Dio Brando (japanese: ディオ・ブランドー , Hepburn: Dio Burandō ) , later also known only as DIO ( DIO ( ディオ ) ) , is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Japanese manga series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. He is featured initially as the main antagonist of the series' first part, Phantom Blood and later returns as the main antagonist of the series' third part, Stardust Crusaders, now solely referred to as DIO. In the alternate universe of the series' seventh part, Steel Ball Run, a character named Diego Brando ( ディエゴ・ブランドー , Diego Burandō ) bears resemblance to Dio and appears as a major antagonist. The poor son of Dario Brando, an abusive alchoholic who worked Dio's mother to death, Dio first appears as a young misanthropewho, via the power of an ancient stone mask, becomes an immortal vampire A century after the events of the first part, he resurfaces as the user of the time-stopping Stand named The World. As t...