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Is Diego as bad as Dio?

From my time in the fandom, I often see people discuss Diego as 'a more humanized version of Dio'.

Well, what does that mean? Is he more sympathetic? Is he a better person? Why do some people prefer him over the original? Here are my thoughts on the matter! (sorry in advance)

This analysis will be more broken up than my previous ones, but I thought it'd be fun to do a close examination of Diego as a character to try and find the ways in which he differs from his counterpart. I'll be doing this primarily through analyzing his motivations and his dynamics with other characters. I didn't go back and reread Phantom Blood, so the comparison to Dio's character will be from memory. However, this essay will serve primarily as an examination as Diego, so hopefully not having a direct comparison to Dio won't affect the contents of the analysis too much.

Chapter 29: Scary Monster (Part 2)

Motivations:

Backstory: it's important. I think Diego's expanded backstory, in comparison with Dio's, is automatically a boon to his character. The beginning of Phantom Blood is very fast-paced; furthermore, although we're told about Dio's upbringing, we are only really shown glimpses of it. The placement of Dio's backstory at the beginning also means that the more heinous acts he commits, the more inclined we are to forget about the why; and the less with sympathize with how drastic his actions are.

Dio rejected his humanity, but somewhere in the Phantom Blood the why behind it was lost. Was it because of his hatred of people? His desire for power? Both? Neither? A desire for a sense of control? In my opinion, simply due to the execution of Phantom Blood (i.e. seven year timeskip) it becomes clouded as to what extent Dio's backstory factors into his actions and to what extent he was 'always going to turn out this way'. In my opinion, events in the narrative rendered Dio's tragic backstory, in a word, ineffective in terms of explaining why he acts the way he does. While his backstory is not necessarily forgotten, as Dio commits more atrocities it appears almost inconsequential to who he is and his motivations for seeking power. Speedwagon claims that Dio was 'born evil'. I'm not going to debate how true or not true that statement is, and again I want to say that while his backstory may appear inconsequential to his motivations later in the story (in the sense that, 'he was always going to turn out this way' or 'he has done more evil than was done unto him'), it's not. However, it is allowed to be forgotten about, as in Parts 1 and 3 the focus shifts more onto Dio as an antagonistic force than Dio as a character.

In my Paralleled Monstrosity: Dio and Diego post, I briefly talked about the differing ways in which Dio and Diego separated themselves from humanity by embracing that which is 'inhuman'. Dio 'rose above' humanity by taking the next evolutionary step into vampirism. He became faster, stronger, and better than that which he hated. I'll argue that Diego did the opposite; he 'descended' into monstrosity. Like Dio, he saw himself as above the people surrounding him; however, I think what helps to 'humanize' Diego, despite this descent, is that his cruelty is a reflection of his understanding of the world. He's self-centered and callous, but realistic in the sense that he does not go out of his way to commit evil to those who have nothing to do with him. More so, his values can be understood in the sense that he does not have a sense of compassion, and is apathetic at best in his treatment of those around him.

Chapter 30: Scary Monsters (Part 3) - The descent

With Diego we see not just what motivates him and the 'whys' behind his hatred, but also how that motivation affects his present actions - a character writing decision that, in my opinion, was lost with Dio (bar Part 6). After the beginning of Phantom Blood, Dio seems much more motivated by his hatred of the Joestars than the backstory we're given. And it's fine thematically and everything, good vs evil, but like I said it makes Dio's backstory feel almost inconsequential. Maybe it's supposed to be (fate and everything) but for me it doesn't work. Furthermore, Diego explicitly hates the society he's surrounded by. His goal is fairly mundane - gain a position of power and control the people he looks down on - though we see this goal slowly escalate over the course of the story.

Chapter 40: A Silent Way (Part 1)

Chapter 75: D4C (Part 8) - Johnny's words from Scary Monsters still ring true: Diego longs for 'authority' and 'eliteness'. But I think it's interesting that Diego says "I won't try to 'dress it up'", given his usual propensity for smooth talk.

Compare with Dio, where his motivations almost immediately changed from 'steal the Joestar fortune -> take control of england via vampires' when he learned about the power of the mask. Something similar happens to Diego when he learns about the Corpse, but the structure of Steel Ball Run, as well as the presence of a 'bigger bad', puts Diego not in the position of overall antagonist, but relegates him to rival / pseudo-protagonist (particularly during the D4C arc). If you're interested in a partial breakdown of why he's such an effective rival and oppositional force to the protagonists, check out my analysis of Catch the Rainbow. Diego's escalating goal makes it so that he is essentially on equal footing with Johnny and Gyro for the duration of the narrative. He doesn't need to be as intimidating or as much of an overwhelming force as Dio, because that's not his role in the story. All this to say, even in what is essentially Diego's introductory arc, a more in-depth backstory, motivations in-line with his actions, and a changed role in the story already puts him in position to be a worthy successor to Dio. Yet all these factors also mean that, at his core, Diego is a different character.

