JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
The cover of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure volume 13, the first of Part 3 Stardust Crusaders.
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 (JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken)
Genre	Action, Adventure, Supernatural, Horror, Suspense
Manga
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Written by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	Viz Media (Part 3 only)
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Original run	1987 – 1997
Volumes	63
Manga
Stone Ocean
Written by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Original run	1998 – 2002
Volumes	17
Manga
Steel Ball Run
Written by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump, Ultra Jump
Original run	2004 – 2011
Volumes	24
Manga
JoJolion
Written by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Ultra Jump
Original run	2011 – ongoing
Volumes	2
Game
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Developer	Winkysoft
Publisher	Bandai Cobra Team
Genre	Role-playing video game
Platform	Super Famicom
Released	March 5, 1993
Light novel
GioGio's Bizarre Adventure
Written by	Mayori Sekijima Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Illustrated by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Published	November 4, 1993
Original video animation
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Directed by	Hiroyuki Kitakubo
Written by	Kenichi Takashima Takao Kawaguchi Satoshi Kon Hiroyuki Kitakubo
Music by	Marco D'Ambrosio
Studio	Studio APPP
Licensed by	Super Techno Arts
Released	November 1993 – 1994
Episodes	6
Game
JoJo's Venture
Developer	Capcom
Publisher	Capcom
Genre	Versus fighting
Platform	CPS-3, Playstation, Dreamcast
Released	December 2, 1998
Original video animation
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Directed by	Hideki Futamura Noboru Furuse Yasuhito Kikuchi Takashi Kobayashi Yasuhito Kikuchi Eiji Yamanaka
Written by	Kenichi Takashima Takao Kawaguchi
Music by	Marco D'Ambrosio
Studio	Studio APPP
Licensed by	Super Techno Arts
Released	2000 – 2002
Episodes	7
Light novel
GioGio's Bizarre Adventure II: Golden Heart/Golden Ring
Written by	Gichi Ōtsuka Miya Shōtarō
Illustrated by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Published	May 28, 2001
Game
GioGio no Kimyō na Bōken: Ōgon no Kaze
Developer	Capcom
Publisher	Capcom
Genre	Action
Platform	PlayStation 2
Released	July 25, 2002
Game
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood
Developer	Anchor Entertainment
Publisher	Namco Bandai Games
Genre	Action
Platform	PlayStation 2
Released	October 26, 2006
Anime film
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood
Directed by	Junichi Hayama
Written by	Mitsuhiro Yamada
Music by	Yasunori Honda
Studio	Studio APPP
Released	February 17, 2007
Runtime	91 minutes
Light novel
The Book: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 4th Another Day
Written by	Otsuichi
Illustrated by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Published	November 26, 2007
Light novel
Shameless Purple Haze: Purple Haze Feedback
Written by	Kouhei Kadono
Illustrated by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Published	September 16, 2011
Light novel
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Over Heaven
Written by	Nisio Isin
Illustrated by	Hirohiko Araki
Published by	Shueisha
Published	December 16, 2011

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken) is a manga written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. The series, published by Shueisha, first ran in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1987 to 2002, before being transferred to the seinen magazine Ultra Jump in 2004. The current story arc, JoJolion, started in 2011. It is currently Shueisha's second longest running manga series with 106 volumes and counting (only Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, with over 170 volumes, has more). It is the longest manga not to have a TV anime adaptation, although there are two OVAs and a feature film.

From 2003 to 2005, Super Techno Arts released English dubs of the OVAs on DVD. The third story arc of the manga, Stardust Crusaders, the most popular and well-known, received an English release in North America by Viz Media from 2005 to 2010. Originally published bimonthly, the volumes were later reduced to a quarterly release.

The September 1, 2011 issue of the magazine Weekly Bunshun reported that a live-action film and multiple animated films based on the series are currently in development from different studios; stating that a "super-popular idol" will star in the live-action film and that formal release dates for the projects aren't expected until Summer 2012, at the earliest. However, JoJo's publisher Shueshia downplayed the report, saying "We don't know where that story came from, but nothing has been decided at this time."

Plot

See also: List of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure characters and Timeline of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

The story of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure centers around the misadventures of the Joestars, a powerful family with English roots. Each member of the bloodline has a star shaped birthmark above their left shoulder blade – Dio Brando, the original nemesis of the Joestar family, and his descendants have this distinguishable mark also, a result from Dio's 'theft' of Jonathan Joestar's body and inheriting the Joestar genes as well. The series spans several generations, with each part featuring a descendent of the Joestars as the main protagonist along with a large cast of characters.

The series' title is a reference to the fact that each part's main character's name can be read as JoJo. A nickname derived by putting together the letters "J" and "O" from their first and last names. Later installments have additional variations on the JoJo wordplay. For example, in the name Josuke, the Japanese character representing "suke" can also be read as "Jo", likewise in the Italian name Giorno, "Gio" is pronounced very similar to "Jo".

