Wang Chan
Wang Chan (ワンチェン, Wan Chen) is a secondary antagonist featured in the first part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Phantom Blood.
Originally a black market merchant in the slums of London, he becomes a faithful servant of Dio Brando after being transformed into a zombie.
Appearance
Wang Chan is a short, scrawny, elderly Asian man. His hair is spiky and firmly stands upwards. Along with a prominent widow's peak, he has very long eyebrows, a small mole under his right eye, and a fu manchu mustache. After becoming a zombie, he grows fangs and a long tongue.
Color Schemes
Personality
As a human, Wang Chan shows a nasty and greedy personality, selling poison to Dio for fun without any regard for its use.[1] He also doesn't mind violence, smiling when Dio stabs George Joestar. Later, he heads back to the Joestar Mansion after it burns to the ground to salvage the Stone Mask in order to sell it for a profit.[4]
Upon becoming a zombie, however, Wang Chan becomes entirely devoted to Dio's wishes. At first very quiet, the zombified Wang Chan becomes more brutal and cruel, becoming unrestrained in expressing his urges. Notably, he recklessly attacks a fatally wounded Jonathan, underestimating him despite Dio's warnings. Despite his recklessness, Dio trusts him enough to be responsible for taking care of his head and implanting it onto Jonathan's body.
Being versed in the art of fortunetelling, Wang Chan is supremely confident in his predictions, knowing that Dio would escape imprisonment at the Joestar mansion.
In his first appearance, he speaks with a stereotypical Chinese accent in Japanese, ending his phrases with "~ne" (~ね) and "~aru yo" (~あるよ).[1]
Abilities
As a human, Wang Chan was a fortune teller and an expert on Oriental poisons. He successfully predicted that Dio would have great luck in his life, which proved to be true in his many near-death experiences.
After being zombified, he appears to have retained his personality, though he shows a more bloodthirsty side and selflessly serves Dio. In terms of physical ability, he can jump great distances much like one trained in martial arts. However, as one of the shorter zombies in Dio's army, he usually takes to running away or hiding in self-defense unless directly told by Dio to attack. Wang Chan is shown to be capable of fighting one-handed while holding Dio's head with the other.
In battle, Wang Chan chooses to wear gloves with long claws to increase his power and attack range. He is confident in his ability to kill a human by a single swipe of his rigid claws, though he still needs to attack from a relatively-close distance.[5] This is omitted in the anime.
After Dio loses his body, Wang Chan holds Dio's head in a jar during his final battle with Jonathan. Wang Chan can turn the jar to fixate Dio's vision, allowing the vampire to use his Space Ripper Stingy Eyes.[6]
History
Background
Wang Chan was a shop owner operating in Ogre Street, the most dangerous part of London. When a young Dio Brando came to buy slow-acting poison from him to kill his father Dario Brando, he was unconcerned by Dio's evilness and told him of a man in his own land who had a similar birthmark to Dio's. The man in question had a harsh life, but lived to be over 183 years old.[1]
Phantom Blood
Years later in 1880, Dio reuses the same poison to murder George Joestar. However, Jonathan discovers Dio's schemes and, with the help of Robert E. O. Speedwagon, manages to find Wang Chan's shop. Wang Chan is arrested by the police and taken to the Joestar Mansion. As he witnesses Jonathan approaching Dio to cuff him, Wang Chan claims that Dio is far too lucky to have fully given up this early. Dio uses George's blood to become a vampire, and Wang Chan manages to escape during the chaos. After the mansion burns down, Wang Chan searches the ashes, attempting to find the Stone Mask in order to sell it. Instead, he discovers a heavily-injured Dio, who sucks his blood and turns him into a zombie.[7] From that point on, Wang Chan serves as Dio's subordinate.
