Dark Determination
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“
Johnny's eyes are the eyes of a killer. He's prepared to throw everything away... even his humanity.
”
—Gyro Zeppeli on Johnny Joestar's dark determination, Steel Ball Run Chapter 64: Chocolate Disco, Part 1
Dark Determination (漆黒の意志, Shikkoku no ishi, lit. "Pitch Black Intent") is a phenomenon unique to the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, formally introduced in its seventh part, Steel Ball Run.
An antithesis to the Golden Spirit, dark determination is a particular state of mind during which one's resolve and intent to kill rises to the surface. The term itself is coined by Ringo Roadagain[1] and is described by Gyro as one's willing to murder without hesitation and throw away their humanity.[2]
Description
Dark determination is a particular state of mind that reoccurs periodically throughout the later parts of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. As the name suggests, this phenomenon occurs when a character with malicious intentions briefly supersedes their moral compass, during which they are prone to using deadly force to achieve their own personal goals. Anyone with dark intent in their eyes becomes noticeably more ruthless, cold-blooded, and will not hesitate to commit great acts of violence, if not outright murder. Dark determination is most often associated with a protagonist's moral ambiguity and will manifest itself as small flames burning in their irises.
The trigger for dark determination will depend on the individual and the situation at hand but is usually related to the act of protecting, avenging, or acquiring something important. A common example is a friend or loved one in danger, as was the case with Jolyne Cujoh who heard Ermes Costello being mugged by prison guards,[3] or Josuke Higashikata seeing Yasuho Hirose being kidnapped by an enemy.[4] In Johnny Joestar's particular case, his dark determination was centered around his goal of obtaining the Saint's Corpse through violence.
People with Dark Determination
People with Dark Determination
Anime Only
Chapters / Episodes
Manga AppearancesChapters in order of appearance
- Stone Ocean Chapter 1: Stone Ocean, Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 34: The World of Man, Part 2
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 35: The World of Man, Part 3
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 59: A Dream of Gettysburg
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 64: Chocolate Disco, Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 78: D4C, Part 11 -Love Train-
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 88: Break My Heart, Break Your Heart, Part 1
- JoJolion Chapter 30: King Nothing
- JoJolion Chapter 31: "I Am a Rock", Part 1
- JoJolion Chapter 64: Mother and Child
- JoJolion Chapter 99: The Wonder of You, Part 16
- JoJolion Chapter 105: Safety First
Gallery
Jolyne determined to save Ermes
Johnny determined to kill Ringo
"I'm not wavering anymore."
Johnny determined to destroy the corpse
Johnny trying to get back the corpse from Axl RO
Gyro explaining Johnny's Dark Determination
Johnny determined to take the left eye from Diego
Johnny determined to shoot Diego
Johnny determined to shoot Valentine
Johnny threatens to shoot as Valentine makes a deal with him
Johnny in the SBR Chapter 83 cover
Gyro determined to beat Ringo
Ringo determined to kill a child abuser
Josuke determined to save Yasuho
Josuke determined to pursue Yotsuyu Yagiyama
Kaato determined to get Jobin off a tree
Mamezuku determined to fight Satoru Akefu
Josuke determined to shoot Wonder of U with the invisible bubbles
Jonathan in the Sono Chi no Sadame Opening
Yukako confronts Koichi
Stray Cat's eyes flare up after seeing Shinobu
Trivia
- In the opening Sono Chi no Sadame, Jonathan Joestar's eyes also flare up as he prepares to confront his archnemesis Dio Brando, perhaps as a nod to this dark determination.
- In Yukako Yamagishi Falls in Love, Part 2, Yukako's eyes seem to flare up as she confronts Koichi Hirose's attempts to dissuade her from liking him. Similarly, in Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, after Stray Cat sees Shinobu with a shovel and knowing she was responsible for its death, its eyes flare up with the intent to kill her.
- In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, the dark determination can be seen during Johnny's Heart Heat Attack while Tusk is transforming from ACT 2 to ACT 3.
- In Baoh the Visitor's ninth chapter, Ikuro's eyes flare up as he prepares to use a laser against Walken.
- A similar phenomenon can be seen when Weather Report recovers his memories and unlocks the ability Heavy Weather. While his eyes flare up with the intent to seek revenge and kill his brother, unlike Jolyne's dark determination, a thunderous cloud formation can be seen in his eyes instead of fire.[5]
References
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 34: The World of Man, Part 2
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 59: A Dream of Gettysburg
- ↑ Stone Ocean Chapter 1: Stone Ocean, Part 1
- ↑ JoJolion Chapter 33: Josuke! Go to the Higashikata Fruit Parlor
- ↑ Stone Ocean Chapter 125: Heavy Weather, Part 1
