JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure May Be Flashy, But It Hides Some of Anime's Darkest Moments

JoJo's Bizarre Adventureis well-known for its flashy, fashionable characters, clever incorporation of pop-culture references, and action-packed fight scenes, but the series is certainly not all upbeat. Although themes of friendship, bravery, and good triumphing over evil are prominent, quite a few JoJo's moments are undoubtedly dark.

Among the comic relief scenes and instances of beautiful friendship, there are also somber moments of pain, death, and violence, to remind the series' heroes of what they are vehemently battling against. Ten scenes in particular stand out as JoJo's most disturbing, making them truly difficult to rewatch.

10 Diavolo’s Final Fate Trapped in an Endless Death Loop

He Will Forever Be Subjected to a Death Spiral With No End, Making It JoJo’s Most Twisted Fate for a Villain

At the end of the Golden Wind arc, Giorno Giovanna and the Passione gang finally catch up to Diavolo, the evil villain who has been wreaking havoc in Italy. Using his advanced Golden Experience Requiem Stand, Giorno made quick work of the evildoer, and the punishment he gave him is unspeakably harsh.

Rather than simply killing Diavolo once, Giorno trapped Diavolo in an infinite loop of dying over and over again that he can never escape from. This twisted fate ensures that Diavolo will spend an eternity running from death to no avail, subjected to being killed again and again in vile ways. This is the cruelest penalty any JoJo's villain has received for their actions, making it one of the darkest scenes.

9 Dio Takes Over Jonathan’s Body

Dio’s Evil Treatment of the Joestars Knows No Bounds, as He Stole Jonathan’s Body After His Death

Although the Joestar family was very gracious to take Dio into their home when he was orphaned, he repaid them with nothing but tragedy. After killing the family dog, Danny, and George Joestar, Dio set his sights on Jonathan Joestar next. When the two battled to the death, it appeared both were killed, but Dio survived through despicable means.

Rather than finally let Jonathan rest in peace, Dio cut off his head and attached his own, effectively taking control of Jonathan's body. Dio's undeserved grudge against the Joestars never wavered, and this disgusting scene proves even after their deaths, he could still find a way to mistreat the family who only ever showed him mercy.

8 Iggy Gets Beaten to Death to Save Polnareff

Polnareff Had To Watch His Dear Friend Die From Gruesome Injuries Caused by Vanilla Ice’s Violence

Polnareff and Iggy were enemies for most of the Stardust Crusaders arc, constantly at each other's throats and pulling mean pranks. Deep down, though, they grew to love each other, making Iggy's final moments all the more grim. The pair fought Vanilla Ice, one of Dio's henchmen, and when Polnareff's life was in danger, Iggy mustered up his bravery to save his comrade's life.

Iggy's death was brutal and painful, as Vanilla Ice mercilessly kicked him to death, and he died from the blood loss and severe wounds he received. Although Iggy's courage did give Polnareff the strength to defeat Vanilla Ice and move one step closer to catching Dio, Iggy's death was still one of JoJo's darkest moments, as he was forced to witness a dear friend's gruesome death.

7 Dio Burnt a Dog Alive

Dio’s Wickedness Towards Danny Reveals His Lack of Respect for Human or Animal Life

Dio's contemptible acts began from the moment he joined the Joestar household. Shortly after arriving, Jonathan attempted to foster a friendship with his new adoptive brother, but Dio was completely unreceptive to the idea. Instead of reciprocating Jonathan's goodwill, Dio harmed Jonathan's beloved dog, Danny.

Despicably, Dio trapped Danny in an oven, leading the dog to be burned to death alive. This is not Dio's only act of animal abuse in the series, as he later killed a cat for no reason in the Stardust Crusaders arc. The twisted villain has no regard for life, human or animal, and this dark scene early on in the series certainly makes that undeniable.

6 Shigechi Gets Blown Up

After He Accidentally Discovered Kira’s Identity, the Serial Killer Blew up Shigechi With a Bomb

Shigechi was only an innocent child, but the abhorrent villain Yoshikage Kira still killed him anyway, in an absolutely revolting way. Shigechi accidentally discovered Kira's true identity, and in an act of self-preservation, Kira manipulated Shigechi into touching a bomb placed by his Stand, Killer Queen, blowing him up immediately.