Ripple and Stand powers

Introduced in Part 1 Phantom Blood, the Ripple (波紋, Hamon) is basically a martial arts technique that allows the user to focus bodily energy into other kinds of energy via proper breathing. As the series originally deals with vampires, the characters most commonly focus it into sunlight.

Part 3 Stardust Crusaders begins by introducing the supernatural power of Stands (スタンド sutando). When first presented, Joseph Joestar referred to it as "ghostly ripple" (幽波紋(スタンド), sutando, but without furigana would be pronounced yū hamon); it could conjecturally be said to be a semi-physical manifestation of one's ripple powers.

The exact requirements for a person to obtain a Stand are unclear, although the series hints that it can be linked to bloodline, rigorous spiritual/ripple training, and/or exceptionally strong willpower. However, a Stand may never manifest itself in one's life until it is amplified by certain conditions/factors. However, not everyone able to manifest a Stand has the ability to control it; despite her father Joseph Joestar and her son Jotaro Kujo being powerful Stand users, Holly Kujo, due to her lack of physical strength and resolve, is brought to the brink of death by her Stand, sapping away her lifeforce in an attempt to manifest itself.

One of the known and most commonly used ways to create a Stand is to pierce oneself with "Stand arrows", created from a mysterious meteorite. However, it is often a gamble, as it would easily kill an unqualified person, and there is no apparent way to know if a person is qualified ahead of time; the arrows do, however, tend to seek out qualified people on their own if there is someone to guide them. Another amplifying condition is done by simply being around powerful Stand users, such as the case of Trisha Una's Spice Girl from Part 5 Vento Aureo. A qualified existing Stand user may also have their Stand "upgraded" by piercing the arrow through the Stand—this results in the Stand becoming a "Requiem" form of its previous self. However, this is also a gamble, as an unqualified Stand user may render their new Stand uncontrollable, and he or she may actually kill themselves in the process.

Enrico Pucci of Part 6 Stone Ocean was able to produce artificial Stand users with his own, Whitesnake, by stealing others' Stands and "inserting" them into regular people. It is unclear as to whether or not these artificial Stand users were capable of having Stands of their own, but Enrico does claim that only certain individuals are qualified to have Stands inserted. In Part 5 there are examples of a single person possessing two Stands because of the ability of an extraordinary Stand.

In Part 7 Steel Ball Run, a third surging factor is introduced by fusing parts of oneself with "The Saint's" body parts. However, Stands generated by this factor disappear as soon as the body parts defuse from one another. Both Johnny Joestar and Diego Brando "appeared to keep their Stands even after losing the body parts they possessed". In actuality Diego kept the left eye to use his "turning anything to a dinosaur in any shape he liked" stand, and Johnathan Joestar kept his abilities "tusk" due to the fact that Hot Pants left a vertebrae of the "saint" inside of him.

Media

Manga

Main article: List of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure volumes

There have been seven parts to the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure saga, each featuring a descendent of the Joestars/Kujos as the main protagonist along with a large cast of characters.

• Part 1: Phantom Blood (ファントムブラッド, Fantomu Buraddo)
  • JoJo's Bizarre Adventure volumes 1 to 5. Takes place in 1880s Britain. The main protagonist is Jonathan Joestar.
• Part 2: Battle Tendency (戦闘潮流, Sentō Chōryū)
  • JoJo's Bizarre Adventure volumes 5 to 12. Begins in New York City, moves briefly to Mexico, then to Italy, and finally it ends in Switzerland, during the year 1938. The main protagonist is Joseph Joestar, grandson of Jonathan Joestar.
• Part 3: Stardust Crusaders (スターダストクルセイダース, Sutādasuto Kuruseidāsu)
  • JoJo's Bizarre Adventure volumes 12 to 28. Begins in Japan and involves the main characters traveling across Asia to Egypt. Takes place in the year 1989. The main protagonist is Jotaro Kujo, grandson of Joseph Joestar.
• Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable (ダイヤモンドは砕けない, Daiyamondo wa Kudakenai)
  • JoJo's Bizarre Adventure volumes 29 to 47. Takes place in the fictional Japanese town of Moriō in the year 1999. The main protagonist is Josuke Higashikata, illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar.
• Part 5: Vento Aureo (黄金の風, Ōgon no Kaze)
  • Le Bizzarre Avventure di GioGio volumes 47 to 63. Takes place in Italy in the year 2001. The main protagonist is Giorno Giovana, son of villain Dio Brando.
• Part 6: Stone Ocean (ストーンオーシャン, Sutōn Ōshan)
  • Stone Ocean volumes 1 (64) to 17 (80). Takes place in Florida from 2011 to 2012. The main protagonist is Jolyne Kujo, daughter of Jotaro Kujo.
• Part 7: Steel Ball Run (スティール・ボール・ラン, Sutīru Bōru Ran)
  • Steel Ball Run volumes 1 (81) to 24 (104). Begins in San Diego, California and involves the main characters traveling across the United States to New York. Takes place in the years 1890 and 1891, in an alternate timeline from the previous parts. The main protagonists are Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli.
• Part 8: JoJolion (ジョジョリオン, Jojorion)
  • Once again takes place in the fictional Japanese town of Moriō, this time after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, in the same alternate timeline as Part 7. The main protagonist is a man who assumes the name Josuke Higashikata, the same as Part 4's protagonist.

