{{Quote|'''This is the Greatest High!'''|DIO feeling about his newfound power}}
{{Quote|'''This is the Greatest High!'''|DIO feeling about his newfound power}}
{{Quote|Immortality! Eternal life! And '''STAND POWER'''! This proves that no one can surpass DIO! Puny Humans! I shall rule you all! Bow before my knowledge and might!|DIO plans of world conquering}}
{{Quote|Immortality! Eternal life! And '''STAND POWER'''! This proves that no one can surpass DIO! Puny Humans! I shall rule you all! Bow before my knowledge and might!|DIO plans of world conquering}}
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*'''Vampire & Zombie Minions:''' During his time as a Vampire, Dio could create Zombies either from a living human or the cadaver of the deceased. The Zombies are also strong creatures, but less so than their vampiric creator. Therefore, they will obey him. The process of zombification involves the injection of a vampire extract into one's blood vessels. In Stardust Crusaders, DIO perfected this technique to sire other Vampires.
*'''Vampire & Zombie Minions:''' During his time as a Vampire, Dio could create Zombies either from a living human or the cadaver of the deceased. The Zombies are also strong creatures, but less so than their vampiric creator. Therefore, they will obey him. The process of zombification involves the injection of a vampire extract into one's blood vessels. In Stardust Crusaders, DIO perfected this technique to sire other Vampires.
*'''Throwing Knives:''' Knives used by Dio to attack [[Jotaro Kujo]] from afar when he realized how dangerous he was to fight up close.
*'''Throwing Knives:''' Knives used by Dio to attack [[Jotaro Kujo]] from afar when he realized how dangerous he was to fight up close.
*'''The World:''' DIO's main Stand is The World; a humanoid Stand that specializes in melee attack roughly equal, if not superior, in its immense force and speed to Jotaro Kujo's Star Platinum. About a year after gaining his Stand, DIO discovered that it is capable of stopping time. At first, he could only do this for a very short amount of time, but by the end of Part 3, he is able to stop time for a maximum of 11 seconds. DIO can move in other time stops for a maximum of two seconds. These durations would have continued to develop had DIO not been defeated. When stopping time, DIO gives the impression that he is teleporting or otherwise moving at impossible speeds. The ability is best known for DIO's activation and cancellation phrases THE WORLD, Time, stop! and Time resumes.
*'''The World:''' DIO's main Stand is The World; a humanoid Stand that specializes in melee attack roughly equal, if not superior, in its immense force and speed to Jotaro Kujo's Star Platinum. About a year after gaining his Stand, DIO discovered that it is capable of stopping time. At first, he could only do this for a very short amount of time, but by the end of Part 3, he is able to stop time for a maximum of 11 seconds. DIO can move in other time stops for a maximum of two seconds. These durations would have continued to develop had DIO not been defeated. When stopping time, DIO gives the impression that he is teleporting or otherwise moving at impossible speeds. The ability is best known for DIO's activation and cancellation phrases THE WORLD, Time, stop! and Time resumes.
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*'''Vampire & Zombie Creation:''' During his time as a Vampire, Dio could create Zombies either from a living human or the cadaver of the deceased. The Zombies are also strong creatures, but less so than their vampiric creator. Therefore, they will obey him. The process of zombification involves the injection of a vampire extract into one's blood vessels. In Stardust Crusaders, DIO perfected this technique to sire other Vampires.
*'''Vampire & Zombie Creation:''' During his time as a Vampire, Dio could create Zombies either from a living human or the cadaver of the deceased. The Zombies are also strong creatures, but less so than their vampiric creator. Therefore, they will obey him. The process of zombification involves the injection of a vampire extract into one's blood vessels. In Stardust Crusaders, DIO perfected this technique to sire other Vampires.
*'''Flight:''' Dio's able to fly through the air, or just hover in the air without wings.
*'''Flight:''' Dio's able to fly through the air, or just hover in the air without wings.
*'''Enhanced Senses:''' Demonstrated by Dio when placing his ear to the ground to listen for Jotaro's heartbeat or passing vehicles, Vampires appear to have greatly heightened senses.
*'''Enhanced Senses:''' Demonstrated by Dio when placing his ear to the ground to listen for Jotaro's heartbeat or passing vehicles, Vampires appear to have greatly heightened senses.
*'''Wallcrawling:''' Dio has shown being able to walk on walls and hang from ceilings.
*'''Wallcrawling:''' Dio has shown being able to walk on walls and hang from ceilings.
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*'''Space Ripper Stingy Eyes:''' Creates two pressurized fluid jets from the eyes. Strong enough to cut cleanly through a stone column and split huge clouds.
*'''Space Ripper Stingy Eyes:''' Creates two pressurized fluid jets from the eyes. Strong enough to cut cleanly through a stone column and split huge clouds.
