JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the most consistently entertaining manga and anime series that’s currently running. For well over a decade Hirohiko Araki has crafted an impeccable action-adventure story that continues to evolve and dig deeper into this generational journey of the Joestar family. The villains in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure are some of the best things about the series and each new installment finds a way to create a more formidable threat.

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DIO Brando is JoJo’s first villain, and even after he exits the picture, his presence lingers long after. DIO is frequently seen as one of the most ruthless and selfish characters in the entirety of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but there are also the odd occasions where he might actually evoke sympathy.

10 He Was Abused By His Father & Had A Difficult Childhood

Dario Brando from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

DIO Brando becomes one of the most vindictive villains in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but the Phantom Blood episodes reveal that DIO’s origins are quite painful. DIO’s father, Dario, is a violent alcoholic and he doesn’t just abuse DIO, but also his DIO’s mother. This violence pushes DIO to his breaking point and he poisons his father to end this pain, but it’s also what crystallizes in him the attitude to become the absolute best and to have the world look up to him. It’s all a response to his trauma from not having a decent father.

9 His Blood Is Used To Save Joseph Joestar’s Life

Anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Joseph Revived

DIO truly jumps through some hoops in order to stay alive and find new ways to enact vengeance on the Joestars. DIO’s resilience turns him into a severed head for a while before he finally grafts himself to Jonathan Joestar’s body. DIO’s ability to survive shows just how important this is to him. Despite all of the damage that he does, his eventual death allows the blood in his body to be used in a transfusion to save the life of Joseph Joestar. This leads to its own temporary complications, but without DIO there’s no way Joseph would have survived.

8 He Always Wants To Improve Upon His Personal Best

DIO freezes time in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure contains many Stands that are so extreme with their abilities that it’d be greedy to ask for more, but DIO is an example of someone who’s never satisfied. DIO’s Stand, The World, is one of the best in the anime and it allows him to freeze time for a few seconds.

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DIO works at this ability and he actually increases the time of The World to nine seconds. There are few heroes in JoJo that put in that kind of work to evolve their Stands, and it’s endearing to see how DIO sets new standards.

7 His Rugby Win Alongside Jonathan Joestar

Anime joJo's Bizarre Adventure Jonathan DIO Rugby Team

The rivalry between DIO and Jonathan Joestar begins nearly as soon as the anime does, but there’s a brief period where DIO bides his time and acts civil alongside Jonathan. One of the sweetest examples of this involves DIO and Jonathan working together in a game of rugby as they absolutely dominate the competition. The stakes are low, but it’s genuinely sweet to see these two working together and the kind of power they’d be in control of if they could find a way to work together. It’s a rare occasion where DIO seems happy to be around other people.

6 He Can’t Go Into The Sun

Anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Shadow DIO Sunlight

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is often very hard to define because it pulls from so many genres, but it’s fascinating that the earlier chapters have a real horror quality to them as the anime heavily leans into vampires. DIO achieves his goal with the Stone Mask and while his transformation into a vampire takes him by surprise, he appreciates the newfound power. However, he’s plagued by certain vampire stereotypes, like an aversion to sunlight. DIO is absolutely someone who enjoys the finer things in life, including nature, but his vampiric condition forces him to be cooped up in a dank castle.

5 He Heals Pucci's Foot & Instills Him With Values

Anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure DIO Pucci Art Book

DIO meets his end during the conclusion of Stardust Crusaders, but the character makes a brief, yet important, return via flashbacks in the series’ Stone Ocean chapter. DIO contributes a surprising amount to Stone Ocean and he has a transformative effect on Enrico Pucci.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why DIO Is The Best JoJo Villain (& 5 Reasons Why It Is Funny Valentine)

DIO uses his advanced skills to heal Pucci’s disfigured foot, which genuinely moves him. Pucci becomes a sponge for DIO’s many philosophies and he truly views him as a God and falls in love with his “gospel.” Pucci finds purpose through DIO and during their scenes together it’s easy to forget that they’re villains.

4 He Gives Life To Children, Who Help Better The World

Anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Giorno's DIO Wallet Photo

DIO makes the life of the Joestars as difficult as possible, but beneath all of his hatred he’s actually able to produce several different children that come into play throughout different chapters of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Donatello Versace, Rykiel, and Ungalo are all discarded children of DIO who give Jolyne grief in Stone Ocean, but DIO's other offspring, Giorno Giovanna from Golden Wind, becomes one of the most honorable "JoJos" of all. Giorno isn’t just a positive individual, but he helps rid Italy of criminal corruption and makes a serious difference for the better to those around him.

3 His Loyalty To Vanilla Ice & The Damage His Castle Suffers

Anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure DIO Shadows Cryptic Cream

It’s always appreciated when villains stick to their convictions and have some kind of moral code. One of DIO’s faithful helpers in Stardust Crusaders is the wonderfully named Vanilla Ice and his Stand, Cream. Cream is such a juggernaut that DIO laments that Vanilla Ice doesn’t open up his doors so that Cream doesn’t have to smash through his walls and do damage to his home. The frustrated DIO also refuses to feast on Vanilla Ice’s blood to help heal himself because he respects his strength and won't just recklessly kill someone who's worthy of greater things.

2 He Keeps A Diary

Anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Jotaro Reads DIO's Diary

Some of the more callous villains in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure may insult someone for keeping tabs on their feelings in an exercise like a diary, but DIO’s notes become an excellent distillation of the character and his passions. DIO’s writings are significant during Stone Ocean and Pucci uses them in an attempt to kickstart his plan to bring Heaven to the Earth. Many view this as a destructive act, but DIO’s goal is far from malicious, especially with how he writes about it. He seeks the ultimate equalizer that can unite humanity in a strange way.

1 He Values The Companion Of Pets

Anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Hybrid Pets Castle

DIO spends a lot of time locked away in his moody castle while he perfects his plan and bides his time. DIO performs some very morbid acts while he spends this time out of the spotlight. As a form of companionship, DIO performs some extremely creative experiments to create new forms of animal hybrids. He mixes together a cat and a bird, which keeps him company and seems reasonably happy with its new existence. DIO also crafts together some human-dog hybrids, which are less cute, but it’s hard to not like someone who can appreciate the value in pets.

NEXT: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Of DIO's Children (& Their Stands)