Steel Ball Run

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After finishing his preparations for the race, [[Gyro Zeppeli|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.
After finishing his preparations for the race, [[Gyro Zeppeli|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.
[[File:Slow Dancer first ride.png|thumb|Johnny learns how to mount Slow Dancer by rolling up its neck.]]

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.<ref name="SBR4" />
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.<ref name="SBR4" />


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During the [[Civil War (Story Arc)|"Civil War" story arc]], Johnny and Gyro follow [[Hot Pants]] and enter a dump, leaving their horses outside. The duo is attacked by [[Civil War]], a Stand that can turn past abandoned objects and people against its victims. Thankfully, as Slow Dancer is standing nearby, Johnny is able to crawl back to his horse and pierce a water canteen to splash itself with water and counter the enemy Stand's effect.<ref name="SBR57">{{Ch|SBR Chapter 57}}</ref>
During the [[Civil War (Story Arc)|"Civil War" story arc]], Johnny and Gyro follow [[Hot Pants]] and enter a dump, leaving their horses outside. The duo is attacked by [[Civil War]], a Stand that can turn past abandoned objects and people against its victims. Thankfully, as Slow Dancer is standing nearby, Johnny is able to crawl back to his horse and pierce a water canteen to splash itself with water and counter the enemy Stand's effect.<ref name="SBR57">{{Ch|SBR Chapter 57}}</ref>


[[File:Slow Dancer kick.png|thumb|Slow Dancer kicks Johnny, transferring the spin's energy to him.]]
During Johnny's confrontation against [[Funny Valentine]], after Gyro has been killed by Valentine, Johnny charges the President. However, Valentine hides in the waters of the approaching Atlantic Ocean and ambushes Johnny, cutting into Slow Dancer's neck. The horse collapses. Using a [[Steel Ball]], Johnny takes advantage of his horse by launching the Steel Ball at Slow Dancer, inducing a kick reflex that propels Johnny in the air and also transfers the energy of a golden spin to himself, which allows him to awaken Tusk ACT4 and defeat Valentine.<ref name="SBR85">{{Ch|SBR Chapter 85}}</ref> Valentine disappears in a parallel world, and comes to negotiate with Johnny. As a gesture of goodwill, Valentine gives Johnny and alternate Hot Pants' [[Cream Starter]]. Johnny uses it to heal Slow Dancer.<ref name="SBR88">{{Ch|SBR Chapter 88}}</ref>
During Johnny's confrontation against [[Funny Valentine]], after Gyro has been killed by Valentine, Johnny charges the President. However, Valentine hides in the waters of the approaching Atlantic Ocean and ambushes Johnny, cutting into Slow Dancer's neck. The horse collapses. Using a [[Steel Ball]], Johnny takes advantage of his horse by launching the Steel Ball at Slow Dancer, inducing a kick reflex that propels Johnny in the air and also transfers the energy of a golden spin to himself, which allows him to awaken Tusk ACT4 and defeat Valentine.<ref name="SBR85">{{Ch|SBR Chapter 85}}</ref> Valentine disappears in a parallel world, and comes to negotiate with Johnny. As a gesture of goodwill, Valentine gives Johnny and alternate Hot Pants' [[Cream Starter]]. Johnny uses it to heal Slow Dancer.<ref name="SBR88">{{Ch|SBR Chapter 88}}</ref>


Revision as of 15:14, 29 March 2025

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“
Choosing that horse was correct. Old horses have experience in this kind of race.
”

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]

Spin Using a Horse(馬を使った回転 Uma o Tsukatta Kaiten) Link to this sectionLink to this section
Debut: Steel Ball Run Chapter 72: Ticket to Ride, Part 2

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. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down and struggling to control the horse, Johnny is determined to ride it.[1]

Steel Ball Run

The Start of the Race

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.

Johnny learns how to mount Slow Dancer by rolling up its neck.

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.[1]

Approaching 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.[2] Realizing Diego's plan, Johnny sabotages Diego's attempt to pass everyone else by intentionally shifting Slow Dancer's weight downward, positioning it lower to the ground to deliberately kick up rocks toward Diego behind him.[5] After the first stage ends, Johnny meets Gyro again and Gyro teaches him the basics of the Spin and gifts him a spinning bottle cork. Johnny uses the cork on Slow Dancer to make it instinctively curl its front leg to help Johnny get off his horse.[6] From that point on, Slow Dancer keeps acting as Johnny's faithful steed throughout the Steel Ball Run.

