Marco’s father or his past life? The wild One Piece Phoenix Devil Fruit theory explained

Since One Piece Chapter 1165 spoilers have come out, fans have taken notice of one character, and heavy speculation has begun. What started as a joke over Marco's full name potentially being 'Marco Polo' has spiraled into another speculation. We know that in Chapter 1165, a character named Polo Graham introduced himself to Whitebeard and called himself his biggest fan, so what if he is not the father of Marco at all?

According to popular theories, he could be the original user of the Tori Tori no Mi, and Marco could be his reincarnation. This Devil Fruit's name in English is Phoenix fruit, and if the name hints towards anything, then this theory being credible makes sense. This might sound like an absurd theory, but it has gained a significant amount of attention all over social media by the One Piece fandom.

While some are laughing at the idea, others are building complex reincarnation charts, and a few are pointing out that this would make Marco centuries old in One Piece if he has lived multiple lives through the same fruit. Knowing Eiichiro Oda, he has a history of connecting the most absurd plotlines and making them relevant. As of now, nothing has been confirmed, and with a break for a week upcoming, we might have to wait longer for an answer.

The One Piece Phoenix Devil Fruit theory: Rebirth beyond symbolism

At first glance, it sounds far-fetched. But then again, this is One Piece. Eiichiro Oda has made mythology, reincarnation, and symbolism cornerstones of his storytelling. The Phoenix Zoan fruit is unique among Mythical types, with the power to both heal and rise again from its own flames. Maybe Polo Graham’s death during the God Valley Incident will trigger the fruit’s true awakening, allowing the user’s soul to be reborn in a new body.

Marco, at the time just a child, could have been born as the “next life” of Graham’s essence, hence inheriting not only the Phoenix Fruit but also the heart of its original user. This would explain why Marco has this feeling of loyalty towards Whitebeard and shares an identical look with Polo Gahram in One Piece. Moreover, his character has always had a mature personality, which made him seem older than he truly is, which again supports the reincarnation theory.

Fan reactions to the “Marco reincarnation” theory

Netizens have been losing their mind over this One Piece theory because of the timing it was introduced in. As the intense God Valley Incident is being revealed, Oda introducing a character who resembles someone in the current time does seem like an intentional move.

There are a few who feel like this is far-fetched and disagree with every part of it. Some popular opinions and theories are:

"Mark my words, this man is not Marco’s father. He is the original user of the phoenix fruit. He is going to die at some point, and be reborn through his fruit as the Marco we know now. #OP1165 #ONEPIECE," said one fan.

"So when he dies, he starts from age 7? Because Marco is supposedly 7 years old here, your idea can only apply in one case: if he dies, the user reverts to the age at which he ate the fruit," added another fan.

"I don’t think that’s true cause if that’s true that’s mean that the Phoenix fruit only had one person eat it, and he has been dying and rising for thousands of years , and also they have different names so most likely it is his father and there’s some more to whitebeard story," added a netizen.

"The flames of restoration are the rebirth. Anything else is lazy writing by Oda. Phoenix never have had healing flames before, if Oda used them as anything other than the rebirth ability he hasn’t hinted at it or set it up at all," stated by another fan.

Regardless of belief, the community agrees on one thing: Oda’s subtle wordplay and layered character reveals keep the fandom hooked week after week.

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Final thoughts

Whether Polo Graham is Marco’s father or his past life, One Piece Chapter 1165 shows that Oda still knows how to break the internet. The theory might sound outlandish, but in One Piece, myth and metaphor often become literal. If the Phoenix fruit really does carry its user’s soul, Marco might not just be Whitebeard’s loyal son; he might be a soul that’s lived through the ages, destined to burn, die, and rise again.

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