*'''Regeneration:''' The body is able to live even after having vital body parts amputated. It will regenerate and the body parts can reattach themselves. Vampires can also control their detached body parts. However, Vampires can still die if their head is damaged sufficiently.
*'''Regeneration:''' The body is able to live even after having vital body parts amputated. It will regenerate and the body parts can reattach themselves. Vampires can also control their detached body parts. However, Vampires can still die if their head is damaged sufficiently.
*'''Vaporization Freezing Technique:''' A freezing ability enabling vampires to freeze their own body parts and transfer the loss of energy by touch. It is able to cancel out the Ripple by freezing the blood in the user's body.
*'''Vaporization Freezing Technique:''' A freezing ability enabling vampires to freeze their own body parts and transfer the loss of energy by touch. It is able to cancel out the Ripple by freezing the blood in the user's body.
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*'''Fusion:''' An ability that allows a vampire to graft parts of different organisms together. Dio displays this ability by creating animal/human hybrid zombies as pets and later grafting his disembodied head on the decapitated body of Jonathan.
*'''Fusion:''' An ability that allows a vampire to graft parts of different organisms together. Dio displays this ability by creating animal/human hybrid zombies as pets and later grafting his disembodied head on the decapitated body of Jonathan.
*'''Flesh Buds:''' A vampire's cells can spawn these Flesh Buds and insert them into the brains of living beings to control them. If someone tries to remove the spore, it will grow tentacles in a attempt to kill both the host and the one trying to remove it. The process can be accelerated by anyone able to manipulate life at a cellular level.
*'''Flesh Buds:''' A vampire's cells can spawn these Flesh Buds and insert them into the brains of living beings to control them. If someone tries to remove the spore, it will grow tentacles in a attempt to kill both the host and the one trying to remove it. The process can be accelerated by anyone able to manipulate life at a cellular level.
*'''Hypnosis:''' This ability was once used by Dio to hypnotize Poco into luring Jonathan into a trap. This ability is possibly nullified by the Ripple, because of the fact that Poco's consciousness appears to return after being subjected to it.
*'''Hypnosis:''' This ability was once used by Dio to hypnotize Poco into luring Jonathan into a trap. This ability is possibly nullified by the Ripple, because of the fact that Poco's consciousness appears to return after being subjected to it.
*'''Immortality:''' Vampires do not age or get sick, possessing the eternal life that allows them to live for thousands of years maintaining the same appearance as when they became.
*'''Immortality:''' Vampires do not age or get sick, possessing the eternal life that allows them to live for thousands of years maintaining the same appearance as when they became.
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
[[File:GIBT.png|thumb|BT, a protagonist in ''Gorgeous Irene'', is a likely basis for young Dio.<ref>''Gorgeous Irene'' Ch 1</ref>]]
[[File:GIBT.png|thumb|BT, a protagonist in ''Gorgeous Irene'', is a likely basis for young Dio.<ref>''Gorgeous Irene'' Ch 1</ref>]]
*Dio's name is derived from the Italian word for "God", befitting his megalomaniac personality and his project to create a new world for him and his subordinates as implied in Stone Ocean. His Heaven Ascension DIO form also fits as well due to warping reality to his liking.
*Dio's name is derived from the Italian word for "God", befitting his megalomaniac personality and his project to create a new world for him and his subordinates as implied in Stone Ocean. His Heaven Ascension DIO form also fits as well due to warping reality to his liking.
**Dio's name is also a reference to the rock star [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_James_Dio Ronnie James Dio]. There are more references that connect Dio Brando to Ronnie James Dio, such as The World having what appears to have two oxygen tanks on its back is a reference to the song ''Holy Diver'', DIO being in Egypt in Part 3 is a reference to the song ''Egypt (The Chains Are On)'', his "heaven plan" referencing the ''Hungry for Heaven'', etc.
**Dio's name is also a reference to the rock star [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_James_Dio Ronnie James Dio]. There are more references that connect Dio Brando to Ronnie James Dio, such as The World having what appears to have two oxygen tanks on its back is a reference to the song ''Holy Diver'', DIO being in Egypt in Part 3 is a reference to the song ''Egypt (The Chains Are On)'', his "heaven plan" referencing the ''Hungry for Heaven'', etc.
* The style of Dio's name in Part 1 is written normally, whereas Dio's name in Part 3 onward is written in English and completely capitalized.<ref>The Mist of Emptiness, Vanilla Ice - Vol.9 "Shueisha Jump Remix Stardust Crusaders Edition" [[:File:SecretJoJoSJRVanillaIce.png|P170 The Secret of JOJO Characters]]</ref>
*The style of Dio's name in Part 1 is written normally, whereas Dio's name in Part 3 onward is written in English and completely capitalized.<ref>The Mist of Emptiness, Vanilla Ice - Vol.9 "Shueisha Jump Remix Stardust Crusaders Edition" [[:File:SecretJoJoSJRVanillaIce.png|P170 The Secret of JOJO Characters]]</ref>
**Despite this, Giorno's picture of him has "Dio Brando" imprinted on it, even though his original name would have been long forgotten by then.
