What Happened To Bon Clay In One Piece?
Introducing Bon Clay
Bon Clay, whose real name is Bentham, is an okama character introduced in the Alabasta arc of One Piece. As a member of Baroque Works under the codename Mr. 2 Bon Kurei, he ate the Clone-Clone Fruit (Mane Mane no Mi) which allows him to physically transform into an exact copy of anyone he touches (source: https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Bentham). With his flamboyant personality and shapeshifting powers, Bon Clay provided some comic relief during the Alabasta saga. Though initially an antagonist, he later became an ally to the Straw Hats and helped them infiltrate the Alabasta kingdom. Bon Clay demonstrated his powers by transforming into various characters like Nami and Usopp. His cloning ability proved crucial in fooling the Baroque Works officer agents during the final confrontation in Alabasta.
Bon Clay’s Sacrifice in Impel Down
When Luffy infiltrates Impel Down prison to rescue his brother Ace, Bon Clay disguises himself as the warden Magellan in order to help Luffy advance further into the prison. He poses as Magellan and orders the guards to open the gates, allowing Luffy to progress.
However, Bon Clay’s actions are discovered and he is forced to battle the Demon Guards Jailer Beasts (source). He puts up a valiant effort but is eventually overwhelmed and defeated. Bon Clay sacrifices his own freedom and chooses to stay behind in Impel Down, covering Luffy’s escape.
This act of self-sacrifice allows Luffy to continue his mission to save Ace. Bon Clay is left injured and recaptured in Impel Down while Luffy advances. His heroic actions exemplify his friendship and loyalty to Luffy and the Straw Hats.
Surviving Impel Down
After his sacrifice to allow Luffy to escape, it seemed like Bon Clay had perished at the hands of the Demon Guards in Impel Down. However, Bon Clay managed to survive the attack, though he was gravely injured and imprisoned in Level 5 of Impel Down (1). As Luffy and his allies staged a mass breakout of Impel Down during the war at Marineford, Bon Clay was able to escape during the chaos and avoid being transferred to Marineford with the other prisoners (2). Though near death after his fight with the Demon Guards, Bon Clay showed his tenacious spirit by recovering from his injuries and seizing the opportunity to escape during the uproar caused by Luffy and his allies.
(1) https://onepiecebazaar.wordpress.com/2020/10/21/how-did-bon-kurei-survive-impel-down/
(2) https://www.reddit.com/r/OnePiece/comments/gkfpn7/howwhy_is_bon_clay_still_alive/
Undercover in the Navy
After escaping Impel Down, Bon Clay laid low for some time before reappearing in the Navy undercover. He joined the Navy ranks in disguise in order to spy on Blackbeard and his crew from within. As explained in a Reddit discussion, during the timeskip Bon Clay hypnotized Navy guards to open the Gates of Justice for Blackbeard’s crew, allowing them to break into Impel Down (source).
While undercover, Bon Clay gathered intel on Blackbeard and passed information to Monkey D. Dragon and the Revolutionaries. He managed to keep his true identity secret for years until the events of the Levely arc, where he shed his disguise and fought to protect the kings Riku Dold III and Nefertari Cobra (source). After this, his undercover operation ended but demonstrated his ongoing loyalty and commitment to helping friends even at great personal risk.
Return at the Reverie
At the end of the Reverie arc in the manga, Bon Clay makes a dramatic return to help his friends the Straw Hats escape. As the Straw Hats are being pursued by Marines led by Fujitora and Ryokugyu, Bon Clay reveals himself in disguise as one of the Marines [1]. This allows the Straw Hats to make their getaway.
Bon Clay had actually infiltrated the Reverie undercover, disguising himself as one of the Navy guards. As Reddit user u/UpbeatBeast explains, “The revolutionaries were defeated at the Reverie, so Bon Clay took it upon himself to rescue them” [2]. This surprise appearance thrilled fans, who were excited to see Bon Clay again after so many years.
His bold sacrifice back in Impel Down had left fans wondering about Bon Clay’s fate. But this return proves that he had survived and gone on to become an undercover agent for the revolutionaries. Once again, Bon Clay demonstrates his unwavering loyalty to his friends by putting his life on the line to ensure their escape.
