If you love dark, violent action-driven storylines, “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” is a manga series that I highly recommend!
© 1986 Hirohiko Arai. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures vol. 3 by Hirohiko Araki
STORY AND ART BY: Naoki Urasawa, Story by Hokusei Katsushika, Takashi Nagasaki
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Shogakukan
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ SIGNATURE/Viz Media, LLC
RATED: OT for Older Teen
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2015
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The legendary Shonen Jump series, now available in English for the first time, in a deluxe edition featuring color pages and newly drawn cover art! JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles. A multigenerational tale of the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil!
The conclusion of the Phantom Blood Arc! Jonathan Joestar and his mentor Zeppelli continue their pursuit of the villainous vampire, Dio! But to get to him, they must first face down his murderous henchmen! In battle after bloody battle, JoJo and Zeppelli are pushed to their limits and beyond!
In 1996, Hirohiko Araki would create the manga series “Jojo no Kimyou na Boken” (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures).
A story serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump from 1986 to 2004 and since continuing on “Ultra Jump” since 2005, the series continues to be Shueisha’s second largest manga series with a total of 114 tankobon volumes.
The ongoing manga series has led to a six-volume OVA series (1993-1994) and a seven-volume series arc (2000-2002), a theatrical film in 2012 and a 26-episode anime series in 2012, followed by a 48-episode second season in 2014-2015, the series has continued to remain popular for manga, anime and also video game fans.
“JoJo’s Bizarred Adventures” is a storyline with arcs that focus on the Joestar family line. Currently, there are a total of eight arcs and the name “JoJo” is derived from the first two letters of the first name and the family name.
In the first volume of the arc “Phantom Blood”, we are introduced to the kindhearted Jonathan Joestar, who’s family have taken in Dio Brando, who later becomes his adoptive brother.
But Dio has nothing but coldness in his heart and wants nothing more than to be the heir of the Joestar family and waiting for his opportunity to strike.
Throughout the years, Dio has bullied and beaten up Jonathan throughout their childhood but it also made Jonathan stronger.
But as Dio wants to grow in power, he resorts to using an ancient stone mask which turns him to an immortal vampire.
In volume 2, we were introduced to the Italian Hamon master Will A. Zeppeli and Robert E.O. Speedwagon who join Jonathan in his quest to stop Dio, but first, Jonathan must learn how to control Hamon, while Dio continues his ways of darkness and having his eyes set on global domination.
In volume 3, Dio has sent out the Dark Knight of Blueford and another evil knight which Jonathan and his friends must survive and defeat. But most importantly, we see the battle between Jonathan and Dio.
Reading the final volume of “Phantom Blood”, “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures” is a fascinating storyline and arc about Jonathan Joestar who has lived his life for good, while his adopted brother, tormentor and rival, Dio Brando has lived his life for one purpose, to be the heir of the Joestar fortune and to do all he can to torture Jonathan throughout his life and bully and beat him.
In the first volume, you can’t help but feel bad for Jonathan Joestar because he is often targeted by Dio, who has nothing but contempt towards Jonathan. He is the epitome of evil and we have seen him turned into a vampire that makes everyone cower in fear.
Except Jonathan Joestar, who is determined of ending his brother’s evil regime of monsters and more!
We have seen him train in learning how to control “Hamon” but now, we see how it’s led to the battle between Jonathan vs. Dio. Who will win and who will lose? You’ll have to read this latest volume of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures” to find out.
But overall, the storyline is gory, riveting and dark. There is a lot of violence but there is also an interesting way that Hirohiko Araki creates his characters and the way his artwork showcases the goriness of mutilated people, his way of drawing each character and just being in awe of his character designs and how he showcases action, is really interesting and stylish!
While it is sad to read the final story about Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando, the next arc “Battle Tendency” featuring Joseph Joestar, will be another action-packed volume that I look forward to reading.
If you love dark, violent action-driven storylines, “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” is a manga series that I highly recommend!