**Despite this, Giorno's picture of him has "Dio Brando" imprinted on it, even though his original name would have been long forgotten by then.
*The trick DIO used on [[Hol Horse]] by instantly going through spider webs without damaging them is likely a reference to Bela Lugosi's first scenes in ''Dracula'' (1931).
*The trick DIO used on [[Hol Horse]] by instantly going through spider webs without damaging them is likely a reference to Bela Lugosi's first scenes in ''Dracula'' (1931).
** Out of coincidence, Dio shares two of his Japanese voice actors and his English anime voice actor with the {{W|Castlevania}} version of {{W|Dracula (Castlevania)|Dracula}}, those being {{W|Hikaru Midorikawa}} in the OVA and the PS2 game, {{W|Norio Wakamoto}} in the [[w:c:jojo:JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (CD)|Audio Drama]], and Patrick Seitz in the anime. Midorikawa voices Dracula's reincarnation in the series, Soma Cruz, while Wakamoto and Seitz voice Dracula himself.
**Out of coincidence, Dio shares two of his Japanese voice actors and his English anime voice actor with the {{W|Castlevania}} version of {{W|Dracula (Castlevania)|Dracula}}, those being {{W|Hikaru Midorikawa}} in the OVA and the PS2 game, {{W|Norio Wakamoto}} in the [[w:c:jojo:JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (CD)|Audio Drama]], and Patrick Seitz in the anime. Midorikawa voices Dracula's reincarnation in the series, Soma Cruz, while Wakamoto and Seitz voice Dracula himself.
*The bridge Jotaro defeats DIO on is the {{W|Qasr al-Nil Bridge}}, which connects downtown {{W|Cairo}} to {{W|Gezira Island}} and the {{W|Zamalek}} district. Its coordinates are 30.043747°N 31.229464°E.
*The bridge Jotaro defeats DIO on is the {{W|Qasr al-Nil Bridge}}, which connects downtown {{W|Cairo}} to {{W|Gezira Island}} and the {{W|Zamalek}} district. Its coordinates are 30.043747°N 31.229464°E.
*In Araki's top Ten Favorite Characters in 2000, DIO ranked as 10th, being the third main villain in the countdown.
*In Araki's top Ten Favorite Characters in 2000, DIO ranked as 10th, being the third main villain in the countdown.
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*One reason Jonathan's body would reject Dio's head would be transplant rejection. Transplant rejection occurs when the recipient's immune system attacks the transplanted organ or tissue. The immune response protects the body against potentially harmful substances ("antigens") such as microorganisms, toxins and cancer cells. The immune system distinguishes "proper" from "strange" and reacts against substances it considers "foreign". In other words, that meant Jonathan's body was still fighting Dio's head.
*One reason Jonathan's body would reject Dio's head would be transplant rejection. Transplant rejection occurs when the recipient's immune system attacks the transplanted organ or tissue. The immune response protects the body against potentially harmful substances ("antigens") such as microorganisms, toxins and cancer cells. The immune system distinguishes "proper" from "strange" and reacts against substances it considers "foreign". In other words, that meant Jonathan's body was still fighting Dio's head.
*Dio died when his head was destroyed by Jotaro Kujo, with the narrator confirming Dio's death in the Manga and Anime. Jotaro and Joseph decided to expose Jonathan's body to the sun to give to the soul of the first JoJo a way to finally rest in peace.
*Dio died when his head was destroyed by Jotaro Kujo, with the narrator confirming Dio's death in the Manga and Anime. Jotaro and Joseph decided to expose Jonathan's body to the sun to give to the soul of the first JoJo a way to finally rest in peace.
