Skin(Fair)
Hair(Blond)
Eyes(Cyan)
Hat(Cyan, beige letters)
Outfit
(Cyan turtleneck with beige grid and light brown gloves. Khaki pants and brown boots.)
Diego Brando
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- For a similarly named character, see Diego Brando (Parallel World)
“
I will stand above that flock of pigeons and I will control them!
”
—Diego about humanity, Steel Ball Run Chapter 75: D4C, Part 8
Diego Brando (ディエゴ・ブランドー, Diego Burandō), commonly referred to as Dio (ディオ), is a primary antagonist featured in the seventh part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Steel Ball Run.
Diego Brando is a genius British jockey hailed as one of the best contenders in the Steel Ball Run race, but he soon shifts his attention to the Saint's Corpse. Diego becomes a powerful intermittent rival to both Gyro and Johnny. Although he works with different factions during the course of the race, Diego is only loyal to himself.
Via a variation of the Stand Scary Monsters acquired from Dr. Ferdinand, Diego possesses the ability to transform himself and others into dinosaurs.
Appearance
Diego is a young man of average height and slim to medium build. He has golden blond hair, dark eyebrows, and light, sharp eyes.
He commonly wears an equestrian helmet with the letters "DIO" loosely mounted on bending pins emerging from a small ribbon tied at its front, a turtleneck jumper patterned with a diagonal grid, light, mid-forearm-length gloves, Jodhpurs with flared hips, and tall, dark riding boots.
After obtaining the Corpse's left eye and fusing it with his own, his left eye's iris has the word "TURBO" engraved on it, and he temporarily gains a mark under said eye reading "DIO", contrasting to the cross Gyro gains from the right eye.
Color Schemes
The series is known for alternating colors between media, the information presented below may or may not be canon.
Skin(Fair)
Hair(Blond)
Eyes(Blue-Gray)
Hat(Aqua, bronze letters)
Outfit
(Aqua turtleneck with tan grid and light brown gloves. Tan pants and brown boots.)
Personality
During his childhood, Diego was a good-natured and resourceful kid.[6] His mother raised him with love and taught him to keep his dignity in even the direst situation. At age five, witnessing his mother sacrificing her hands so that he could be fed, Diego developed a resentment of everyone around him for allowing that to happen, and an insatiable ambition.[7]
Since then Diego has been driven to climb the social ladder in order to get back at everyone who wronged him in the past. Upon hearing about the Corpse, he first sought them for himself and as soon as he found himself in a disadvantageous position with a crippled horse, didn't waste time in proposing his services to Funny Valentine, demanding mayorship of Manhattan in exchange for his participation.[8] He harbors a grudge against his biological father Dario, and was ready to cooperate with Hot Pants when she proposed to tell him about his whereabouts.[9]
Using any opportunity, he is said to have married an old woman for her wealth,[10] and in the same vein, participated in the Steel Ball Run for prestige. Diego is particularly vindictive against anyone who gets in his way, and doesn't hesitate to injure or kill them, although he doesn't manifest murderous intents automatically. For instance, at one point during the race he warns Gyro to stay away from him as the latter tried to attack him.[11]
Diego possesses a strong misanthropy, describing humanity as a "flock of pigeons", and resents humans as a whole for the death of his mother.[12] Thus Diego is naturally solitary, never looking to bond with anyone, and in case he has to cooperate with someone, he will keep a certain amount of separation between them. Diego sees human life as worthless and will sacrifice anyone to further his goals without hesitation. For instance, he allowed Wekapipo to be killed by D4C's ability in order to escape from a flag.[13]
Abilities
Stand
- Main article: Scary Monsters
Diego first turned into a dinosaur after he, along with a number of villagers, were controlled by Dr. Ferdinand in order to steal the left eye of the Saint's Corpse from Johnny and Gyro.
After Ferdinand was defeated, Diego stole the corpse part and fused it with his left eye, allowing him to retain the ability to turn himself into a dinosaur.[14] While initially benefiting from just enhanced senses and strength, the Stand and all of its abilities eventually became his own.[15]
Debut
Ability
Dinosaur Infection
USHAAAAAA ... !
PWR
B
SPD
B
RNG
D
STA
A
PRC
C
DEV
B
Horseback Riding
Diego is one the most talented jockeys of his generation, and is considered one of the favorites of the Steel Ball Run. Diego's skill allows him to ride across many types of terrain and he is able to use advanced techniques such as riding close to others as to use their horse as air pressure shields to get ahead in a race. Moreover Diego possesses an uncanny talent for analyzing horses, notably having discovered Gyro's horse Valkyrie's ticks and weakness to exploit them, and being able to not only assert his horse's capabilities, but also that of other horses. His enhanced senses as a dinosaur allow him to analyze horses but also the terrain in order to secure the victory. His original, beloved horse is named Silver Bullet.
Debut
Type
4-year-old Arab Thoroughbred
History
Background
Diego Brando was born in Great Britain around 1870, as he is 20 years old by the time of the Steel Ball Run race in 1890.[1] Diego's parents, an unnamed woman and the father, Dario, were poor and deemed they couldn't afford to raise him so they climbed a mountain and buried him alive to get rid of him. However, a storm came and the rain washed away the earth, uncovered the baby Diego. The baby found itself floating in the middle of a flooding river, passing right by his mother. She regretted her action and dove in to save Diego despite Dario's insistence that the baby was doomed anyway. Dario left them to drown and would never be seen again, but despite the odds, it turned out that Diego had survived. Diego and his mother also survived the flood and were washed away until they reached a farm and were found by a worker.
His mother changed her surname to "Brando" and became employed by a farm, but she and Diego lived in poverty in the stables. Diego was still nonetheless a cheerful child.
