If you have ever read the manga or watched the anime, you have probably figured out that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure takes inspiration from pop culture. The names of the characters and Stands are awesome references to rock music, celebrities, and everything pop culture. But who inspired Hirohiko Araki to create a character like Jotaro Kujo? The mangaka has revealed that a legendary film icon helped him create the brooding Stand-user.
Jotaro Kujo was first introduced in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders and he was the first Joestar to be revealed as a Stand-user. Jotaro, the third Joestar to serve as a protagonist in Araki's manga, was undoubtedly an antihero who didn't like working with his grandfather Joseph Joestar or any of the other Stand-users. However, he ends up leading a team in the fight against the resurrected Dio Brando.
So who influenced Araki to create the reluctant young hero? The mangaka has revealed in an interview for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's 25th anniversary that it is none other than Dirty Harry himself.
Araki met with Clint Eastwood for the JOJOmenon book. It is here that he admitted that Jotaro's stance and tagline ("yare yare daze") was inspired by Eastwood's characters in films like The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Araki even gave the film legend a signed copy of the book cover.
It's interesting to note that Jotaro Kujo might be the first JoJo's Bizarre Adventure character who wasn't a rock music reference. After all, the first two parts of the manga featured characters with names who were obviously inspired by rock bands (DIO, AC/DC, The Cars, REO Speedwagon, and more). But just like Eastwood, Jotaro continues to be a major figure in the parts that followed.
Jotaro will return in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Season 6 which is officially titled JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. The anime's sixth season will premiere on Netflix on December 1, 2021.
Related: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Season 6 Reveals Star Platinum's New Look
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