George Joestar I (ジョージ・ジョースターⅠ世, Jōji Jōsutā Issei) is a secondary ally featured in the first part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Phantom Blood.
George is portrayed as famous British aristocrat and the patriarch of the Joestar Family. He is the husband of Mary Joestar and father of the first protagonist, Jonathan Joestar. After a tragic misunderstanding, he adopts Dio Brando into his family, kick-starting the events of the entire series.
Appearance
George Joestar is a middle-aged man of medium build and height. He has a full set of dark hair with his bangs parted to one side of his forehead. He also has a properly maintained mustache.
George Joestar is typically seen in a three-piece suit and either has a tie or a bow tie. In a flashback, he dons a dark cloak.
Color Schemes
Personality
George is kind, though somewhat misguided. The most apparent example is when he mistakenly believes Dario Brando saved his life, though the latter was actually attempting to rob him of his possessions.[1] Even when George understands this to some extent, he shows his generosity by claiming that he willingly gave his ring to Dario and easily gets him out of jail. Nevertheless, George still honors Dario by taking in his child and doesn't notice Dio's wrongdoings. Once he does notice, he accuses Dario for Dio's behavior.
George loves his son, but is strict towards him, especially after Dio came along which offered George someone to compare Jonathan with, as he wished to make a gentleman out of him. Although he uses physical punishment and food deprivation to punish Jonathan,[2] they are more a reflection of his time's customs than his own character. He notably shows his fatherly love through taking a fatal knife stab instead of Jonathan.
History
Background
A man of the upper class, George was famous in the trading business,[2] making his family rich and able to live in a luxurious mansion. He later married a girl named Mary and they had a son, Jonathan Joestar.
Phantom Blood
George tragically loses his wife Mary in a carriage accident in 1868. When the thieving Dario Brando arrives at the scene to loot the valuables nearby, George wakes up and assumes that Dario rescued him and feels indebted to him. Later, George meets with Dario again but in prison. Dario has been arrested for trying to pawn a ring that has been identified as a property of the late Mary. However, George decides to lie to the police to save Dario from the death penalty and tells the inspector in charge of the case that he gave the ring to Dario. He then hands the ring to Dario, telling him that he understands the reason for the theft and to become a good family man. Even Dario cannot understand George's generous nature as he provides him with money for a hotel venture that ultimately fails.[3]
For the next twelve years, George raised his only son Jonathan who grew into a fine youth despite being rough around the edges. He got Jonathan a pet dog, Danny, who saved Jonathan from drowning and became his best friend.
After receiving a letter from a dying Dario, George honors his "debt" by allowing Dario's son Dio Brando to live at the Joestar Mansion and accepts him unconditionally as a member of the family. During Dio's stay, George is impressed by Dio's superior manners and intelligence, which causes him to berate his own son Jonathan several times. However, George remains unaware that Dio is brutalizing his son.
After Dio forcefully kisses Jonathan's girlfriend, Erina Pendleton, George and him have a conservation about Jonathan's dog, Danny. George thus narrates Danny and Jonathan's story together, how they didn't like each other at first but that then Danny saved Jonathan from drowning in a river, starting their friendship. When Jonathan learns about Erina, he rushes to the Joestar mansion and fights Dio, winning the struggle through sheer will. George catches them fighting (not noticing the knife Dio planned to stab Jonathan with) and sends them both to their rooms, promising punishments for the both of them after.
Dio then traps Danny in an incinerator, causing the dog to be burned alive. George and the other members of the house don't suspect Dio of the crime, believing it to instead be a burglar. Nevertheless, Jonathan suspects Dio was responsible but has no proof.
Eight years later, George is struck ill. Jonathan discovers Dario's letter from which he learns that his father is probably being poisoned by Dio. Jonathan travels to Ogre Street for proof and to find a cure. George is then cured and learns of Dio's treachery. Feeling responsible for doting Dio, George stands by as the constables Jonathan has brought proceed to arrest Dio. At the last moment, as Jonathan goes to Dio to personally handcuff him, George overhears Wang Chan mentioning Dio's luck and worries that the arrest is going too smoothly.
When Dio attempts to stab Jonathan to use the Stone Mask on himself, George leaps between the two and shields his son, getting fatally stabbed in the back. George dies nestled in Jonathan's hold, cheering his son up saying that is best for a father to die in the arms of his son. George's body is later burned away from the fire that destroys the Joestar Mansion.
