Johann (ヨハン, Yohan) is a supporting character from Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas. As a Dhampir, Johann belongs in neither human nor Vampire society. And so, he makes his living off working as an information broker alongside his coworkers and brethren, Dante and Riche. Occasionally he will sell information regarding curse-bearers to Vanitas and Noé, aiding in their quest to find and cure every curse-bearer they can.
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
Read at your own risk.
Appearance[]
Johann is a young man with a pale complexion, silver wavy hair, lilac eyes, and thin eyebrows. He dons rounded spectacles that rest on the bridge of his nose, and wears a black suit with large gray lapels and padded sleeves over a formal white dress shirt, adorned with a maroon tie. He has small red studs on his ears, and red cufflinks on his shirt. He also wears thin black gloves and formal dress pants. Johann also wears black gloves and black-and-gray shoes with small heels. A bat is often perched on his shoulder, just like his colleagues Dante and Riche.
Personality[]
Johann typically displays a flamboyant personality, characterized by his often animated facial expressions and a teasing and flirtatious manner of speech. He is physically affectionate and has a tendency of brushing against people or wrapping his arm around them when talking, even kissing Dante when reunited with his friend. He rarely depicts any type of seriousness, even when fretting over Riche or offering warnings, but is highly observant.
Beneath his cheerful and flirtatious mask, Johann is a short tempered and angry person who would do anything to protect his three- person dham family. He’s learned how to put on a friendly, affectionate persona around vampires; correcting himself immediately when he says something slightly short- tempered to Jeanne and staying friendly and open around Noé even when it’s later revealed that he dislikes the vampire. Johann seems to truly love Dante and Riche, and shows more of his inner rage when he’s around them and when the two of them are put in danger.
Plot[]
Parisian Excursion Arc[]
Johann meets with Dante on a rooftop immediately after the latter sends Vanitas and Noé Archiviste off with one of the information brokers' bats. Having seen Vanitas for the first time, he notes that the vampire doctor had a "dishy" face before revealing the true purpose of his appearance: information that Lord Ruthven's Bourreau was in Paris. Teasing Dante, Johann surmises that they are after the Book of Vanitas and that Vanitas might be killed.
Johann, worried about Riche.
Later, when Johann learned that another information broker, Riche, had chased after the murderous vampire, Thomas Berneux, he anxiously berated Dante for allowing her to do something so dangerous and followed after her to where the three would witness the battle between Jeanne, Noé, and Vanitas.
Hunters of the Dark Arc[]
Johann and the dhams are seen along with Noé and Vanitas as they explore a few of the catacombs under Paris. Johann teases Dante about his fear of the dark, and although the group jokes around for most of the excursion Johann is shown observing Noé and Vanitas’s behavior and approaches Noé to ask if the latter is worried about Vanitas (all while cuddling up to Murr, much to the cat’s dismay). Noé responds in the affirmative, which Johann is surprised by.
Beast of Gévaudan Arc[]
Dante and Johann meet up with Vanitas and Noé in a small village on their way to Gévaudan. The group travels to Gévaudan and, after learning that the church is already in the area, enter the forest. Dante is frightened of the creepy woods, and Johann teases him about this. Johann is tasked with keeping an eye on the easily lost Noé.
While fighting with Dante, Vanitas reminds Johann to not take his eyes off Noé, at which point Johann realizes that Noé is gone. It starts to snow before they can look for the archiviste, and Johann and Dante realize that Vanitas isn’t breathing and is remarkably weak against the cold.
Johann, Dante, and Vanitas quickly find themself in a battle with both people from the past and the chasseur Astolfo and his team. Dante is absolutely terrified by the wolf, but still attempts to save one of their enemies from it, only to be stopped by Johann. The group finds Noé in the midst of a battle with Astolfo. Johann recognizes Astolfo immediately, and gives Noé some information on the Chasseur.
Naenia appears while the group is fighting the chasseurs, and surrounds Dante and Johann with a maelstrom of her power. Vanitas’s book is knocked out of his hand, and the following release of energy causes an avalanche that separates Dante and Johann.
Johann ends up alone after the avalanche, but is able to find the house Vanitas and Jeanne are resting in at some point during the night or morning. Johann is in a bad mood, frustrated after being unable to find Dante and confirm he’s safe. He snaps at a cheerful Jeanne, but is then reunited with Dante as the latter finds the cabin in the woods. Johann, while cuddling Dante during their reunion, states “I’m so sorry! I had no idea this would happen! ...I knew I shouldn’t have brought you along!!”
