Crazy Heartbreakers
Crazy Heartbreakers (クレイジー
It is published by Shueisha and released on June 19, 2023. It was announced in the May 2023 issue of Ultra Jump on April 19, 2023.[1] A manga adaptation of Kadono's story was illustrated by Tasuku Karasuma from December 2021 to May 2023.
Set between Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable in 1999, Hol Horse leaves from Egypt. He was once a subordinate of DIO and the Stand user of Emperor. Now working as a private detective, his goal is to find a bird that DIO had kept. Heading to Japan, as indicated by Boingo's prediction, Hol Horse ends up encountering a young boy named Josuke Higashikata. This is a story of those who are searching for what they have lost.
Summary
Prologue
In 1988, Egypt, a teenage boy is with his younger cousin in an alley in the southern downtown area of Luxor. The boy, Noriaki Kakyoin, just pushed his cousin into an alcove of a building. She tells him that she's afraid, but he warns her not to leave or show her face. The boy goes back onto the street, where he is confronted by an inhuman creature named DIO. DIO praises Kakyoin's ability as a Stand user. Upon Kakyoin's confusion, DIO explains how he named the term based on how the guardian spirits stand by their users. Kakyoin instinctively realizes that DIO's Stand is much more powerful than his and the anxiety makes him feel like vomiting. DIO approaches him and calms him down with a soft voice before implanting him with a flesh bud. The young girl starts crying but suddenly hears a strange noise; in the night sky, she sees a parrot flying.
Dire straits
In March 1999, in Cairo's "Wilson Phillips Street," Hol Horse, who is now a private detective, is confronted by a bold young boy who warns him not to proceed further down the street. Hol Horse scares the boy away and enters an illusionary labyrinth controlled by Kenny G., which used to be a mansion belonging to DIO. There, he meets Mariah, and learns that the Oingo Boingo brothers are staying in Room 4U. Oingo is impossible to communicate with due to his sadness from being betrayed by a girl, so Hol Horse drags out Boingo from his hiding place. From Boingo's Tohth, Hol Horse learns that his destination will be in M Prefecture, S City, Japan.
In Morioh, Ryoko Kakyoin visits the grave of Noriaki Kakyoin, her deceased cousin. She feels downhearted about the Kakyoin family's ancestral tomb's planned relocation due to urban redevelopment. As she contemplates her life, she stumbles upon Boingo's comic book on the ground, which catches her attention.
Meanwhile, Hol Horse arrives in Morioh and experiences a culture shock as he encounters unfriendly locals. While facing a perilous situation with a possessed driver, he is saved by Josuke Higashikata, a boy with a bizarre hairstyle. The two have an initial misunderstanding where they assume each other were responsible for the car accident. However, after Hol Horse threatens to shoot Josuke's heart rather than his head so as to not mess up Josuke's cool hairstyle, Josuke compliments Hol Horse's cowboy appearance, leaving the latter bewildered.[2]
Dazed date
In the past, Oingo and Boingo were born with Stand abilities and faced abuse from their parents due to being creepy. They ran away from home when Boingo was five years old and became town informants. Eventually, Telence T. D'Arby introduced them to DIO, who encouraged them to use their powers for him. DIO examined Boingo's comic book, but it failed to predict anything about the vampire, with all its pages simply saying "Useless" in distorted characters.
In the present, Boingo feels dazed without his comic book. Sitting in a corner of S Station, he feels useless and avoids interaction with people. He eventually introduces himself to Ryohei Higashikata, who he is able to communicate with in Japanese using his Stand's ability to understand any language. Meanwhile, Hol Horse and Josuke converse on their way to S Station, speaking about Hol Horse's various girlfriends around the world and the reason why he keeps a toothpick in his mouth. When Hol Horse asks Josuke why he's so particular about his hairstyle, he claims he doesn't need a reason. When they reach the station, the staff tells them that Boingo already left with Ryohei. Hol Horse also explains to them that he is looking for a parrot.
Ryoko also arrives at the station and witnesses an altercation with a biker gang. They harass an old woman, accusing her of scratching their leader's motorcycle. Guided by Tohth's predictions, Ryoko gets involved in between them. The gang insults her hairstyle, which she twists to her advantage by tricking Josuke, who was behind her, into thinking they were insulting his hair. Josuke severely beats them up with his Stand and then heals them afterward. The scratch on the motorcycle is also healed, which resolves the situation. Ryoko and Josuke engage in a conversation about their hairstyles, as she proudly explains to him that her hairstyle is "Kakyoin Hair".