*Araki considers Dio to be 'the true protagonist' of ''Phantom Blood''. Araki developed Dio's character design before Jonathan. Dio also makes his debut first before Jonathan. Araki pondered in deciding what would be the scariest factor, and decided that "evil from the past" coming to get the present descendant would be the most frightening thing. Dio was developed with this in mind. After him, Jonathan Joestar of 'light' was designed to counter Dio's 'darkness'.<ref>''JOJOmenon''</ref>
* Araki considers Dio to be 'the true protagonist' of ''Phantom Blood''. Araki developed Dio's character design before Jonathan. Dio also makes his debut first before Jonathan. Araki pondered in deciding what would be the scariest factor, and decided that "evil from the past" coming to get the present descendant would be the most frightening thing. Dio was developed with this in mind. After him, Jonathan Joestar of 'light' was designed to counter Dio's 'darkness'.<ref>''JOJOmenon''</ref>
*In a spring 2018 interview with Shueisha's Kotoba magazine, Araki describes how {{W|Blade Runner}} had influenced his work back when it premiered. He mentions Dio's blond hair and muscular build in particular as being influenced by the Blade Runner character, Roy Batty.<ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-02-27/hirohiko-araki-reveals-which-blade-runner-character-inspired-dio/.128280 Hirohiko Araki Reveals Which Blade Runner Character Inspired DIO]</ref>
*In a spring 2018 interview with Shueisha's Kotoba magazine, Araki describes how {{W|Blade Runner}} had influenced his work back when it premiered. He mentions Dio's blond hair and muscular build in particular as being influenced by the Blade Runner character, Roy Batty.<ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-02-27/hirohiko-araki-reveals-which-blade-runner-character-inspired-dio/.128280 Hirohiko Araki Reveals Which Blade Runner Character Inspired DIO]</ref>
*Dio is stated to be [[Wikipedia:Bisexuality|Bisexual]] by Araki in a 2007 [[w:c:jojo:Interview Archive#Eureka (11/2007)|interview.]]
*Dio is stated to be [[Wikipedia:Bisexuality|Bisexual]] by Araki in a 2007 [[w:c:jojo:Interview Archive#Eureka (11/2007)|interview.]]
Revision as of 18:54, 28 January 2023
"Mature Content"
This character or verse has mature themes and concepts, thus those of young age are ill-advised to look through these.
JoJo... Look at me, Dio, in this pitiful state! I chose... I chose to see you like this! Why would I choose to see you in such a state, you ask? It's because I now respect you after all you've been through. Your courage! Your spirit! Your power! I respect all of those things... And I realized something. JoJo... If it wasn't for you, I never would have received the power of the Stone Mask... But at the same time, it is you who has kept me from taking the world for my own! If there is a god that controls our fate, then there certainly is no relationship better calculated than ours! We are one in the same in this world of ours... Thus... I must take the body of the only person in this world I respect, make it my own, and live out eternity with it! That is my destiny! I shall cause you no pain! That is my final gesture to you, my rival! Live as one with me as my body, JoJo!
„
~ Dio giving his personal realization to Jonathan
“
JoJo... Humans are limited in what they can do, right? If I've learned anything in this short life... It's that the more you plan, the easier it is for those plans to crumble from some unforeseen circumstance! Unless you surpass "being human"... I quit being human, JoJo! I will surpass humanity!
„
~ Dio upon putting on the Stone Mask
“
JoJo... To be honest... I didn't want to take care of you myself. We grew up together in the same house. It wouldn't be fun to turn you into yet another undead... That's why I enlisted those two knights to take care of you for me. However, I underestimated you. I see you alive now and I realize that I, Dio, was too lenient of an emperor... Which is why I will execute you now without any hestiation!
Hmmm... So, madam... what you mean to say is... "I'll offer my life to you, but please don't touch my child"... Is that correct? I'm positively overcome with tears! Okay, then! I, nor any of my cohorts, will lay a finger on your child. I swear on my name--Dio! However... While they were still human, all of my servants gave into their fears and willingly gave their lives to me... You may be happier joining us as mother and child... You'll have nothing to worry about, no sadness, no hatred toward one another!
„
“
The World as it's name suggests, it's to reign supreme over the entire world!
„
~ DIO regarding his stand
“
This is the Greatest High!
„
~ DIO feeling about his newfound power
“
Immortality! Eternal life! And STAND POWER! This proves that no one can surpass DIO! Puny Humans! I shall rule you all! Bow before my knowledge and might!
Dio Brando, is the main antagonist in the original universe of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, featured primarily as the main antagonist in Phantom Blood and Stardust Crusaders, and a posthumous key antagonist in Stone Ocean.
After becoming a vampire and later a Stand user, Dio has gathered around him many minions and is responsible for many major events of the series, from the death of Jonathan Joestar to the Joestar Family's sudden acquisition of Stand power, and his legacy persists throughout the series. He is the wielder of the immensely powerful The World.
Dio is the father of Giorno Giovanna, the main protagonist of Part 5, as well as a handful of other illegitimate offspring.
This dropdown contains the synopsis of Dio Brando’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!
Early Life (~1867-1881)
Dio was born the son of Dario Brando, an alcoholic and abusive father who he secretly despised—in part for having caused pain to his mother. It influenced Dio to covertly murder his father with a poison he secured from Wang Chan, learning from his dying father of George Joestar's debt while told to take advantage and seize the Joestar fortune.
Once in the Joestar Mansion, Dio wasted no time passing himself as a model gentleman while tormenting his new adoptive brother Jonathan in various ways to break his spirit. But Dio's plan backfires when he forcefully kissed Erina Pendleton to shame her and deny Jonathan a relationship with her. When Jonathan learned of this, he pummels Dio before George intervened. Though Dio retaliated by placing Jonathan's dog Danny in the incinerator, he realized that he needed to change his plans a bit.
