Born This Way
Born This Way (ボーン・ディス・ウェイ, Bōn Disu Wei) is the Stand of Kei Nijimura, featured in the eighth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, JoJolion.
It is a humanoid Stand dressed in heavily armored biker gear, riding a large motorcycle. Attached to a designated target, it will instantly appear near them when they open something, conjuring freezing cold winds to assault them.
Appearance
Born This Way is composed of a humanoid rider and a motorcycle. The rider is covered by black clothes similar to protective motorcycle clothing, including a helmet with a visor. As such, it is not easily identifiable as a Stand, but when its helmet is removed, it has a stout, robotic head and face, lending it an odd appearance as it doesn't appear to have a distinct neck, its head instead emerging directly from its torso. This was done in order to make it clear at first glance that it was definitely a Stand and not a human when its helmet came off.[1] The head also has a fin-like horn on the top.
The motorcycle is a heavy, almost armored black sport bike. The front wheels feature decals of a smiley faced flower on the hub caps and the front fork has a stitched design similar to the face of the rider.
The collar of the helmet features a skull emblem similar to those found on her brother's stand.
Color Schemes
Personality
Born This Way mostly avoids engaging in combat directly, instead ramming opponents with its bike. Knocking the rider off the bike causes it to make a "Shuu" noise and make a quick, almost clumsy dash to get back on.
Abilities
Born This Way is an automatic Stand defined by constant power independent of the distance from Kei, and is unusual in that it rides a motorcycle.[2] Equipped with a helmet and motorcycle riding gear,[3] Born This Way is more resilient than most Stands. The bike is durable enough to withstand Soft & Wet's punches,[4] and as a vehicle, can be used to ram into people.
Although Born This Way is physically powerful, it can only appear when certain conditions are met and can be warded off if the target is careful about their actions.
Summon Through Opening
Kei Nijimura can employ Born This Way on any chosen target, but it only appears near them when they "open" something. In order to target a person, Kei must touch them at some point, but is otherwise able to act freely while her Stand attacks.[5]
The act of opening may concern doors, notebooks and cellphones[5] but not body parts such as opening one's eyes.[6] The individual does not have to intentionally open something, as merely touching an object as it is opening applies, for instance when Josuke backs into a taxi causing its driver to remotely open the door, or when Kei throws a loose pen at him, causing the cap to fall off when it hits.[7] Born This Way immediately appears near the target when they open something, but similarly disappears if anyone closes the relevant open object.[4]
Freezing Wind
When Born This Way appears, it can conjure powerful and cold gusts of wind to attack. The wind is strong enough to push back a grown man, and can violently displace objects.[2] Moreover, it causes an unnatural cold. The temperature dramatically drops where it blows, to the point the eyes can begin to freeze.[3] If the wind persists long enough, a large quantity of snow may appear, and Born This Way can also propel shards of ice into someone as projectiles.[4]
Chapters
Manga Appearances- JoJolion Chapter 12: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 1
- JoJolion Chapter 13: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 2
- JoJolion Chapter 14: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 3
- JoJolion Chapter 15: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 4
- JoJolion Chapter 16: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 5
- JoJolion Chapter 103: The Wonder of You, Part 20
- JoJolion Chapter 104: The Wonder of You, Part 21 (Death)
- JoJolion Chapter 110: Higashikata Fruit Parlor (Cover only)
Creation and Development
Born This Way was originally called Going Underground (ゴーイング・アンダーグラウンド, Gōingu Andāguraundo) until the release of the JJL Volume 4 tankobon. Despite this change, Kei Nijimura's design still features the initials "G.U." on her clothing, even when she reappears late in the part.
Gallery
Explanation of ability from the tailpiece of JoJolion Chapter 15: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 4
Born This Way's first appearance
Born This Way appearing after Kei opens a pen
Pummeled by Soft & Wet
Helmet destroyed by Soft & Wet's attack
Born This Way appearing before Wonder of U
Born This Way freezing Josuke's bubbles
Born This Way drifting in air
Born This Way crumbling
JJL Chapter 16 Cover
JJL Chapter 110 Cover
Ultra Jump 2021 Issue #9 (Chapter Cover)
JJL Volume 27 Cover
References
- ↑ JOJOVELLER: STANDS - Comments by Hirohiko Araki[1]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 JoJolion Chapter 12: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 JoJolion Chapter 13: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 JoJolion Chapter 14: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 JJL Volume 4, in-between Stand stats, JoJolion Chapter 15: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 4
- ↑ JoJolion Chapter 15: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 4
- ↑ JoJolion Chapter 16: "Paisley Park" and "Born This Way", Part 5
