Smartest Characters In Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

In many manga and anime, protagonists often triumph over challenges not only through their physical strength but also by using their intelligence. Shows like “Death Note,” “Kaguya-sama: Love is War,” and “Dr. Stone” are prime examples of characters outsmarting problems rather than just brute-forcing them. However, when a series or show presents some of the most unusual and complex situations imaginable, the characters must think outside the box to find solutions.

In a fitting manner, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure truly embodies its peculiar title by placing its characters in scenarios involving shape-shifting rats, ghostly entities exchanging souls, and quirky villages where the welfare of loved ones hinges on proper etiquette. To navigate these challenges and beyond, the show’s characters have demonstrated not only their physical prowess but also their intellectual acumen, making them some of the sharpest personalities in the series.

10. Rohan Kishibe

A Sensei at More than Just Manga

Debut: Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable.
Pros: Meticulous eye for detail, pays attention to the smallest details to form effective plans or figure out mysteries, and is good at thinking on the fly.
Cons: Egotistical to a fault, and his hyper-focus can keep him from catching the bigger details.

In a world where the Jojo anime debuted a decade earlier, I firmly believe Rohan Kishibe would’ve shined alongside the sharp-witted and edgy characters like Dr. Cox from Scrubs and House. Instead, he carved out his own niche with a spin-off comic, complete with novels and two distinct TV series adaptations. To top it off, even in Part 9: The Jojolands, Rohan returned without a drastic makeover, proving that his unique charm remained unchanged. Remarkably, despite starting as a villain who transformed Koichi Hirose into a manga reference textbook with Heaven’s Door, he’s come a long way!

Nevertheless, his keen eye for detail aided the group in closing in on Yoshikage Kira, and in “Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan,” he managed to outsmart the ruler of the Millionaire Village, solve the enigma behind a haunted painting at the Louvre, and elude the manifestation of Hermes. However, much like the antagonists in “Jojo,” his arrogance often proved detrimental, such as when he provoked Josuke into an uncontrollable rage, rendering him immune to his Stand’s power. It wasn’t until after Josuke had inflicted some serious damage on him that he began to act more altruistically and joined the pursuit of Kira.

9. Giorno Giovanna

Making a Dream Come True

Debut: Part 5: Vento Aureo.
Pros: Knows botany and zoology well, is good at thinking on the spot, and turning situations to his advantage via his Stand, often via ruthless means.
Cons: Often doesn’t think ahead, putting himself at risk.

Giorno Giovanna transformed remarkably, going from a petty thief stealing from tourists during college breaks to leading an entire criminal empire. This metamorphosis required not just intelligence but also considerable self-assurance. With ambitions to be a ‘gangster’ and dismantle Passione’s drug trafficking operations, he chose to fight from within their ranks.

His unique talent of transforming non-living substances into living ones and vice versa demonstrates a broad understanding of various life sciences such as botany and zoology. He employed these abilities not only to outsmart Baby Face, but also to eliminate its user, Melone. However, his greatest asset is quick thinking, as he quickly devised a way to protect himself from Fugo’s Purple Haze, heal himself and others during the Baby Face battle, and retrieve the Stand arrow from King Crimson’s control.

8. Kars

The Oldest and Smartest Pillar Man

Debut: Part 2: Battle Tendency.
Pros: Has a keen scientific mind, can learn whole languages in minutes, tricked Lisa Lisa and the Nazis into getting what he wanted.
Cons: Wasn’t too good at thinking outside the box, became a victim of his own ego, and his intelligence was limited to natural science.

Each Pillar Man exhibited remarkable intellect and unique abilities, such as mastering languages from mere snippets and wielding body horror powers to decimate Nazi troops. Among them, Kars stood out as the most intelligent, driven by ambitions that led him to devise a means to conquer their sole vulnerability – sunlight. However, his fellow Pillar Men opposed this plan, leading Kars to eliminate most of them, leaving only a few loyal allies who supported his vision alive.

From that point forward, he adopted a scientific strategy to tackle the conundrum of defeating the sun, employing his Stone Masks for trials on humans until he found the optimal solution. The Red Stone of Aja was necessary to imbue them with the requisite power to influence the Pillar Men as well. By deceiving Lisa Lisa to obtain the stone and enlisting the Nazis to supply the intense light, he ultimately prevailed, transforming into the Supreme Being. Regrettably, a mere human was present to exploit his arrogance in the end.

