For this piece I’ll be discussing some of my favorite antagonists, from the outright vicious to the megalomaniac, with a President and a Cowboy in-between.
15. Pet Shop
Pet Shop is one of the most terrifying, violent, and aggressive antagonists of the franchise. It’s a falcon, a guardian of DIO’s mansion determined to act as a sentry to any who might intrude on his master’s domain. Its Stand, [Horus], is a simple one – the ability to create and manipulate ice which it can propel like a missile – but incredibly effective when in control of a swift and ferocious bird.
14. Tooru
The only reason Tooru isn’t higher up is because we haven’t seen enough of him yet. He’s shaping up to be the major antagonist of JoJolion (if there is one), though his goals haven’t been entirely defined yet. Nonetheless, he’s the youngest and most jovial of the main antagonists, with a youthful hairstyle and fashion sense, and a keen interest in music and love. Much like every other character of the part, he’s shaping up to be ambiguously complex and deep – here’s hoping he develops to even greater places!
13. Ringo Roadagain
In only three chapters, Ringo Roadagain cemented himself as many people’s favorite minor antagonist. From his sleek, smart, cowboy aesthetic to his calm and cool utilization of his Stand, [Mandom], Ringo is dripping with cool. Born with a weak disposition he needed to overcome, shortly after murdering the man who massacred his family, Ringo dedicated himself to the idea of self-realization and betterment. He proves himself as more than just an antagonist for Gyro and Johnny, inspiring them both in the process and embedding within Gyro his ideology. Truly, an iconic Araki character.
12. Blackmore
Blackmore is the soft-spoken henchmen of Funny Valentine, acting as a bodyguard and assassin. However, he’s eventually repurposed to acquire the Corpse Parts. He wears a hooded poncho, and when he activates his Stand, [Catch the Rainbow], he acquires a mask that allows him to literally walk on frozen raindrops in the sky. He can then apply momentum to the drop before firing it off with an accumulated velocity, able to rip through things with the force of a bullet. Despite his Stand’s specific precondition of it needing to rain, it’s incredibly powerful, and therefore a situational trump card. He’s one of my favorite villains of Steel Ball Run because of his brilliant design and unique personality.
11. Axl RO
Axl RO ushers in the final third of Steel Ball Run with an unforgettable yet minor appearance. He’s sent by Valentine to acquire the Corpse Parts and encounters Johnny, Gyro, and Hot Pants. Dressed in a rag and wearing a military helmet, Axl and his Stand, [Civil War], personify guilt. After being distracted by alcohol and boredom while on overwatch for his fellow troops, he allowed enemy soldiers to bypass him and massacre his squad. Since then, he’s searched for a way to repent. He’s a complex character with plenty of depth, despite his underwhelming short presence, and proves Araki’s ability at secondary character writing.
10. Risotto Nero
Risotto is really cool. From his Stand, [Metallica], to his calm yet ruthless disposition. There’s a lot to like here. After the death of his cousin at the hand of a drunk driver, Risotto went on a path of retributive assassination and found himself recruited into Passione. Shortly thereafter, he was given the leadership role of La Squadra Esecuzioni, tasked with hitman services. However, their group were not completely trusted by The Boss, leading to them betraying Passione to seek their over ruler’s identity and take his turf for themselves. Risotto is calm, serious, and incredibly analytical. His brief appearances and build up made his showdown between Doppio and himself one of the best moments of Golden Wind.
9. Kars
Kars is the dark reflection of Joseph Joestar, as an equal trickster and master of deception with quick wit and a stellar intellect. He’s a pillar man, one of the last after murdering his entire tribe and sparing only three disciples to take with him into a new world. His egomaniacal desire to rule atop, to be superior to all and everyone, makes him a formidable and selfish foe – yet he’s also shown to share equal respect towards organic life that isn’t humanoid. The way he treats his familiars is confounding, too. As sometimes he’s disdainful and other times he expresses care. For the second major antagonist of the series, Kars certainly made a lasting impression.
