Forget Imu, Steel Ball Run Officially Introduces the Greatest Anime Villain of All Time

Forget Imu and the usual names dominating debates about anime’s greatest villains. Steel Ball Run has a formidable contender in Funny Valentine, the 23rd President of the United States and the story’s central antagonist. Behind his respectable public image lies a ruthless man determined to secure his country’s future, regardless of the human cost.

His extraordinary Stand abilities make him a nightmare for Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, but his ambitions are even more disturbing. Valentine believes America deserves an advantage over every other nation, whatever the consequences.

Steel Ball Run’s Funny Valentine Has an Almost Unbeatable Stand

Funny Valentine from Steel Ball Run | Credits: David Production

Funny Valentine’s Stand, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (D4C), makes him one of the most dangerous antagonists in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It allows him to travel between parallel worlds by exploiting specific conditions involving two objects or surfaces. He can also transfer himself to an alternate version of himself under particular circumstances, making him exceptionally difficult to eliminate permanently.

This ability transforms battles against Valentine into unpredictable contests. Defeating him once does not necessarily end the fight, and his opponents must adapt to an enemy who can exploit alternate realities. He can deceive his enemies, escape dangerous situations, and find ways to continue fighting when victory seems impossible.

D4C becomes even more formidable when Valentine gains access to Love Train. Connected to Lucy Steel and the power of the Saint’s Corpse, this ability creates a spatial phenomenon that redirects misfortune away from Valentine and sends it elsewhere in the world. Attacks that should harm him can be diverted, making him extraordinarily difficult to defeat.

These abilities also reflect Valentine’s worldview. He wants America to enjoy prosperity and protection, even if other people suffer the consequences. Love Train embodies that belief by diverting misfortune away from him and toward others. Valentine is more than a powerful Stand user, however. As president, he uses his political position and respectable public image to conceal his pursuit of the Saint’s Corpse. He believes its power can secure America’s future and is willing to eliminate anyone who threatens his objective.

Imu Wants Absolute Control While Funny Valentine Prioritizes America

Funny Valentine and Imu are compelling villains for different reasons. Both are willing to commit horrific acts to preserve their preferred world order, but their ambitions are not identical. The distinction lies in how they view power and who they believe deserves to benefit from it. In One Piece, Imu occupies the hidden center of the World Government, exercising authority over a system that dominates much of the world. Imu’s position is closely tied to preserving the established order, concealing the truth about the Void Century, and suppressing threats to the government’s authority. The Five Elders answer to Imu, exposing the supposed neutrality of the Empty Throne as a deception.

Imu’s actions suggest a desire to maintain absolute authority and eliminate anything capable of challenging it. Those who threaten the World Government’s secrets or established hierarchy can become targets, regardless of the consequences for ordinary people. Imu represents a system in which those at the top determine what the world is allowed to know. Funny Valentine, meanwhile, does not need every nation to submit directly to his personal rule. His objective is to secure the Saint’s Corpse and use its power to give the United States extraordinary advantages over other countries. He wants America to prosper and remain protected, even if the rest of the world bears the cost.

That distinction makes Valentine particularly fascinating. Imu represents absolute control through a hidden global authority, whereas Valentine pursues national supremacy under the banner of patriotism. He can justify sacrificing outsiders because he considers their suffering acceptable when America’s interests are at stake. Neither ideology excuses their cruelty. However, Valentine presents a disturbing contradiction: he genuinely believes his actions demonstrate loyalty to his country.

What are your thoughts on Funny Valentine? We’d love to know in the comments below.