Since he was a child, Diego had a talent for relating to horses - even seemingly untameable ones would allow themselves to be handled by him. When Diego was five, the man that had found them and arranged the mother's employment demanded sexual favors from her. When she refused, the worker took revenge by putting holes in their cups. When stew was distributed to the farmhands, Diego and his mother were naturally unable to get their portion without a cup and they couldn't buy another set. Diego had the idea of using his shoe as a makeshift cup, but his mother shot the idea down, arguing that even if they were poor, they should keep their dignity. Instead, Diego's mother had a portion of scalding stew served in her palms: she sacrificed her hands in order to feed her son. The incident brought Diego to tears.
Partly from her example, Diego developed a strong sense of pride. His mother worked another month with her injured hands. Another year later, his young mother died of the tetanus infection, and Diego (at the time 6 years old) sensed that the infection was due to his mother's untreated injuries, forced by the worker who found them, and worsened as nobody in the farm came to support them. The boy grew up resenting everyone who abandoned them and swore to climb the echelons of society by any means necessary to take his revenge against the common people.[4]
Diego started a career as a stable boy and jockey. At one point in his childhood, he worked in the Joestar Family's British ranch, being scouted as a potential talent and being allowed to work there. Diego witnessed the death of Nicholas Joestar, whose horse fell after being startled by a mouse. Diego then properly started a career as a jockey and was extremely successful in the world of British horse racing. During one of such races, Diego managed to beat Johnny and achieve 1st place.[16] He also married an old 83 years old widow, who died six months later. It is rumored that he wanted to inherit her fortune and killed her.
Diego is eventually allured by and registers for the Steel Ball Run race, becoming one of its more popular contestants due to his celebrity status.
Steel Ball Run
The First Stage
Within the first stage, Gyro takes the lead during the first moments of the race. Diego decides to challenge Gyro after observing his horse and noting Valkyrie's habit of swaying left every eighth breath. He uses the horse's habit to his advantage, matching his speed with Gyro and only briefly accelerating with Gyro's horse sways to eventually take the lead. As the two arrive at a wooden bridge, Diego is a horse's length ahead. However, Gyro then applies the Spin to Valkyrie's hind legs, empowering the steps into a sudden leap forward. Gyro gets ahead of Diego but also destroys the bridge with Valkyrie's violent jump. To everyone's shock, the jockey loses to Gyro for now.
Diego steadily gains back his place at the front of the racers, using other riders as a windshield to ease the pressure on his horse, Silver Bullet. When he meets Johnny, Johnny purposefully breaks the windshield attack by making Slow Dancer sink, kick pebbles at Diego, and then accelerates to get away from him. The move surprises Diego who wasn't aware of a competitor of his skill in this race. Diego remains among the top competitors in the final stretch and crosses the finish line just after Gyro and Sandman. Gyro is demoted for interfering with Sandman's run and thus Diego ends up in second place.
Diego doesn't approach Gyro or Johnny again during the second stage but ends up in the first place.
Scary Monsters
The third stage begins with a run across the Rocky Mountains. Diego is assailed by an unknown person and is incapacitated. Gyro tries to check up on him, but both Johnny and even Diego himself advocate to leave him alone. Soon enough, Diego catches up to them, strangely lively for someone who was wounded moments ago. Diego jokes around and performs acrobatics on Silver Bullet. The three of them decide to spend the night in a village to avoid the cougars. Come evening, Diego is seen eating small rocks and justifies it as using a special technique to facilitate digestion. He smells coffee and asks for a cup, which Johnny reluctantly offers. Diego has difficulty finding the cup but when Johnny asks him about it, Diego smugly catches a fly. Johnny and Gyro find a dead bear's corpse and realize that Diego is turning into a giant lizard: a dinosaur.
A fight ensues and Diego whips Gyro out of the house with his tail. Gyro comes back and throws a Steel Ball but the dinosaur has an advantage in his kinetic vision allowing it to discern and avoid fast projectiles. Diego leaps at Gyro and pins him. To counter this kinetic vision, Gyro hides his second Steel Ball in a can, making it fly at Diego from point-blank range. Diego is stunned by the ball, allowing the duo to escape. Still pursued by Diego, they notice on the horizon the "movere crus" mountain and realize where the next corpse part is. To hide from Diego, Gyro and Johnny lay on the bear corpse to mask their scent and stay immobile as dinosaurs cannot discern immobile objects. Diego follows one of Gyro's loose Balls, but thanks to the Spin, it flattens Gyro's leg and rolls away, leading Diego away as well.
The duo hide in a sewer. Diego sends some small dinosaurs to mark the heroes, enabling the raptors in the village to trail them. Seeing the next Devil's Palm on a nearby peak, Johnny and Gyro jump across a ravine. However, Diego commands some raptors to jump and jumps on them to cross the ravine too. Diego seizes the Eyes and Gyro, who has converted enough into a raptor to become Diego's ally, protects the former from Johnny.
The true enemy, Valentine's Subordinate, Dr. Ferdinand, appears riding a raptor. In a position of strength, Ferdinand calls Johnny out on his petty goals with the Saint's Corpse, not realizing who he is dealing with. To turn the situation around, Johnny leaves his Corpse Part behind to turn into a dinosaur and knock the Eyes near Gyro, turning him back into a human. Gyro throws a Steel Ball at Dr. Ferdinand, who is protected by Diego. However, Gyro has acquired a new ability with the Corpse Part. Gyro pilots his Steel Ball remotely and sends it at Ferdinand's face, wounding him despite Diego's protection. Gyro eventually defeats Ferdinand, who is mauled to death by mountain cougars. Diego obtains the Left Eye, along with the ability to turn into a dinosaur at will, and disappears into the night.
End of the Third Stage
Diego reaches the end of the third stage. As every competitor races to finish first, Gyro and Diego try to take a shortcut through the lake instead of going around it. However, Diego's dinosaur senses allow him to better analyze the situation and he notably sees that Gyro's horse will not be able to gallop to the end in the current conditions. Out of the water, Valkyrie shows he is exhausted but is still running behind. To help his horse, Gyro throws away everything he carries and even uses the Spin to wring the water out of his body. Still, Diego sneakily spits a gastrolith and makes it rebound into Valkyrie's leg. Wounded, the horse slows down and Diego stays ahead of Gyro. Johnny nonetheless finishes before Diego.
