Melone (メローネ, Merōne) is a secondary antagonist featured in the fifth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Vento Aureo, specifically the "Baby Face" story arc. He is also the main protagonist of the short story "There's No Love Like a Parent's."
Melone is a member of La Squadra Esecuzioni. After Team Bucciarati is forced to take the road, he attempts to kidnap Trish Una and uses his remote Stand, Baby Face, to battle Giorno Giovanna.
Appearance
Melone is a skinny man with an average height. He has long straight hair descending down to his shoulders, as well as long bangs on one side of his face.
Inspired by Venetian design,[3] Melone's most distinctive feature is his clothes. He wears a dark suit with a concentric circle motif, lacking the right sleeve and a large part of the right side. Melone also wears matching gloves and shoes, as well as a transparent mask covering his right eye. Over his pants, Melone sports two decorative chains around his shins on each leg.
Color Schemes
Personality
Melone shows himself to be a polite man in most circumstances. Approaching every activity with cold professionalism, he physically inspects his future victims, looking at them more like cattle to breed his Stand than fellow human beings. The TV anime also emphasizes his salacious and predatory nature, showing him openly licking his lips in delight as he observes a beautiful woman's legs and feet; something his teammates are openly perturbed of.[4]
Given his exploitative actions, Melone is enthusiastic when analyzing a target for his Stand ability. He doesn't care when a woman slaps him hard enough to spurt out blood during his analysis of her, but compliments her slap instead. He also always reacts jovially when circumstances match or exceed his expectations, exclaiming "Di Molto!".[5] Melone pretends that his Stand is in school after it's born by acting in the role of a caring teacher, confident that nothing can defeat it,[6] and praising it when it succeeds in its tasks.[7] Although he becomes nervous when things do not go his way, he still remains cool-headed enough to issue tactical instructions, likely due to the fact that he is not the one facing immediate danger.[8][9]
Melone is one of the least confrontational enemy Stand users in the series, favoring hit-and-run tactics or laying traps, never reacting with violence to every setback, and even advising his Stand to flee instead of continuing to fight.[10]
Abilities
Stand
Melone wields the Stand Baby Face, which is a computer-like humanoid Stand he uses to create autonomous long-range Stands also named Baby Face which he can direct to kill his targets. He needs to find a blood sample of his target and a woman to breed said Stand before he can act.
Personal
Pseudoscience knowledge: Melone is well-versed in pseudosciences used to divine things such as character compatibility or a future child's characteristics. This serves him to determine the quality of the Stand he will breed in function to his target.
Melone is also capable of determining someone's blood type by licking them, as he concludes that Anita belongs to the O blood group after licking her finger.[5]
History
Background
Melone was a member of La Squadra Esecuzioni, a team of nine assassins working within Passione. However, the team was frustrated they only received compensation for each kills while the rest of the gang was getting rich from the drug trade. One day their teammates Sorbet and Gelato disappeared while they were trying to investigate the Boss's past. They found Gelato choked on a gag in his house, with a piece of paper on which was written the word "punishment". Later, the team received the sectioned body parts of Sorbet encased in formaldehyde, showing the team the power of the Boss. They despaired of ever finding about the Boss. However, they then heard about Trish Una, and thought that she would be the key to discovering the Boss's Stand ability. The team rebelled and began searching for her. Just after Trish was taken in by Pericolo, La Squadra Esecuzioni ransacked Donatella and Trish's apartment in search for clues, missing a crucial picture of Donatella that was taken by the Boss himself.
The anime adaptation expands on his activities. The night Sorbet and Gelato disappeared, he was on an assignment with Formaggio, Pesci and Prosciutto. He didn't do anything but lusted after the target's date after seeing her legs, which weirded his teammates out.
There's No Love Like a Parent's
This section requires expansion.
Vento Aureo
Melone is first shown collecting a blood sample left from Bruno Bucciarati's battle with Prosciutto and Pesci for the Homonculus Materialization of his Stand, Baby Face. He later finds a woman while on a train and proceeds to examine her. Her bad temper, selfishness and overall incompatibility with Bucciarati makes her the ideal mother for Baby Face's child and thus he summons Baby Face to do its deed. He then leaves for another empty wagon, supervising Baby Face's growth. Once the homonculus is born, he then educates it to kill off Bucciarati's group and capture Trish Una. It surpasses his expectation and leaves for its target before it is ready, but Melone decides to trust in it.
