Gyro Zeppeli

Gyro is a man of average to above-average height and medium to athletic build. He has long hair that reaches mid-back, light-colored eyes, and square patches of facial hair lining his jaw, four on each side. He either wears grills or has chiseled into prosthetic teeth the phrase "GO! GO! ZEPPELI", which are said to be gold.↗↗

Outfits

A simple outfit consisting of a long sleeve polo with an upturned collar and khakis with a belt worn when Gyro is nine years old. He has long hair with short bangs and two squares of hair by his sideburns.↗

Gyro is a cocky and flamboyant executioner marked by the harshness of life, who participates in the Steel Ball Run for the sake of Marco.↗

Gyro initially appears as an aggressive contestant in the Steel Ball Run race. Unlike other competitors, Gyro looks to seize first place above all else, rushing ahead of everyone and then fending off anyone who challenges him. He also has a tendency to take dangerous shortcuts. Gyro is a rude man, deriding the vast majority of those he meets with insults and mocking commentaries. Even with his closest friend Johnny Joestar, Gyro doesn't mince his words and sometimes argues with him. Moreover, Johnny only made a lasting impression on Gyro through his dogged stubbornness and otherwise looked down on him during their first meeting.↗↗↗↗↗↗↗↗↗

Gyro is particularly proud of his mastery of the Spin, a family technique involving the rotation and throwing of steel balls to various effects, and hails the Spin as the acme of human skill, this pride is, to a degree, justified when the Spin manages to overpower D4C Love Train. However, as a teacher he seemed to be somewhat begrudging, only bothering to teach Johnny the basics of the Spin and introducing him to the Golden Rectangle when they were threatened by a new enemy.↗↗↗↗

Gyro is an adept tactician, being able to hold his own against several Stand users and outsmarting them in several occasions. Gyro has been shown to be able to use his surroundings, or even the enemy's own power to his advantage. He is also a worldly individual, possessing a range of knowledge, including in tracking, opera, paleontology, and mathematics.↗

Trained by his father, Gregorio Zeppeli, Gyro is an accomplished surgeon, being able to make surgical operations on his own. This training also includes intimate knowledge of the human body Gyro uses in conjunction with the Spin in combat.↗

Steel Ball / Spin

Throwing his Steel Balls with the Spin, Gyro may create a variety of impressive trajectories. He is even able to have them return directly to him, mainly after successful contact with his target.↗

On impact with flesh, spiral ripples often appear. Gyro may apply a wide range of effects to human or animal targets, including muscular, nerve, and bone manipulation, and the forceful wringing of flesh to drain water.↗

Scan

The Right Eye is protected by a Guardian Spirit composed of energy which is shown emerging from Gyro's Steel Ball when he uses Scan in his battle against Ringo Roadagain.↗↗↗↗↗

Stand

Ball Breaker manifests when Gyro finally achieves the Golden Spin. The Stand is a visualization of Spin energy unleashed from Gyro's Steel Balls, the sheer power of the technique manifesting itself into the form of a Stand. Ball Breaker embodies a vast force capable of bypassing dimensional barriers.↗↗↗

Horseback Riding

Gyro is an experienced and capable equestrian, competent enough to ride across many types of terrain and be a serious competitor in the Steel Ball Run race. His ability as a rider reached a new level after he entered a "real man's world" in his fight against Ringo Roadagain and he became able to instinctively choose the optimal path for his horse, an ability that seems on par with Diego Brando 's own ability. His riding style can be summed up as aggressive; Gyro seeks to remain at the first place constantly, and takes dangerous shortcuts when he deems it necessary. When another rider challenges him, Gyro will actively try to get rid of them. His beloved horse is named Valkyrie.↗

Steel Ball Run Chapter 1: The Steel Ball Run Press Conference↗

Steel Ball Run Chapter 2: Gyro Zeppeli↗

Steel Ball Run Chapter 3: Johnny Joestar↗

Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start↗

Steel Ball Run Chapter 5: 1st Stage: 15,000 Meters↗

Araki personally liked the Jonathan – Zeppeli relationship from Phantom Blood and wanted to retell it again for a longer coming-of-age story. He chose to make Johnny and Gyro around the same age so they could be less formal and more friendly than their original counterparts.↗↗

Araki created Gyro's character based on Charles-Henri Sanson, the royal executioner of France during the reign of King Louis XVI, who would later end up executing King Louis XVI as well.↗↗↗

Family

Gregorio Zeppeli: As Gyro's father, he was the only person to ever command respect and obedience to him. Their relationship was probably cold due to Gregorio wishing to throw away sentimentality from his life, thus never had a compliment for his son, nor did he give him gifts and send him letters. However Gregorio was still Gyro's Spin teacher and direct superior as surgeon and executioner, thus has authority over him, although Gyro still disobeyed him behind his back.↗

Friends

Johnny Joestar: Gyro and Johnny are friends and partners in the Steel Ball Run, as well as master and apprentice in the art of the Spin. At first, Johnny's determination piqued Gyro's interest, leading him to help Johnny mount his Slow Dancer by giving him a hint about what he's already learned. After the 1st Stage, Johnny wins the respect of Gyro, and thus Gyro decides to teach him the Spin and they become partners for the rest of the race. As the stages progress, their friendship grows.↗

Gyro nonetheless acknowledged her bravery and resourcefulness and entrusted the Right Eye to her, later asking Wekapipo to save her from Valentine.↗

Rivals

Diego Brando: Gyro and Diego are bitter rivals, as both repeatedly tried to outdo each other in the Steel Ball Run. Gyro thinks of Diego as the greatest threat for his goal of finishing first in the race and never ceases to antagonize or insult him. Diego won't hesitate to kill Gyro, but Gyro's moral code stops him from doing the same, and he only wishes to beat him up.↗

Enemies

Boomboom Family: Gyro was initially cold and cautious to Andre Boomboom, and he was later proven right to act in such a way as Andre, along with his brother and father, attacked. Gyro thinks of the whole family as idiots, though holds regard for their dangerous Stand abilities.↗