Straizo


 * The character featured in this article is sometimes referred to as "Straights" or "Straits".

"I, Straizo will show you no mercyǃ (このストレイツォ容赦せん！)"

- Straizo,

Straizo (ストレイツォ) is an ally in the 1st part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Phantom Blood, and an antagonist in the 2nd part, Battle Tendency. First a Ripple master, Straizo later becomes a Vampire to gain eternal youth.

Phantom Blood
Straizo is a male of average height and athletic build with long, straight dark hair. During the group's battle with Dio, his attire consisted of a thick tunic complete with wristbands, knee pads, and a large cloak.

Battle Tendency
His outfit undergoes very little alternations as an old man, but after regaining his youth, he dons a double-breasted jacket and scarf. The scarf is revealed to be made up of the wings of 30,000 Satiporoja beetles found in Southeast Asia.

Personality
"During the fight with Dio 50 years ago, I admit that I admired him... that power, that beauty, that immortality! I want the power of the Stone Mask for myself! Now that I've grown old, I want to become a being that surpasses all!"

- Straizo to Speedwagon,

When Straizo appears alongside Tonpetty and Dire, he initially has the impression of being a noble Ripple user who wants to put an end to Dio's ambitions of world domination in order to protect humanity. He also has the habit of uttering the phrase "I, Straizo will show no mercy". Straizo then becomes an acquaintance of Speedwagon during the 50 years leading up to Battle Tendency, with the latter trusting him to destroy Santana before he had reawakened.

Straizo was, however, revealed to be a villainous person with. Straizo explained that he trained in the Ripple to become stronger, but his powers only made him even more aware of his human limitations. He admits having admired Dio's overwhelming strength as a Vampire and when the Ripple proved insufficient to preserve his youth, decided to use a Stone Mask. In his search for a way to stop his aging process, Straizo killed friends and followers. He was ready to die for it, which was demonstrated when he killed the expedition group, along with his disciples, and nearly ended Speedwagon's life. He died satisfied, knowing he would go to Hell as a young man rather than die of old age.

He claimed that, unlike Dio, he would not toy with his enemies to explore the limits of his powers and would eliminate any potential threat as soon as possible, going after Erina and Joseph because they knew of the Stone Mask. He was also aware that Joseph could become a potential threat to him in the future. Straizo's carefulness in his actions is further proved when he is revealed to have brought a scarf made of beetles from Tibet in order to negate Joseph's Ripple. He also repeatedly shot the same pressurized eye liquid Dio used to mortally wound Jonathan. He further showcased his ruthlessness in order to test Joseph's spirit by taking a woman hostage and tearing out one of her teeth to show how serious he was about the threat.

However, Straizo did maintain some good within him, as he didn't want to bring a bigger danger to Earth just to maintain his youth and warned Joseph about Santana's awakening in order to prepare him for the upcoming threat. In spite of his faults, he managed to be a good enough adoptive parent to Lisa Lisa to have her become conflicted when she learned Joseph had killed him.

Abilities
Straizo is a skilled human trained in the art of the Ripple by Tonpetty. He is capable of channeling the Ripple through solid objects to destroy multiple zombies.

After becoming a vampire, Straizo shares their basic characteristics of regeneration and increased strength. He has the advantage of also knowing how to use the Ripple, being the only vampire to do so. Although using the Ripple as a vampire would kill him, his knowledge allows him to easily bypass the tricks of a Ripple user like Joseph.

His regeneration is notably much quicker and more efficient than Dio's as he was able to pull himself together from being blown to several pieces by Joseph's hand grenades at a quick pace without the need of having to drain the blood of a person first.

Phantom Blood (1888-9)
Straizo is, along with Dire and Will Anthonio Zeppeli, one of Tonpetty's followers. During the events of Phantom Blood, Straizo accompanies Tonpetty to the English town of Windknight's Lot after they have received a letter from Will asking for help in destroying the Stone Mask, but they arrive too late to prevent his death. He helps Jonathan in the fight against Dio Brando and his minions, easily defeating Page, Jones, Plant, and Bornnam to protect Poco and his sister. During the fight, Straizo witnesses the power of the Vampires firsthand. He later appears to wish Jonathan and Erina a good honeymoon.

Post Phantom Blood
After giving birth to George Joestar II, Erina gives the infant she saved from the night of Jonathan's death to Straizo to raise as his own daughter. Later succeeding Tonpetty as head of their order, his Ripple skills allowing him to slow his aging, Straizo raises the girl Elizabeth as the Ripple user later known as Lisa Lisa. Called by Speedwagon to meet him in Mexico, Straizo gives Lisa Lisa the flawless Red Stone of Aja known as the Super Aja to guard it in his place.