Race in the Storm
Diego doesn't meet Johnny Joestar or Gyro Zeppeli until the near end of the fourth stage. Thanks to his Eye, Diego is able to guess the location of the next Corpse Part and races there as a storm rages over Kansas City and its surroundings.
In the storm, the duo finally catches up to Diego. Diego lets them approach once but suddenly turns into a dinosaur and leap above them. He warns the two to stay behind or be killed before he leaves. Johnny sees that Diego is systemically using the optimal route and proposes to wait for a mistake, but Gyro takes the initiative and challenges Diego. Still, Diego's optimal route choice only widens the gap between them. Then, Gyro somehow manages to close the gap and trails Diego. Diego tries to whip Valkyrie, but the horse takes the whip from him. Gyro is now seriously challenging Diego. Diego decides to sneakily turn the fleas on his horse into dinosaurs and sics them at Valkyrie's eye, disturbing the horse. Johnny guesses that Diego is attacking somehow and intervenes, aiming at Diego with his nails. Diego attacks Johnny and almost slashes him but Gyro intervenes too. He throws a Steel Ball at Diego, who's fooled into not seeing the Ball is going slowly because of its speed relative to his horse. The Ball hits Diego in the face. Not only is he unhorsed, but his horse Silver Bullet is injured, putting him temporarily out of the race. Nonetheless, Diego finishes the stage at the 54th place and intends on getting his revenge.
Teaming with Valentine
In Kansas City, Diego calls for a meeting with Funny Valentine in an alley, and Valentine sends one of his men to meet the jockey, observing from a nearby roof. Diego reveals that he knows about the Saint's Corpse but is ready to sell the Left Eye for mayorship of Manhattan Island; he then reveals that he also knows about the existence of the traitor that has hindered Valentine's plan. Valentine is forced to accept the deal and reveals Sandman to Diego, as he made a similar deal with the Indian to retrieve the Corpse Parts from Johnny and Gyro. In a demonstration of power, Diego is almost wounded by Sandman's ability, but it is his wristwatch that is damaged instead.
During the Fifth Stage near the Mississippi, Sandman and Diego attack Johnny from within stalks of corn, combining their abilities to create dinosaurs that carry sound-effects. Sandman traps a barn with a cutting sound and does the same with another racer, Dot Han. Gyro loses his Steel Balls trying to attack Dot Han and in saving Johnny. Diego and Sandman send in a horde of dinosaurs with flaming and cutting sounds to harass them, forcing them to fall into the river banks. Gyro repels the dinosaurs with the Spin and the duo takes refuge in the water. At this point, Diego leaves the scene, remaining unseen, and leaves Sandman to be killed by Johnny.
Diego subsequently lays low and rides slowly to allow his horse to rest and heal. On the outskirts of Chicago, a subordinate of Valentine named Mike O. confronts Diego. He informs Diego that they acquired more Corpse Parts from Johnny and Gyro; Diego asks if they were killed but Mike O. denies it. Mike O. asks Diego to uphold his end of the bargain and tell them what he knows about the traitor. Resigned, Diego reveals that the traitor is likely a woman weighing 51 kg. Mike O. is skeptical that such a person would be able to ride in the storm in Kansas City but Diego insists on the weight before he leaves. Near Mackinaw City, Diego finds a dying Magent Magent and brings him back to civilization. They cooperate loosely. Diego's horse fully recovers and he's able to finish the seventh stage in 1st place.
D4C
From one of his dinosaurs, Diego manages to listen to Wekapipo during the Neapolitan's battle with Magent Magent. From it, Diego learns about Lucy Steel's involvement in the search for the Corpse Parts.
At 16:05, Diego arrives at the Independence Hall, looking for Lucy. He approaches the building and when a guard surprises him, he turns into a dinosaur, disposes of him, and takes his uniform to infiltrate the Hall. He also camouflages the guard as a tree's roots. Diego then sees Valentine going out alone and is intrigued. However, Diego then sees Lucy being transported somewhere and figures that the President has uncovered her. Two guards surprise Diego again and Diego turns them into lamps with his power. Diego decides that his best chance to stay ahead is to confront the President and assassinate him, thus he follows him into the streets.
In an alley, Diego sniffs the President in front of him and Wekapipo behind him. Turning into a dinosaur, Diego and his horse leaps to the roof of the building and Diego observes from above. Wekapipo appears and Diego expects that he and Valentine will fight, allowing Diego to observe the President's power. However, Diego looks on the other side of the building and sees Wekapipo again who aims at him. Wekapipo shoots and Diego avoids the attack. He leaps to attack Wekapipo but the left side ataxia sets in. Diego must grab Wekapipo's gun and shoot him but Diego sees Wekapipo in the other corner of the building and realizes that he's shot Johnny Joestar. Confused, Diego smells the President and realizes that what has happened is because of Valentine's ability. He jumps out and tosses the gun and decides to openly meet Wekapipo.
Diego asks Wekapipo if he's seen him shoot Johnny but this Wekapipo hasn't. Sensing Valentine approaching, Diego deploys his dinosaurs to seek him and tells Wekapipo that they must ally themselves now. However, Wekapipo hesitates because it seems Diego lured him into a trap. Somehow, Valentine decimates the dinosaurs and Diego, to gain Wekapipo's trust before it is too late, tells him that he too shot Johnny. The two understand that they both shot a Johnny Joestar and that the President's ability is involved. Sensing bits of dinosaurs falling near him, Diego looks up and sees Valentine and his Stand Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap attacking him. Wekapipo intervenes and hits Valentine with a Steel Ball but the President's face is preserved, the zone of the impact replaced by a hole. Valentine attacks but Diego turns into a dinosaur, evading D4C's strikes easily. Diego slams Valentine against the wall but the President suddenly disappears. Valentine somehow reemerges from Diego's back and attacks. With his Wrecking Ball, Wekapipo induces a left side ataxia in Valentine. Tossing a pebble at Valentine, Diego confirms Valentine is vulnerable and leaps to attack but Valentine then takes a flag and covers himself with it, disappearing again. Sensing Valentine, Diego tries to lift the flag to see what's under it and finds Valentine. Valentine grabs him and forces him into the flag.
