JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 8: JoJolion

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Jojolion is probably going to go down as the most controversial part of Jojo. It has the most complex part of Jojo by far and therefore has the most missteps of any part by far. There are quite a few plot points that are "dropped" throughout the story of the part and while some people won't mind that, some will.

There are also some other story decisions, espcially in the later half, that are GOING to be a deal breaker for some people.

Not only that, but it was also the first jojo part that was released monthly with the western audience so there was a ... HEAVY level of scrutiny and theorizing throughout the parts run which warped people's view of the part when things went the way they did.

AND THEN it also came after the inarguable most loved and praised part of Jojo in the west, part 7. So going into it expectations were super high.

I personally think the good outweighs the bad but that is only if you have a certain mindset going into Jojolion.

Jojolion is a story about identity and purpose through the eyes of the main character, Josuke. It's his story. If you buy into his story and journey, and look at the entire part in this way, I think you will like Jojolion.

Jojolion has some of THE HIGHEST highs in the entire series while also having some of the biggest, inarguable, flops, and I say this as a 100% jojolion and Jojo apologist. That's why it feels so much worse for some people when the things that have been problems throughout the series rear their head in the worst possible way in this part of Jojo, even though nothing about araki's writing style has changed.

It's a 10/10 at what it tries to do but if you were expecting something else it will feel much worse.

(this is a quick review, I didn't really feel like going into huge detail about every point I make)

Honestly, the part isn't that bad, it's just the fandom that really gets to me. I hate how everyone who has read this part seems to think that this is the best part ever. This part is very bland, it takes out all of the life that Morioh had in part 4. It tried to do what part 5 did with its main villain, except instead of it being some big important figure it was just some guy. All of the side characters were extremely unlikable ... besides the dad of the family. The main Jojo is leagues worse than OG part 4s Josuke. The main villain's stand is overhyped to shit. The ending is as cheesy as "It was friendship all along." A good amount of the stands are lame. There are no big "hype" moments that Jojo is well known for, and the one time there is about to be one you are practically cock blocked. The story does not know what it wants to be with a constant change in the mood every chapter. The whole main point of this part was to figure out Josukes main identity which is a decent concept that was executed so unbelievably poorly. You find out about 98% of Josuke's identity in the first 30 chapters or so, and afterward, it's clearly evident that Araki does not know where to go with the story.

Jojolion is a mystery-focused manga, which may sound standard for the JoJo series since most parts revolve around mysteries in one way or another. However, in Jojolion, mystery is meant to be the central driving force of the entire story, as the main character’s goal (at least at the beginning) is to solve one. Josuke Higashikata is an amnesic man found buried near a strange phenomenon known as the Wall Eyes, where he is discovered by Yasuho Hirose, who becomes invested in helping him uncover his identity. This premise is genuinely engaging during the first few volumes, but Jojolion quickly runs into a major issue: ... once the novelty of its setting and mystery wears off, the story struggles to remain interesting.

After the initial worldbuilding, the narrative fails to properly develop or resolve many of the mysteries it introduces, often acting as if they never mattered. The bite marks associated with the Wall Eyes, for example, are set up as an important mystery but are never explored again. Yasuho is initially implied to have gained her Stand from them, yet later it is revealed that she has had her Stand her entire life. Similarly, Norisuke Higashikata, who takes Josuke in, is shown early on thinking that he will kill Josuke someday. This idea is completely abandoned, as he later becomes a kind, morally upright character who insists that killing is never the right path.

This pattern extends to the supporting cast. Interesting characters like Daiya and Kyo Nijimura are effectively discarded after their introductions, despite having some of the most creative and memorable Stand fights in the part. Kyo disappears for most of the story, only returning briefly near the end, while Daiya is reduced to an unimportant background character. This is especially disappointing in a story centered on memory and identity, considering Daiya’s Stand revolves around stealing memories, an ability that could have played a much larger role. After volume 4, truly compelling Stand battles become increasingly rare, which is a major flaw given that Stand fights are one of JoJo’s greatest strengths and the reason why most people might be compelled to read it in the first place.

As the story progresses, its original focus on uncovering the truth gradually shifts toward the Locacaca fruit, which can heal any injury or illness through equivalent exchange. While this is an interesting concept on its own, it feels redundant, as it heavily overlaps with themes already explored in Steel Ball Run, particularly fate and the flow of calamity. In Jojolion, this idea returns in full force, with the main villain, who appears abruptly and lacks a compelling personality possessing an ability tied to controlling this flow. Once again, the protagonist counters it with a new power based on infinity, mirroring the resolution of Part 7. Although the final confrontation is handled in a relatively clever and satisfying way, it doesn’t change the fact that what began as a story about memory, identity, and belonging ultimately devolves into yet another JoJo narrative centered on fate and calamity.

The art also noticeably declines as the story goes on. While I’ve never been especially attached to Araki’s art style, the early volumes of Jojolion use darker shading and more grounded facial designs that perfectly match the mysterious tone of the story. This visual identity quickly fades, replaced by uninspired character and Stand designs. The worst example is the main villain, whose design is surprisingly dull—something that is almost unheard of in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. When combined with the many inconsistencies and lackluster fights, Jojolion, despite its occasional high points, ultimately cannot be considered a good manga.

It is very obvious that Araki, the author ended up making Jojolion go another way than what he originally had planned but when looking at the earlier volumes one cant help but ask himself what could have been of Jojolion if he hadnt ? could Jojolion had been better, could it have been genuinely good ?