The Mafia is an organization that’s captured the imagination of many people all over the world. Organized crime with rites and rules that make them just as complicated as any legitimate kingdom or form of government. Movies, books, and TV have influenced and been influenced by the very concept. In the world of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Passione is the most powerful branch of the mafia. So who is Passione and how did it get so powerful? Let’s find out!
Long ago, roughly fifty thousand years ago, a meteorite crash landed in Greenland. Legends had grown of the dangerous site, leading to one person taking some of the meteorite to fashion arrowheads, to harness what was believed to be the power of the gods. During an excavation in 1978, it was discovered that the meteorite contained an alien virus that could wipe most of humanity. However, those who could survive exposure to it, would gain powers beyond those of normal humans. Those arrows from long ago could be used to pierce someone and if they were able to survive, be granted the a particular power called a Stand. This name stems from the fact that the power manifests as a entity that stands next to its user. Only those who have Stands can see other Stands, everyone else would only see the results of a Stand’s power.
In the mid eighties, the arrows were found along with their potential for power. One arrow had found its way to Italy to a man named Diavolo who gained massive powers that aided in his raise in the mafia, creating Passione as his own empire. While originally looking to be wiping out the drug trade in organized crime as he and his subordinates carved a name for themselves primarily in Naples, it was actually to better establish their own drug trade as the only game in town. Each would-be member of Passione was subjected to the arrow, so all members have their own Stands and any who couldn’t survive the virus, died. Only the strong survive in Passione.
The turn to actual drug trade rubbed many members the wrong way as they were initially intrigued by Passione’s anti-drug methods. This would lead to one segment, La Squadra Esecuzioni, decided to take down Diavolo for turning his back on their once noble cause among all the crime. This was when it was revealed the strict hierarchy within Passione, Diavolo had the two lieutenants killed as an example. No one goes against the Boss and lives.
The organization would form with each smaller branch meant to focus on certain types of crime and work for Passione. Some would do bodyguard work for assets, others were assassins, some did information gathering and develop the raising computer crimes becoming available. In just fifteen years, Passione had become one of the most powerful forces in the mob with less than one thousand members total. It would take the induction of new member already wielding his own Stand, Giorno Giovanni, to signal the beginning of the end of Passione as it was known.
There you have it! Passione is a constant threat and part of the very infrastructure of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5. Whether as an anime or manga, it has been a danger and a goal for Giorno Giovanni to deal with in his quest. See you next time!
Suggested Reading
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5
Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