When Baby Face locates Team Bucciarati and launches its attack within Coco Jumbo, Melone is seen giving it orders from his computer. However, Melone's plan inadvertently causes Giorno Giovanna to not only deal damage to Baby Face, but its ability allowed him to discover Gold Experience's indispensable ability to repair injuries through its basic life-giving power. Melone eventually loses control of Baby Face, who proceeds to act independently and ends up nearly burning to death.
After the defeat of his Stand, he's called by Ghiaccio about the wreckage. Ironically, before he could generate another homunculus incidence of Baby Face, a cube portion of his burning Stand finds its way back to him as a venomous snake animated by Giorno and bites his tongue, killing him off-panel.
Novels
JORGE JOESTAR
In the light novel JORGE JOESTAR, an iteration of Melone lives in the 37th universe, appearing similarly to his original universe counterpart. He is not actually mentioned in the novel by name but he is drawn in an illustration.
Nero Nero Island, where the base of Passione is located, suddenly grows legs and starts moving through the ocean headed toward Morioh. Some ordinary citizens panic and attempt to escape at the island's harbor. Melone, Cioccolata 37, Secco 37, Prosciutto 37, Pesci 37, and Ghiaccio 37 ambush and murder them. Secco's Evil Dead conceals the harbor, making their actions invisible to those within the island, such as Bruno Bucciarati 37. One man manages to escape and tries waving desperately toward Morioh for help before he is killed as well.
The Mafia members move the bodies out of sight by dropping the bodies in the water between the boats, or by tossing them into the tall grass by the side of the road to the harbor. Nero Nero Island suddenly crashes into the barrier surrounding Morioh and flips upward. Its propulsion causes it to tear through the barrier and lands into Morioh Harbor. Cioccolata and the others start firing bullets and rocket launchers at random civilians and houses in Morioh, attempting to shoot Jorge Joestar as well when he runs by underneath them. The mafia members then jump off the island and head to Budogaoka gymnasium with several weapons.[12]
Chapters / Episodes
- Chapter 475: Narancia's Aerosmith, Part 6 (Silhouette)
- Chapter 500: Baby Face, Part 1 (1st full appearance)
- Chapter 501: Baby Face, Part 2
- Chapter 502: Baby Face, Part 3
- Chapter 503: Baby Face, Part 4
- Chapter 504: Baby Face, Part 5
- Chapter 505: Baby Face, Part 6
- Chapter 506: Baby Face, Part 7
- Chapter 507: Head to Venice! (Death)
- Chapter 516: The Boss's Last Orders (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 544: King Crimson vs. Metallica, Part 1 (Cover only)
- Golden Wind Episode 9: The First Order from the Boss (Cameo)
- Golden Wind Episode 10: The Hitman Team (Flashback)
- Golden Wind Episode 16: The Grateful Dead, Part 2
- Golden Wind Episode 17: Baby Face
- Golden Wind Episode 18: Head to Venice! (Death)
- Golden Wind Episode 21.5: determinazione
- Golden Wind Episode 27: King Crimson vs. Metallica (Flashback)
- Golden Wind Episode 28: Beneath a Sky on the Verge of Falling (Mentioned only)
- Golden Wind Episode 28.5: destino
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 8: Nero Nero Island (37th universe)
- There's No Love Like a Parent's
Quotes
- “Di molto! (ディ・モールト!(非常に!))”—Melone's catchphrase
- “Molto bene! That was a good slap! You snapped your wrist and put your hips into it. A slap this sharp proves you're in good health. You're in excellent condition! *lick*”—Melone, Chapter 500: Baby Face, Part 1
- “It takes some doing, but the sons of Baby Face are invincible long-range Stands! There's nothing that can defeat them!”—Melone, Chapter 501: Baby Face, Part 2
- “... For the pain in my soul! I'll make you die in shame!”—Baby Face, Chapter 506: Baby Face, Part 7
- “Mom says I smell. She's calling me gross and filthy. I have the best mom in the world!”—Baby Face, Chapter 501: Baby Face, Part 2
Video Games
GioGio's Bizarre Adventure (PS2)
Melone reprises his role in the original story during Baby Face's battle against Giorno in one of the Story Dramas in Gallery Mode.
All-Star Battle (PS3)
Melone appears in the PS3 title as an explanatory character in one of the game menus, being the player's eager guide within Option Mode. His signature catchphrase "Di Molto!" plays in battle when a player makes a 15-hit combo or more.
