2020 Spring issue of Japanese literary magazine: Kotoba had its theme on “the research of evil” and featured Dio on its cover. The issue went on sale on March 6.
Kotoba interviewed JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure creator Hirohiko Araki in this issue regarding how he writes memorable villains. To which, Araki-san provided a detailed explanation of the ideology behind Dio Brando.
Araki mentioned several vital aspects that were important to the creation of the iconic villain Dio:
The root of evil lies in horror: Dio is an imposing villain because his grudge against the Joestar family spans entire generations.
He is an immortal vampire, and even when he is defeated, he comes back to haunt Jonathan Joestar’s descendants.
Araki said that he asked himself what frightened him the most; it’s a curse that transcends time rather than an enemy with invincible powers or a violent disposition.
“Evil” is compelling to a reader when it feels unknowable: There’s a kind of appeal in trying to wrap your head around the philosophy espoused by a villain whose actions seem impossible to predict at the moment.
Adventure stories revolve around the mystery and other things that seem beyond the comprehension of people in regular society, so it stands to reason that villains, who represent an obstacle that must be overcome, are full of mystery.
Araki also mentioned several titles that helped him visualize JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure in a more reader-oriented way. One such title listed by him is The Silence of the Lambs, which is based on a serial killer whose uncertainty is more horrifying than the actual murder he does.
Similarly, he finds manga series: Ushijima the Loan Shark portraying some influencing villains.
He praised some films as well, such as Frost/Nixon by Ron Howard and one of the recent releases, Hereditary.
According to him, Hereditary had a horror associated with it, which was similar to Voldemort of Harry Potter; that is, it haunts people to even speak about it. He then also praised the recent Joker movie, which depicted society as the origin of evil.
About Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures:
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a manga series written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. The series is divided into eight parts, each following the adventures of a new protagonist bearing the “JoJo” nickname.
The first six parts form a saga detailing the supernatural conflicts between members of the Joestar family and various villains. The latter two parts follow a continuity reboot, taking place in an alternate universe with many parallels to the original.
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