At the police station, Ryohei learns that the driver involved in the car accident was a police inspector named Hiraoka. He leaves Boingo alone with a young police officer named Kazuki Karaiya, who struggles to communicate with him. Boingo notices that Karaiya is disappointed when he receives the report about Hiraoka being fine and that there are no victims from the accident. Moreover, the officer quietly sings to himself "Sing, sing, Ultimate Singer". Boingo sits in fear until Ryohei returns, and eventually shares his story about how he lost his comic book. Ryohei confirms that Boingo has a room at the hotel and steps out again. The other officers gossip about Ryohei's past about how he never got promoted despite his dedication to his job. Meanwhile, Karaiya shows interest in the comic book that Boingo mentioned.[3]
Dissonance
Ryoko reflects on the pages she saw in Tohth, which portrayed a caricature of herself as "Ryon-Ryon," fixated on her late cousin and her obsession with uncovering the mystery of his death and its connection to DIO. Ryoko feels tense talking to Josuke because of his powerful ability and short temper, but keeps her composure, knowing she must interact with him to uncover more information. Tohth tells Ryoko that she'll have to teach Josuke a lesson, slapping him and kicking him, in order for the first hint to appear. When Josuke misnames her cousin as "Norimaki," Ryoko reacts angrily, slapping and kicking him as instructed by Tohth. Josuke encourages her outburst, using it as an opportunity to lighten her mood. He reveals his Stand cannot heal his own injuries and compliments Ryoko's choice to honor her hero through her hairstyle, asking if he could "borrow" that reason for his own hairstyle.
Hol Horse reflects on his pursuit of the parrot named Pet Sounds, recalling its original trainer who weaponized the birds Pet Sounds and Pet Shop under DIO's orders. However, the trainer tried fleeing from DIO and was killed. After DIO was defeated, Pet Sounds was returned to the trainer's mother, only to be stolen recently. Hol Horse took on the task of recovering it after the bird trainer's mother begged him to. Inside the police station, Hol Horse learns that Boingo already informed them of the situation and that his comic book went missing. Suddenly, Hol Horse finds himself pointing Emperor at one of the officers, unable to control his body. He realizes that this is an attack from Pet Sounds's Stand. The ability replays Hol Horse's encounter with DIO from ten years ago, when he thought of rebelling and nearly shot the vampire. He almost shoots the police officer under the Stand's influence, but a reflection of a green traffic light on the cop's button triggers a sudden memory of Kakyoin using "Emerald Splash" on Polnareff to save him. This frees Hol Horse's body, allowing him to escape the Stand's grip. The police officers are puzzled by Hol Horse's strange behavior, but Hol Horse excuses himself, vowing to continue his mission. Meanwhile, an onlooker nearby is frustrated by the attack failing.
When Josuke heads to the station to find Hol Horse, he encounters a group of possessed women wielding knives and attacking passersby, declaring their devotion to DIO. Josuke spots Hol Horse on the ground, stabbed in the back and bleeding from his head. Josuke confronts the women, weaving a far-fetched story about his hairstyle inspired by a hero who saved him and asking them what they think about it. Using his Stand, Josuke neutralizes the attackers and erases evidence of the battle. He heals Hol Horse's injuries and insists they flee before the police arrive. Ryoko arrives at the scene after the dust settles and consults Tohth once again. The book advises her to take a detour and find a metaphorical "fuse" to ignite, hinting that this will lead her closer to the truth.[4]
Descent on
Boingo recalls that his Stand was named "Tohth" by Telence Trent D'Arby, DIO's butler, who categorized Stands in DIO's group after Egyptian gods. His method diverged from Enya the Hag's tarot-based naming tradition, reflecting the rivalry between the two wanting to be DIO's closest confidant. The name "Tohth" emerged when Telence observed the comic book's changing title and heard Boingo's murmured suggestion, inspired by whispers he would hear from the book itself. Reflecting on Tohth in his hotel room, Boingo questions whether the Stand truly belongs to him or if it is an external entity he was entrusted with. Memories of his parents trying to sell the comic, only for it to mysteriously return, reinforce his belief that Tohth will always find its way back to him. Boingo fixates on Tohth's final prophecy: that he would "graduate" from being DIO's minion, leaving him uncertain if he remains bound to DIO's influence or if the Stand is attempting to escape its own connection to the late vampire.