Novels
JORGE JOESTAR
Original Universe
In the light novel JORGE JOESTAR, Erina names her son after George but spells it in the Spanish style ("Jorge") so she can call him "JoJo".[4] In the past, George used to be friends with the grandfather of Steven, Kenton, and Darlington Motorize.[5]
37th Universe
There is also an iteration of George in the 37th universe. Although he is English, he lives in America because England does not exist in this universe. He is still a wealthy man, owning a large estate in 1881 where he lives with his son Jonathan and adopted son Dio Brando. It is unknown whether the George in this universe dies before his sons, as Jonathan and Dio both die in a train accident when Jonathan attempts to stop Dio from robbing the train.[6]
Chapters / Episodes
- Chapter 1: Prologue (Flashback)
- Chapter 2: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 1
- Chapter 3: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 2
- Chapter 4: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 3
- Chapter 5: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 4
- Chapter 6: A Letter from the Past, Part 1
- Chapter 7: A Letter from the Past, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 8: The Stone Mask, Part 1
- Chapter 9: The Stone Mask, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 11: The Stone Mask, Part 4
- Chapter 12: Youth with Dio, Part 1 (Death)
- Chapter 13: Youth with Dio, Part 2 (Corpse only)
- Chapter 14: Youth with Dio, Part 3 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 15: Youth with Dio, Part 4 (Corpse only)
- Chapter 16: Youth with Dio, Part 5 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 25: Ripple Overdrive, Part 3 (Flashback)
- Chapter 27: Tarkus and the Dark Knight Bruford, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Chapter 28: Tarkus and the Dark Knight Bruford, Part 3 (Flashback)
- Chapter 38: The Three from a Faraway Land, Part 3 (Flashback)
- Chapter 42: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 4 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 44: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 6 (Flashback)
- Chapter 110: Kars the Superbeing is Born, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Chapter 117: The Man with the Star Birthmark (Family Tree)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 1: Dio the Invader
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 2: A Letter from the Past
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 3: Youth with Dio (Death)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 5: The Dark Knights (Flashback)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 8: Bloody Battle! JoJo & Dio (Flashback)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 9: The Final Ripple! (Flashback)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 25: The Birth of a Superbeing!! (Flashback)
- Stardust Crusaders Episode 39: The Gatekeeper of Hell, Pet Shop, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 1: Tsukumojuku (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 3: Wounds (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 5: Box (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 11: Gremlin (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 12: Rhinoceros Beetle (37th universe) (Photo only)
Quotes
- “You got it wrong again, JoJo! This is the sixth time! You've made the same basic mistake six times! I'll keep this up until you understand! Look at Dio! He answered all 20 questions correctly! (またまちがえたぞッジョジョ!6度目だッ!同じ基本的なまちがいを6回もしたのだぞ!勉強がわからんというからわたしが見てやれば何度教えてもわからんやつだ!ディオを見ろッ!20問中20問正解だ!)”—George Joestar to his son, Chapter 2: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 1
- “You call yourself a gentleman, JoJo!? Where are your manners?! Where?! (ジョジョ、おまえ それでも紳士か!作法がなっとらんぞッ!作法が!)”—George Joestar, Chapter 2: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 1
- “Ever since Dio arrived, I've realized that I've been spoiling you! I'm embarrassed as a parent! Look at Dio! His table manners are perfect! (ディオが来てからおまえをあまやかしていたのを悟った!親として恥ずかしいッ!ディオを見習え!ディオの作法は完璧だぞッ!)”—George Joestar, Chapter 2: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 1
- “JoJo, it is not bad... to die in the arms... of your son... (悪くないぞ、ジョジョ…息子の腕の中で死んでいくと…いう…のは)”—George Joestar's last words, Chapter 12: Youth with Dio, Part 1
- “What is it, JoJo? Danny’s got your toy pistol and won’t let go? Son… that’s because you’re trying to take it away from him! You must approach the situation from another angle… Pretend to let him have it.”—George Joestar (flashback), Chapter 28: Tarkus and the Dark Knight Bruford, Part 3
Video Games
Phantom Blood (PS2)
George makes his first video game appearance in several cutscenes in the Phantom Blood PS2 game, reprising his role in the original story.
All-Star Battle (PS3)
George appears as a random Campaign Support character, providing a significant boost for the player. Should the player lose a campaign battle, he gives them a boost to ensure a perfect S rank in any battle, even if they lost.
Eyes of Heaven (PS3/PS4)
Similar to Ghiaccio in All-Star Battle, George will guide the player through the JoJo Glossary.
All-Star Battle R (Various)
George Joestar I is featured in All-Star Battle R with a list of Tag Lines (プレイヤーカード名言, Pureiyā Kādo Meigen). They are unlocked by completing 40 Secret Missions in All-Star Battle Mode.
- “Just think to yourself, "Okay, he may as well have it." (「あげちゃってもいいさ」と考えるんだ)”
- “What's up, JoJo? Danny won't drop that toy gun? (なにジョジョ? ダニーがおもちゃの鉄砲をくわえてはなさない?)”
- “It's because you're trying to force it away from him, JoJo. (ジョジョ、それは無理矢理引き離そうとするからだよ)”
Gallery
Trivia
- George mistaking Dario as his savior bears resemblance to a similar scene in Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables, in which Marius's father mistakes the corrupt innkeeper Thénardiers as his savior and sends Marius to seek aid from him on his deathbed. George also claims that he gave his ring to Dario Brando, who was imprisoned for stealing said ring, resembling the bishop Myriel claiming the same for Jean Valjean, who attempted to steal his silverware.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chapter 1: Prologue
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 2: Dio Brando the Invader, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 1: Prologue, p. 17
- ↑ JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 1: Tsukumojuku
- ↑ JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 7: Airplanes
- ↑ JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 12: Rhinoceros Beetle
- ↑ Youth with Dio (Story Arc)