Diego finds himself stuck in the flag and sees another street, with two Valentines, another Wekapipo, and another Diego. Valentine is able to take the Left Eye from him and lets the two Diego approach each other, making them decompose into cubes. Valentine reveals the nature of his power and how two of the same person cannot exist in the same universe, lest they disappear. Valentine lets Diego be blown apart slowly but Diego then sends his dinosaurs to look for Johnny. This universe's Johnny reappears and shoots Valentine. Valentine is forced to flee to a door and is seemingly killed, but Diego realizes that the Eye is missing and thus Valentine has returned to the base world, where the Saint's Corpse is. To escape, Diego writes on the base world's ground with his spur, telling Wekapipo to approach. At the same time, Diego tells the other Wekapipo to approach. Both Wekapipo approach the flag and Diego drags them both into it. The portal between worlds reopens, allowing Diego to slip back into the base world, although it kills Wekapipo. Although Valentine has all the pieces, Diego is still alive and plans on killing Valentine for good.
Pursuing Valentine
Diego follows Valentine's scent to the port but then loses his trace. Instead, he smells and encounters Hot Pants. A short fight ensues during which Hot Pants tries to ambush Diego, only for Diego to sniff her out and leap to attack. Cream Starter covers Diego's mouth and nose and disables the small dinosaurs he sends. Hot Pants pins Diego and intends on incapacitating him with another flesh spray but Diego grabs her and merges her face with the flesh she's just sprayed. Seeing that the fight is going towards a dangerous mutual kill, Hot Pants sprays her mouth on the ground and calls for a truce. She explains that they use Lucy Steel's scent to trail the President and offers Diego everything that Valentine has while she takes the Saint's Corpse. Finally, she persuades Diego by mentioning that with the resources at her disposal, she can find Diego's father for him. Diego reluctantly accepts and they begin to follow Lucy's trail.
They arrive in a trainyard and see a train depart with Valentine in it and thus continue their pursuit. However, an alternate Hot Pants and Diego fall from the train. The two Diego's leave to pursue the train. Hot Pants manages to board the train but the alternates approach the duo. Exploiting his knowledge of Valentine's ability, Diego closes the door on their alternate selves, rejecting them out of this universe. They approach the President's car and formulate a plan. On his end, Diego ambitions to use the Corpse to control and get revenge on mankind. Diego directly confronts Valentine in a close-quarters fight and declares that he won't be making the same mistakes as before and instead cuts Valentine open. Diego uses his superior speed to prevail while Hot Pants detaches her hand and controls it to ensure Valentine can't put himself between objects. Despite being heavily wounded, Valentine manages to splash water on himself and disappears. Valentine comes back, hitting Hot Pants from a drawer and knocks her onto the ground, allowing two other Valentines to appear. However, Diego and Hot Pants enact their plan. Cream Starter disguises Diego as Valentine, confusing the Presidents and allowing Diego to instantly kill two of them. The remaining Valentine tries to jump through a window and Diego goes in for the kill.
Pushing the glass aside, Diego declares his victory and splits open Valentine. However, a strand of Valentine's hair gets under the wheels. Valentine is able to go to another world and drags Diego partway, letting him under the wheels. Diego is split in two and clings to life for a couple of moments before expiring for good.
Later on, Lucy Steel severs his head and uses it to kill the Diego Brando from a Parallel World.
Major Battles
- Diego Brando & Dr. Ferdinand vs Johnny Joestar & Gyro Zeppeli
- Diego Brando vs Johnny Joestar & Gyro Zeppeli
- Scary Monsters & Sandman vs Johnny Joestar & Gyro Zeppeli
- Diego Brando, Johnny Joestar & Wekapipo vs Funny Valentine
- Diego Brando & Hot Pants vs Funny Valentine (Death)
Race Stats
| Steel Ball Run Race Statistics | ||
| Stage | Placement | Points |
|---|---|---|
| First | 2nd | 50 |
| Second | 1st | 100 |
| Third | 3rd | 40 |
| Fourth | 54th | 0 |
| Fifth | Outside point range | 0 |
| Sixth | 20th | 2 |
| Seventh | 1st | 100 |
| Eighth | 2nd | 50 |
Diego Brando is disqualified in the ninth stage, with a total of 342 points and two extra hours of time.
Chapters
Manga AppearancesChapters in order of appearance
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 5: 1st Stage: 15,000 Meters
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 6: The Dried-Up River; Diego Brando
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 10: The Final Stretch: 2,000 Meters Left
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 11: The Final Stretch: 1,000 Meters Left
- Steel Ball Run Extra Chapter 1: ~How the Steel Ball Run Race Got Started~ (Cover only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 12: 1st Stage: Disqualified from Victory
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 13: The Sheriff's Request to Mountain Tim
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 24: Interlude (Cover only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 27: Tusk, Part 3
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 28: Scary Monsters, Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 29: Scary Monsters, Part 2
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 30: Scary Monsters, Part 3
- Steel Ball Run Extra Chapter 2: The Story of F. Valentine (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 31: Scary Monsters, Part 4
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 32: 3rd Stage Goal: Cañon City
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 33: The World of Man, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 34: The World of Man, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 36: The Green Tomb, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 37: The Green Tomb, Part 2
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 38: Catch the Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...), Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 39: Catch the Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...), Part 2
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 40: Silent Way, Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 42: Silent Way, Part 3 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 45: The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 47: The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain, Part 3 (Cover only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 48: Tubular Bells, Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 51: Wrecking Ball, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 57: Civil War, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 59: A Dream of Gettysburg (Cover only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 60: Both Sides Now, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 62: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 64: Chocolate Disco, Part 1 (Cover) (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 65: Chocolate Disco, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 66: D4C, Part 1
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 67: D4C, Part 2
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 68: D4C, Part 3
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 69: D4C, Part 4
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 70: D4C, Part 5
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 71: Ticket to Ride, Part 1 (Cover only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 72: Ticket to Ride, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 73: D4C, Part 6
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 74: D4C, Part 7
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 75: D4C, Part 8
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 76: D4C, Part 9 (Death)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 77: D4C, Part 10 (Mentioned only)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 84: Ball Breaker, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 95: The World of Stars and Stripes - Outro (Head)
Quotes
Quotes- “Hmph! I was surprised about the camel attack ending up like that... but I guess he was just small fry. Right now, I can see that he's just an amateur... I can see the outcome.”