Eyes of Heaven (PS3/PS4)
Melone returns in Eyes of Heaven as the guide in Option Mode. Several of his quotes are in the game's Customize mode.
Diamond Records (Android/iOS)
In Diamond Records, Baby Face's junior is a playable character, however Melone appears briefly in its moveset to give commands to it remotely.
JoJo's Pitter-Patter Pop! (Android/iOS)
凶暴に成長する我が子 ver.
Cooldown: 70
Cooldown: 70
Cooldown: 65
Cooldown: 65
Cooldown: 60
追跡し敵を討つ覚悟 ver.
Replaces the panels surrounding the longest panel connection with partner panels
Cooldown: 85
Cooldown: 85
Cooldown: 65
Cooldown: 65
Cooldown: 50
All-Star Battle R (Various)
Melone appears in All-Star Battle R as the guide character for the Options Mode (オプションモード, Opushon Mōdo).
- “This is Options Mode. (ここはオプションモードだ…)”—Entering Options Mode
- “Having fun's the main thing. Set your options for maximum enjoyment! (オプションモード設定をする時というのは 楽しんでやらなくちゃあいけない)”—Entering Options Mode
- “It's important to set things up the way you like them. (重要なのは、設定に対する君の好みだ)”—Entering Options Mode
- “What settings do you desire? (君はどんな設定が好みなんだい?)”—Entering Options Mode
- “Bellissimo! Wonderful! (すごく……ベリッシモ(とても)……いい…)”—Entering a sub-mode
- “Di molto, di molto bene! Excellent! (ディ・モールト、ディ・モールト(非常に非常に) 良いぞッ!)”—Entering a sub-mode
- “Di molto bene! Superb! (ディ・モールトよしッ!)”—Entering a sub-mode
- “The way you handle your controller... such skill! (君のコントローラーを握る手つきがスゴクいい!)”—Entering a sub-mode
- “What?! (ん~~!?)”—Exiting a sub-mode
- “What's wrong? (どうしたんだ?)”—Exiting a sub-mode
- “Just relax! (あわてるな…)”—Exiting a sub-mode
- “Don't be in such a hurry. Relax. Take your time. (早まるなよ~ッ。落ち着くんだ!)”—Exiting a sub-mode
- “Ciao. (ペロリ)”—Exiting Options Mode
- “Come back any time. I'll be here! (いつでも来てくれ! 待ってるよ!)”—Exiting Options Mode
- “Never underestimate the importance of Options Mode. (オプションモードは…スゴク大切なんだよ…)”—Exiting Options Mode
- “You can always change your options. As many times as you like. (何度でも設定しなおせるぞ!)”—Exiting Options Mode
Melone also has a few Tag Lines (プレイヤーカード名言, Pureiyā Kādo Meigen). They can be unlocked by completing 210 Secret Missions in All-Star Battle Mode.
- “Di molto, di molto bene! (ディ・モールト、ディ・モールト(非常に 非常に)、良いぞッ!)”
- “There's clearly nothing wrong with your physical condition if you can dish out a beating like that! (こういう元気なビンタをくり出せるんなら君の健康状態はまちがいなく『良好』だ!)”
Gallery
Trivia
- His catchphrase "Di Molto" (ディ・モールト (非常に), Di Mōruto) is an Italian phrase that means "very much" or "greatly" in Tuscan dialect.[14] It may also be used to describe a situation or experience that is particularly intense or extreme.[15]
References
- ↑ Golden Wind Model Sheet no CR200-00
- ↑
- Chapter 507: Head to Venice!, p.5. Ghiaccio's clock shows the time 7:45 in the evening shortly before Melone's death.
- Chapter 515: White Album, Part 7, Ghiaccio is defeated in the morning of the following day on April 2nd.
- ↑ JOJOVELLER: Araki's Stand Commentaries - Baby Face
- ↑ Golden Wind Episode 10: The Hitman Team
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chapter 500: Baby Face, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 501: Baby Face, Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 502: Baby Face, Part 3
- ↑ Chapter 504: Baby Face, Part 5
- ↑ Chapter 505: Baby Face, Part 6
- ↑ Chapter 506: Baby Face, Part 7
- ↑ JOJO A-GO!GO!: STANDS, p.104
- ↑ JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 8: Nero Nero Island
- ↑ Baby Face (Story Arc)
- ↑ Lucca Comics (October 2019)
- ↑ Globe-Trotter Travel Guidebook p.201