(Slight Spoilers for Jojoś Bizarre Adventures Part: 7)

With the release date for Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s seventh installment second stage inching closer, anticipation and excitement stir among fans of the ongoing manga and anime. Created in 1987 by author and illustrator Hirohiko Araki, “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” follows the story of the Joestar family and their Stra generational battle against greater evils. Each part of the story takes place in different time periods and showcases a different member of the Joestar family, starting with Jonathan Joestar in England during the 1880’s. 

The first six parts of JJBA chronologically tell the story in order; however, starting from part seven and beyond, we are introduced to a new continuity with an alternate universe. This acts as a soft reboot to the series, restarting the story from its beginning, with the reimagining of characters, themes and events of previous parts. Because of the lack of genre limitations, the series has been able to reach a diverse audience. It covers a wide variety of topics throughout each segment, ranging from romance to slice-of-life mysteries and action thrillers. 

Part seven is set in the golden age of the American Southwest and follows the story of Johnny Joestar, a selfish and arrogant ex-horse jockey who was paralyzed from the waist down due to an accident. He attempts to reclaim his life and former glory by entering a transcontinental race named the Steel Ball Run. Consisting of nine stages, the Steel Ball Run story arch focuses on Johnny and his growth from adolescence to adulthood. 

Unlike its previous parts, many of the themes of Steel Ball Run are mature, such as fatherhood, moral ambiguity and the relationship and bond between a father and son. One of the biggest themes demonstrated throughout the series is the concept of fate. Shown as both positive and negative in Steel Ball Run, the story highlights characters’ constant shift as they grow up and adapt, and the way they defy the pre-determined courses of their lives. 

As of now, the first episode of the anime adaptation has been released globally to the delight of many fans. It quickly rose to the second-highest rated anime and manga of all time, according to ¨My Anime List.¨ Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is not just a highly acclaimed series, but a celebration of life that is represented through its nine installments, each filled with a complex and uniquely delightful cast of characters.