Phantom Blood (1888-89)
Seven years later, both boys attend Hugh Hudson Academy, where Dio intends to graduate as a top law student. During that seven-year span, he had acted brotherly and friendly toward Jonathan to lull the latter into a false sense of security. Now an adult, Dio decides to make his move and take the Joestar fortune by secretly poisoning George with the same poison he used to kill Dario. Jonathan realized Dio's plot after reading Dario's letter to his father, confirming Dio's intent and leaving his father with trusted physicians as he sets out to find an antidote and concrete proof of Dio's crimes.
Determined not to be stopped, Dio plans to subtly kill Jonathan by staging an accident with the Stone Mask. But upon learning that Jonathan entered Ogre Street, Dio mused he would not need to kill Jonathan himself. While wandering the streets of Liverpool, Dio encounters two drunkards and decides to test the mask anyways. By slitting the throat of one while using the mask on the other, Dio unwittingly transforms one of the drunkards into a Vampire who nearly kills him were it not for a timely sunrise obliterating his attacker. Returning to the Joestar estate, Dio finds Jonathan waiting for him along with Robert E. O. Speedwagon and an ensemble of constables who are to arrest him for attempted murder. Cornered and with nothing left to lose, having intended to kill Jonathan, deals a fatal stab wound to George and uses his blood to activate the Stone Mask. The constables shoot Dio repeatedly through a window, only for him to come back to life as a vampire and slaughter them.
Luring Dio away from Speedwagon, Jonathan battles the vampire while setting his home aflame in hopes that the fire will counter Dio's regeneration. After a short scuffle on the rooftop, Jonathan pushes Dio into the inferno and manages to impale him on a statue of the goddess of love; the combination of such a severe injury and the surrounding flames overpowers Dio, who seemingly burns away. However, a few days later when Wang Chan visits the charred remains of the house to find items to sell for profit, Dio resurfaces and drains his blood while vowing vengeance against Jonathan. After recruiting Jack the Ripper, Dio moves to the rural village of Windknight's Lot where he feeds on the populace to heal his body while building an army of zombies with the intent to take over London. Having sent Wang Chan to assassinate the supposed still recovering Jonathan, Dio is surprised when Wang Chan returns wounded and learns of the only thing besides sunlight that can destroy him: Ripple.
When Jonathan, his Ripple teacher Will Anthonio Zeppeli, and Speedwagon reach Windknight's Lot, Dio hypnotizes a local boy named Poco who lures them to a graveyard filled with the undead. Dio reveals himself at this time, having mostly healed his body, and overwhelms Jonathan and Zeppeli by bypassing their Ripple attacks with his freezing ability. He then summons his strongest zombies, Bruford and Tarkus, to finish them off as he takes his leave. It is revealed later that Dio had also taken Poco's Sister, whom he attempts to bribe to join his undead legion. Unsuccessful, Dio leaves her at the mercy of Doobie, but Jonathan intervenes before anything grave happens. Finally, confronting Jonathan and the rest of the Joestar Group, Dio steps in to personally kill Jonathan. Nonetheless, Dire battles Dio first. The Ripple warrior is easily bested by Dio's ice techniques and his body is disintegrated, but Dire manages to injure Dio's eye before expiring. This drives Dio off the edge, summoning his zombies to kill the intruders while he proceeds to fight Jonathan.
In the battle that ensues on a balcony, Jonathan uses Luck & Pluck to sever Dio's right arm and nearly cleave him in half. Dio retaliates by freezing Jonathan's hands through the sword and threatens to cut Jonathan's carotid. Fortunately, Jonathan had plunged the tip of his sword into a flame behind Dio, and the heat transmitted through the metal weakens the freezing effect. Jonathan breaks free, and Dio breaks Luck & Pluck. As Jonathan is reduced to fighting barehanded, Dio's freezing powers give him the advantage once again. However, Jonathan sets his own fists on fire and Dio, unable to freeze Jonathan's punches, cannot defend himself and is hit on the chest by a powerful Ripple-infused blow. The impact sends Dio flying down a cliff and the Ripple disintegrates his body. Yet Dio manages to sever his own head before the Ripple reaches it and survives the fall; a little later, his head is taken to safety by Wang Chan.
Two weeks later, Dio's head infiltrates the boat the newly married Jonathan and Erina use to travel to America and celebrate their honeymoon. Hidden in a booby-trapped coffin, Dio has Wang Chan cause a zombie epidemic on the ship to lure Jonathan to him. Once making himself known to Jonathan while admitting to Jonathan that he had an epiphany that their fates are deeply intertwined, Dio reveals his intention to take Jonathan's body as his own. Dio then shoots beams of eye humor at Jonathan's throat in an attempt to instantly kill him, but the attack only fatally wounded Jonathan with his stopped breathing preventing him from using his Ripple. Regardless, Jonathan uses his remaining Ripple to sabotage the ship to explode in a final attempt to end Dio for good. After putting Erina inside the coffin to protect her from the engine's explosion, Jonathan holds Dio's head in his arms. Dio begs Jonathan to let him live while tempting him with eternal life but realizes too that Jonathan had expired. The sinking ship explodes, though Dio succeeds in taking Jonathan's body and sinks into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.