Even so, he and Dio are fascinatingly similar.

Character Dynamics:

Firstly, I want to examine Diego's first meeting with Valentine. Diego overheard everything Ferdinand spilled to Johnny during the Scary Monsters arc; however, it isn't until his loss in Catch the Rainbow that he swallows his pride and seeks out Valentine to do business.

Chapter 40: A Silent Way (Part 1) - Chronic yapper says "let me get straight to the point" then proceeds to have the most speech bubbles in the entire scene

Both Diego and Dio are very prideful characters; however, they are willing to make whatever sacrifices necessary to fulfilling their goals. Dio hates the Joestars to his core, but he plays along for seven years to further his goal of seizing the fortune (despite missteps with Jonathan by showing his true nature during their youth). Diego similarly swallows his pride in order to accomplish his goal of defeating Gyro (not Johnny, for some reason), though notably he refuses to be 'partners' with someone. Diego explicitly says he wants a subordinate.

Chapter 40: A Silent Way (Part 1)

Diego and Valentine are certainly interesting to contrast as well. Despite losing his father, Valentine presumably lived pretty well, and enjoys many privileges as not just part of the political elite but as the President of U.S. of A. I also say Valentine lived pretty well because this is what he says about Diego's proposal:

Chapter 40: A Silent Way (Part 1) - 'it's a win-win situation! Give me Manhattan Island!' hes so funny for that

Or does Valentine hate Diego because he's British? Hm...

Despite agreeing to Diego's terms, Valentine has no intention of upholding the deal. And as a matter of fact, neither does Diego. I think they both know this about the other; hence why this standoff is so tense. I do think both Valentine and Diego being the type to go back on their word paints an interesting parallel in their natures as power-hungry people. Furthermore, this meeting foreshadows not just Diego's poor treatment of his allies, but also Valentine's attempted deal with Johnny. Funnily enough, Johnny the only one who sees through both of their facades and understands their true natures - he takes no shit and I love him for it.

For some more insight into Diego's thoughts on Valentine, and the elite in general, we can look at his interactions with Mike O.

Below is Diego's reaction to being dismissed by Mike O. Also, from the information Mike O. gives him, Diego for a moment thinks that Gyro and Johnny are dead; so the last panel of the first page doubles as a reaction to that news as well. I wonder why we get such a big panel of his closed-off expression?

Chapter 48: Tubular Bells (Part 1) - Valentine calls Diego 'peasant scum', while Diego regards Valentine's subordinates and by extension Valentine as 'trash.'

Diego's partnership with Valentine inevitably turns sour. It wouldn't be wrong to count Valentine among the long list of Diego's allies that he backstabbed.

Chapter 70: D4C (Part 5)

To bring this post back to Dio and Diego, compare Diego's treatment of his 'allies' to how Dio treats his subordinates in Part 3. Neat parallels!

Now, the real reason I made this post: Diego is a total bastard and we need to stop pretending he's not. Compilation of him having zero empathy or compassion for all the people he fucked over! he's just a guy.

Chapter 48: Tubular Bells (Part 1) - he dgaf

Chapter 62: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - does anyone know why Magenta would be so fucking convinced Diego is coming back for him. did he blow him or something. the jpeg was named 'what the hell is this'

Chapter 62: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - See: thirty seconds prior. Diego has the information he needs and dips. he still doesn't gaf

Chapter 66: D4C (Part 1) - 'lmao wekapipo wasn't that guy you killed your friend?' im criing. magenta he rlly did not gaf abt you

Most egregiously, his treatment of Wekapipo.

Chapter 70: D4C (Part 5) - this was actually so foul. Also another Diego + Valentine parallel. Compare Diego's dismissal of Wekapipo as Wekapipo being intended all along as a stepping stone for him, with Valentine's belief that Lucy's death will serve him well in fulfilling his goals of Pax Americana.