Battle Tendency (1938-9)
After giving Lisa Lisa the Super Aja, Straizo is welcomed by Speedwagon upon answering his call to meet him in Mexico. Soon after, he is brought to an underground chamber under a recently discovered pyramid where he sees various stone masks and the figure that Speedwagon needs his help to destroy. However, having checked Speedwagon's translation notes the night before and asking about Joseph Joestar's Ripple mastery, Straizo suddenly kills his disciples and Speedwagon's men. After kicking Speedwagon to the ground, Straizo admits that he's envied the youth and vigor Dio kept from using the stone mask. Straizo then helps himself to one of the masks, using the blood of his victims to activate it while explaining his intent to eliminate all loose ends starting with Speedwagon and then the Joestars. The vampirized Straizo then dumps Speedwagon and the corpses into the nearby river, assuming the former will drown while ensuring the Pillar Man will not be revived by his victims' blood.

Once at, Straizo stalks Joseph Joestar while he is eating out at a dinner after sunset. Joseph notices Straizo, feigning ignorance of his identity as he leaves the dinner to inspect him before taking out a concealed Tommy-Gun to blast Straizo through the bar's window. As a vampire and using a special scarf to safely neutralize Joseph's Ripple attacks, Straizo thinks that he has the upper hand but underestimate Joseph's resourcefulness, who ties several grenades to his scarf. The resulting explosion blows Straizo into several pieces, which gradually reassemble as Joseph runs off. Once fully regenerated, the naked Straizo kidnaps a lady reporter and intercepts Joseph at the Brooklyn Bridge where threatens to kill the girl if he runs again. Explaining that he is testing Joseph's character to deem if he is truly a threat to him or not, Straizo rips a tooth out of the girl's mouth to prove he means business and provoke the Joestar into fighting him. The fight ends with Joseph, using Ripple-infused shot glasses to redirect Straizo's eye beams, and then knocking the vampire off the bridge with a punch to the face.

But Joseph catches him at the last second, demanding answers concerning Speedwagon's death. Straizo reveals the existence of the "Pillar Man" that he and Speedwagon found, telling Joseph that he will cross paths with the being and learn the meaning of evolution. Straizo then releases the Ripple stored in his body to self-destruct, revealing he has no regrets for his actions and prefers going to hell in his prime.

Quotes
Part 1=

Part 2=

Stardust Shooters
Straizo's Part 2 incarnation possesses a Metal Striker in the game. His FINISH move is based off of the action he performed on the young journalist, removing one of her teeth with his immense strength. Stardust Shooters marks the debut of Battle Tendency Straizo in a video game.

JORGE JOESTAR
Straizo has a supporting role in the light novel JORGE JOESTAR. Straizo adopts Lisa Lisa when she is a baby but doesn't officially live with her until she turns twelve. He lets Erina Joestar raise Lisa Lisa and George Joestar II together while they are young. They decide that after Lisa Lisa turns twelve in 1900, she will celebrate Christmas with Erina and George and then Straizo will come pick her up after the New Year.

After the incident with Antonio Torres and Alejandro Torres, Straizo informs George that the remains of the two had been cleaned up. While the villagers of spent a terrifying night locked in their homes, Straizo, Lisa Lisa, and the other Ripple warriors travelled around the island killing other monsters. George feels ashamed of himself for getting in Lisa Lisa's way while she battled Alejandro but Straizo comforts George and encourages him to grow up to be a fine young man.

Straizo and his friends decide to stay in La Palma until it is time to take Lisa Lisa back to Italy. They train her while ensuring the island is kept safe. On New Year's Eve, the Ripple warriors all have dinner at Erina's house, eating and drinking a lot. The next morning, he heads off to Italy with Lisa Lisa and the others. Five years later, Straizo and Lisa Lisa return to La Palma. He sips tea with Erina at her home while Lisa Lisa goes out to find clues about the. Erina eventually reveals the story of Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando to George, Lisa Lisa, and Penelope de la Rosa. Straizo mentions after the story that ever since Dio opened the door to the land of the dead, monsters have been popping up in many countries and they've been unable to completely stop the fallout.

Several months later, Straizo is surprised to see George suddenly with Lisa Lisa in Rome after her quest to retrieve the Red Stone of Aja, since George should be in England. Straizo praises Lisa Lisa for reaching the treasure room and questions how she wasn't afraid. He also mumbles with the other Ripple warriors about how it was possible George suddenly arrived in the underground temple since they were standing by the entrance the whole time.

In 1915, Straizo questions how they could fight zombies flying in fighter planes since they can't lace bullets with the Ripple, and they wouldn't be able to touch the zombies directly while sitting in a cockpit. Lisa Lisa remarks that George can simply shoot them all down. In 1920, Lisa Lisa becomes pregnant with Joseph Joestar and George wonders how Straizo will react. Lisa Lisa thinks he won't care and decides to wait a while before telling him.

After Joseph is born, Straizo occasionally checks up on Erina and Joseph to make sure everything is okay with them.

Gallery
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Trivia

 * After the release of Chapter 52 in January 1988, a fan sent a letter to Hirohiko Araki bawling over Straizo's death. Her letter was published in the reader submission section of Volume 5, where she refers to Straizo as . The letter later became popular on the internet on Japanese forums and resulted in several memes being made in the same format.