Joining Newkama Land
After the events at the Reverie, Bon Clay joined Newkama Land, a secret society for okamas started by Emporio Ivankov deep within the Impel Down prison (https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Bentham). Newkama Land served as a refuge for cross-dressers and okamas, and Bon Clay quickly became one of the leaders there. As the new queen of Newkama Land, Bon Clay found a community that accepted him and allowed him to fully embrace his okama identity (https://www.reddit.com/r/OnePiece/comments/11bdoyx/where_in_the_world_is_bon_clay/).
Though initially a prisoner at Impel Down, Bon Clay made the best of the situation by helping grow and support the burgeoning okama community. His leadership revitalized Newkama Land and he remains an integral part of it to this day.
Current Status
Bon Clay is currently living in Newkama Land after escaping from Impel Down. Despite being far away, he remains a steadfast ally of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates. After his selfless sacrifice to enable Luffy’s escape from Impel Down, Bon Clay managed to survive and eventually find his way to Newkama Land, the secret kingdom inhabited solely by okama like himself (Stack Exchange). Here, Bon Clay is able to live freely among others like him, no longer needing to hide his identity or face persecution. From his new home, Bon Clay continues to support Luffy in his quest to become Pirate King, helping the Straw Hats from afar whenever he can.
Even though they are physically far apart, the bond between Luffy and Bon Clay remains strong. During the Reverie arc, Bon Clay disguised himself as a member of the Navy in order to aid Vivi and protect the Straw Hats (SportsKeeda). This demonstrates that despite the distance and time apart, Bon Clay is still willing to risk his life for Luffy’s sake. For now, Bon Clay seems content living in Newkama Land while staying updated on his friend’s exploits through the newspaper. He continues to cheer Luffy on in his heart, waiting for the day their paths may cross again.
Bon Clay’s Legacy
Bon Clay’s most notable legacy is his heroic actions and sacrifice for Luffy and his friends. As discussed on the One Piece Wiki, when the Straw Hats were trying to escape Impel Down, Bon Clay disguised himself as Magellan to buy them time, knowing he would likely be severely punished as a result. This act of selfless loyalty left a strong impression on Luffy, representing the theme of true friendship in One Piece. As noted in an analysis on Reddit, Bon Clay’s willingness to give up his freedom and even his life for Luffy’s dream resonated deeply.
In addition to friendship, Bon Clay also embodies the themes of identity and being true to oneself. With his flamboyant Okama persona, he defies gender norms and lives authentically. As described on the Boo! World database, he fully embraces his senses and emotions without inhibition. While treated as an outcast, the connections he forms with Luffy and others show the power of embracing one’s identity.
Significance to Story
Bon Clay played an important role in aiding Luffy and the other prisoners escape Impel Down. As Luffy progressed further down Impel Down to save Ace, Bon Clay disguised himself as the Chief Guard Hannyabal using his Devil Fruit powers and provided critical aid to Luffy. This allowed Luffy to break through and reach Level 6 where Ace was held (Source).
Bon Clay’s assistance was crucial in the larger narrative as it enabled Luffy to ultimately reach Marineford and try to save Ace. While Luffy failed to save Ace, Bon Clay’s efforts allowed him to at least attempt a rescue of his brother. This impacted Luffy’s character growth and strengthened his resolve. It also built the larger narrative leading up to the Paramount War saga between the World Government and Whitebeard Pirates (Source).
Bon Clay repeatedly risks his life to aid Luffy despite barely knowing him. This highlights his selfless nature and establishes him as one of Luffy’s most loyal friends. His sacrifice leaves an impact on Luffy and readers alike.
Conclusion
In summary, Bon Clay’s story arc in One Piece has been defined by his unwavering loyalty, self-sacrifice and continued mysterious whereabouts after the Impel Down arc. As a friend of the Straw Hats pirates, he helped them infiltrate Impel Down to rescue Ace, putting his own life on the line multiple times. His fate after holding off jailers so Luffy could escape remains unclear, though most fans believe Oda’s comments imply Bon Clay survived. Going forward, many hope to see Bon Clay’s return before One Piece ends – either helping Luffy again or living freely in Newkama Land. Regardless of his current status, his heroic actions at Impel Down cemented his legacy as one of the most beloved side characters.