Hol Horse and Josuke discuss their situation while staying on guard for Pet Sounds's next move. They analyze the Stand's ability to replay voices that trigger individuals to reenact past actions. Josuke proposes ways to counter its auditory attacks, including loud singing, leading to a humorous exchange about their music tastes. As they talk, the shadow of Pet Sounds passes overhead, signaling the parrot's imminent assault. Meanwhile, Ryohei overhears a bizarre incident involving knife-wielding women but finds no evidence of violence. Hol Horse and Josuke face Pet Sounds's Stand, which recreates the soundscape of helicopters in Egypt attacking freedom fighters. The auditory illusion induces panic as a group of kindergarten children and their teachers try fleeing the park. At the same time, they are suddenly fired at with crossbow bolts. Josuke uses his Stand to heal a child struck by a crossbow bolt while evading further attacks. Seeing Pet Sounds in the foliage, Hol Horse overcomes his fear and shoots the bird with Emperor. The sound ceases, and the parrot falls into a river, leaving Hol Horse physically and emotionally drained.
Josuke pursues the attacker who rigged an automated crossbow to target them. Josuke destroys the device and uses his Stand to restore a screw, which leads back to the military scope the attacker had in his pocket, screwing itself back in. The man, Koji Kiyohara, is a university student with a twisted thrill-seeking nature, viewing cruelty as his right as a "special" individual. Josuke's Stand violently incapacitates him, believing that people who hurt others and laugh about it while hiding behind safety are the worst kind of people. Hol Horse arrives to the scene and notes Koji's unnaturally warped body caused by Josuke's Stand. Ryohei is already there, pulling out bolts from Josuke's hair and teasing that his hairstyle is probably what saved him from getting shot in the head. Hol Horse is surprised about their bond, especially considering Josuke didn't react angrily about getting his hair insulted by his grandfather. Meanwhile, Koji is taken into police custody. In the patrol car, the officer Kazuki Karaiya cryptically questions Koji, revealing that he had only let Koji go free at some point so that Koji could be useful to him. Koji notices that Karaiya's earlobe is missing a piece of it, as if it got eaten by the beak of a bird. His elbow then bumps into a caged parrot in the back seat that stares at him intently before playing a voice. Moments later, the car briefly swerves, hinting at further manipulation by Pet Sounds.[5]
Disquietude
Ten years ago, Ryoko returned home to find her family mourning the sudden death of her cousin, Noriaki Kakyoin, whose body was discovered in Egypt. Confused and overwhelmed, Ryoko reflected on their family trip to Egypt five months earlier, arranged by a travel agent later revealed to be connected to DIO. During the trip, Ryoko got lost in Luxor but was rescued by Noriaki. However, they became trapped in an unnatural Stand-created maze. Noriaki used Emerald Splash to break through the labyrinth, but DIO intercepted them. To protect Ryoko, Noriaki hid her and faced DIO alone, only to be implanted with a flesh bud, falling under DIO's control. Though he seemed normal afterward, Ryoko noticed a sinister change in him. Three months later, Noriaki ran away from home and was killed fifty days after. Haunted by these events, Ryoko spent the next decade consumed by unanswered questions about her cousin's death.
Staying with her aunt Mitsue in S-City, Ryoko listens as Mitsue nostalgically describes Noriaki as a good but troubled boy. While Mitsue romanticizes his tragic death, for Ryoko, the pain remains raw and unresolved. Despite her aunt's comments about her maturity and academic achievements, Ryoko hides her true intentions, feigning interest in sightseeing while determined to uncover the truth behind Noriaki's fate.
