Warning: SPOILERS for chapter #1 of The JOJOLandsThe debut of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 9 - The JOJOLands has confirmed right off the bat that this new saga is a big step forward for the franchise created by Hiroiko Araki 35 years ago. The JOJOLands showcases an unusual "hero" and a new narrative style, and it's also not afraid to tackle controversial issues such as police brutality and transgender representation, proving to be JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's most diverse part yet.
The JOJOLands has begun serialization in the March issue of Ultra Jump, published on February 17, 2023. This is the latest installment in the series created by Hiroiko Araki in 1987, and the third part set in the "reboot universe" created after the ending of Part 6 - Stone Ocean. The story of The JOJOLands is set in Hawaii and the main character is once again a member of the Joestar family, Jodio, the nephew of Joseph Joestar. However, this is where the similarities with the previous parts of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure end.
The JOJOLands Is Completely Different From Any Other JoJo's Part
Chapter #1 of The JOJOLands introduces a protagonist who is, essentially, a drug dealer and a "gofer" for criminals. Jodio appears to be the radical opposite of the previous JoJos, who were epitomes of justice and honesty. Also, Jodio's brother, Dragona, appears to be transgender (even if this still has to be officially confirmed), marking the first time that one of JoJo's main characters is queer. Dragona is also the victim of an unfortunate incident in this chapter, as a police officer abuses his authority to molest and intimidate her and Jodio, a situation that is luckily resolved thanks to the yet-unknown powers of the protagonist's Stand.
Another interesting detail that comes out from this chapter is that Jodio will be the first-person narrator of the story, which is once again a novelty for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. In previous parts, the narrator was either a third-person voice or one of the secondary characters. Overall, this first chapter of The JOJOLands shows that this part is the most diverse yet, because of its striking differences from the previous ones and due to the presence of real-life contemporary issues, such as police brutality and queer representation. The most impressive changes are certainly those that concern the protagonist. Jodio's opportunistic behavior and his dream of "becoming filthy rich" make him look nothing like the immaculate heroes that JoJo's fans are used to.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Is The Manga That Has Changed Most With The Times
Chapter #1 of The JOJOLands proves that, of all the manga series that have been going on for decades (such as One Piece or Detective Conan), JoJo is the one that's showing the biggest signs of evolving and changing with the times. While it's still early to judge Part 9 from only one chapter, The JOJOLands has already impressed by showing Araki's ability to never be repetitive and to adapt to the times, making this JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's most diverse part yet.