Wang Chan takes care of Dio while he is recovering from his injuries, showing great loyalty to him. He is seen pushing Dio in a wheelchair during their meeting with Jack the Ripper.[8] He attacks Jonathan during his training, but Jonathan's Zoom Punch introduces him to Ripple energy. Wang Chan escapes and later informs Dio about the Ripple.[5] When Jonathan's group reaches Dio's mansion, Wang Chan remains hidden and manages to survive the battle. He finds Dio's head after the battle and, lamenting that Dio doesn't have another body, steals a fisherman's boat and escapes.[9]
Wang Chan stows away on the ship Jonathan and Erina board for their honeymoon. After being spotted by Jonathan, he retrieves Dio's head from his coffin. Dio fires Space Ripper Stingy Eyes at Jonathan, piercing his neck and rendering him unable to create Ripple energy. However, Jonathan uses the last of his energy to crush Wang Chan's head and send Ripple into his body. Wang Chan's headless body is sent flying into the ship's machinery, and the Ripple controlling his carcass disrupts the ship's screw shaft; it is presumably destroyed in the ensuing explosion.[6]
Chapters / Episodes
- Chapter 7: A Letter from the Past, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Chapter 9: The Stone Mask, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 10: The Stone Mask, Part 3
- Chapter 11: The Stone Mask, Part 4
- Chapter 17: The Birth of DIO
- Chapter 18: Jack the Ripper and Zeppeli the Strange, Part 1
- Chapter 19: Jack the Ripper and Zeppeli the Strange, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 20: Jack the Ripper and Zeppeli the Strange, Part 3
- Chapter 21: Jack the Ripper and Zeppeli the Strange, Part 4
- Chapter 22: Jack the Ripper and Zeppeli the Strange, Part 5 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 41: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 3
- Chapter 42: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 4
- Chapter 43: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 5 (Death)
- Chapter 44: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 6 (Corpse only)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 2: A Letter from the Past (Flashback)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 3: Youth with Dio
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 4: Overdrive
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 9: The Final Ripple! (Death)
Quotes
- “He... won't be caught here... So says his fortune... Not only those three moles on his ear, but the attributes of his face. He is born with impenetrable luck! (あの男…つかまりやせんよ…占いでそう出てるんじゃ…耳の3つのホクロだけじゃあなく、あいつの顔の相もそうなっているんじゃ 奴は急運のもとに生まれついとる!)”—Wang Chan, Chapter 11: The Stone Mask, Part 4
- “This mask will surely fetch a pretty penny... my ship's finally come in! Hee hee hee hee...”—Wang Chan finding the Stone Mask, Chapter 17: The Birth of DIO
- “Master Dio! Oh... ohh... if only he had another body...”—Wang Chan discovering Dio's head, Chapter 41: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 3
- “Kahh!... Master Dio, look! He can no longer breathe, therefore, he can't use his Ripple technique! I have some payback for him... shall we have some fun? Or perhaps... it may only be a few minutes, so shall we watch him suffocate?”—Wang Chan insulting Jonathan, Chapter 43: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 5
- “Shaaaah! We needn't worry about that! Now it's time for me to finish him off! Master thinks too highly of him! I have him and his Hamon to thank for this terrible scar! Master Dio's scars may heal, but mine will last for eternity! I'll yank out what's left of your brain with my fingers!”—Wang Chan attacking Jonathan, Chapter 43: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 5
Video Games
Capcom Fighters (PS1/DC/Arcade)
Wang Chan appears when Shadow DIO is attacked by Alessi's Stand. If Shadow DIO is caught in Alessi's Stand's attack, he turns into Wang Chan holding the jar containing Dio's severed head. In this state, Wang Chan can attack by using his claws, or Dio's head can attack using Space Ripper Stingy Eyes.
Phantom Blood (PS2)
Wang Chan appears in Chapter 08 as the first enemy Jonathan faces after learning the Ripple. Much like in the original story, Wang Chan uses his giant claws to attack and poison his opponent.
Wang Chan is also playable in some battles in Extra Battle Mode, and can be used in 77 Rings Knights Mode.
- 77 Rings Knights Mode: Living Corpses
Wang Chan also appears in the regular Chapter 23, carrying Dio's head in a large jar. Although Wang Chan retains some of his claw-based attacks, his moveset is primarily based around Dio's Space Ripper Stingy Eyes attack. This version of Wang Chan is playable in the last stage of Dio Mode, and can also be unlocked in 77 Rings Knights Mode.