7. Robert E.O Speedwagon

Working Smarter Instead of Harder

Debut: Part 1: Phantom Blood.
Pros: Great judge of character, and his keen business sense helped him get rich and stay rich.
Cons: Easily scared when things go wrong.

In the fifth part of the series, Giorno’s climb through the criminal hierarchy was swift, but it might not be the most impressive rise-from-poverty storyline. Robert E.O Speedwagon, on the other hand, transformed from a gangster reminiscent of the Peaky Blinders from London’s Ogre Street, into a wealthy oil tycoon and leader of a large medical and charitable organization. Such an accomplishment suggests that he must have been quite intelligent.

Although this detail might merely add an interesting backstory to one of the vibrant characters from Part 1, it has significant implications that extend throughout the series. By discovering and exploiting black gold in the U.S., and shrewdly using his earnings, the Speedwagon Foundation became a vital source of life-saving assistance and information for the Joestar family lineage, stretching from Part 1 all the way to Part 6: Stone Ocean. Even after his passing, he continued to serve as the Joestars’ most loyal ally.

6. Jotaro Kujo

Sharp as a Tack and Tough as Nails

Debut: Part 3: Stardust Crusaders.
Pros: Has quick wits that have outsmarted many of his foes, and isn’t afraid to think outside the box (e.g., throwing Iggy at N’Doul), acted as a good mentor to Josuke and co. in Part 4, has a Ph.D. in oceanography.
Cons: Not particularly emotionally intelligent, as his distant, moody persona made his familial relations difficult, and left him open to manipulation by later villains like Pucci.

It might appear unusual to rank Jotaro Kujo higher than Giorno and Speedwagon, or a genius like Kars, given their remarkable achievements. However, it’s important to note that Jotaro is the only Jojo character who holds a Ph.D., and his stand, Star Platinum, is known for its intelligence equal to its speed. His quick wit is indeed impressive, as he’s managed to pull off unexpected moves in critical situations, such as creating Starfinger to defeat Dark Blue Moon, or acquiring time-stopping powers when he realized that his stand shared a similar ‘type’ with Dio’s.

Nevertheless, his intelligence complemented his unyielding courage, as he outsmarted Daniel J. D’Arby by exposing his deception, and manipulated Enya the Hag into confessing through a forged signature. He confided in his ‘uncle’ Josuke about Stands, assisted in capturing Kira, equipped Jolyne with a pendant concealing a tracker and a shard to foster her own Stand development. As a parent and individual, he may be rough-hewn, but fundamentally, his actions stem from kindness and wisdom.

5. Enrico Pucci

Succeeding Where Dio Failed

Debut: Part 6: Stone Ocean.
Pros: Manipulated the Kujos into getting what he wanted, and kept them and their friends at bay with a host of Stand users. Actually succeeded in their goals.
Cons: Was easily rattled when things didn’t go his way perfectly, underrated his rivals, and was only saved by luck when cornered by Weather Report.

It seems only just that the villain who technically emerges victorious among the Jojo characters, Enrico Pucci, deserves a place on this list. This cunning priest, originally devoted to God, transformed himself into a follower of Dio. With his enemies consistently one step behind, Pucci skillfully framed Jolyne for a crime she didn’t commit, which ultimately led her father, Jotaro Kujo, into the perfect position for Pucci’s Stand, Whitesnake, to steal his memories by converting them into a disc.

From that record, he uncovered Dio’s schemes to attain divinity, which were intricate and complex. He managed to execute them flawlessly, despite Jolyne and her group escaping prison and pursuing him relentlessly. Regardless, his cunning maneuvers, tactics, and fortune often kept him out of their grasp. However, even the most intelligent individuals can be deceived, and it took just one deception for his entire plan to crumble.

4. Funny Valentine

Funny by Name, Not-So-Funny By Nature

Debut: Part 7: Steel Ball Run.
Pros: Well-read in history and politics, knows how to use those around him, good at using force and his words to sway people to his side.
Cons: Ambitious to a fault, and can’t handle those who see through his schemes well.

Discussing the brilliance of Funny Valentine from the Steel Ball Run series can be tricky without giving away key plot points. Similar to Pucci, Valentine seemed to have a grand strategy in mind, aiming to further his ambitions as the U.S. president. He even sponsored the transcontinental race known as Steel Ball Run across America to set his plan into motion. However, unlike his contemporaries, Valentine had a more mysterious and complex character.

