Steel Ball Run

Sandman

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“
I'm going to cross the continent and win this race with nothing but my own two legs.
”
—Sandman, SBR Chapter 4

Sandman (砂男(サンドマン), Sandoman), in reality referred to by his tribe as Soundman (サウンドマン (「音」をかなでる者), Saundoman ("Oto" o kanaderu Mono)), is a minor character and antagonist featured in Steel Ball Run.

Sandman comes from a Native American tribe in the Arizona desert. Despite being ostracized, he hopes that winning the Steel Ball Run race will earn him the money to buy back his ancestor's land and becomes one of the fiercest competitors in the race thanks to his running technique. He eventually sides with Funny Valentine and battles Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli near the Mississipi to take their Saint's Corpse parts.

Sandman is a Stand User who wields In a Silent Way in battle.

Appearance

Sandman is a man of average to above-average height and athletic build. He wears his mostly light hair in two long braids crossing his face. He is sparsely clothed, with a few tattoos.

Personality

Sandman is a Native American with a singular and cynical outlook on the world but who is also loyal to his tribe.

Sandman is introduced as an open-minded member of his tribe, for instance shown in the possession of books expressively forbidden by the tribe due to originating from white settlers[3] and having developed his unique and admittedly extraordinary running style while ignoring his tribe's own techniques.[4] Sandman is critical of his fellow tribesmen, highlighting to his sister their outdated views and their misconceptions. For instance he claims that the idea of a claim to an ancestral land is out-of-date when the majority of the population now thinks on a financial level.[5] Nonetheless, he is ready to take the risk to participate in a continent-spanning horse race to give back his tribe's stolen lands to them, showing a great degree of loyalty for his tribe.[6]

Despite his open-mindedness, Sandman still treats the "white man" fundamentally as an enemy and sustains the idea that their society is governed by money. He ultimately sides with Funny Valentine, working to take the Corpse Parts to negotiate the necessary money to buy back his ancestors' lands. Disinterested in the corpse and the stakes at play, Sandman only considers it as a potential bargaining piece. When he confronts Johnny, Sandman also ultimately blames the white man's obsession for money as the reason of their current feud.[7]

Sandman shows a great deal of determination and confidence. During his first appearance, he notably jumps under a running horse to purposefully be kicked high in the air and escape pursuit.[8] Learning about the Steel Ball Run race, Sandman also decides without hesitation to leave his tribe and home to cross the United States on foot alone, expressing great confidence in his skill. However, his sister also points out that he is also solitary and stubborn to a fault since childhood, making it difficult for others to understand him.[9] Sandman also doesn't shy away from committing questionable actions and readily fight Johnny and Gyro with the intent of killing them.

Sandman also shows a slightly honorable side. During the first stage, he gives some of his time to tip Pocoloco and help him climb a cliff[10] and, after he wins the first place in the first stage due to a technicality, makes the effort to "repay" Gyro and warn him about an incoming storm.[11] Finally, although he was ready to kill Johnny and Gyro, he is the only enemy to have taken the time to ask them for their Corpse Parts, even though he threatened them.

Sandman is very close to his sister. She is the only person with whom he shares his personal opinions and his final thoughts are to her, hoping for her happiness.[12]

Abilities

Main article: In a Silent Way

Sandman's Stand, In a Silent Way, lends solid, offensive substance to sounds of his creation.

Running

Sandman is a pre-eminent athlete, possessing fantastic skill and technique in running and gymnastics; able to run distances other racers consider sensible only by horse as well as rivaling a horse's speed, and quickly negotiate a range of natural geographies.

Steven Steel explains that through sheer training, Sandman can make his heels only briefly touch the ground when he's running, meaning he can "recycle" the energy of his feet's impact on the ground into running, and at the same time preserving his legs from fatigue. When going down a slope or a cliff, Sandman can only hop on the relief several times in order to reduce the impact. This running style allows him to take shortcuts through natural obstacles horses can't cross.

