JoJo: Battle Tendency features one of the most devastating deaths in the franchise

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure opens with a ritualistic killing. InPhantom Blood, the first entry in mangaka Hirohiko Araki’s globe-spanning saga*,* we’re introduced to a supernatural Stone Mask during an Aztec ritual involving human sacrifice. Phantom Blood also lays the groundwork for the Joestar family legacy through protagonist Jonathan Joestar and introduces series antagonist Dio Brando. In hindsight, however, its 19th-century gothic-horror setting feels limiting compared to the fantastical adventures that follow.

The 2012 Phantom Blood anime is also just one of two entries in the sprawling JoJo saga to predate the introduction of Stands (the physical manifestation of a person’s fighting spirit, which is now a core battle mechanic in the franchise). The other is Battle Tendency, which takes several huge leaps in style and tone to expand the delightfully bizarre tale fans know and love today.

Apart from these merits, Battle Tendency is best remembered for featuring one of the most devastating death scenes in the series, which set a high emotional bar for everything that would follow.

Released in 2012, the Battle Tendency anime leaps forward by half a century to 1938. Inside an underground cavern in Mexico, Joestar family ally Speedwagon discovers several Aztec Stone Masks. Meanwhile, in New York, Jonathan Joestar’s grandson Joseph is seen using Hamon, an energy-based martial art that produces ripples identical to the power of the sun. In Phantom Blood, Jonathan learned Hamon from his mentor, Baron Zeppeli, who sacrificed himself to help defeat Dio. Having inherited Hamon from his grandfather, Joseph realizes he must use it to battle vampiric beings known as Pillar Men, ancient monsters awoken from their 2,000-year-old slumber by Nazis.

Araki gives Joseph an intriguing foil in Caesar Zeppeli, the grandson of Baron Zeppeli, who has mastered the ways of Hamon like no other. This is a far cry from the complex Jonathan-Dio rivalry in Phantom Blood. Joseph and Caesar’s repeated clashes have a lighthearted tone. That said, there’s also a serious undercurrent to the dynamic. Caesar holds a grudge against the Joestars for Baron Zeppeli’s death and is critical of Joseph’s reckless and arrogant personality. Even so, as they train together to defeat their vampiric foes, a begrudging respect blooms. In the end, Caesar sacrifices himself for the sake of his dear friend, marking a crucial turning point in the story.

Image: David Production

Battle Tendency becomes a race against time after two Pillar Men, Wamuu and Esidisi, use deadly, ancient artifacts against Joseph. Poisonous rings are lodged inside our hero's body, and the only way to neutralize them is with the antidotes guarded by these Pillar Men. In a moment of uncharacteristic impulsiveness (and anxiety connected to Joseph’s well-being), Caesar battles Wamuu alone, putting up a brutal fight before he starts bleeding to death. This is when Caesar uses the last of his strength to snatch Wamuu’s antidote. He then blasts a surge of Hamon to encase the antidote with his scarf inside a bubble of blood.

Joseph’s anguished scream of “Caesaaaaar!” is oft-memed in the JoJo community. This enduring meme doesn’t poke fun at the death or the tragedy itself — instead, Joseph’s emotive, tear-streaked face has become a reaction image that conveys complete emotional devastation. This is similar to the meme-ification of Nina Tucker’s heartbreaking Chimaera form in Fullmetal Alchemist. Nina’s bleak, shocking fate becomes ironic within the context of dark humor and fandom interaction, but none of its painful impact is diminished. Just as Caesar’s sudden, violent death jolts Joseph to the core, Joseph’s scream shatters the hope that Caesar will somehow make it out alive.

Image: David Production

Joseph’s pain is compounded by the fact that his last words to Caesar were combative. These complicated feelings contextualize Caesar’s tragic sacrifice, which even moves Wamuu, who is stunned by such unconditional loyalty. Caesar’s sacrifice parallels his grandfather’s demise in Phantom Blood, which is why Caesar’s dying words solidify the Zeppeli legacy:

“My grandfather gave his Hamon energy to save JoJo's grandfather, right before he died. It's tradition, I have to do something. I can't let my life's flame sputter out. This is the Zeppeli family spirit! Handed down from the past to ensure the family's future! It's the human spirit! JoJo! This is the last of my Hamon! Take it from me!”

Caesar’s death is loaded with symbolism. His Zeppeli pride compels him to keep fighting even when he is on the brink of death, which is why Wamuu is so surprised when Caesar snatches the antidote while he’s bleeding out. As soon as he gives up his last surge of Hamon, we cut to Joseph, who is right outside the ruins. This proximity heightens the tragedy: Joseph could’ve saved Caesar if he had known what would befall him, but fate had other plans. Moments later, Caesar is crushed under a cross-shaped rock, evoking a comparison to a Jesus-like sacrifice for the greater good. Caesar’s final gift to JoJo is life itself, encased in a drop of his own blood.

Image: David Production

In that moment, Joseph is forced to re-evaluate his priorities and ponder the true gravity of the situation at hand. Battle Tendency ends with Joseph’s triumph over evil, which would’ve been impossible without the grief of losing a dear friend. He doesn’t use the hard-earned antidote immediately, as its existence fuels him to avenge Caesar’s death. Much later, as Wamuu breathes his last, Joseph takes the antidote and wears his friend’s bandana to honor his legacy.

While Joseph Joestar retains his unserious nature in the next story, Stardust Crusaders, and beyond, the emotional depth he cultivates along the way can be traced back to Caesar’s death in Battle Tendency. After all, the saga of every JoJo remains incomplete without a loyal JoBro by their side, and Caesar will always be remembered as a real one.

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JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency can be streamed on Netflix and Crunchyroll.