Johnny Joestar

Jonathan "Johnny" Joestar is one of the two main protagonists of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run alongside Gyro Zeppeli and a posthumous character in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: JoJolion. A paraplegic ex-jockey, drawn by Gyro Zeppeli's mystical abilities, Johnny develops an aim to redeem himself with a victory in the Steel Ball Run race. Johnny starts out as a supporting character to Gyro. When Steel Ball Run was announced as Part VII in Volume 5 (a turning point for the whole series, switching from Weekly Shonen Jump to seinen magazine Ultra Jump) Johnny gradually comes to stand as the main protagonist alongside Gyro. Johnny is an alternate counterpart to Jonathan Joestar, the protagonist of Part I. Johnny Joestar wields the Stand known as Tusk to battle Funny Valentine and Diego Brando.
He is voiced by Yūki Kaji.
==Biography==
===Past===
Johnny was born to a family of former aristocrats in Kentucky with his father who is a wealthy owner of several farms and an acclaimed horse trainer. When the boy was 5 he managed to ride a horse though somehow his father remained strict to him and continued to favor his brother, Nicholas. 
During one of his dinners with his family, Johnny was caught feeding his pet mouse Danny, prompting his father to punish him by ordering him to drown said mouse. His brother instead suggested him to release in the woods instead. This was a horrible idea as years later, Nicholas fell off his horse and died, the horse being frightened by the mouse he had released. 
Years later Johnny finally rose to fame as a skillful horse jockey, earning all the usual benefits of a famous person at the time. As usual his father continued to mistreat him because apparently, he couldn't beat his rival, Diego Brando. At some point the jockey and his father got into a violent fight, ending with the latter revealing that he wished that Johnny had died instead of his brother.
Eventually Johnny managed to win the Kentucky Derby at just 16 years old. Some time later while waiting in-line he decided to bribe some bouncers to throw off someone in the line who had been there for a while. This led to him getting shot and damaging his spine, leaving him crippled. He ended up losing everything he once had though eventually he managed to recover enough to exit the hospital
===JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run===
While chasing down a man who had stolen his money, Johnny witnessed said thief challenged to a duel by Gyro Zeppeli who used steel balls as a weapon. Upon touching the Spin imbued steel ball, the cripple's legs ended up working again, if only temporarily. Despite the executioner's refusal, Johnny ends up joining the Steel Ball Run after getting beaten up by a horse and eventually taming it. This intrigued Gyro who ended up taking the cripple with him.
At the first race Johnny followed up Gyro's lead and tries to join in on the attack on his lucky opponent. This race is also when he meets his rival again, Diego Brando, still in the horse jockey job. At the end of it, he still managed to end up in 5th place. During their travels to the second race, the executioner decided to teach his companion the second lesson on Spin as well as a rock to use for practice.
At their path, the two of them were attacked by Mrs. Robinson who Gyro dispatches with the Spin's offensive capabilities. The duo decides to camp for the night and was attacked by the Boom Boom family who possess stands which can magnetize their targets. They managed to escape but the family decided to frame Johnny, resulting in Mountain Tim coming over to attack the two. 
After being trapped in iron sand and clearing the misunderstanding with Mountain Tim, the 3 successfully kill off 2 out of 3 members of the Boom Boom family. Johnny and Gyro continued on their way, getting attacked by other assassins before finally realizing the reason for the attacks : Johnny has been carrying around a corpse part which gave him his stand.
At their journey, Gyro decided to explain his past as an executioner as well as the existence of attackers from enemy countries, demonstrated by an attack by Oyecomova, a Neopolitan assassin. The duo were eventually able to work together and take down the attacker. Continuing their journey, they are attacked again by another assassin, the Pork Pie Hat Kid who had managed to snag the executioner and use him as bait. After a long struggle, Johnny figured out that the kid's stand can be used as a way to attack him back and he successfully shoots him down.
