated past, one must be familiar with Emperor Ivankov. The colorful character serves as the leader of Komabakka Kingdom, and thanks to his Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, the Horm-Horm Fruit, he has risen to the rank of Commander within the Revolutionary Army. Using this Devil Fruit, Ivankov can manipulate the hormones inside any target (including himself), allowing him to make massive changes to their physcial form. Normally, this Devil Fruit’s usefulness stems from its ability to empower and heal its targets, but as evidenced throughout both the Impel Down and Marineford Arcs, Emperor Ivankov can also use his powers to do something else — change an individual’s gender.

While Emperor Ivankov is helping Monkey D. Luffy try and rescue his brother, Portgas D. Ace, from Impel Down, they encounter some of the world’s most heinous villains, as well as a slew of notable Marines. After narrowly avoiding capture on multiple occasions, they encounter the former Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile, within the prison’s lowest level. At first, Crocodile doesn’t seem particularly committed to their cause; however, once Ivankov threatens to expose some unnamed secret belonging to the criminal, he quickly decides to assist their efforts.

Almost 15 years after these episodes first aired, Crocodile’s secret still hasn’t been revealed, leaving many to wonder what Ivankov could have possibly been referencing. Given Emperor Ivankov’s propensity to change the gender of his allies, the most common assumption is that the Revolutionary Army Commander helped Crocodile become a biological man at some undetermined point in the past.

Eiichiro Oda Added To The Female Crocodile Theory

Although the idea that Crocodile was once a woman is still fairly unlikely, One Piece‘s author, Eiichiro Oda, has added plenty of fuel the fire. The series’ creator seems keenly aware of the theories regarding Crocodile’s gender, and whether it’s intentional, he has mentioned several details that hint toward the former Warlord of the Sea possessing a feminine side. In many volumes of One Piece, the series will dedicate a page to answering fan questions, many of which shed light on some of its more obscure topics. Since these questions are answered by Eiichiro Oda himself, they often reveal canon information. While he has never stated anything that directly confirms Crocodile was a woman, he has explored some related topics.

In Volume 63 of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda answers a question from a fan who asked the author to draw all the Warlords of the Sea as children (something he has done for other characters in previous volumes). Oda’s subsequent illustrations are a fun treat for fans of the series, but even more importantly, they show Crocodile at an early age — presumably before he would have had the chance to change his gender. Compared to the other Warlods, Crocodile is notably more androgynous, leaving room for the female Crocodile theory to survive; additionally, Eiichiro Oda also drew Crocodile as a woman in a separate SBS in Volume 92 of One Piece, providing fans with a concrete idea of what the character might look like before his hypothetical run-in with Emperor Ivankov. .

So, Is Crocodile Luffy’s Mother?

Arguably the most important piece of evidence supporting the female Crocodile theory is the character’s obscured face during Gol D. Roger’s execution. As shown in a flashback to the King of the Pirate’s execution in Loguetown, the future Warlord of the Sea was present at the event, but for some reason, his face is completely hidden. While this may seem to be a simple stylistic decision, it’s been replicated in both the anime and live-action adaptations, perhaps hinting that the character’s appearance is hidden for a specific reason. His slicked-back hair, earring, and cigar are on prominent display in this flashback and arranged very similarly to how they are in the SBS that shows him as a woman, and given how long ago Roger’s execution was, it’s entirely possible that Crocodile was still a woman during this scene.

Since there’s literally no information regarding Luffy’s mother, it is possible that the preposterous-sounding Crocomom theory could be true. The idea that Crocodile may have once been a woman is fairly supported by textual evidence, but as One Piece rapidly approaches its final saga, there is less and less time for a groundbreaking reveal like one that would involve the Warlord of the Sea giving birth to Luffy. No additional evidence supporting the Crocomom theory has appeared since Crocodile’s resurgence as a joint leader of the Cross Guild, so for now, the theory will have to remain a beloved meme in the community.

Src: cbr.com