- “It the technique of the pros... and yours is the racing of a bumpkin! Stay in the back.”—Diego Brando to Gyro Zeppeli, Steel Ball Run Chapter 6: The Dried-Up River; Diego Brando
- “Habits can't be fixed... just like Fate.”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 6: The Dried-Up River; Diego Brando
- “The other day after sundown, I got surrounded by beasts. A few cougars and a few rattle snakes. The cougars and the snakes were on two sides of the road, blocking my way out. I was thinking of how to escape… but then for some reason, I was able to pass through on one side of the road. Which side do you think it was? The cougars or the rattle snakes? The answer is the rattle snakes! Because they were … asssssslep… and sssssnoring on the side of the road!”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 28: Scary Monsters, Part 1
- “All of you at the farm who looked down on us just because it wasn’t clear who my father was! You all abandoned my mother. You disposed of us both. And my father; God knows where he is! And the owner of the farm! I’ll never forgive any of you! You’re all guilty! Bloody country fucks! I’ll climb to the top of society! If anybody gets in my way, I’ll put them through humiliation worse than getting stew in their shoes! I’ll slash through their pride and scatter it on the ground!”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 30: Scary Monsters, Part 3
- “This is the last time that you’ll be able to come within 2 meters of me… Come near me again and I’ll rip you apart. And now, I’ll teach you the meaning of the word “unrecoverable” with my racing!”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 38: Catch the Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...), Part 1
- “Useless, useless! I thought I told you this, Johnny Joestar! That I’d tear you apart if you came within 2 meters of me… no other organism on Earth can match up to a dinosaur’s speed!”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 39: Catch the Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...), Part 2
- “It’s a win-win situation! Give me Manhattan Island!”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 40: Silent Way, Part 1
- “Where am I going? I’m going to Independence Hall, which is what you’re supposed to be guarding. To assassinate your boss, that is.”—Diego Brando killing and answering a guard, Steel Ball Run Chapter 64: Chocolate Disco, Part 1
- “The winds of victory are blowing at the back of me, Dio...”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 70: D4C, Part 5
- “This world is where everything is based!! Which means... on the other hand... that must also be where the weak point in Valentine's ability is... because this world is where everything is based...”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 70: D4C, Part 5
- “I won’t dress it up. At their base, humans are no different from a flock of pigeons. If one bird flies right, they all go right. Every last one of them don’t try to see anything but their own gain and their own hubris. They’re all just an assembly of pretenders. For those kinds of people, it may have been alright for my mother’s death to be swept under the rug, but… I will have them pretend even more, I will stand far above from that flock of pigeons and I will control them!”—Diego Brando, Steel Ball Run Chapter 75: D4C, Part 8
- “I will gouge your organs out. Actions like slamming you against a wall, or crushing you between my fists… I will do no more… I’ll cut your body apart and splatter the floor with your entrails in short order. I’ll cut you open and scoop out your innards!”
- “You're dead meat! (ブッ殺してやるッ！)”
- “The wound of your slit throat is the line of the wretched world I was part of! WRYYYYYY! And this, this is the line that crosses over it! Me! The line that brings this world into my hands! (切り裂いた首のその傷はッ！オレがいた人間世界の悲惨の「線」だ...
WRYYYYYYY ーッ そして これがッ！それを超えた線ッ！このオレがッ！手に入れるこの世界への「戦」だッ！)” - “The one who was victorious was… me! (勝ったのはオレの方...だ！)”—Diego Brando’s last words, Steel Ball Run Chapter 76: D4C, Part 9
Video Games
Jump Super Stars (DS)
Diego appears in the Steel Ball Run themed stage, along with Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, where Diego can be seen ahead racing ahead of the both of them (reminiscent of the climax of the Steel Ball Run's third stage).
Eyes of Heaven (PS3/PS4)
Diego was one of the first characters confirmed to be playable in the game (alongside Jotaro Kujo, Joseph Joestar, Noriaki Kakyoin, Josuke Higashikata, and Rudol von Stroheim). He appears as the solo final boss for the game's first demo. As a Mounted Fighter, Diego is able to switch between riding atop Silver Bullet or moving on-foot. Also, as a Stand User, Diego is one of many characters with wildly varied abilities that grant him uniqueness in battle.
- Style Action - Scary Monsters: Diego switches between Human Mode and Dinosaur Mode, granting him different abilities and skills. While in Human Mode, Diego possesses the majority of his abilities, and acts like most characters. While in Dinosaur Mode, however, Diego takes his usual form of a Utahraptor, making all of his attacks unblockable (with the exception of "Dinosaurs!") and passively gaining super armor. This greatly enhances Diego's offensive capabilities, as his Normal and Powerful Attacks become exceptionally strong in addition to unblockable, while he himself will not flinch to most sources of damage. He receives a unique and powerful skill, "USHAAAAAAAA!". However, Diego is unable to guard, leaving him especially vulnerable to attacks like DHAs, with his only means of defense being a well-timed jump in those situations. He also cannot lock-on, activate Dual Combos or DHAs, grab ledges, or interact with stage objects. Diego's stamina gauge will slowly drain, automatically reverting him when it empties, and he cannot manually revert from Dinosaur Mode himself. Naturally, he can only mount Silver Bullet while in Human Mode. Certain skills by opponents that would grab/throw Diego, activate a special animation between the attacker and target, or are simply powerful enough to send him flying will automatically force him out of Dinosaur Mode. While in Dinosaur Mode, the color of the player's screen converts to a deep, blurry blue, with the other combatants colored in pink unless they stop moving. This style of view is similar to N'Doul's visualized sonar ability seen in the TV anime, and is meant to emulate the motion-based sight that Diego would have as a dinosaur.
