You know that feeling when you're watching a massive movie franchise and a character just... vanishes? That’s Enzo Ferino. If you’ve only played the mainline games, specifically the modern ones like DMC5, you might not even know who Enzo is. He’s the guy who basically kept Dante’s lights on before Morrison took over the role of the primary "broker."
Enzo is a classic "fixer" character. He’s short, round, loud, and definitely more interested in a quick buck than saving the world from a demon invasion. But honestly, his history is weirdly deep. He isn't just some background NPC; he’s the bridge between the high-octane action of the games and the gritty, urban fantasy world established in the Devil May Cry novels and manga.
He is the reason Dante has a job. Mostly.
Why Enzo Devil May Cry Lore is Actually Important
Most people assume Morrison was always the guy. In Devil May Cry 5, Morrison is the sophisticated, smooth-talking guy who brings the jobs to the shop. But back in the day—we're talking the 2005 Devil May Cry manga and the original DMC1 era—it was Enzo. He was the one scouting out the leads and dealing with the headaches Dante couldn't be bothered with.
He's a pawnbroker. A middleman.
Enzo’s personality is a sharp contrast to the brooding or stylish protagonists we usually see. He’s purely human. He doesn't have a Devil Trigger. He doesn't have a magical sword. He just has a big mouth and a talent for finding information. That makes him one of the few windows we have into how "normal" people survive in a world where demons are constantly trying to eat your soul.
The Bayonetta Connection
This is where things get really trippy. If you’re a fan of PlatinumGames, you’ve definitely seen a guy named Enzo in Bayonetta. He looks the same. He talks the same. He basically is the same character.
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Why? Because Hideki Kamiya, the creator of Devil May Cry, also created Bayonetta. When he left Capcom to help start Platinum, he brought a version of Enzo with him. It’s one of those "unofficial" crossovers that fans obsess over. In the Bayonetta universe, Enzo provides the same service—he’s the bumbling, stressed-out guy getting the lead characters into trouble.
In the DMC universe, however, Enzo’s story takes a much darker turn than anything we see in the Bayonetta games.
What Really Happened to Enzo?
A lot of fans ask why he isn't in the later games. The answer lies in the Devil May Cry: Dante’s Awakening manga and the Tony Redgrave light novels (which are essential reading if you actually want to understand the lore).
Enzo was the one who introduced Dante to the "Devil May Cry" shop name. Sort of. But their partnership ended because of a tragedy involving a demonically possessed shotgun. It sounds ridiculous, but in this universe, that’s just a Tuesday.
- Enzo gets a cursed weapon.
- The weapon starts eating his soul/limbs.
- Dante has to "save" him by cutting off Enzo's arm.
Yeah. Dante cut off his friend's arm to save his life.
Naturally, that put a bit of a damper on their working relationship. Enzo didn't exactly want to hang around the "Devil Never Cry" shop after losing a limb because of Dante’s world. He retired from the dangerous stuff and stuck to being a simple pawnbroker. That’s the real reason Morrison replaced him. Morrison is willing to deal with the supernatural; Enzo is just a guy who wants to go home to his family without losing any more body parts.
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The Evolution of the "Broker" Role
It’s interesting to see how Capcom transitioned from Enzo to Morrison. In the original DMC anime, Morrison was a white man in a suit. By DMC5, he was redesigned to be a Black man with a much cooler vibe. Enzo, meanwhile, stayed in the comics and side stories.
Some fans feel like Enzo was "robbed." He had a certain sleazy charm that grounded Dante. When Dante is being too cool for school, you need an Enzo to remind him that he still owes rent. Without Enzo, Dante feels a bit more like a superhero and less like a struggling private investigator.
Where is Enzo now?
If you check the Devil May Cry 5 prequel novel, Before the Nightmare, Enzo actually makes a brief appearance. He’s still around! He’s still running his pawn shop. He actually helps out J.D. Morrison and provides some background info. It’s a nice nod to the long-time fans who remember the guy from the 2000s.
He basically serves as the "civilian" perspective. While Nero and Dante are flying around cutting up Urizen, Enzo is just trying to make sure his business survives the literal apocalypse.
Why People Get Enzo Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Enzo is a "coward."
He isn't. He’s just rational. If a ten-foot tall demon with a scythe walked into your office, you wouldn't pull out a sword; you'd run. Enzo’s survival in a city like Red Grave or Mallet Island is a testament to his wits. He’s a survivor.
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Another mistake? Thinking he’s a filler character.
Enzo’s departure from the main story is what allows Dante to grow. It shows the "human cost" of Dante’s lifestyle. Dante can't have "normal" friends because his friends end up like Enzo—maimed or haunted. It adds a layer of tragedy to Dante’s isolation that you don't get if everyone around him is also a super-powered demon hunter.
Actionable Insights for Lore Hunters
If you want to see the "real" Enzo, you have to go beyond the PlayStation or Xbox.
- Read the DMC3 Manga: This is where Enzo’s personality really shines. You see the bickering dynamic between him and a younger, even more arrogant Dante.
- Look for the "Tony Redgrave" references: Before Dante was Dante, he used the alias Tony Redgrave. Enzo was one of the few people who knew him back then.
- Play Bayonetta (Seriously): While it's not the same "canon," the Enzo in Bayonetta is clearly the version Kamiya wanted to keep writing. It’s the best way to see the character's "intended" personality in high-definition.
- Check the DMC5 Novel: Before the Nightmare confirms Enzo is still alive and well in the current timeline, which means he could technically show up in a Devil May Cry 6.
Enzo Ferino is a relic of an older era of Devil May Cry. He represents the gritty, urban-fantasy roots of the series before it became a full-blown "stylish action" spectacle. He’s the guy who remembers when Dante was just a kid in a red coat trying to make a buck. He might not have a Devil Trigger, but in a world of monsters, being the guy who survives with both his wit (and most of his limbs) intact is pretty impressive.
If you’re diving back into the series, keep an eye out for the name "Enzo" in the files and background notes of DMC5. He’s there, lurking in the margins, probably complaining about a bad deal and wondering when Dante is finally going to pay back that long-overdue debt.
To truly understand the history of the shop, you have to understand the man who helped name it. Enzo isn't just a side character; he's the foundation of Dante's professional life. Digging into the older manga volumes—specifically those released around the DMC3 era—will give you the best picture of who this man was before the demons took his arm and his nerve. He remains one of the most grounded, human elements in a franchise defined by the divine and the demonic.