The hit anime Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has become a pop culture phenomenon, especially in recent times. Starting its run in the '80s, Jojo is an anthological series, with each part focusing on a different member of the Joestar family, covering a broad range of genres, styles, and themes.
Being as varied as they are, each part hits and misses for fans in different ways. There are varying levels of entertainment value of the protagonist, their supporting cast, their antagonist(s), and their encounters with some of the best and worst stand abilities along the way.
Part 1: Phantom Blood
Some have said that pilot episodes tend to be the worst of any series due to the fact that it's finding its footing, and the sentiment applies here. Araki’s take on Fist of the North Star feels very proto Jojo. It has some hints of Jojo’s defining strangeness and a few quotable moments but is undeniably seen as the weakest part amongst fans.
The main character, Jonathan, while an important jumping-off point for the rest of the series, is a somewhat bland hero archetype whereas Dio is entertainingly malicious as the villain. Ultimately, Phantom Blood doesn’t have quite the deliciously strange abilities, gimmicky encounters, or triumphant turnabouts that come later in the series. All that being said, there are many reasons for not skipping Part 1.
Part 3: Stardust Crusaders
Stardust Crusaders is what put Jojo on the map, so to speak, and its main character, Jotaro Kujo is possibly the most iconic of the Joestar clan. So much so that he’s made repeat appearances in other parts. What’s more is he’s in the part that introduces Stands, which have come to define the series. As popular as it was for its time, its reputation makes it a bit overrated.
There are a few stand encounters that are enjoyable as the Crusaders face off against Dio’s minions across Egypt, and the Jotaro vs Dio fight is a classic Jojo Battle. But, the series takes some time to get there, not every encounter is a hit, and there are odd plot points like Anne being part of the crew for a bit and not having anything to do, or Avdol returning and acting like a different character.
Part 2: Battle Tendency
This follow-up to Part 1 has arguably the most entertaining lead character in Jojo. In a reversal from Phantom Blood where Jonathan was the classic, upstanding gentleman heroic type, Battle Tendency’s Joseph is more of a trickster, using misdirection and psychological manipulation to defeat his opponents.
This characterization adds tension to fights, as Joseph is typically never stronger than his opponent and has to outwit them in some way. The Pillar Men, as villains, are satisfying antagonists in their own right. Wammu and Kars are stand-outs, and Kars is especially entertaining towards the end when he achieves his ultimate form. The supporting cast, however, is a bit lacking as they tend to be the straight-person trope for Joseph to bounce off.
Part 6: Stone Ocean
Being a new release on Netflix and not yet finished, it’s hard to say for sure exactly where Stone Ocean ranks. But Jolyne, the daughter of Jotaro, so far is a great protagonist and it’s clear she takes after her father in some respects. Her stand ability is mechanically interesting, as she can shoot string from her body and wrap it around things at a great distance, and she uses it in creative ways. It’s also a unique visual to watch her body unravel into string like a ball of yarn unspooling.
Ermes Costello, F.F., and Weather Forecast are strange and interesting companions, though with Weather Forecast, Araki appears to have taken the ‘it just works’ approach when it comes to his abilities. There have been a few glimpses at the villain, Father Pucci who is sufficiently menacing in his quest to avenge Dio. In terms of the future of Stone Ocean, Manga readers have complained about the stand fights in particular, saying that the stand powers were a bit too bizarre, even by Jojo standards, making some fights difficult to follow.
Part 5: Golden Wind
Golden Wind’s protagonist, Giorno Giovanna, has an excellent character design with little interesting characterization especially compared to the other Jojos. Additionally, his stand ability, Gold Experience, is a bit strange and difficult to wrap one’s head around. While the villain, Diavolo, is entertaining, he doesn’t appear until closer to the end of the series, and similar to Giorno, his stand, King Crimson, has an at times confusing ability to follow in fights. Where this part of the series shines, however, is its cast of characters.
The Gang-Stars as they are called are a ragtag bunch with their own quirks and motivations, and their stand abilities each are interesting and make for dynamic encounters with the rival Squadra Esecuzioni gang throughout. Some fans have even argued that Bruno is the true main character, leading the group to overthrow the boss. For as little as Giorno has going on, the Gang-Stars pick up the slack and make Golden Wind truly remarkable.
Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable
The first half of Diamond is Unbreakable has a charming, pseudo-slice-of-life feel to it as it follows Josuke and crew going to high school in the small town of Morioh. Josuke is a simple enough protagonist, slightly dumb but occasionally clever in fights, and at times quick to rage. His stand, Crazy Diamond, has the ability to break things apart and put them back together, which makes for some engaging fights. The supporting cast includes Okuyasu and Koichi, as well Rohan and Jotaro from Part 3 for a time, and these characters all have good chemistry and bounce off each other in fun ways.
Halfway through, the slice-of-life vibe changes to a cat-and-mouse game, with arguably the best villain in the series, and one of the most underrated Anime villains, Yoshikage Kira. The serial killer with a stand that can dispose of evidence and witnesses has frequent run-ins with the crew, and his motivations are delightfully evil and sinister. In terms of protagonist, supporting cast, stand fights, and villains, Diamond is Unbreakable ticks all of the boxes in a satisfying way.