The fact that Kira would stoop so low as to kill a child made it clear just how evil he truly is. Even after he was murdered, Shigechi harnessed his last shreds of consciousness to use his Harvest Stand to warn Josuke, bringing him one step closer to finally catching Kira. Shigechi's death is one of JoJo's darkest scenes by far, because not only was he completely blameless, he was a child.

5 Yoshikage Kira’s Twisted Actions as a Serial Killer

Although He Seems Like an Average Man, Kira Is Actually a Twisted Serial Killer Who Cuts off Women's Hands

Yoshikage Kira is one of JoJo's most dangerous villains, because of how well he blends into society under the guise of an average man. Beneath the facade of a normal citizen, Kira is a serial killer with a depraved predilection for women's hands, murdering them and then keeping these appendages as a revolting souvenir.

Before Josuke could bring him to justice, the twisted man killed at least 48 women, and would certainly have continued had he not been caught. Kira is an exceptionally dark villain, not just because of his methods of murder, but because he feels zero remorse for the lives he has ended.

4 Caesar Being Crushed to Death

Joseph and Lisa Lisa Were Overcome by Sorrow When They Found Caesar’s Body at the Scene

Caesar's death was one of the most devastating occurrences in Joseph's life, and his reaction is almost as heartbreaking as the death scene itself. Wamuu, one of the Pillar Men, outsmarted Caesar and crushed him to death with a falling piece of stone during their fight, leaving Joseph and Lisa Lisa to find the dreadful scene.

Caesar and Joseph hated each other initially, but throughout their mission to defeat Kars and the Pillar Men, they developed a deep, protective bond. Joseph felt like he had failed Caesar when he discovered his body, and his tearful outburst of sorrow is sure to tug at any viewer's heartstrings.

3 Abbacchio’s Violent Murder

Diavolo Punched a Hole Through Him With Killer Queen, Killing Him Before He Could Fight Back

One of JoJo's saddest deaths was astoundingly sudden and unnecessarily violent. When Abbacchio was briefly separated from the rest of the Passione gang, Diavolo struck instantly with his Stand, King Crimson, and punched a hole through the Stand user, ending his life immediately.

Abbacchio did not even have a chance to fight back because of how instant his death was, and his fellow gang members found his body shortly after, mourning their beloved friend openly. His traumatic death is one of the most difficult to watch in the series because not only was it fully unexpected, it was exceptionally painful and gory and his friends were not even able to say a proper goodbye to him.

2 Dio Forced a Woman to Eat Her Own Child By Making Her a Vampire

This Nauseating Example of Dio’s Evil Nature Proves He Is the Series’ Most Formidable Villain

No JoJo's villain is quite as despicable as Dio, and one nauseating moment proves that more than any other. When a desperate woman with a baby came to Dio for help, offering up her own life as payment so Dio would save her child, he agreed and turned her into a vampire.

Once the woman completed her transformation, Dio disgustingly made her consume her own child, gloating that technically he did not harm her baby, she did. This is the most horrifying example of how purely evil beyond redemption Dio is, since he takes such pleasure in hurting others for no reason other than to cause them pain and distress.

1 Pucci Kills Everyone in Stone Ocean

The Joestar Family and Timeline Were Erased, Leaving One Character Alone To Face the Heartbreaking Reality

The darkest scene in JoJo's history also marked the saddening conclusion of the series' original storyline. Enrico Pucci, a loyal follower of Dio, was determined to fulfill the villain's dreams by reaching Heaven and rebooting the timeline of the world, which he was horrifically able to achieve. Emporio, one of Jolyne Cujoh's friends, was the only survivor, and had to watch as every one of his loved ones was wiped out of existence.

Although Emporio was able to defeat Pucci in the end, the villain's action could not be undone, and he was not able to bring his friends back. This is JoJo's gloomiest moment, because although Emporio did technically achieve victory, he lost everything in the process, and the original Joestar bloodline that existed for six incredible seasons of JoJo's was erased in the blink of an eye.

trendglee