After Koji's arrest, Ryohei reflects on the unnatural state of the young man, who reacts to eye contact with panicked screaming. Sensing something lurking behind the scenes, Ryohei encounters Boingo sitting alone in a park. Boingo hesitates to search for his missing comic book, following Hol Horse's warnings to stay uninvolved. Ryohei encourages him to share his concerns, explaining that police officers are trained to listen to even the strangest stories. Trusting Ryohei, Boingo reveals the comic's ability to predict the future and explains that Hol Horse left earlier in the morning with someone from town. Ryohei suspects the person might be Josuke. Meanwhile, Josuke takes Hol Horse to the town's main street to avoid complications of Hol Horse meeting Ryoko. Josuke probes Hol Horse about his past, directly asking if he knew Noriaki Kakyoin. Hol Horse's shocked reaction confirms Josuke's suspicions, leading him to speculate that unresolved issues involving Kakyoin could resurface due to Hol Horse's presence. Spotting Ryoko at a nearby café, Hol Horse notices her bangs resemble Kakyoin's, but before he can act, Josuke seals him inside a dumpster using his Stand to prevent further interference.
While Ryoko was walking and looking at a map, a man sitting at the café spoke to her, wondering if she was on a trip. Though initially appearing as an ordinary salaryman, the man's detached demeanor and fixation on her hands unsettled Ryoko. His cryptic remarks became even more unnerving when her ankle inexplicably froze, preventing her from leaving. A gust of wind nearby broke the tension, and the man became visibly disgusted upon seeing her short fingernails. Before she could process his strange reaction, a loud noise across the street caused by Josuke trapping Hol Horse disrupted their interaction, allowing her to regain mobility. Josuke greets Ryoko cheerfully. Relieved by his presence, Ryoko glances back at the café, only to find the man had vanished, leaving behind a half-drunk cup of coffee. Ryoko wonders if Josuke's short temper might be the "fuse" Tohth mentioned but doubts her ability to provoke him. She expresses interest in meeting Hol Horse, but Josuke deflects with outlandish excuses, claiming Hol Horse fled town after a confrontation with an ex demanding marriage. He dismisses the parrot's death vaguely, further hinting that he is hiding the truth. Sensing she won't get answers by pressing him, Ryoko accepts Josuke's offer to tour the town. Meanwhile, an early-morning jogger notices someone spying on Ryoko and Josuke. The jogger was not suspicious of the person, but mistrusted Ryoko and Josuke instead, assuming the observer could be trusted since it was a police officer.[6]
Double doubt
This section requires expansion.
DIO
This section requires expansion.
Diamond
This section requires expansion.
Appearances
Chapters
Crazy Heartbreakers
クレイジー
June 19, 2023[1]- Dire straits (凶運の境界, Kyōun no Kyōkai)
- Dazed date (騒乱の遭遇, Sōran no Sōgū)
- Dissonance (頓狂な音響, Tonkyō na Onkyō)
- Descent on (強硬な強襲, Kyōkō na Tsuyo tai)
- Disquietude (不穏で不安, Fuon de Fuan)
- Double doubt (表裏の背理, Hyōri no Hairi)
- DIO (邪悪の化身, Jāku no Keshin)
- Diamond (砕けぬ意志, Kudakenu Ishi)
Novel/Manga Differences
Expand/Collapse All
- The novel begins with a poem from "Behind the Scenes" by Polish poet Cyprian Kamil Norwid. The Japanese translation of the poem ends with the phrase "like an unbreakable diamond" (砕けないダイヤモンドみたいな, kudakenai daiyamondo mitai na).
- The novel has a prologue beginning with the full flashback of Noriaki and Ryoko Kakyoin seeing DIO, whereas the manga only starts with Ryoko seeing Pet Sounds and later shows a glimpse of DIO. The full flashback is only shown in the manga's eighth chapter.
- The prologue introduces Josuke Higashikata and mentions that his Stand, Crazy Diamond, would not be named until after the story ends.
- Every chapter begins with a quote of Rohan Kishibe from his Pink Dark Boy manga.
- The manga begins with a flashback of Hol Horse speaking with the parrot owner. In the novel, this is only in its fifth chapter. Moreover, the manga states that Pet Sounds somehow disappeared even though its cage was still shut. In the novel, the cage was stolen as well.
- The novel adds details about "Wilson Phillips Street". Instead in the manga, Hol Horse has three watches and compares the time on them to a clock tower.
- In the novel, the guide boy calls Hol Horse a Yankee to which Hol Horse responds that he isn't American. This is omitted in the manga.
- In the manga, Hol Horse shoots a guy's potted plants when giving Kenny G. a signal, which scares the boy away. In the novel, Hol Horse shoots into the path where he tried entering rather than shooting into the sky. The boy only runs away screaming after Tenore Sax makes Hol Horse disappear.