Valentine isn’t like most of Jojo’s villains who delight in wickedness; instead, he views himself as a benefactor for America, utilizing his resources to improve the nation. He is deeply committed to his beliefs, yet his methods can be questionable. While he does attempt to reason with others and not solely rely on force, his arguments often fall short under examination. The means he employs do not justify their ends, and they carry a heavy human toll.

3. Yoshikage Kira

Don’t Lend Him a Hand

Debut: Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable.
Pros: Book-smart and athletic, but sharp enough to stay under the radar, letting him avoid suspicion for decades. Knew his hometown well enough to discover where other Stand users were, and used them to take on a new disguise and life in the town.
Cons: He didn’t account for more persistent figures like Josuke, or his alias’ son Hayato, and his ego snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Intelligence can be challenging to quantify, since it encompasses much more than just IQ scores or academic achievements. For instance, take the character of Yoshikage Kira. During his youth, he was an average student with mediocre grades and accolades. At first glance, he might have seemed like an ordinary office worker, distinguished only by his fashion sense and resemblance to Asian David Bowie. However, it’s clear that intelligence goes far beyond these surface-level indicators.

However, this facade of normality was intricately crafted to mask his sinister inclinations – a fascination with killing women for their hands and manipulating them until they grew tired of him. Remarkably, even after being exposed the first time, he leveraged his familiarity with Morioh’s inhabitants to don a new persona and return to his tranquil existence. If he had restrained his arrogance, perhaps he could have achieved his objectives. But alas, it was his pride that ultimately brought about his demise.

2. Dio Brando

Intelligence and Ego in Equal Measure

Debut: Part 1: Phantom Blood.
Pros: Plotted his way into the Joestar family and turned others against Jonathan, built a wide fleet of followers through charm and manipulation, was well-read, and had a keen eye for detail.
Cons: His ego led to his downfall, making him overlook flaws his foes could use to their advantage (e.g., not fully healing before fighting Jotaro).

In a different phrasing, Funny Valentine and Pucci may have been cunning villains, but Dio Brando stands out as the most memorable antagonist in the series for good reason. He displayed intelligence and self-assurance similar to, if not exceeding, that of his son, by cleverly inserting himself into the Joestar family during Part 1. If Dio hadn’t allowed his ego to cloud his judgment through a more aggressive and domineering approach towards Jonathan, he might have successfully gained their fortune.

Initially, he possessed a captivating allure that allowed him to exert control over others. Upon his return for “Part 3: Stardust Crusaders,” he amassed a large group of devoted followers who would stand by his principles until their last breath. However, not everyone was swayed, as they needed mind-controlling flesh buds. Personalities like Vanilla Ice, Pucci, Mariah, and Hol Horse chose to align with him, either lured in by promises or threatened with punishment.

1. Joseph Joestar

Hiding a Sharp Mind in a Goofball Persona

Debut: Part 2: Battle Tendency.
Pros: Outsmarted the Pillar Men, tricked Nena, Mariah, and Terence D’Arby, figured out how Dio’s Stand works, saved Shizuka the invisible baby.
Cons: Not all of his plans work. He was out-bluffed by Daniel J. D’Arby. Only acted as backup in foiling Terence D’Arby, and required a clue from Kakyoin in figuring out Dio’s secret.

Could we rephrase that as: Is Joseph Joestar considered the most intelligent character within the series? Unlike his grandson who excels academically, Joseph has often found himself outsmarted by villains like Dio and Daniel J. D’Arby in Part 3. In Part 4, senility affected him significantly, leaving him a mere shadow of his former self. However, it should be noted that he displayed remarkable intelligence when he battled the Pillar Men, some of the strongest opponents in the Jojo series, solely relying on his wit to emerge victorious.

His cunning deceit led Esidisi to a state where he was reduced to his very core, his nervous system. In a flash of genius and a stroke of good fortune, Kars was blasted into the cosmos through a violent volcanic explosion. Even in old age, he maintained his intelligence, managing to outsmart Mariah, the Empress of Nena, as well as Terence D’Arby. He not only demonstrated his wit but also amassed wealth by following Speedwagon’s example and investing in New York real estate. Beyond his flamboyant curses and comical disguises, he was financially successful.

2025-08-08 11:45