- Dinosaurs!: This is the only skill available in both Human Mode and Dinosaur Mode. Diego creates a small dinosaur that hunts down the nearest opponent or Diego's lock-on target and biting them 3 times before disappearing. As the dinosaur has the properties of a projectile, it can be deflected by any number of abilities that could do so to projectiles.
- MUDA MUDAAAAAA!: Diego quickly leaps forward and performs a somersault, growing a dinosaur tail and whipping it downward. Opponents hit by the tail are slammed into the ground. Diego is invincible until the start of the attack. If used in Mounted Mode, this instantly transitions Diego into Ground Mode.
- Gouge: Diego lunges forward into the air and unleashes a barrage of 8 claw strikes before landing. If used in Mounted Mode, this instantly transitions Diego into Ground Mode.
- Are you ready?!: This skill is only available in succession after "Gouge" is used. Diego lands and follows up the attack by performing a powerful 3-hit combo that sends opponent caught flying with a final, two-handed strike.
- Silver Bullet: Diego switches between Mounted Mode and Ground Mode. While in Mounted Mode, Silver Bullet has above-average mobility and jump height and can unleash devastating Normal and Powerful Attacks. However, his stamina gauge will slowly drain, automatically dismounting him when it empties. Diego's skills, with the exception of "Dinosaurs!", will transition him into Ground Mode. While in Ground Mode, Diego can interact with stage objects and grab ledges, as well as utilize his Style Action.
- EX - MUDA MUDAAAAAA!: Opponents hit by the attack will now bounce into the air, and Diego can freely cancel the skill before he lands with Normal Attacks. This allows him to immediately and seamlessly combo his targets while still in mid-air.
- EX - Gouge: Diego is invincible upon activation, and the skill deals more damage.
- EX - Are you ready?!: The skill deals more damage.
- USHAAAAAAAA!: The only skill aside from "Dinosaurs!" available to Diego in Dinosaur Mode. Dinosaur Diego leaps forward, and if he connects with an opponent, he will stomp and pin them to the ground with his feet, before proceeding to rapidly chomp them while they're down. He completes the attack by performing a backflip, whipping his tail to send the target flying. This deals a high amount of damage and can even hit downed opponents, in addition to the other benefits of Dinosaur Mode.
- Dual Heat Attack - This is the "line" to the world I'm going to inherit!!: In Human Mode, Diego delivers a series of relentless claw-handed blows to his opponent's body. After partially transforming into Dinosaur Mode, Diego shouts that he's going to kill them and finishes his assault with a superhumanly powerful downward chop to cleave them down the middle (a reenactment of his lethal assault on Valentine).
JoJolities
- I hope you're ready, because I'm coming to kill you!: Diego must connect "Are you ready?!" 3 times. (200 Points)
- Dinosaurs never let a scent slip past them!: Diego must connect "Dinosaurs!" 3 times. (200 Points)
- Dio is HUNGRY!: Diego must connect "USHAAAAAAAA!" 2 times. (300 Points)
- "You're all guilty!": Diego must achieve a total hit count of 200. (500 Points)
- That's the wretched thread that leads back to the world I once inhabited...: Diego must Retire an opponent with a Dual Heat Attack. (800 Points)
Tournament
He is paired with Narancia Ghirga in the Eyes of Heaven Tournament, defeating Robert E.O. Speedwagon and Ermes Costello in the first round, but eliminated by Mariah and Esidisi in the second.
All-Star Battle R
Diego was confirmed as a playable character alongside Robert E.O. Speedwagon, Mariah, and Pet Shop during the Street Date trailer. With his addition, Dio technically has 3 versions of himself be playable in the game.
As a Part 7 character, three parts of the Holy Corpse appear scattered on stages when he, Johnny, Gyro, or Valentine are being played, which they can pick up to receive blessings that boost their performance in combat. Corpse Parts are obtained by crouching while over them. He is the third character to use the 'Mounted' style alongside Johnny and Gyro.
Diego's model and color scheme are taken from Eyes of Heaven, however his render is now the one once used by his parallel world self.
Command List
This section requires expansion.
Style/Specials/Etc
Silver Bullet / Dismount
ON GROUND Diego can summon his horse Silver Bullet to mount it, or dismount and send it away, shifting his movement and available abilities. Silver Bullet improves his basic mobility, attack range, and power, but receiving knockback will forcibly dismount him.
If the Style input () is chained from normals while unmounted, 'Quick Mount' is triggered at the cost of Heart Heat, whereby Diego mounts Silver Bullet much faster and the act of flipping onto his horse can knock the opponent into the air. This provides an easy and quicker method of mounting as well as transitioning Diego's unmounted combo into a mounted one.
Dinosaur Kinetic Vision
/
/
then 
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(Unmounted) ON GROUND A 'Super Jump' skill. Diego bounds higher into the air than normal, covering a greater distance when leaping forward or backwards. This special can be used to better evade attacks, extend time for air-based maneuvers, or quickly cancel normal attacks for both offensive and defensive purposes.
Aerial Chain Beat
or 
or 
(Unmounted) IN AIR OK While in mid-air, Diego can chain his aerial normal attacks together in order of increasing power, much like any other character could on the ground. This ability synergizes with "Dinosaur Kinetic Vision", allowing Diego to freely continue aerial combos canceled from his Super Jump with said normal attacks.
My speed is supreme.
+ (Umounted) ON GROUND Diego shifts forward and delivers a stabbing claw strike. A command normal that can chain into Diego's skills.
You hesitated!