After a revelation regarding the true power of the corpse parts, the two horse riders continued the race with Johnny ending up in second place. On their way to the third race, he and Gyro were attacked by Dr. Ferdinand's army of dinosaurs and a transformed Diego which were the result of the doctor's stand, Scary Monsters. This is where the cripple noticed that the corpse part he carried seemingly slowed down Scary Monsters' effects and after giving a corpse part to his companion, Dr. Ferdinand was defeated. In the third race, Johnny criticizes Gyro for his lack of a genuine and selfish reason to win which turns out to be useful as he ends this race in second place.
On their way to the fourth race, they become trapped in a time loop created by a stand known as Mandom which belongs to a man named Ringo Roadagain. Johnny remained incapacitated throughout Gyro's fight with Ringo which ended with the former's victory. In the fourth race, the cripple managed to end up in fourth place and later he is notified that Diego is now unable to compete for some time. After completing the race, they are met by Lucy Steel who explains to the two that the president is looking for the Saint Corpse parts. The duo managed to defeat an assassin named Blackmore who owns a stand which is powered by rain, attacking him as soon as the rain ends. 
Their way to the fifth race was going smoothly, up until an assassin named Sandman attacks them. Due to the assassin's stand, Gyro was injured. Luckily he was able to explain another lesson, allowing Johnny to awaken a stronger version of his stand. With Sandman defeated but the duo severely injured, they lost a corpse part. The fifth race went smoothly and the cripple ended up in fifth place. 
Before the sixth race starts, Johnny and Gyro are met by Sugar Mountain who offers them many valuable items at the cost of honesty before threatening them into trading away the items they received. Despite being hunted down by the Eleven Men, the executioner was able to figure out how to trade the items they have, by buying protection. He and his companion were able to trade away all the items they received, even the Saint Corpse part before he could turn into a tree.
Before they could get to the sixth race, they are met by a pair of government agents named Magent Magent and Wekapipo. The two assassins were eventually defeated after a tough fight, the duo agreeing to spare them. The sixth race went surprisingly very well with Johnny and Gyro ending up in the second and first place.
Before the seventh race, the duo were attacked by Axl RO, a traumatized veteran with a stand which can breath life into guilt. Throughout the fight, Johnny was assaulted by visions of all the people he had lost like his family and his pet rat despite barely feeling much guilt. It all got worse when he killed off the veteran, resulting in his sins transferring to the cripple. 
Luckily, Johnny was able to outsmart his opponent by getting him to kill the cripple, allowing him to resurrect. Before the fight can continue, Funny Valentine arrives, severely injures Axl RO, steals a corpse part, and leaves without inquiring about anything. Unfortunately during this race, Johnny ends up in seventh place.
During the journey to the eight race, Johnny was shot and Gyro had to fight off another assassin just to get to him. He was then tasked in figuring out who shot his companion who later reveals that he was shot 3 times by alternate universe counterparts of the characters present. After witnessing Diego and Hot Pants being killed off by Funny Valentine, he and his companion attempt to approach him.
The duo fought off Valentine with everything they got, trying their best to get around the luck altering properties of Love Train which had managed to slice off Johnny's hand. Despite Gyro using his strongest technique and even managing to wound the president through his stand, he was still killed nonetheless but not before giving away his final lesson. Not understanding it at first, the cripple continues to attack Valentine, only to have his horse killed off.
Now incapable of recreating what Gyro has done, Johnny laid helpless as Valentine approached him to finish him off. However at the last second, he finally understood what that last lesson meant before using a steel ball on the hind legs of his now dead horse, resulting in him getting kicked into the air. Absorbing the Golden Scale, he unlocks the last form of his stand.
With one more fired nail, Valentine disappears before re-appearing, now trapped by The Spin which continues to drive him into the ground even with the power of his stand. He desperately tries to reason and negotiate with Johnny for his release, explaining his motivation as well as offering another Gyro. The cripple proceeded to give him a revolver to check his hostility. His suspicions were confirmed when the president reached out for the gun and after a short duel, Valentine is shot dead. With that end, Johnny sees his companion's spirit in the sky giving him one last goodbye.
