Stardust Crusaders

Nena

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“
An ugly woman like her... she used her Stand to assimilate other people.
”
—Joseph about Nena, Chapter 149

Nena (ネーナ, Nēna) is a tertiary antagonist featured in the third part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Stardust Crusaders, specifically the "Empress" story arc.

She first appears in India alongside Hol Horse and tries to assassinate Joseph Joestar while passing as an ordinary woman. She is a Stand User who uses Empress.

Appearance

Nena first looks like a beautiful young Indian woman in typical Indian attire. However, this is merely a disguise, and Nena is truly a short, ugly, and overweight woman wearing a bikini. Nena also possesses a bud on her tongue.

Disguised, Nena has a bindi on her forehead and wears an ankle-length, sleeveless dress and a headscarf, along with plenty of jewelry such as a pair of looped earrings and a bead necklace.

Color Schemes

The series is known for alternating colors between media, the information presented below may or may not be canon.
Colored MangaOVAHeritage for the FutureAnime
(Disguised)
Skin
(Tan. Magenta and golden Bindi, red lipstick.)
Hair(Brown)
Eyes(Brown)
Outfit
(Lavender robes and hijab with a red trim, golden jewelry.)

(Normal)

Skin(Fair, red lipstick.)
Hair(Brown)
Eyes(Pale Brown)
Outfit(Pink bikini.)
Skin
(Fair. Light purple Bindi, pink lipstick.)
Hair(Brown)
Eyes(Brown)
Outfit
(Lavender robes and hijab, red shirt, dull golden jewelry.)
Skin(Tan)
Hair(Gray)
Eyes(Black)
Outfit(Light orange robes, golden jewelry.)
(Disguised)
Skin
(Tan. Dark magenta and golden Bindi, salmon lipstick.)
Hair(Black)
Eyes(Purple)
Outfit
(Magenta robes and an orange trimmed burgundy hijab with an orange and green diamond pattern. A pink scarf and sash.)
Jewelry
(Golden loop earrings and braclets, and a red bead necklace.)

(Normal)

Skin
(Gray. Lavender eyeliner and magenta lipstick.)
Hair(Black)
Eyes(Gray (dead eyes))
Outfit(Purple binki.)

Personality

Stardust CrusadersOVA

Nena is a devious servant of DIO.

Not much is known about Nena but most of the things she's seen doing indicate a twisted personality. She is an assassin at DIO's service and Enya the Hag notes that her Empress's specialty is to slowly kill her victims.[2] Nena also hides her true form by assimilating the skin of another, prettier woman with her Stand and uses her good looks to trick her targets into thinking she's an innocent woman and approach them to plant Empress in them.[3] Nena also keeps this habit in presence of potential allies.

She's initially introduced as a young Indian girl pretending to be in love with Hol Horse[4] to the point of wanting marriage.[5] She uses her "relationship" with him as a means to infiltrate the Joestar Group and later charms Polnareff as a distraction while trying to assassinate Joseph Joestar.[6]

In the OVA, her role as villain was cut. Instead, Nena truly is a young, naive girl who fell for Hol Horse. She yearns to marry him, and is heartbroken by his rejection. Hol Horse comments that a girl like her is useful, loyal to the point that she would sacrifice her safety for him.

Abilities

Stand

Main article: Empress

Nena's Stand, Empress, is a parasite Stand that grows from the flesh of its victim.

Empress (エンプレス（女帝）)Link to this section
EmpressMangaAv.png
Debut
Chapter 147 / SC Episode 12
Type
Long-Range, Materialized, Natural Humanoid
Ability
Parasitism
PWR
C
SPD
E
RNG
A
STA
A
PRC
D
DEV
D

It represents the Tarot Card "The Empress", which symbolizes fertility. "The Empress" card often puts emphasis on motherly qualities, like the creation of life, and it is thought to signify physical attraction and luxury. Nena's luxury can be seen through her crush on Hol Horse and later attraction towards Polnareff (even though she was only faking the latter). Her Stand, Empress, refers to her fertility by growing as it eats, similar to a real living being. It also refers to its host as "daddy", though in a mocking manner, as if it was the fruit of a relationship.

History

Background

Nena is an obese, unsightly woman from an aristocratic family hired by DIO to intercept and kill the Joestar group. Nena used her Stand Empress to kill a beautiful young woman and wore her skin to hide her true form. She eventually falls in love with Hol Horse to the point of wanting to marry him. The two become allies and lovers, though Hol Horse takes advantage of her as she was willing to do anything for him.