+ (Unmounted) ON GROUND Diego performs a spin while moving a distance forward, and unleashes a double-handed claw slash. This deals significant Guard damage, and is a command normal that can chain into Diego's skills.
KUAAAAAAAAAA
+ (Unmounted) ON GROUND Diego turns around as he whips his dinosaur tail upwards, launching the opponent into the air. This is a low attack that cannot be blocked standing, and a command normal that can chain into Diego's skills.
Saint Corpse's Blessing
// while near Corpse Part (Unmounted) ON GROUND Diego receives a new blessing for every Holy Corpse Part he holds, but if successfully knocked down, drops the part and loses said blessing.
- Diego gains access to the follow-up skill "Are you ready?!"
- All of Diego's skills are enhanced in some form or another, mainly boosting their damage.
- The rate at which Diego's Heart Heat Gauge fills is increased.
Skills
Gouge
+ // ON GROUND Diego lunges forward off the ground and unleashes a barrage of alternating claw slashes before landing. If used while Mounted, this seamlessly transitions him into a Dismounted state as he leaps from atop Silver Bullet. The attack button inputted affects how far Diego moves forward while leaping, inversely affecting his recovery speed afterward. (Flash Cancel comboable)
If Diego holds two Corpse Parts, he becomes invulnerable during this skill's start-up, allowing the attack to function as a reversal.
Are you ready?!
(During "Gouge") // (requires at least one Corpse Part) ON GROUND
// (requires at least one Corpse Part) ON GROUND Diego follows up on his attack by unleashing a powerful 3-hit combo of claw slashes, sending the opponent flying with the final two-handed strike. The attack button inputted affects the damage dealt by the attack, inversely affecting Diego's recovery speed afterward. (Flash Cancel comboable)
If Diego holds two Corpse Parts, this attack inflicts more damage.
Useless, useless!
+ // ON GROUND Diego suddenly launches into the air and performs a somersault, sprouting his dinosaur tail and whipping it downward to bounce the opponent off the ground. If used while Mounted, this seamlessly transitions him into a Dismounted state as he leaps from atop Silver Bullet, and the skill executes much faster. This is a middle attack that cannot be blocked crouching, and Diego is invulnerable until he leaves the ground, allowing the attack to function as a reversal. The attack button inputted affects how far Diego moves forward while leaping, inversely affecting his recovery speed afterward. (Flash Cancel comboable)
If Diego holds two Corpse Parts, his invulnerability during this skill's start-up is extended to right before the tail attack begins.
Against human players, the attack can easily bypass blocking due to Diego having changed to their other side the instant before the attack is released (known as a "cross-up").
Dinosaurs!
+ // ON GROUND Diego calls forth small dinosaurs that remain stationary for a brief period, then charge forward to bite at the opponent multiple times. The dinosaurs will travel the length of the area if allowed, and function as projectiles. The attack button inputted increases the number of dinosaurs summoned, with Light () summoning one while Heavy () summons three; However, Diego's recovery speed afterward is inversely affected. (Comboable)
If Diego holds two Corpse Parts, the dinosaurs inflict more damage.
Throw
I'll cut you open and scoop everything out!
2 ATK buttons at close range or 
ON GROUND
ON GROUND Diego picks his opponent up by their neck with one hand, then stabs his sharpened claws into their body with the other, and finally slashes outward to throw them away.
Heart Heat Attack
Scary Monsters!
+ 2 ATK Buttons ON GROUND Diego fully transforms into his Utahraptor form, known as Dinosaur Form. The stock of Heart Heat spent becomes a draining timer, canceling the ability upon depleting. Upon deactivation of Dinosaur Form, Diego will momentarily revert with a jump, changing back to his human form in mid-air and leaving him vulnerable.
Dinosaur Diego gains a new set of normal attacks and skills, drastically improving his overall damage output and range. He gains passive Super Armor at all times and cannot be staggered, knocked down, or launched, allowing him to power through any attack. Most prominently, Diego becomes immune to most opposing HHA and GHA; Heat Attacks that only continue upon connecting with a first hit will simply fail against Dinosaur Diego, and he will bypass any counters and counter-type Heat Attacks and strike the opponent without triggering them.
However, Dinosaur Diego is unable to guard, taunt, Flash Cancel, Stylish Evade, or Stylish Guard, leaving him little in the way of defending himself from incoming damage, and he can still be KO'd. Interestingly, when struck by HHA and GHA, Guard damage (damage that would have been dealt to Diego's Guard Gauge upon blocking) is converted and added to the incoming attack's normal damage. This means Heat Attacks that would deal higher Guard damage, such as Gyro's GHA, still deal significant damage to Dinosaur Diego even if they would technically 'fail'. HHA that continue executing without an initial hit will still deal full damage to him as well, assuming he cannot interrupt the attack.
As HHA can be universally canceled into from most attacks including skills, this gives Diego a means to extend combos by chaining into its activation, instantly canceling an attack not unlike a Flash Cancel and allowing him to continue his offense into Dinosaur Form.
Style/Specials/Etc (Dinosaur Form)
Dinosaur Kinetic Vision
// then // ON GROUND A 'Super Jump' skill. Dinosaur Diego bounds higher into the air than normal, covering a greater distance when leaping forward or backwards. This special can be used to better evade attacks, extend time for air-based maneuvers, or quickly cancel normal attacks for both offensive and defensive purposes.
Aerial Chain Beat
or or IN AIR OK While in mid-air, Dinosaur Diego can chain his aerial normal attacks together in order of increasing power, much like any other character could on the ground. This ability synergizes with "Dinosaur Kinetic Vision", allowing Diego to freely continue aerial combos canceled from his Super Jump with said normal attacks.
Saint Corpse's Blessing
// while near Corpse Part ON GROUND Dinosaur Diego receives a new blessing for every Holy Corpse Part he holds, but if successfully knocked down, drops the part and loses said blessing. As he cannot be knocked down in Dinosaur Form, he is protected from losing any Corpse Parts until he reverts.