During the Steel Ball Run

As a horse, Slow Dancer mostly serves as a mount for Johnny to complete his race. By Johnny's estimation, he and Slow Dancer travel an average of 50 to 70 kilometers each day, taking care to find shade to rest during the hottest part of the day in the desert as to preserve the horses and let them sleep standing up, while also avoiding travelling by night so they don't encounter venomous animals or hurt themselves on poisonous plants. At night, Johnny would brush Slow Dancer for several hours so as to keep it clean and free of disease, as well as massage its muscles.[7] Thankfully for Slow Dancer, it is mostly ignored during Johnny's various battles, as Johnny confronts his enemies without his horse or is dismounted by an attack, allowing Slow Dancer to get away unharmed. Slow Dancer is a significant factor in several battles.

During the second stage, as the heroes approach Monument Valley, the Pork Pie Hat Kid attack with his Stand Wired that allows the Kid to project hooks through the underside of falling vulture feathers, which enable him to hook and kidnap Gyro, Valkyrie and Slow Dancer in quick succession, leaving Johnny stranded in the middle of a plain.[8][9] Johnny awakens his Stand Tusk and manages to camouflage himself and slowly make his way to the Pork Pie Hat Kid. To find him, the latter decides to release Slow Dancer. By instinct, Slow Dancer goes back to Johnny, which allows Pork Pie Hat Kid to know the approximate location of his foe and burn the area,[10] but Johnny and Gyro manage to defeat him at the end.

During the "Scary Monsters" story arc, Diego Brando and Dr. Ferdinand turn a whole village into dinosaurs, but Slow Dancer and Valkyrie manage to evade the beasts and go back to their masters.[11]

During the "Silent Way" story arc, Johnny and Gyro are dismounted on the shores of the Mississippi river. Slow Dancer and Valkyrie are somehow able to cross the river by themselves.[12]

During the "The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain" story arc, Johnny and Gyro are given millions of dollars' worth of precious goods and must somehow expend everything by the end of the day. As part of their quest, they spend money on having farriers give the horses new horseshoes and also buy fancy riding equipment, costing $805.25.[13]

During the "Civil War" story arc, Johnny and Gyro follow Hot Pants and enter a dump, leaving their horses outside. The duo is attacked by Civil War, a Stand that can turn past abandoned objects and people against its victims. Thankfully, as Slow Dancer is standing nearby, Johnny is able to crawl back to his horse and pierce a water canteen to splash itself with water and counter the enemy Stand's effect.[14]

Slow Dancer kicks Johnny, transferring the spin's energy to him.

During Johnny's confrontation against Funny Valentine, after Gyro has been killed by Valentine, Johnny charges the President. However, Valentine hides in the waters of the approaching Atlantic Ocean and ambushes Johnny, cutting into Slow Dancer's neck. The horse collapses. Using a Steel Ball, Johnny takes advantage of his horse by launching the Steel Ball at Slow Dancer, inducing a kick reflex that propels Johnny in the air and also transfers the energy of a golden spin to himself, which allows him to awaken Tusk ACT4 and defeat Valentine.[15] Valentine disappears in a parallel world, and comes to negotiate with Johnny. As a gesture of goodwill, Valentine gives Johnny and alternate Hot Pants' Cream Starter. Johnny uses it to heal Slow Dancer.[16]

During the "High Voltage" story arc, Slow Dancer carries Johnny across New York as he battles Parallel World Diego. Johnny is unhorsed one last time, tricked by Diego into absorbing the infinite spin of Tusk ACT4. Johnny tries to go back to his horse but the spin prevents him from even mounting Slow Dancer.[17] Thankfully, Steven Steel intervenes to save Johnny.[18] What happens to Slow Dancer in the aftermath of the Steel Ball Run is not shown.

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.[19]

Chapters / Episodes

Manga Appearances
Chapters in order of appearance
Part 7Part 8

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

MangaVideo GamesOther

References

  1. ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start
  2. ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 Steel Ball Run Chapter 10: The Final Stretch: 2,000 Meters Left
  3. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start p.22
  4. ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 4.2 Steel Ball Run Chapter 85: Ball Breaker, Part 3
  5. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 11: The Final Stretch: 1,000 Meters Left
  6. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 12: 1st Stage: Disqualified from Victory
  7. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 55: The Victor's Qualifications
  8. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 25: Tusk, Part 1
  9. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 26: Tusk, Part 2
  10. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 27: Tusk, Part 3
  11. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 31: Scary Monsters, Part 4
  12. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 44: Silent Way, Part 5
  13. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 46: The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain, Part 2
  14. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 57: Civil War, Part 2
  15. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 85: Ball Breaker, Part 3
  16. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 88: Break My Heart, Break Your Heart, Part 1
  17. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 94: The World of Stars and Stripes
  18. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 95: The World of Stars and Stripes - Outro
  19. ↑ JoJolion Chapter 21: "Shakedown Road", Part 4 p.21

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