25 Days of Jojo’s - #20: Rudol von Stroheim

(Fair warning: there will be spoilers abound in this series of posts, as I find there are major moments that define some of these characters late in their respective story arcs. So in the event that you have not yet read/watched a particular part of the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure storyline, you may wish to skip over certain entries.)

#20 - Rudol von Stroheim: Devoutly loyal to his homeland, Stroheim and the core heroes of the Battle Tendency arc may not have shared the same ideals, but they certainly shared an understanding of the danger Kars and the Pillar Men posed to mankind. Initially introduced as an antagonist, Stroheim proves overconfident in his German science team, as they are unable to contain Santana, who escapes his observation room and systematically kills these men. Despite his not having treated Speedwagon with the best conditions prior to Joseph’s storming the Mexican laboratory, Stroheim does display a particular respect to the young Joestar, implying that he would sacrifice his life with his honor intact in order to stop the monstrosity he had recklessly unleashed.

However, Stroheim was never meant to go out in a blaze of glory so early, and so he returns as a cyborg later in Battle Tendency. Sporting a gatling gun within his torso and a renewed spirit, Stroheim lends his services to Joseph, Lisa Lisa, and Speedwagon in an effort to halt Kars’ ascendancy to godhood. Stroheim even aids Joseph in his final battle with the nigh-on-invincible Pillar Man, willingly sacrificing his artificial legs in order to help Joseph carry out his duty. Stroheim’s death is not explicitly shown, but it is stated that he died during the second World War, serving his country, and no doubt screaming about how “German science is the best in the world!”