Bartholomew Kuma is one of One Piece's most nuanced and complex characters. From originally appearing to the Straw Hats as an antagonist on Thriller Bark to utterly decimating the crew on the Sabaody Archipelago to then being revealed to be one of the Revolutionary Army's leaders, Bartholomew Kuma is riddle wrapped in an enigma. One Piece's most recent chapter, however, finally gives readers a glimpse into the tragic backstory of this troubled character.

In chapter 1074, readers see Kuma's daughter Bonney Jewelry, One Piece's new strongest heroine, attempting to access his memories. Previously, readers were told that Kuma lost his mind and any sense of self in order to become a slave for the Celestial Dragons, but the specifics of this process were never revealed until recently. It appears as though Kuma used his own Paw Paw fruit in order to forcefully extract his most painful memories and entrusted them to Dr. Vegapunk. When Bonney enters the memory sphere, she witnesses a vision of Kuma as a child being savagely beaten by a group of unnamed thugs or Marines. The pain, however, is too much for her to bear, and she is forced out of the memory. This is the first look at one of the series' most critical backstories, as Kuma is at the center of several mysteries. This brutal event may have served as a turning point in Kuma's life, marking the beginning of his journey towards becoming a feared warlord.

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Kuma's Amnesia in One Piece Was Caused By His Own Power

One Piece Reveals Kuma's Backstory

Kuma lies at the center of several One Piece mysteries. Readers are already familiar with the World Government's ability to manipulate information thanks to the notorious king of the underground news network, Morgans. This leaves Kuma with a case similar to the Straw Hats where the Navy has branded him a tyrant and a madman, but according to Bonney, the people of Sorbet Kingdom adored him. Kuma is also one of the leaders of the Revolutionary Army, a rebel faction whose sole goal is to completely oust the tyrannical Celestial Dragons and topple the World Government. Yet at the same time, Kuma gave up his mind and body to these sworn enemies, allowing Dr. Vegapunk to modify him into their robotic slave. Kuma is a man full of contradictions and the only way readers will ever know for sure just what drives him is a glimpse into his past.

One Piece's Kuma Faced Horrible Abuse As A Child

Kuma Getting Beaten

The events of Kuma's childhood should hold the key to understanding these mysteries. His volatile upbringing likely shaped his beliefs and values, sending him on a path toward joining the Revolutionary Army. It is likely that, like Monkey D. Dragon, Kuma witnessed some form of atrocity being committed in the name of the World Government which caused him to act in open rebellion. Though the history of Sorbet Kingdom isn't fully known, at some point in One Piece's past, Kuma acquired the Paw Paw fruit and became the king of his nation, openly declaring war against the World Government. This event may be one of the reasons he eventually volunteered to become a slave, as the threat of losing his people could have been what gave him the conviction to endure that humiliation. It is also possible that these experiences are what caused him to attack the Red Line, seeking revenge or retribution against those who wronged him.

Kuma remains the most mysterious man in a cast filled with interesting heroes and villains. With One Piece's next chapter already on its way soon, fans can hope to see his legendary backstory finally grace the series' panels.

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One Piece's latest chapter is available now from Viz Media!