Original video animation and film

Main article: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (OVA)

Two OVA adaptations based on Part 3, Stardust Crusaders, story arc was produced by Studio A.P.P.P. The original six-episode series was released in 1993, which begins during the middle of the original arc. A seven-episode prequel series was released in 2000, adapting the beginning of the arc.

Super Techno Arts produced an English adaptation of both, the original series and the prequel series, releasing all thirteen episodes in in North America as a six-volume DVD series between 2003 and 2005, with the episodes ordered by its fictional chronology. Due to legal reasons, names which referenced certain bands or singers had to be changed in the English translation.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood, a feature film adaptation of the original first story arc, was released theatrically on February 17, 2007 in Japan. The film was produced to commemorate 25th anniversary of creator Hirohiko Araki's career as a manga artist. The theme song was "Voodoo Kingdom", a single by the group Soul'd Out. This film has yet to be released on any form of home video.

Novels

In 2000, it was announced that Otsuichi would be writing a novel based on Part 4. The novel proved difficult to complete; in Kono Mystery ga Sugoi 2004, Otsuichi claimed to have written over 2000 pages, but thrown them all out. Intent on writing a novel that lived up to the manga, it took him until 2007 to complete The Book: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 4th Another Day.

In April 2011, it was announced that Nisio Isin, Kouhei Kadono and Ōtarō Maijō are each writing novel adaptations of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure in celebration of the series' 25th anniversary.

Video games

Main article: List of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure video games

Cover of the PlayStation version (US version) of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

Several video games have been adapted from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. The first was a role-playing video game, based on the third story, which was released in 1993 for the Super Famicom. Later, two fighting games for the arcade were also adapted from the third arc by Capcom, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (released as JoJo's Venture in the west) and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future, both in 1999 for arcade. The arcade games were ported to PlayStation and Dreamcast. The fighting games were the first piece of JoJo related media released in North America, exposing the characters to many western players. A third Capcom game was based on Part 5, titled GioGio no Kimyō na Bōken: Ōgon no Kaze and released for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. This game was scheduled for release in Europe as GioGio's Bizarre Adventure, but this did not come through because of the heavy references to band names, and Araki is unwilling to compromise in the change of names to avoid lawsuits. Capcom originally intended to release the game in the United States, even showing a playable version at the 2002 Electronic Entertainment Expo, but no further plans or official release date has been announced since then.

A new game by Bandai, titled JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood, was released on October 26, 2006 for the PlayStation 2. The story is based on the first arc and features action/adventure gameplay, similar to Golden Whirlwind. Araki has personally checked the quality of the game and its faithfulness to the original. The release of the game coincides with the release of the new movie and the 25th anniversary of Araki Hirohiko's manga career. The game itself includes a bonus disc celebrating 20 years of the JoJo franchise.

Before the first JoJo's Bizarre Adventure game was released, Bandai released a Shōnen Jump crossover adventure game titled Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden in 1989. Joseph Joestar from the second arc is one of the playable characters, while Santana and Speedwagon made cameo appearances. Its sequel Famicom Jump II: The Strongest Seven, released in 1991, features Jotaro as a selectable character. Joseph, Avdol, Kakyoin, and Polnareff also appears in this game. Both games were available on the Nintendo Famicom.

Characters from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure were also featured in the Weekly Shōnen Jump crossover game Jump Superstars and its sequel Jump Ultimate Stars, including Jotaro Kujo and Dio Brando as playable characters.

Reception

Controversy

In May 2008, both Shueisha and Studio APPP halted manga/OVA shipments of JoJo after a complaint had been launched against them from Egyptian Islamic fundamentalists, after noticing a scene in the OVAs that has the villain, Dio Brando, reading a book depicting pages from the Qur'an. This recall affected the English-language releases as well, causing Viz Media and Shueisha to cease publication for a year. Even though the manga did not feature that specific scene, Shueisha had Araki redraw scenes that depicted characters fighting on-top, and destroying, mosques. Viz resumed publication a year later, with the eleventh volume being published on April 7, 2009.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Official Viz Media JoJo's Bizarre Adventure page
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (OVA) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (film) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• The World of JoJo Flash movie presentations that quickly summarize each arc in JoJo. (Japanese)
• Evidence of JoJo's spelling errors (Japanese)
• The JoJo FAQ, with plot and character summaries

Video game websites

• JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken by Capcom (Japanese)
• JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken: Mirai no Isan by Capcom (Japanese)
• GioGio no Kimyō na Bōken: Ōgon no Kaze by Capcom (Japanese)
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood by Bandai (Japanese)
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure at the Killer List of Videogames