8. Enrico Pucci
Enrico is the ex-lover and devoted follower of DIO, who he considers a lord capable of “achieving Heaven,” and shares many of his manic tendencies and complex philosophies. His ultimate goal is to convince humans of their predetermined lack of agency, and he will go to any extent to achieve it. He uses three Stands throughout Stone Ocean: the Stand-stealing [Whitesnake], the gravity distorting [C-Moon], and the time dilating [Made in Heaven]. Each is incredibly powerful in their own way and prove an overwhelming challenge to the protagonists of part 6.
7. Diavolo
The illusive, hidden antagonist of Golden Wind, and the antithesis of all our main gang stand for. He’s selfish, paranoid, depersonalized, and frightened. He deflects these flaws towards the world and those surrounding, and aims to erase himself from the history books whilst still retaining power. In a nutshell, Diavolo is a conflicted, complex man with crippling megalomaniacal thoughts. Not to mention an overwhelming Stand in [King Crimson]. Even when we finally reach him, he continuously evades us – in a way, he achieved his wish to the end.
6. Dio Brando
Dio is the main antagonist of the first part of JoJo’s, Phantom Blood, and perhaps the most iconic. He’s a brash, egocentric youth born into lower class before being adopted by the aristocratic Joestar family. This sets him on a jealous inferiority path that leads him wanting to control the world by becoming a vampire. He re-appears as the main antagonist of the third part, Stardust Crusaders, however now a century older and far more egomaniacal. He takes on the name DIO, perhaps as an act of grandiose God complex. He possesses the incredible Stand [The World] which he wields with ruthless proficiency. Dio Brando, DIO, is an iconic character in the medium, with some of his quotes being some of the most recognized anime memes around.
5. Jobin Higashikata
Jobin is one of the most complex antagonists of the franchise. Though his methods and goals diametrically oppose the protagonist’s, they are nonetheless justifiable in his eyes. His primary motive is to lift the curse hanging over his family, and specifically save his son at any cost. However, he’s willing to get his hands dirty and enact trickery if it means getting his way. His oddities, from design to interests, make him one of the most entertaining antagonists. He loves beetles, his wife and mother and son, and has a hotheaded personality reflected in his Stand, the heat wielding [Speed King].
4. Vinegar Doppio
The delusional Vinegar Doppio believes he is a trusted subordinate of the Passione Boss, frequently contacted via phones in the environment. In reality, he is The Boss – or, his other half Diavolo is, at least. He doesn’t technically have a Stand, relying on a partial usage of [King Crimson] leant to him courtesy of Diavolo. But he’s a wacky, well-designed character, and he steals every scene he’s featured in.
3. Diego Brando
Diego is the alternate universe equivalent to Dio Brando, sporting the same intellect and British wit, as well as his superiority complex. He acts as a major antagonist with wavering ideals and ambitions, willing to play any side to get his way. After being afflicted with the Corpse’s Left Eye whilst a dinosaur (thanks to the effects of Dr. Ferdinand’s [Scary Monsters]), he receives his own variation. So he can transform himself and others into prehistoric creatures, which he uses in the Steel Ball Run to fight his way to various victories throughout the part. He’s far more complex than the original universe Dio, with a cooler character design and constantly changing wants.
2. Yoshikage Kira
Yoshikage Kira just wants to live a quiet, undisturbed life. After a childhood visit to see the Mona Lisa, he developed a paraphilic obsession towards female hands that led him down a life of secretive, discreet serial killing. Big surprise. He resides in the quiet town of Morioh, and after one of his previous victims asks the protagonists for help, he becomes headhunted and driven to survive. I’d say he’s the opposite of most JoJo’s antagonists, wanting to not be recognized and desiring no power outside of the control of his own life. He’s a fascinating case study with an amazing Bowie-esque character design and explosive [Killer Queen] Stand.
1. Funny Valentine
Funny Valentine is the most complex antagonist JoJo’s has offered so far. He’s the 23rd President of the United States, who established the Steel Ball Run race as a front for the retrieval of the sacred Corpse Parts of Jesus Christ. He uses his Stand, [Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap], to traverse dimensions for assault and defense reasons. Plus his design is extravagant, unashamedly patriotic in every way, and he embodies this design with his values and philosophy. He wants the USA to be on top, no matter the cost, and his dialogue with Johnny towards the climax is one of the best parts of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
