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

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]


The information below derives from the Stardust Crusaders OVA which was not written by Araki. As such, it may not be considered canon.

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.


Concludes non-canon section.

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
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 [[Jean Pierre 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 was hired by DIO to intercept and kill the Joestar group. She used her Stand Empress to kill a beautiful young woman and wore her skin to hide her true form. She accompanies Hol Horse using this disguise, pretending to be a naive girl who fell for his charm.[7] According to Hol Horse and Polnareff, Nena comes from a noble family in Varanasi, although this might be part of her disguise.[7][8]

Stardust Crusaders (1988)

Nena & Hol Horse

Nena is initially portrayed as an ally and lover of Hol Horse. 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, potentially sacrificing her life for him.[7]

After Hol Horse is defeated she eventually comes to his rescue, holding down Jean Pierre Polnareff while Hol Horse escapes from Jotaro's team.[9] She then accompanies the group on a bus they take to Varanasi, 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.[10][6]

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.[11]

OVA

Hol Horse and Nena

When Hol Horse is traveling through India to confront the Joestar Group, Nena suddenly appears to confess his affection for him. She yearns to marry him, however Hol Horse doesn't reciprocate completely, as the life he leads is unfitting for a girl from an aristocratic family. He comforts Nena by explaining that he can't marry her because he loves her too much. Nena accepts the reality, and returns back to her home.

Nena later appears when Hol Horse is surrounded by the Joestar group, and when Polnareff unleashes Silver Chariot she tugs on his leg and gives Hol Horse the opportunity 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
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. 6.0 6.1 Chapter 148: Empress, Part 3
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Chapter 141: Emperor and Hanged Man, Part 2
  8. Chapter 147: Empress, Part 2
  9. Chapter 146: Empress, Part 1
  10. Chapter 147: Empress, Part 2
  11. Chapter 149: Empress, Part 4

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