With the defeat of his opponent, Johnny decides to go and take the corpse parts, only to find them all missing. The thief is no other than Diego Brando from another world. For some reason he has knowledge of The Golden Spin and the cripple's new stand all while having a completely different stand, THE WORLD. Johnny was able to figure out how it worked with just a few attacks and after a tough battle, Diego managed to severely injure the cripple. 
Adding salt to the wound, Diego managed to counter an attack from Tusk ACT 4, leaving his opponent to die. Luckily at the last second, Steven Steel arrives to help, offering his horse. Johnny was able to repeat his attack, allowing himself to survive his ordeal. However, he never completed that last race.
===Death===
Johnny returns to Naples on ship to return Gyro's corpse and horse to his family. On his way he met another racer, Norisuke Higashikata I and his daughter Rina Higashikata. Upon arrival to the country, the monarchy had already been overthrown and Marco was released though he died from a cold soon after. The former cripple ended up starting a romantic relationship with Rina, gaining a son by the name of George II.
The two lived at a farm though they would occasionally travel back to Japan for business. 9 years after the marriage, Rina ended up getting infected by an incurable disease. Johnny decided to bring her to Morioh so that she can spend her days in her hometown. Though eventually her suffering was too much for the former cripple to bear and he ended up stealing the corpse parts from America to bring back to Japan.
With the corpse parts in-hand, Johnny used its power to remove Rina's disease though it ended up being transferred to his son. In an attempt to cure him without using the corpse parts again, the former cripple decided to perform the Golden Spin, removing the disease and knocking him off his horse. Due to the stand at the place he was at, a boulder was teleported onto him, crushing his head. His wife was almost suspected for murder though eventually her name was cleared and Johnny's death is confirmed to be an accident
==Appearance==
Johnny is a young man of average to above-average height and slim to medium build. He has light eyes, and light, shoulder-length hair curling upwards at its ends. Johnny always wears a knit cap, printed with many small five-pointed stars. His hair sticks out of holes on either side of the top, taking a shape like short horns. A seemingly full-size horseshoe hangs from the front; framing an image of the dark silhouette of the profile of a horse's reared head. Johnny wears similarly star-patterned pants; of a piece with footwear bearing spurs. 
He commonly wears a light-colored, hooded, short-sleeved top; printed with thick lines in the approximate formation of a harness (later, with patches in the shape of hearts adorning both shoulders). A long feather (bordered by black with one black spot at its tip) emerges from under the back of his collar; and he wears wrist cuffs patterned with stars and stripes. 
In cold weather, Johnny wears a longer-sleeved top of a similar design. His collar is outlined with fur, and he keeps several feathers at his back. As a paraplegic, before the beginning of the race he is seen using a wheelchair; but during, he is usually mounted on his horse, Slow Dancer. During the course of the series, Johnny gradually changes into a more realistic appearance; with slightly wavy hair and a slightly fuller build.
== Personality ==
Johnny is initially introduced as a distant and depressed paraplegic man whose career as a horse jockey was ended when he was shot in the spine. However, after touching the Steel Balls of Gyro Zeppeli, he gains the ability to briefly stand and becomes determined to learn the Spin technique from Gyro.
Johnny is portrayed as relentless and single-minded in pursuing his objectives, often disregarding risks and consequences. He endures severe injuries in his pursuit, but his determination remains unwavering. He is willing to resort to violence and killing to obtain the Corpse Parts, displaying a ruthlessness described as "dark determination." However, he shows some moral limits, such as objecting to involving defenseless individuals like Lucy Steel in their quest.
Johnny's bleak outlook on life and lack of confidence stem from his guilt over his brother's death and a belief in a vengeful fate. Meeting Gyro Zeppeli brings hope and optimism into Johnny's life, gradually improving his perspective and confidence. Gyro becomes a valued friend to Johnny, who is willing to sacrifice the Corpse Parts to save him. Despite Gyro's eventual death, Johnny retains fond memories of their time together.
