JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

    (Viz, 2005-2010)
™ and © 1986 Hirohiko Araki
Black and white series; read right to left.

When Japanese punk Jotaro Kujo (aka “JoJo”) thinks he’s “possessed by an evil spirit,” his grandfather educates him about his family’s secret history and how the power of The Stands (external manifestations of their internal powers), which they control, is tied to an immortal monster named Dio who wants to destroy them all.

This series is legendary among manga fans and, after reading Vol. 1, it’s clear just how influential it’s been to a generation of Japanese artists, its themes popping up in fighting series as varied as Shaman King and Yu-Gi-Oh! With expectations running this high, the manga could easily have been a disappointment, but JoJo more than lives up to its reputation.

First, there’s the wonderfully idiosyncratic art. It’s odd, ugly, and takes getting used to but, along with being like nothing else, it’s perfectly suited for the gruesome monsters and bloody battles. Then there’s the lead: a surly, petulant, unrepentant thug who’s mean to his mother, yet manages to make being a street brawler look glamorous.

— S. A. Bennett
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