History

Sandman (although he goes by the name "Soundman" amongst his people) is the first character introduced in Steel Ball Run. He is a member of a Native American tribe who learned to read the "white man's" books. When the tribe discovers the books in his teepee, they hunt him down to scalp him. It is then that Sandman is revealed to have developed a special running technique that allows him to run long distances without having to rest.

Sandman appears again on the Michigan lakeline, with a stand of his own. He works alongside Diego Brando and uses their combination to create dinosaurs that carry sound-effects. It is there that he fights with Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli. During the fight, Sandman seriously wounds Gyro, but becomes overconfident in thinking that he will kill Johnny, who uses his newfound Golden Rectangle technique to injure the overconfident Sandman, leading to his death.

Chapters

Book Icon.png Manga Appearances
Chapters in order of appearance

Quotes

Quote.png Quotes
  • “
    The white man is the enemy. But, protecting yourself by understanding the enemy's culture is another way. Our tribe's way of thinking won't work in these times. Everybody thinks we're being hounded from our ancestors' lands. But the white man's basic concept is money. There is no such thing as the ancestors' land anymore. This place belongs to the person that holds the money.
    ”
  • “
    I will cross the continent with my feet alone.
    ”
  • “
    Winning the race and getting money is desirable… but taking your Corpse Parts would be faster. The Spine, the left arm, the right eye… I heard that you two have those three segments…? That’s a way more desirable bargaining chip. When I need to negotiate with this country…
    ”
    —Sandman revealing his allegiance, Steel Ball Run Chapter 43 : Silent Way, Part 4
  • “
    I need to buy back my ancestors’ land. For our tribe to survive the changing times, we need money. I feel sorry for you two, but I do not feel guilt. That is what your people have established for yourselves. Money above all.
    ”
    —Sandman, Steel Ball Run Chapter 43 : Silent Way, Part 4
  • “
    My Stand… In a Silent Way! The sound that it creates will tear your body to pieces with one blow…
    ”
    —Sandman, Steel Ball Run Chapter 44 : Silent Way, Part 5
  • “
    I feel no morsel of remorse, or even equivalent to the smallest grain of sand in the desert. Not an inch… The only worry I have is for my sister, who I have left in my homeland. I want her to be happy… My only prayer is for her…
    ”
    —Sandman’s last thoughts, Steel Ball Run Chapter 44 : Silent Way, Part 5

Jorge Joestar

Main article: JORGE JOESTAR (Novel)

This section requires expansion.

Gallery

  • Sandman's sister

    Sandman's sister

  • Sandman's odd but efficient way of running

    Sandman's odd but efficient way of running

  • Sandman consuming the whole supplies of water and meat

    Sandman consuming the whole supplies of water and meat

  • Sandman is defeated by Johnny Joestar

    Sandman is defeated by Johnny Joestar

  • Sandman01.jpg
  • Sandman02.jpg
  • Ultra Jump 2005 Issue #4 (Title Page)

    Ultra Jump 2005 Issue #4 (Title Page)

  • Steel Ball Run Volume Spine Art

    Steel Ball Run Volume Spine Art

  • Visual for Nagasaki's Ripples of Adventure

    Visual for Nagasaki's Ripples of Adventure

Trivia

  • Sandman's ability for running may be inspired by the Tarahumara Native American tribe, known for continuous long distance running of ~200 miles (320 km).
  • During his battle with Johnny Joestar, he reveals that the name "Sandman" was mistakenly given to him by "[Johnny's] people"; continuing that "Soundman" is his actual name and that in his tongue, by his tribesmen, he is called "the one who creates sound".

References

  1. ↑ [citation needed]
  2. ↑ [citation needed]
  3. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference, p3
  4. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference, p8
  5. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference, p19
  6. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference, p25
  7. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 43: Silent Way, Part 4, p52
  8. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference, p11-12
  9. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference, p20
  10. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 7: Pocoloco and Sandman, p13
  11. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 36: The Green Tomb, Part 1, p13-14
  12. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 44: Silent Way, Part 5, p52

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