During the Steel Ball Run race, Johnny maintains a cold and self-centered attitude towards others, with the exception of Gyro. However, Gyro's influence gradually makes Johnny more friendly, leading to his marriage with Rina Higashikata. Additionally, it is revealed that Johnny has a secret paraphilia for women with bug bites, which embarrasses him.
In JoJolion, a flashback shows that Johnny enjoyed happiness in his short life with Rina.
==Powers==
Johnny first seeks Gyro Zeppeli's tutelage in the ways of the Spin in order to regain the use of his legs. Most often, Johnny channels the Spin by the use of his Stand, Tusk; developed first with the power of the Corpse's left hand, and further with Gyro's help. Its form varies, depending on the sort or style of Spin Johnny chooses to employ.
==Gallery==
=== Manga ===
Johnnypro.png|Close-Up drawing of Johnny.
Johnny Joestar 2.png|Johnny using the Spin with his fingernails.
Tumblr otf4yhznab1tqvsfso1 540.jpg|Gyro and Johnny.
File:Nicholas 2.png|Young Johnny and his elder brother, Nicholas.
P6.jpg|The injury that paralyzed Johnny in the first place.
P1000.jpg|Johnny regaining the use of his legs upon touching the Steel Balls.
P13.jpg|Johnny begging Gyro to show him how the Steel Balls made him stand up.
File:Scarymonsters2.png|Johnny in Scary Monsters' effect.
P11.jpg|Johnny's realization of the Steel Ball's effects.
6756565.jpg|Johnny's altercation with his father.
P16.jpg|Johnny taming his horse
P3878.jpg|Johnny reminiscing his past
File:Johnny and Valentine.png|Johnny confronting Valentine.
P1.jpg|Johnny in Chapter 72 cover.
File:Johnny29.jpg|Johnny in Part 8 Jojolion.
File:Death of Johnny.jpg|Johnny's death.
=== Video Games ===
File:Johnny JoestarASB.png|Johnny in All-Star Battle and All-Star Battle R.
File:Johnny ASB.png
File:Tusk ACT1 ASB.png
File:Tusk ACT2 ASB.png
File:Tusk ACT3 ASB.png
File:JohnnyStand.png
File:JohnnyEoHRender.png|Johnny in Eyes of Heaven.
File:JohnnySDEoH.png
File:Tusk ACT1 EOH.png
File:Tusk ACT2 EOH.png
File:Tusk ACT3 EOH.png
File:Tusk ACT4 EOH.png
==Trivia==
*Johnny's first name comes from a Chuck Berry song called "Johnny B. Goode", his horse name "Slow Dancer" comes from a Boz Scaggs album with the same name, and his stand "Tusk" comes from a Fleetwood Mac song and an album with the same name.
*He is only shown smiling five times.
*Johnny is the only Joestar in the entire series to have naturally blonde hair. (Unlike Giorno, whose hair turned blonde  when he gained his Gold Experience)
*Johnny is the only JoJo protagonist with a blood-related sibling. (Unlike Giorno, who has 4 half-brothers, and Josuke whose half-sister is Holly.)
*In the first chapter, his name is written in Japanese as "ジョニー", whereas from the second chapter on, it is written as "ジョニィ". Both have the same pronunciation, however.
*Interestingly enough, when Johnny and Gyro shared their most important secrets to each other, Johnny had revealed that he had Formicophilia, aka a fetish for a person with bug bites.
*Johnny's and Jonathan's deaths are similar, as both of them die at a young age and neither of them were buried in their homeland.
**Furthermore, both Johnny and Jonathan's deaths involved decapitation, or the removal/destruction of the head, whilst attempting to protect one of their loved ones.
*In the popular pixel avatar site Gaia online, there is an obtainable item know as Roto's Hat. This item's second pose allows the avatar of the site to wear a hat identical to Johnny's, cleverly named Joey's hat. There is also an item called K.O. Star, one of the poses of which allows you to wear gloves similar to the Roto Hat's second pose. There is a secret pose which allows you to shoot fingernail bullets, as well.
*Johnny is the only JoJo to start off as a supporting character in his/her part.
==External Links==
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==See Also==
*Jonathan Joestar - Original Counterpart
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