Pre-Stardust Crusaders (1983-88)
In 1983, Dio's casket is recovered off the coast of Africa by fishermen, who are implied to have been killed by him shortly after. Dio then seems to travel a great deal, ranging from Egypt to Japan. Around July–August 1984, he impregnates a Japanese woman who goes on to give birth to Giorno Giovanna. The following year, he meets Enya the Hag and gains a Stand power (The World) as a result of the Bow and Arrow. Later that same year, he encounters Jean Pierre Polnareff and brainwashes him.
In 1987, he first meets Enrico Pucci while hiding in a church waiting for the sun to set. July of 1988, he goes on to encounter Muhammad Avdol in Egypt and around the same time, his Stand experiences its first instance of stopping time. In August, he meets Noriaki Kakyoin while the latter is vacationing in Egypt and fights and brainwashes him as well.
Stardust Crusaders (1987-88)
The awakened Dio Brando, now referred to as simply "DIO", begins his next moves within the later months of 1987. For much of this time, DIO remains in shadows, and the question of exactly what his stand "The World" does is a mystery to the Joestars and their companions. DIO's ambition is to create a perfect world for him and his servants. In the interim, he seeks to drain for himself the blood of the Joestar lineage, which will help him to fully fuse with Jonathan's body and take better control of The World.
Despite his knowledge that Joseph Joestar and allies are looking for him, he does not make any effort to go confront them himself and instead chooses to remain in his mansion reading or feeding on the blood of women. DIO spends a fair amount of time philosophizing in his mansion with Pucci while the protagonists battle their way toward him.
When Hol Horse reports on the defeat of Alessi and Mariah, DIO questions him about his inability to fight, which makes the cowboy turn against DIO. DIO surprises him with his power, leaving a fearful Hol Horse to return to his side. Not long afterwards, when Vanilla Ice comes to inform him of Telence T. D'Arby's defeat, Vanilla volunteers his life to complete DIO's assimilation of Jonathan's body and subsequently slices off his own head. DIO then utilizes his own blood to revive Vanilla as a vampire. After Vanilla's defeat, DIO's face is reveals himself before the Joestar group for the first time when he confronts Polnareff on a set of stairs. He toys with Polnareff for a while but when it becomes clear that Polnareff won't rejoin his ranks, DIO prepares to kill him - only to be interrupted by Joseph, Jotaro and Kakyoin breaking down a wall and flooding the stairs with sunlight.
He then flees to higher ground. With the sun setting, the remaining Joestar companions split up into two groups and DIO follows Joseph and Kakyoin, who have commandeered a truck. DIO does much the same by taking over a limousine and forcing the senator inside, Wilson Phillips, to act as a chauffeur. During the car chase, DIO is attacked by Kakyoin's Hierophant Green but comes out unscathed thanks to The World, which he uses to counterattack. In order to get close enough to Joseph and Kakyoin's truck, DIO launches the senator at them, thus resulting in their truck crashing into a building. He then follows them as they use their stands to flee across the rooftops, and ends up battling Kakyoin in the process. Kakyoin is able to use his Stand to make a barrier from which DIO can't escape without getting hurt. DIO uses The World to stop time and destroy the barrier, punching Kakyoin through the stomach and back. Before dying, Kakyoin realizes the nature of The World's time-stop power and uses his last strength to give Joseph a message. DIO wastes no time in catching up to and attacking Joseph, who is able to pass Kakyoin's message to Jotaro.
After a long and bloody battle between DIO and Jotaro, the latter is able to stop time just before DIO drops a steamroller on him, and wounds DIO's leg. Jotaro plans to keep on breaking DIO's leg whenever it regenerates until the sun comes up and kills him. DIO, determined not to lose, squirts some blood out of his leg and into Jotaro's eyes. He then attempts to escape but to no avail. In the end, Jotaro lands a punch which connects with a kick from DIO. The kick connects at approximately the same point on The World's leg as where DIO broke his. Because injuries to a Stand and its user echo each other, this is where The World's own structure was weakest. Jotaro's hand breaks but DIO's upper body starts to crumble, and his head shatters. Jotaro and doctors from the Speedwagon Foundation are able to do a blood transfusion between Joseph's body and the lower half of DIO's body. The transfusion is able to revive Joseph, and later they lay DIO's remains in the middle of the Sahara Desert to disintegrate with the rising sun.
