Slow Dancer
Slow Dancer (スロー・ダンサー, Surō Dansā) is a primary ally featured in the seventh part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Steel Ball Run. It is a horse belonging to Johnny Joestar, who rides it for the entirety of the Steel Ball Run race.
Appearance
Slow Dancer is an 11-year-old Appaloosa. It has a light coat and mane with several dark spots scattered across its hindquarters and back. While being ridden by Johnny, it is adorned with a bridle and reins. Johnny's jockey number, 939, is displayed on its side.
Personality
Slow Dancer was described as an untamable horse with a twisted personality that cannot be easily handled. When Johnny first attempts to saddle it, Slow Dancer reacts with unpredictability and almost tramples him to death. However, by the start of the race, Slow Dancer warms up to Johnny and shows affection by gently licking his face when he's injured. This allows Johnny to finally mount it once he realizes how to use the Spin.[1]
Despite being much older than the horses of the other participants in the race, Slow Dancer is shown to be quite experienced; fearlessly navigating through rough terrain, thick forests, and downhill areas without fault, all while keeping its legs in good condition and breathing steady.[2] Throughout the race, Slow Dancer remains loyal to Johnny and only grows in experience as each stage passes.
Abilities
Although not ideal for the race, Gyro insists that Slow Dancer is the correct horse for Johnny Joestar.[1] He also states that choosing an older horse is better due to the horse's experience, as opposed to the younger horses that hold much power but charge into danger without an afterthought.[3] Johnny Joestar has been described as a genius jockey, being one of the favorites of the Steel Ball Run race. His skill allows him to ride across many types of terrain, and challenge even fellow genius jockey Diego Brando. Johnny possesses great knowledge of his horse Slow Dancer, notably its abilities and limits, being able to gauge what Slow Dancer will be capable of at any moment.
Golden Spin
During the events of Steel Ball Run, only two people on Earth could reproduce the Golden Spin on horseback. There exists a workaround for setting up this technique. Johnny uses a Steel Ball on Slow Dancer's leg, making it kick him with the energy of the Golden Spin. Johnny was thus imbued with the energy of the Golden Spin and by spinning his nail at the same time, could reproduce the same infinite Spin he would have by riding his horse.[4]
A superior version of the Golden Spin which involves riding on horseback. Unlocking the Golden Spin on horseback grants mastery over an infinite amount of energy, therefore, several miraculous feats are possible. First and foremost is that its wielder spontaneously develops a Stand or evolves it should they already have one. Johnny develops Tusk's final evolution: Tusk ACT4.[4]
Although powerful, the horseback Golden Spin is incredibly complicated to set up. One must not only have a healthy horse, but also have the expertise to feel when it runs at its natural pace. Any interference during the horse mounting, like bumping into an obstacle or the horse being attacked, will completely interrupt the process.[4]
History
Background
Slow Dancer was a farm horse that was sold to Johnny by a horse seller before the Steel Ball Run race begun.[1] Despite being paralyzed from the waist down and struggling to control the horse, Johnny is determined to ride it.
Steel Ball Run
After finishing his preparations for the race, Gyro sees Johnny being dragged to the ground by Slow Dancer. Johnny had been up all night trying to get on his horse. The other racers watching say that he was sold a dobbin, an old horse, and was injured the night before when a piece of wood went through his right leg. They add that he has been threatening to commit suicide if anyone tries to stop him from getting on the horse. The racers notice that he could be trampled to death, and rush out to save Johnny. When they ask Gyro if he agrees with them, Gyro simply says that he'll never be able to ride his horse like that, but would be beyond human if he does.
As all the racers line up at the starting line, the racers notice Slow Dancer walking toward it, still dragging Johnny behind, bloodied, unconscious, and with his hand still firmly on the stirrup. The horse licks Johnny as he begins to get up. Gyro tells Johnny that he chose his horse well since older horses have more experience and are less likely to strain their legs in dangerous territory. He adds that if Johnny has the will to get on the horse, he should do so. A switch suddenly flicks in Johnny's mind as Gyro walks away. Johnny asks his horse to lick his face again, and as the horse bends its head down to lick him once more, its neck lifts Johnny up and onto its back.
At the end of the first stage, Johnny tells Slow Dancer that he's running well. Despite how much he's sweating, his legs are in perfect condition and his breathing is good. As he finishes talking to Slow Dancer, he looks behind him, and, to his surprise, sees Diego pulling close to him. Johnny realizes that Diego has pulled ahead using an air pressure shield, a technique in which Diego rides behind Slow Dancer using the blocked wind to avoid fatigue from the air pressure.
This section requires expansion.
JoJolion
During a flashback in JoJolion, Johnny and Rina Higashikata can be seen riding a horse that appears to be Slow Dancer, although it isn't explicitly stated.[5]
Chapters / Episodes
Manga Appearances- Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start (Debut)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 5: 1st Stage: 15,000 Meters
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 6: The Dried-Up River; Diego Brando
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 7: Pocoloco and Sandman
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 8: Crossing the Forest
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 9: Long, Long Downhill
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 10: The Final Stretch: 2,000 Meters Left
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 11: The Final Stretch: 1,000 Meters Left
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 12: 1st Stage: Disqualified from Victory
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 13: The Sheriff's Request to Mountain Tim
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 14: Across the Arizona Desert: Continuing Along the Shortest Route
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 15: The Desert Born Outlaws, Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 16: The Desert Born Outlaws, Part 2
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 17: The Desert Born Outlaws, Part 3
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 18: The Devil's Palm, Part 1
- This section requires expansion.
- JoJolion Chapter 21: "Shakedown Road", Part 4 (Flashback)
- JoJolion Chapter 22: Morioh 1901 (Flashback)
- JoJolion Chapter 99: The Wonder of You, Part 16 (Flashback)
Video Games
Slow Dancer makes an appearance in All-Star Battle on PlayStation 3, Eyes of Heaven on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and All-Star Battle R on various consoles. In all three games, it is a technical playable character through Johnny, who uses the "Mounted" gameplay style. While mounted, Johnny can move quickly, and Slow Dancer attacks either with its head or legs. Johnny can only use his Great Heat Attack while mounted on Slow Dancer, but inputting the commands while unmounted will automatically summon Slow Dancer.
Gallery
SBR Chapter 12, Cover B
SBR Chapter 95, Page 4
Ultra Jump August 2006
Johnny Joestar and Slow Dancer in All-Star Battle
Johnny Joestar and Slow Dancer in Eyes of Heaven
Ultra Jump December 2006
Ultra Jump April 2011
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 10: The Final Stretch: 2,000 Meters Left
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start p.22
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Steel Ball Run Chapter 85: Ball Breaker, Part 3
- ↑ JoJolion Chapter 21: "Shakedown Road", Part 4 p.21