- The novel adds dialogue about Hol Horse asking Mariah whether the electric shutter is powered by Bastet.
- Hol Horse mentioning that he's heard Kenny G. lost a lot of weight and looks like a hermit is omitted in the manga.
- Oingo and Boingo's room number (Room 4U) is omitted in the manga.
- Hol Horse entering Room 4U and seeing Oingo crying about being dumped by a girl is omitted in the manga. Instead, Hol Horse just asks Mariah if he was dumped.
- The narration about Kenny G. and Mariah turning DIO's mansion into a safe house is omitted in the manga.
- Hol Horse finding Boingo hiding in his closet is omitted in the manga.
- The manga adds Mariah getting angry at Hol Horse and turning him into a magnet. After he runs away from darts, she jokingly claims she was teaching him a lesson for taking advantage of Boingo in the past.
- The manga shows Tohth's dialogue in the pages saying they have to go to Morioh.
- The narration about Ryoko's school-life and being bullied by her peers over her hairstyle is omitted in the manga.
- In the novel, Ryoko wanted to tell Noriaki about her getting into university, but she doesn't after learning about the Kakyoin family's ancestral tomb being relocated to a distant location. In the manga, this is omitted and she mentions getting into university.
- The manga adds a conversation of Ryoko speaking with her mother on the phone before finding Tohth. In the novel, she chases after Pet Sounds and trips when she finds the book. The manga adds her walking past Hol Horse when she takes the book.
- Hol Horse comparing Japan to Egypt and India is omitted in the manga.
- Hol Horse feeling annoyed that Oingo didn't come with them is omitted in the manga.
- The manga adds Hol Horse calling some schoolgirls "oshins", referring to a Japanese drama.
- A child being excited after seeing Hol Horse's cowboy outfit and her mother pulling her away is omitted in the manga.
- The manga adds Hol Horse comparing himself to Mariah and how he feels he still fears DIO.
- In the manga, Hiraoka already runs over civilians before heading toward Hol Horse. In the novel, Hiraoka is about to drive into the sidewalk, but Hol Horse shoots the car, making it drive toward him so it doesn't hit the children.
- In the novel, Hol Horse mentions the word "Stand" as soon as he meets Josuke. In the manga, he only mentions it after Josuke beats up Yuya's acquaintances.
- In the manga, Josuke initially gets angry about Hol Horse mentioning his hairstyle. In the novel, Hol Horse bluffs about shooting Josuke's heart rather than his head, to spare his cool hairstyle. This makes Josuke immediately think of Hol Horse as his friend.
- In the manga, Josuke calls Hol Horse "big brother" (兄貴, aniki), but not in the novel.
- The manga adds Hiraoka flying toward Josuke and Josuke healing him. Hiraoka also vomits on Josuke's shoes.
- The manga adds Josuke healing everyone who got hit on the sidewalk.
- The manga adds the civilians thinking Josuke and Hol Horse caused the accident and Josuke yelling at them.
- The manga adds Hol Horse running away from Josuke and Josuke trapping him by turning the asphalt under him into liquid.
Gallery
Cover Art Sample
Announcement in Ultra Jump May 2023
Ultra Jump June 2023 Advertisement
The cover of Crazy Heartbreakers with a promotional obi
Back cover with a promotional obi
Trivia
- In addition to Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable, Crazy Heartbreakers references all parts of the original JoJo's Bizarre Adventure continuity: Will Anthonio Zeppeli's letter to Tonpetty (Phantom Blood), a vampire of Kars is the grandfather of Kazuki Karaiya (Battle Tendency), Polnareff asks Hol Horse if he knows anything about Italy (Vento Aureo), and Hol Horse rescues pregnant women from DIO's mansion who are implied to be the mothers of DIO's children (Stone Ocean).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Vish (April 18, 2023), "Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak Ends in May 2023", JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia.
- ↑ Crazy Heartbreakers Chapter 1: Dire straits
- ↑ Crazy Heartbreakers Chapter 2: Dazed date
- ↑ Crazy Heartbreakers Chapter 3: Dissonance
- ↑ Crazy Heartbreakers Chapter 4: Descent on
- ↑ Crazy Heartbreakers Chapter 5: Disquietude
