Dio Brando

Dio is extraordinarily ambitious and views relationships primarily through power. Growing up in poverty under Dario Brando leaves him determined to rise above his origins, but his response is not simply a desire for security. He wants wealth, superiority and control, and he quickly identifies the Joestar inheritance as a route toward all three.

He is intelligent enough to hide much of his cruelty behind excellent manners and social accomplishment. At the Joestar estate, Dio studies hard, excels athletically and deliberately wins the approval of George Joestar I. At the same time, he isolates Jonathan Joestar, turning Jonathan's friends against him and attacking the things he values. Dio prefers domination that proves his superiority, making humiliation nearly as important to him as practical victory.

Dio's pride becomes increasingly pronounced as his power grows. He despises being placed beneath another person and reacts violently when Jonathan proves capable of resisting him. He can respect strength or determination, but that recognition rarely becomes compassion. Instead, capable opponents become obstacles to overcome, exploit or destroy.

Even as a human, Dio is physically capable and highly intelligent. He becomes an accomplished boxer during his youth, demonstrates strong academic performance and carefully manipulates the people around the Joestar family. His ability to plan patiently is central to his attempt to acquire the Joestar fortune.

After using the Stone Mask, Dio becomes a vampire. The transformation grants him superhuman strength, speed, endurance and regenerative ability far beyond ordinary humans. He can survive injuries that would normally be fatal, manipulate his own body to an abnormal degree and create zombies by introducing his essence into human corpses or victims. Sunlight and Ripple energy remain major weaknesses because Ripple reproduces properties similar to solar energy.

Dio develops several specialized vampiric techniques. Vaporization Freezing Technique allows him to freeze an opponent by rapidly vaporizing moisture from his own body and drawing heat from whatever he touches, providing a defense against Ripple users who normally depend on physical contact. Space Ripper Stingy Eyes expels highly pressurized fluid from his eyes as cutting jets capable of piercing flesh and other materials over distance. He can also graft body parts together and create grotesque hybrid servants.

His greatest practical strength is his willingness to experiment with the Stone Mask's effects. Rather than treating vampirism only as enhanced physical power, Dio builds forces of undead servants and searches for methods of countering the specific advantages wielded by Ripple users.

Dio arrives at the Joestar estate in 1880 after the death of Dario Brando. Because George Joestar I believes he owes Dario his life, he takes Dio into his home and raises him alongside Jonathan Joestar. Dio immediately begins undermining Jonathan, beating him in boxing, alienating his friends and attacking his relationship with Erina Pendleton.

Seven years later, Dio has established himself as an apparently exemplary member of the family while Jonathan studies archaeology. Jonathan discovers that Dio has been secretly poisoning George using the same method Dio used against his own father. When Jonathan gathers proof, Dio abandons his attempt to inherit the Joestar fortune legally and uses the Stone Mask, transforming himself into a vampire.

Dio survives the destruction of the Joestar mansion and establishes himself at Windknight's Lot, creating zombies and resurrecting historical warriors such as Bruford and Tarkus. Jonathan pursues him with Will A. Zeppeli and Speedwagon, eventually reaching Dio's stronghold. Jonathan defeats Dio with Ripple and destroys his body, apparently ending the threat.

Dio survives as a severed head and returns aboard the ship carrying Jonathan and Erina on their honeymoon. He plans to attach his head to Jonathan's body, but Jonathan prevents his escape by trapping him aboard the exploding vessel. Dio nevertheless survives the destruction, a development that becomes central to later parts of the JoJo chronology.

Jonathan Joestar is Dio's adopted brother, rival and primary opponent. Dio initially regards Jonathan as an obstacle between himself and the Joestar fortune and attempts to break him psychologically before moving toward more direct violence. Jonathan repeatedly earns Dio's reluctant recognition by surviving situations Dio expects him to lose.

George Joestar I adopts Dio after Dario Brando's death. Dio presents himself as a dutiful and accomplished son while privately exploiting George's generosity. He eventually attempts to poison George so that he can inherit the Joestar estate.

Dario Brando is Dio's biological father. An abusive alcoholic, Dario forces his son to grow up in poverty and mistreats both Dio and Dio's mother. Dio despises him and poisons him before leaving to live with the Joestars.

Erina Pendleton becomes one of Dio's targets because of her relationship with Jonathan. He forcibly kisses her in an attempt to humiliate Jonathan and destroy their developing romance, an act that helps provoke Jonathan into openly fighting him.

Will A. Zeppeli becomes one of Dio's principal enemies after teaching Jonathan to use Ripple. Dio's knowledge of the threat posed by Ripple users influences how he prepares his undead forces and develops counters to their techniques.

Robert E. O. Speedwagon accompanies Jonathan throughout the campaign against Dio and quickly recognizes Dio's malicious nature. Speedwagon's loyalty to Jonathan makes him an unwavering opponent of Dio and his undead followers.

Wang Chan initially sells Dio the poison used against George. Dio later turns Wang Chan into a zombie and uses him as a servant.

Bruford and Tarkus are legendary knights whom Dio resurrects as undead warriors and sends against Jonathan's group.