Statistics
Key:Pre-Vampire | Post-Vampire | Obtaining The World | Absorbing Joseph's Blood
Tier:10-A, 9-B with Preparation | 9-B | 9-B, Higher with The World, Unknown with Jonathan Joestar's Stand | At least 9-B, Higher with The World, Unknown with Jonathan Joestar's Stand
Durability:Athlete level, Wall level with Preparation | Wall level | Wall level, Higher with The World | At least Wall level, Higher with The World
Striking Strength:Athlete Class, Wall Class with Preparation | Wall Class | Wall Class, Higher with The World, Unknown with Jonathan Joestar's Stand | At least Wall Class, Higher with The World, Unknown with Jonathan Joestar's Stand
Vampire & Zombie Minions: During his time as a Vampire, Dio could create Zombies either from a living human or the cadaver of the deceased. The Zombies are also strong creatures, but less so than their vampiric creator. Therefore, they will obey him. The process of zombification involves the injection of a vampire extract into one's blood vessels. In Stardust Crusaders, DIO perfected this technique to sire other Vampires.
Throwing Knives: Knives used by Dio to attack Jotaro Kujo from afar when he realized how dangerous he was to fight up close.
The World: DIO's main Stand is The World; a humanoid Stand that specializes in melee attack roughly equal, if not superior, in its immense force and speed to Jotaro Kujo's Star Platinum. About a year after gaining his Stand, DIO discovered that it is capable of stopping time. At first, he could only do this for a very short amount of time, but by the end of Part 3, he is able to stop time for a maximum of 11 seconds. DIO can move in other time stops for a maximum of two seconds. These durations would have continued to develop had DIO not been defeated. When stopping time, DIO gives the impression that he is teleporting or otherwise moving at impossible speeds. The ability is best known for DIO's activation and cancellation phrases THE WORLD, Time, stop! and Time resumes.
Jonathan Joestar's Stand: DIO also is shown to possess another Stand ability with similar precognitive/divination abilities and appearance to Hermit Purple. This ability appears to have been the Stand that awakened in the body of Jonathan Joestar, whom he had attached his head to.
Notable Techniques
Vampiric: Becoming a Vampire as a young adult, Dio displays a broad range of fantastic, supernatural abilities; explained as expressions of the full, unbound potential of the human body. This includes superhuman strength, quick healing, and eternal life.
Vampire & Zombie Creation: During his time as a Vampire, Dio could create Zombies either from a living human or the cadaver of the deceased. The Zombies are also strong creatures, but less so than their vampiric creator. Therefore, they will obey him. The process of zombification involves the injection of a vampire extract into one's blood vessels. In Stardust Crusaders, DIO perfected this technique to sire other Vampires.
Flight: Dio's able to fly through the air, or just hover in the air without wings.
Enhanced Senses: Demonstrated by Dio when placing his ear to the ground to listen for Jotaro's heartbeat or passing vehicles, Vampires appear to have greatly heightened senses.
Wallcrawling: Dio has shown being able to walk on walls and hang from ceilings.
Space Ripper Stingy Eyes: Creates two pressurized fluid jets from the eyes. Strong enough to cut cleanly through a stone column and split huge clouds.
Regeneration: The body is able to live even after having vital body parts amputated. It will regenerate and the body parts can reattach themselves. Vampires can also control their detached body parts. However, Vampires can still die if their head is damaged sufficiently.
Vaporization Freezing Technique: A freezing ability enabling vampires to freeze their own body parts and transfer the loss of energy by touch. It is able to cancel out the Ripple by freezing the blood in the user's body.
Fusion: An ability that allows a vampire to graft parts of different organisms together. Dio displays this ability by creating animal/human hybrid zombies as pets and later grafting his disembodied head on the decapitated body of Jonathan.
Flesh Buds: A vampire's cells can spawn these Flesh Buds and insert them into the brains of living beings to control them. If someone tries to remove the spore, it will grow tentacles in a attempt to kill both the host and the one trying to remove it. The process can be accelerated by anyone able to manipulate life at a cellular level.
Hypnosis: This ability was once used by Dio to hypnotize Poco into luring Jonathan into a trap. This ability is possibly nullified by the Ripple, because of the fact that Poco's consciousness appears to return after being subjected to it.
Immortality: Vampires do not age or get sick, possessing the eternal life that allows them to live for thousands of years maintaining the same appearance as when they became.
Blood Sucking: Vampires consume the blood of living creatures to sustain themselves. Unlike traditional Vampires, they suck their victim's blood with their hands, digging the fingers directly inside the target to suck their blood. Blood consumption will strengthen a Vampire and heal him if he was weakened before. In a weakened state, a Vampire will instinctively crave blood and may attack any victim to regenerate.