- Diego gains access to the follow-up skill "Are you ready?!" (Unusable in Dinosaur Form)
- All of Dinosaur Diego's skills deal increased damage.
- The rate at which Dinosaur Diego's Heart Heat Gauge fills is increased.
Skills (Dinosaur Form)
Dinosaurs!
+ // ON GROUND Dinosaur Diego calls forth smaller dinosaurs that immediately charge forward to bite at the opponent multiple times. The dinosaurs will travel the length of the area if allowed, and function as projectiles. The attack button inputted increases the number of dinosaurs summoned, with Light () summoning one while Heavy () summons three; However, Diego's recovery speed afterward is inversely affected. (Comboable)
If Dinosaur Diego holds two Corpse Parts, the dinosaurs inflict more damage.
USHAAAAAA!
+ // ON GROUND Dinosaur Diego leaps forward in a melee tackle. If he connects with the opponent, he will stomp and pin them to the ground with his feet, before proceeding to rapidly chomp them while they're down. He completes the attack by performing a backflip, whipping his tail to send the target flying a long distance away. The attack button inputted affects how far Dinosaur Diego moves forward while leaping as well as the damage dealt, inversely affecting his recovery speed afterward if the attack fails.
If Dinosaur Diego holds two Corpse Parts, this attack inflicts more damage.
Above you!
+ // ON GROUND WHEN DOWNED Dinosaur Diego launches high into the air before suddenly slamming straight downward in a massive stomp, knocking the opponent down in a ground bounce. This is a middle attack that cannot be blocked crouching, and can strike a downed opponent. The attack button inputted affects how far Dinosaur Diego moves forward while leaping as well as the damage dealt, inversely affecting his recovery speed afterward.
If Dinosaur Diego holds two Corpse Parts, this attack inflicts more damage.
Throw (Dinosaur Form)
GYAAAAAAAS!
2 ATK buttons at close range or ON GROUND
ON GROUND Dinosaur Diego headbutts the opponent off-balance, before performing a heavy tailspin and whipping them away.
Great Heat Attack
This is the "line" to the world that I'm going to inherit!
+ 3 ATK Buttons, or 
ON GROUND Diego's GHA can only be performed while unmounted, and he will automatically dismount from Silver Bullet when used while mounted; He cannot perform this GHA while in Dinosaur Form.
Diego partially transforms, readies his claws, lets out a "WRYYYYYY!", and charges forward in a melee strike. If the attack connects, he sics three small dinosaurs on the opponent that lunge and bite at them. Sprinting in after them, he leaps and delivers a series of relentless claw-handed blows to his opponent's body. Finishing the assault, Diego bears his fangs and screams his murderous intent, before unleashing a superhumanly powerful upwards chop to cleave them up the middle.
Gallery
Diego once worked in the Joestar family ranch
Introduction in SBR Chapter 1, mentioned by Steven Steel
Mountain Tim and Diego as the race's fan favorites
Diego catches up to Gyro Zeppeli
Diego surpasses Gyro
Diego and Sandman coming neck and neck as they approach the next stage
Johnny Joestar notices the cracks on Diego's neck
Diego tells a hiss-terical joke to Gyro and Johnny
Diego falls asleep around dinosaur fossils, foreshadowing Scary Monsters
Diego transforms into a dinosaur
Diego under Scary Monsters' ability
Diego and the Corpse's Left Eye
Diego wants Manhattan Island in exchange for Valentine's deal
Diego meets Wekapipo
Diego disguises himself as one of Valentine's guards
Ambushed by Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Diego bares his dinosaur teeth
Diego's death
SBR Chapter 24 Cover
Ultra Jump 2005 Issue #4 (Title Page)
SBR Chapter 28 Cover A
SBR Chapter 59 Cover B
Ultra Jump 2008 Issue #4 (Title Page B)
SBR Chapter 64 Cover
SBR Chapter 68 Cover
SBR Chapter 71 Cover
SBR Chapter 75 Cover
SBR Volume 1 Cover
SBR Volume 1 Illustration
SBR Volume 2 Cover
SBR Volume 2 Illustration
SBR Volume 7 Cover
SBR Volume 7 Illustration
SBR Volume 17 Cover
SBR Volume 17 Illustration
Render, Eyes of Heaven
Normal
Special A
Astride Silver Bullet render
Diego and Silver Bullet Normal
- ScryMnstrEOH.png
Scary Monsters form render
Scary Monsters form Normal
Intro
DHA
Costume A
DHA Costume A
Costume B
In dinosaur form
Johnny & Diego DHA
Render, All-Star Battle R
Diego's intro
Partially transformed
Diego initiating his HHA
Diego VS Johnny
Super Action Statue (second color)
Steel Ball Run Volume Spine Art
Ultra Jump 2006 Issue #1 (Cover)
Ultra Jump 2006 Issue #1 - UJ PRESS (Inside Illustration)
Ultra Jump 2008 Issue #10 - UJ PRESS (Inside Illustration)
Ultra Jump 2009 Issue #4 - UJ PRESS (Inside Illustration)
- PR-017.png
Adventure Battle Card; Gyro & Johnny Sprinting
Steel Ball Run Website Promotional Video (1st Stage)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Steel Ball Run Chapter 64: Chocolate Disco, Part 1
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 12: 1st Stage: Disqualified from Victory
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Steel Ball Run Chapter 30: Scary Monsters, Part 3
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 94: The World of Stars and Stripes
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 30: Scary Monsters, Part 3, p.6
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 30: Scary Monsters, Part 3, p.15-16
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 40: Silent Way, Part 1, p.43
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 73: D4C, Part 6, p.34
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 28: Scary Monsters, Part 1, p.26
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 38: Catch the Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...), Part 1, p.31
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 75: D4C, Part 8, p.6
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 70: D4C, Part 5, p.37
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 31: Scary Monsters, Part 4
- ↑ JOJOVELLER: Araki's Stand Commentaries - Scary Monsters
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 58: Civil War, Part 3, p.17-18
