Because it was "unprecedented" to kill off the main character in a "Weekly Shōnen Jump" manga in 1987, Hirohiko Araki made the protagonist of "Battle Tendency" look very similar to Part 1's Jonathan, but with a more adventurous and confrontational personality. Araki called Joseph a swindler in comparison to the gentlemanly Jonathan, because he is constantly looking to win and will do insane things without hesitation. This was not only to create contrast between the two, but also because the author wanted to shift from the physical battles in Part 1 to more "cerebral" fights. He wanted Joseph to be a "shōnen manga" hero who bends the rules as he fights, like the protagonist of his earlier series "Cool Shock B.T.", winning by cunning and logic, instead of bravery and perseverance.