And, this is less obvious, but yes, Diego did intend to fuck over Hot Pants as well. These are the terms of their bargain:

Chapter 73: D4C (Part 6)

The terms of their cooperation: Hot Pants will take the corpse, but Diego will receive everything he wanted at the time of A Silent Way (assets and a position of political power), as well as what he initially wanted even back in Scary Monsters: revenge on his father. But Diego, like Dio, wants it all. Hot Pants is not an ally, but another subordinate - a tool.

Chapter 75: D4C (Part 8)

Diego never intended to hand the corpse over to Hot Pants. Hot Pants' offer was enticing, but that's because it was easy. If things had gone Diego's way and HP had opposed him, I have no doubt he would have disposed of them too. In the event of a fatal disagreement, in all likelihood he would have simply set out on his own to track down his father. HP's resources would have just made it easier. I think it's perhaps a nod to Dio and Diego's natural charisma that HP seemed to believe Diego would follow through on their bargain. However, HP is also not naive, so the extent to which they had confidence in Diego's word, I can't say. It would have been interesting to see that confrontation play out.

There is only one ally of Diego's that didn't end up dead: Johnny. It was very brief, but Diego and Johnny did work together to take down Valentine in the parallel universe (Johnny also showed up in the base universe to help Diego, though he was unable to do anything). This team-up is the only time we really see Diego in trouble; in all the other team-ups, Diego is either hanging in the background (Soundman, Magenta), or in control of the situation (Wekapipo, Hot Pants). With Hot Pants, they planned the fourth fake Valentine as a tactic prior to the confrontation; however, Diego is still the one doing most of the work / controlling the situation in that confrontation. Diego relying on Johnny in Philadelphia is the only time he ever put his faith entirely in any of his 'allies'. I think we can read this incident as a parallel to how Jonathan was the only person Dio ever respected as an equal. It's not stated explicitly, but Diego relying on Johnny may imply something along those lines.

Chapter 70: D4C (Part 5)

I talked about this scene briefly in my Does Johnny Actually Hate Diego? analysis, but I just find this interaction so interesting. Especially when we're talking about it in the context of Diego's allies, and how Johnny is the only one who sees through him. When Diego kills Wekapipo, Johnny is a witness to it. Diego appears to feel some kind of way about this:

Chapter 70: D4C (Part 5)

But sadly, that last panel is only closure we'll get on their relationship. I DO want to point out, however, that after this point, Johnny's feelings towards Diego appears to have marginally softened - similar to how Jonathan witnessed all the atrocities Dio committed, but still found it in his heart to forgive him. Maybe it's not to the same extent, but Johnny now includes Diego as part of the 'everyone' collective working against Valentine :)

Chapter 73: D4C (Part 6)

Chapter 76: D4C (Part 9)

My god this post is tangential as fuck. Anyway, let's answer the question: Is Diego as bad as Dio?

Chapter 74: D4C (Part 7)

Well, kind of. He certainly plays a different role in the story, and his motivations are perhaps more understandable / consistent (in the sense that they evolve and are not abandoned), but at their core both Diego and Dio are selfish, prideful people. I think Diego is just a bit better at hiding it, and is perhaps a bit more levelheaded.

Let me put it this way: Dio chose the mask. He desired power and to transcend humanity; he didn't want to control people through politics or climbing the social ladder. Dio rejected humanity in its entirety. He wanted to enact violence against them, and killed whenever it suited him.

Diego did not choose Scary Monsters. Nonetheless, he embraced it. Diego sought, above all else, control (an interesting contrast with Scary Monsters, a primal and instinctual ability). He wanted the power to give back as good as he got; he wanted to trample on those who had trampled on him. He condemned society and isolated himself, but he also blended in well, and played along when it suited him. Dio couldn't stand to keep playing along; Diego could. Diego didn't reject his humanity. He already saw the worst in people, and in adulthood treated people as they had treated him in his childhood: uncaring and callously cruel. Scary Monsters allowed him to act on the worst parts of himself and, like Dio, use violence to achieve his goals. Diego saw himself as above the everyone, and would do whatever it took to externalize that superiority, hence why his goals escalated from getting revenge on his father to seizing control of the corpse in the hopes of finally gaining the control of society he had chased for so long.

Dio may have had the generational hatred and the world-ending schemes, but Diego is perhaps a more realistic portrayal of everyday evil. Dio started out as a poor boy with something to prove; he, like Diego, was a victim of the system and an abusive father. But I think where Dio fails as a reflection of the evil that was done unto him, Diego succeeds. Diego lacks compassion and a desire to improve the world; rather, he just wants to be the one in control of the system.

If you read this far, thank you! Hope this was coherent!

What do you think?