Manga Review: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

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JoJo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki



Jo Jo's Bizzare Adventure was first written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. The manga was first published by Shueisha in their magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump, which began all the way back in 1987 and ended 2004. Then the manga was transferred over to Ultra Jump in 2005 and that is where it remains today. It is actually the Shonen Jump's second longest manga with over 94 volumes being published, and only this manga Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo with 160 volumes has more. And also funnily enough it is the longest manga not to have a TV adaptation, although there are two OVA adaptations.


Plot/Story (:star::star::star::star::star:)



The plot of the manga is difficult to discribe because there have been seven parts to the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, each featuring a different cast of characters. Well when I mean seven parts, I mean 7 different story arcs which are shown as the "Phantom Blood", "Battle Tendency", "Stardust Crusaders", "Diamond is Unbreakable", "Vento Aureo", "Stone Ocean" and currently "Steel Ball Run". Now I won't go into too much detail here but the 7 arcs all relate to each other in small ways but you have really got to read that and find out about it yourself. However I always believe when a manga can truly stand the test of time, in this case being over 20 years old, and still currently being written then its already a legendary manga. To have a plot that grows to become different parts of a story that is spread across alternate realitys and different time gaps, your given a story that will keep telling forever.


Characters (:star::star::star::star::star:)



Jonathan Joestar: In the manga the main hero is always named Jo Jo, hence the name of the manga, and Jonathan is special because he was the first "Jo Jo" who appeared in the "Phantom Blood" arc. He was a poor boy of sorts when the story starts out, but as soon as he enters a rich family he starts to grow up like a proper gentleman. And with this gentlemanly aspect in mind he shows a true kindness to strangers alike always wanting to help. However when Dio Brando aquires a deadly historic power never to be unearthed he becomes evil to the core, and thus Jo Jo trains himself in an ability called "ripple" to combat Dio Brando's inhuman power. With his heart steady and his determination strong he will not stop until he takes down Dio Brando for good.

Dio Brando: He is considered the manga's main antaganist, as he always appears in some shape or form in each of the 7 different story arcs, however unlike Jo Jo, his name is always held by him, no matter what the situation. Dio is a treacherous and his sadistic and vile behaviour can even make the devil turn away. He always has a fierce hatred to Jo Jo, and he always has a habit of trying to kill him and all his friends. In the first 3 storys of the manga he is actually a vampire which he was granted the power from by an old and historic mask. With these vampiric abilities he is able to call forth a whole range of attacks that can devestate his enemy. He is ussually seen unchallenged by other members of the character cast and so it is always a fated battle between him and Jo Jo.


Art/Theme (:star::star::star::star::star:)



If I were to name the most unique and distinguishable manga art form I have ever seen, it would have to be Jo Jo's BIzzare adventure. If I were to explain way, I think that it can be clearly seen that the manga art has almost a dramatic and classic look that has been left unchanged for literally decades. It is one of the reasons why the manga is so legendary because the art form has always remained constant since the beggining, where such manga's their art quality gets better over time, Jo Jo's Bizzare Adventure has always been top quality for all this time. Look how muscular the characters are drawn, they look like real strong people, you get tired of seeing really strong bishie characters. No the characters in this manga look like actual strong hero's and it is all these unique traits that give it an irresistible flavour of sorts.


ZA WARUDO (:star::star::star::star::star:)



To explain things a bit easier for you to understand, Za Warudo, is of course actually an ability that Dio Brando uses called "The World". This ability is a form of "stand" that all characters share in the later story arcs but anyway, his power is once he says it, the time and space around him stops, in a giant sphere of sorts. All the colour in this space becomes negative for a second and whoever is caught in it, their time has stopped, and so Dio can kill them pretty easily. However this was not cause for the meme, but it was rather his wry! that was seen in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's playstation video game where as a fighting game his ultimate finisher was using za warudo on the enemy, throwing some knifes at him while time was stopped, and then jumping out of screen and crushing the oppenent, with a falling steam roller, and for added effect he punches the steam roller and smashes the oppenent still crushed underneath to oblivion, one of the most badass finishers, in all of human history.


Overall/Closing (10/10)

There is no doubt that Jo Jo's Bizzare adventure could get a perfect rating, sure when you review only one of the 7 story arcs than maybe it would not be, but when you review the manga as a single collective than yes it truly is. The plot is so large that it has to be split up, and yet the story does not get boring, it entices you and always leaves question to be asked, while also providing some top quality battle scenes, with such a long volume lengh you will love how you can keep reading and keep enjoying it. The characters all have simular traits to past characters, yet all their personalities and experiences are different that comes together as a truly unique and creative cast of characters. And if that did not do it for you, Jo Jo's Bizzare Adventure has a classic yet fully detailed and shaded art style that has remained golden for all it's life, whenever you see an image drawn in this particular style, you know it is from here. The manga has stood the test of time, and now always from now on it is rated as a legendary manga.





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arTharis's avatar
the art style reminds me of hokuto no ken (the fist of north star)