- 77 Rings Knights Mode: Living Corpses
All-Star Battle (PS3)
Wang Chan appears in the PS3 game as a navigation character for the GALLERY MODE STORE.
Diamond Records (Android/iOS)
Wang Chan (ワンチェン, Wan Chen) appears in Diamond Records as a playable character in both the Action Battle and Tactical Battle game modes. He has one 'Fighting Spirit' type 5 star statue.
Wang Chan's moveset in both game modes is comprised of various attacks inspired by the anime, including summoning zombie minions, using his claws, and using the severed head of Dio. Despite being a zombie in the series, the game gives him the "vampire" tag, and he has the qualities of a vampire character. Playing as him will force any outdoor stages into their night time variants.
All-Star Battle R (Various)
Wang Chan appears in All-Star Battle R as the guide character for the Shop & Gallery Mode's Gallery Shop (ギャラリーショップ, Gyararī Shoppu).
His UI uses his initial appearance from Phantom Blood when he first meets Dio Brando.[11]
- “Welcome! (いらっしゃい…)”—Entering the Gallery Shop
- “I'll get the cash out of you, one way or another. Ah ha ha ha! (ひともうけ してやるね、ウヘェェヘヘヘヘヘ)”—Entering the Gallery Shop
- “Great timing! Come spend your cash! (お客さん、よく来たね)”—Entering the Gallery Shop
- “What are you after? (何をおのぞみか?)”—Entering the Gallery Shop
- “Heh heh heh! (ヒヒヒ!)”—Opening a purchase prompt
- “Wah ha ha hah! (ウェヘヘヘヘ!!)”—Opening a purchase prompt
- “Hyah ha hah! (デェヘヘヘヘ)”—Purchasing an item
- “Oh, thank you! Heh heh! (ありがとうのことよ。ヒヒ…)”—Purchasing an item
- “Ah, just forget about it! (気にしない、気にしない)”—Canceling a purchase prompt
- “Oh. (おッ)”—Canceling a purchase prompt
- “Hmph! (フェッ)”—Canceling a purchase prompt
- “You're leaving? (やめるあるか…)”—Canceling a purchase prompt
- “Come again, won't you? (また来るよろし)”—Exiting the Gallery Shop
- “Don't be a stranger! (毎度ありね)”—Exiting the Gallery Shop
- “I gotta pay the bills, you know. Come back soon! Ah ha ha ha! (もうけさせてほしいね。デェヘヘ)”—Exiting the Gallery Shop
- “You're always welcome here. Always. Heh heh! (いつでも大歓迎ね。ウェヘヘ)”—Exiting the Gallery Shop
Gallery
Trivia
- Yusuke Sasaki, game producer for the Phantom Blood PS2 game, thought Wang Chan wouldn't be a good final boss if he remained completely accurate to the story. However, he didn't want to completely stray away from JoJo's story, so Araki gave him various ideas.[12]
- Wang Chan's English voice actor Doug Stone also plays Mario Zeppeli.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chapter 7: A Letter from the Past, Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 44: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 6
- ↑ Chapter 11: The Stone Mask, Part 4
- ↑ Chapter 17: The Birth of DIO
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chapter 20: Jack the Ripper and Zeppeli the Strange, Part 3
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chapter 42: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 4 to Chapter 44: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 6 & JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 9: The Final Ripple!
- ↑ Chapter 11: The Stone Mask, Part 4 and Chapter 17: The Birth of DIO & JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 3: Youth with Dio and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 4: Overdrive
- ↑ Chapter 18: Jack the Ripper and Zeppeli the Strange, Part 1 & JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 4: Overdrive
- ↑ Chapter 41: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 3 & JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 9: The Final Ripple!
- ↑ Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio (Story Arc)
- ↑ Chapter 7: A Letter from the Past, Part 2
- ↑ Phantom Blood PS2 (October 2006)