Episode 23

The Warrior of Wind (風にかえる戦士) is the twenty-third episode of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime. It is also the fourteenth episode of Battle Tendency. It covers Chapter 103 to Chapter 106 of the manga.

Summary
Wamuu unleashes his Final Mode attack, Gathering Gale. Even as the force of his inhaled air starts peeling away his own body, the Pillar Man releases a stream of wind capable of cutting stone towards JoJo. After a failed attempt at attacking him with a firebomb, JoJo strikes at Wamuu with Caesar's flaming bandana, which Wamuu shreds with his wind. However, this is all part of JoJo's plan: the oil from the bomb and the burning embers of Caesar's bandana are inhaled by Wamuu, causing him to explode from the inside.

Deciding Wamuu's wounds from the Ripple are fatal, JoJo gives him some of his blood to ease his passing as a sign of respect, similar to the respect Wamuu showed Caesar. When the other vampires suddenly attack, Wamuu uses the last of his strength to kill them, not wanting them to interfere until the end. Upon Wamuu's request, JoJo drinks the antidote from his ring and disintegrates the Wedding Ring around his heart, allowing Wamuu to pass away with no regrets.

It is soon time for Lisa Lisa's battle with Kars, with Lisa Lisa apparently getting the upper hand with her Ripple-infused scarf. However, Kars cheats by using a 🇺🇳 before stabbing Lisa Lisa from behind - unlike Wamuu, Kars has no respect for the honor of battle if it impedes his goals. After claiming the Red Stone of Aja for himself, Kars sends his vampire army after the weakened JoJo. However, he is rescued by Stroheim and his men, along with Speedwagon, Smokey and the Speedwagon Foundation Special Forces, who use ultraviolet lights to fight off the vampires whilst JoJo goes to face Kars. As Kars uses Lisa Lisa to force JoJo into a vulnerable position, Smokey reveals that Lisa Lisa is, in fact, JoJo's mother.

Commentary
"I confess to having laughed a little at Wamuu's death. Granted, it's classy and gentlemanly, but when he shoots his own head and shouts "You miserable vermin!" it becomes so funny. He's a resourceful one for sure (laughs)! Episode 23 is also the episode with Kars' famous "win win win" when he caresses Lisa Lisa's legs. We've just come back from Wamuu's dignified end, but it's finally this scene you remember most when the episode is done. There's nothing we could do, it's the structure of the series that needed it (laughs). Kazuhiko Inoue was delighted to finally be able to act the entirety of Kars' trickery and baseness; he really stole the spotlight from Lisa Lisa.

I personally managed in detail the shots with Lisa Lisa's tights and the rope while adding a sketch that improved the knot until the result was credible. I gave many kinds of indications; out of pure auto satisfaction (laughs).

The direction is really meticulous in this episode; we had to redo some shots several times to make it viable. Stroheim appears again, everything's assembled, you really get the impression of a final battle."

- Naokatsu Tsuda, Blu-Ray limited edition commentaries