Bodily Mastery: Like Vaporization Freezing and the Stingy Eyes, other properties of the vampire's body can be manipulated to lethal degrees. The vampire Wired Beck had the ability to form numerous spikes all over his body from his body hair, as well as form a camouflage when wedged into a wooden doorway. The vampire Nukesaku displayed the ability to grow a second face at the back of his head with female features to deceive opponents, but needed to manipulate his body to match his new face's visual orientation.
The World, Time, stop!: The ability of the World that Dio uses, an ability that allows him to fully stop time for up to 11 seconds.
Other
Standard Tactics: Human Dio will use 20th century sways along with boxing techniques from the 19th century in battle, if it comes down to it, he may also attempt to use the stone mask. | Dio will go for flash freezes on his opponent if he believes they have a means to kill him, otherwise he will look down on them. If the person has pure evil in them, he will attempt to hypnotize them to be one of his slaves or send his minions after them. | Dio will go for using The World's time stop to either mess with the opponent or go for punch rushes, if he believes the opponent can affect him while in the time stop at close range, he will go for ranged attacks such as throwing knives. He will also incorporate speeches during the time stop. | Dio will incorporate the same strategy as before. Though due to his new state of existence his ego has increased and he goes more for speeches while using his previous strategy.
BT, a protagonist in Gorgeous Irene, is a likely basis for young Dio.[2]
Dio's name is derived from the Italian word for "God", befitting his megalomaniac personality and his project to create a new world for him and his subordinates as implied in Stone Ocean. His Heaven Ascension DIO form also fits as well due to warping reality to his liking.
Dio's name is also a reference to the rock star Ronnie James Dio. There are more references that connect Dio Brando to Ronnie James Dio, such as The World having what appears to have two oxygen tanks on its back is a reference to the song Holy Diver, DIO being in Egypt in Part 3 is a reference to the song Egypt (The Chains Are On), his "heaven plan" referencing the Hungry for Heaven, etc.
The style of Dio's name in Part 1 is written normally, whereas Dio's name in Part 3 onward is written in English and completely capitalized.[3]
Despite this, Giorno's picture of him has "Dio Brando" imprinted on it, even though his original name would have been long forgotten by then.
The trick DIO used on Hol Horse by instantly going through spider webs without damaging them is likely a reference to Bela Lugosi's first scenes in Dracula (1931).
Out of coincidence, Dio shares two of his Japanese voice actors and his English anime voice actor with the Castlevania version of Dracula, those being Hikaru Midorikawa in the OVA and the PS2 game, Norio Wakamoto in the Audio Drama, and Patrick Seitz in the anime. Midorikawa voices Dracula's reincarnation in the series, Soma Cruz, while Wakamoto and Seitz voice Dracula himself.
The bridge Jotaro defeats DIO on is the Qasr al-Nil Bridge, which connects downtown Cairo to Gezira Island and the Zamalek district. Its coordinates are 30.043747°N 31.229464°E.
In Araki's top Ten Favorite Characters in 2000, DIO ranked as 10th, being the third main villain in the countdown.
Dio and Diego's themes in Eyes Of Heaven are remixes of each other. This is true for both Dio Brando and Scary Monsters Diego, as well as DIO and Alternate Diego. This makes sense as Diego is the reboot of sorts counterpart of Dio.
After totally losing his body and becoming just a head, Dio became totally infertile. Dio was only able to have children because he stole Jonathan Joestar's body. Dio Brando had a relationship with four different women, who gave him four different children (Dio only slept with the women and he abandoned them all when they were still pregnant, so he never had direct contact with his "children", and none of them of his "children" have his DNA, they all have Jonathan's DNA. So technically Dio never had children, biologically or as a adoptive father).
One reason Jonathan's body would reject Dio's head would be transplant rejection. Transplant rejection occurs when the recipient's immune system attacks the transplanted organ or tissue. The immune response protects the body against potentially harmful substances ("antigens") such as microorganisms, toxins and cancer cells. The immune system distinguishes "proper" from "strange" and reacts against substances it considers "foreign". In other words, that meant Jonathan's body was still fighting Dio's head.
Dio died when his head was destroyed by Jotaro Kujo, with the narrator confirming Dio's death in the Manga and Anime. Jotaro and Joseph decided to expose Jonathan's body to the sun to give to the soul of the first JoJo a way to finally rest in peace.
Araki considers Dio to be 'the true protagonist' of Phantom Blood. Araki developed Dio's character design before Jonathan. Dio also makes his debut first before Jonathan. Araki pondered in deciding what would be the scariest factor, and decided that "evil from the past" coming to get the present descendant would be the most frightening thing. Dio was developed with this in mind. After him, Jonathan Joestar of 'light' was designed to counter Dio's 'darkness'.[4]
In a spring 2018 interview with Shueisha's Kotoba magazine, Araki describes how Blade Runner had influenced his work back when it premiered. He mentions Dio's blond hair and muscular build in particular as being influenced by the Blade Runner character, Roy Batty.[5]