After Dante tells the group what he saw happen and how he found them, Vanitas pulls his knives out and threatens Dante for the rest of his information with his and Johann’s lives. As Vanitas implies that he’s going to kill Dante, Johann snaps. His expression changes from his usual cheerful smile to a blank stare as he states that if Vanitas makes another move, he’ll murder the man.
Dante convinces the two of them to calm down, and shares his information with Vanitas. The group then travels towards the castle, with Vanitas breaking pace from the group and running ahead with Jeanne.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Enhanced speed, strength and endurance - Due to his part-vampire heritage, Johann presumably has increased abilities.
- Net Gun - When Astolfo orders Marco and two other chasseurs to kill Dante, Johann fires a net gun at them, which he states he ordered through a catalog.
Relationships[]
Dante[]
Johann and Dante.
Johann and Dante are fellow information brokers. Johann brings Dante information he thinks the other may find useful, and the two, along with Riche, often work together to chase after leads.
Johann seems to feel a sense of responsibility for protecting Dante, constantly physically shielding him and stating that he never should have brought Dante along with him when the two of them are endangered while on a mission for Marquis Machina. Johann also repeatedly kisses Dante after finding out that he’s okay after they were separated after the encounter with the Beast of Gévaudan. Despite this, Johann is still always down to mess with Dante a bit, teasing him about his fears of large animals and dark, creepy spaces.
Riche[]
Johann frets over Riche and her safety, especially because he believes she endangers herself for Dante. His overprotective feelings towards her are met with scorn from Dante, who believes she can take care of herself.
Noé Archiviste[]
Johann seems to be quite taken with Noé, noticing when he’s off before others do and frequently referring to him as “darling”. It’s revealed in Chapter 51 that this is mostly if not entirely an act. Johann is good at analyzing Noé and understanding the latter’s behavior, all while never letting any of these judgements show when he’s around the vampire.
Quotes[]
- “Meddle with my ‘family’… and I kill you.”[1]
- “Because he’s strong… he thinks he can avoid getting his hands dirty, keep himself clean. Although he hates violence… he knows he can use it to make others shut up. Disgusting.”[2]
- “When push comes to shove, a decisive difference appears between those who think, ‘I’m strong, so I don’t want to kill anyone’… and those who think, ‘I’m weak, so I’ll survive no matter what it takes.’”[2]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Mémoire 3: Jeanne — The Hellfire Witch (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale — Love
- Mémoire 13: Glissando — Glissando
- Mémoire 14: Catacombes — Where The Dead Sleep
- Mémoire 24: Forêt d'argent — Chance Encounter
- Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié — Melee
- Mémoire 26: Dissonance — Creaking Laughter
- Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige — Dregs
- Mémoire 28: Dal Segno — Question Mark
- Mémoire 29: Château de Sorcière — The Witch and the Youth
- Mémoire 30: Strascinando — Tremolo
- Mémoire 33: Cauchemar — Rumble
- Mémoire 34: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part One)
- Mémoire 34.5: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part Two) (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 40: Avec Toi — Alone Together
- Mémoire 41: Canorus — Snow Flower
- Mémoire 43: Encens Restant — Lingering Scent of the Dream
- Mémoire 51: Tempest — A Silent Scream
- Extra: The Case Study of Vanitash!!!! —Expanded Edition— (Non-Canon)
- Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie — His Wish (Part Two)
- Mémoire 56: Faire un gâteau — Bittersweet*
- Mémoire 57: Au Revoir — Again, Someday*
- Mémoire 58: Observation — The Darkness in Between (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 61: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part One)
- Mémoire 61.5: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part Two)
- Mémoire 62: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part One)
- Mémoire 62.5: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part Two)
- Mémoire 2: Noé -In the City of Flowers-
- Mémoire 3: Archiviste -Fangs That Lay Bare Blood-
- Mémoire 8: Catacombes -Where Death Slumbers-
- Mémoire 13: Forêt d'argent -Chance Encounter-
- Mémoire 14: Château de Sorcière -The Witch and the Young Man-
- Mémoire 15: Oiseau et ciel -The d'Apchiers' Vampire-
- Mémoire 16: Chasse aux Vampires -The Beast-
- Mémoire 18: Avec Toi -Just the Two of Us-
- Mémoire 19: Canorus -Snow Flower-
- Mémoire 23: Pleuvoir -Tears like Rain-
- Mémoire 24: Après la pluie -His Wish-
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Trivia[]
- "Johann" may possibly derive from Johann Numeister, who was the first to publish the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri,[3] who is likely the source for the name of his brethren and colleague, Dante.