Stardust Crusaders (1988)

Nena & Hol Horse

Nena is initially portrayed as an ally and lover of Hol Horse, an enemy of the protagonists, but is not shown to be a true enemy herself. She shows interest in marrying him but he denies her marriage offer claiming he is a traveler destined to die on the street and couldn't stay with her even though they loved each other. He later reveals to J. Geil that he is with her just because she could be useful in the future, sacrificing her life for him.

After Hol Horse is defeated she eventually comes to his rescue, holding down Jean Pierre Polnareff while Hol Horse escapes from Jotaro's team. She then accompanies the group on a bus they take to Varanashi, and it is then that Polnareff becomes attracted to her while she hides her actual identity as a Stand User, and attacks Joseph Joestar with her Stand.

Nena's true-self revealed

Nena then exploits Polnareff's interest in her to distract him while her Stand fights Joseph. After Joseph is able to deal the finishing blow to Empress, Nena takes the damage and dies, revealing her real form.

Polnareff appears traumatized as she is killed in front of him, realizing she is an enemy (and a very ugly enemy at that). This has led to comical scenes as the rest of the Crusaders try to bring him back to his senses.

OVA

Nena's disguised form appears in the OVA, but her role as an antagonist is excluded. As such, she only appears to allow Hol Horse to escape.

Chapters / Episodes

Book Icon.png Manga Appearances
Chapters in order of appearance
TV Icon.png Anime Appearances
Episodes in order of appearance
Book Icon.png Novel Appearances
Chapters in order of appearance

Quotes

Quote.png Quotes
  • “
    I am the "Empress", old man! And you Joseph will be the first to die!!!
    ”
    —Empress, Chapter 147: Empress, Part 2
  • “
    I'm bigger now, but I still need you to feed me, "daddy"!!!
    ”
    —Empress to Joseph, Chapter 148: Empress, Part 3

Video Games

Heritage for the Future (PS1/DC/Arcade)

  • As a "quick-time event" enemy in Super Story Mode, the player must dodge a cop's bullet and her Stand Empress's punches.
  • If Polnareff wins against Hol Horse by Time Over, Nena holds Polnareff in place while Hol Horse runs away, just like in the manga and anime.
  • Hol Horse has an introduction animation with him coming down from an elephant mount, leaving Nena behind as the elephant leaves the stage, telling her, Ja na! aishiteru! (Bye! love ya!)

Gallery

MangaAnimeOVAGamesCardsOther
  • Nena's disguised face in the manga

    Nena's disguised face in the manga

  • Nena distracting the Joestar Group, allowing Hol Horse to escape.

    Nena distracting the Joestar Group, allowing Hol Horse to escape.

  • The bud on Nena's tongue

    The bud on Nena's tongue

  • Nena lies to Polnareff, in order to be hide from Joseph, who is affected by her Stand

    Nena lies to Polnareff, in order to be hide from Joseph, who is affected by her Stand

  • Nena emerging from her disguise

    Nena emerging from her disguise

  • Disguised in the anime

    Disguised in the anime

  • Nena bored of Polnareff's rambling on their way to India

    Nena bored of Polnareff's rambling on their way to India

  • The bud on Nena's tongue

    The bud on Nena's tongue

  • Nena being followed by Polnareff

    Nena being followed by Polnareff

  • Nena emerging from her disguise

    Nena emerging from her disguise

  • Polnareff shocked after Nena's reveal and death

    Polnareff shocked after Nena's reveal and death

  • A deceased Nena

    A deceased Nena

  • Nena as she appears in the OVA (it is unknown whether or not she is disguised)

    Nena as she appears in the OVA (it is unknown whether or not she is disguised)

  • "Hold your horses!"

    "Hold your horses!"

  • Nena begs Hol Horse to marry her

    Nena begs Hol Horse to marry her

  • Nena asks Hol Horse to tell her he loves her more than anyone

    Nena asks Hol Horse to tell her he loves her more than anyone

  • Nena begins to cry with joy after Hol Horse confesses his "love"

    Nena begins to cry with joy after Hol Horse confesses his "love"

  • Hol Horse and Nena embrace after Hol Horse's "confession"

    Hol Horse and Nena embrace after Hol Horse's "confession"

Adventure Battle CardCrusade

References

  1. ↑ Lovers - Vol.4 "Shueisha Jump Remix Stardust Crusaders Edition" p.124 The Secret of JOJO Characters
  2. ↑ Chapter 147: Empress, Part 2 P.5.
  3. ↑ Chapter 149: Empress, Part 4 P.19.
  4. ↑ JOJO A-GO!GO!: STANDS - EMPRESS, p.25
  5. ↑ Chapter 141: Emperor and Hanged Man, Part 2 P.10.
  6. ↑ Chapter 148: Empress, Part 3

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