Want to get into JoJo's Bizarre Adventure but intimidated by the length of the series? Here's a guide on the viewing order.
Whether you start with the manga or watch the anime is up to you depending on your preference, though I would recommend both.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a manga written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki since 1987. It spans eight parts, with the ninth one currently on-going. The anime is made by David Production and started in 2012.
1. Phantom Blood
- Manga: The series begins on Chapter 1 with Part 1: Phantom Blood. It follows Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando and takes place in the 1880s. It has 44 chapters.
- Anime: The first 9 episodes of Season 1, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, covers Phantom Blood.
2. Battle Tendency
- Manga: Part 2: Battle Tendency begins on Chapter 45. It follows the grandson of Jonathan, Joseph Joestar, and takes place fifty years after Part 1 in 1938-1939. It has 69 chapters.
- Anime: The remaining 17 episodes of Season 1 (Episodes 10-26 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) cover Battle Tendency.
3. Stardust Crusaders
- Manga: Part 3: Stardust Crusaders begins on Chapter 114. It follows the grandson of Joseph, Jotaro Kujo, and takes place approximately fifty years after Part 2 in 1988-1989. It has 152 chapters.
- Anime: Season 2, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, covers Part 3 in 48 episodes.
Some sites may split this season into two seasons, with the first season titled "Stardust Crusaders" and the second season titled "Stardust Crusaders: Battle in Egypt". Battle in Egypt covers Episodes 25-48 of the season.
4. Diamond is Unbreakable
- Manga: Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable begins on Chapter 266. It follows the illegitimate son of Joseph, Josuke Higashikata, and takes place ten years after Part 3 in 1999. It has 174 chapters.
- Anime: Season 3, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, covers Part 4 in 39 episodes.
5. Vento Aureo (Golden Wind)
- Manga: Part 5: Vento Aureo begins on Chapter 440. It follows the illegitimate son of DIO, Giorno Giovanna, and takes place two years after Part 4 in 2001. It has 155 chapters.
- Anime: Season 4, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, covers Part 5 in 39 episodes.
For the following parts, the chapter numbers are reset at the start of each part and begin their numbering at Chapter 1. The chapter count from Part 6 and onward will stop adding on from the last chapter in the previous part.
6. Stone Ocean
- Manga: Part 6: Stone Ocean begins on Chapter 1 (595). It follows the daughter of Jotaro, Jolyne Cujoh, and takes place ten years after Part 5 in 2011. It has 158 chapters.
- Anime: Season 5, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, covers Part 6 in 38 episodes.
Part 6 is the last part to be set in the original universe. The following parts are set in an alternate universe. The events in Parts 7-9 are disconnected from parts 1-6 events. However, there are some references, such as character name references, Stand references, and location references.
The following parts are not yet animated.
7. Steel Ball Run
- Manga: Part 7: Steel Ball Run begins on Chapter 1 (753). It follows Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, taking place in 1890 in another universe. It has 95 chapters, and 3 extra chapters.
During Part 7, the manga switched magazines to Ultra Jump and became monthly. As a result, each chapter is much longer.
8. JoJolion
- Manga: Part 8: JoJolion begins on Chapter 1 (848). It follows Josuke Higashikata, taking place in the same universe as Steel Ball Run, but over 121 years later in 2011. It has 110 chapters.
9. The JOJOLands
- Manga: Part 9: The JOJOLands is the currently ongoing part, beginning on Chapter 1 (958). It follows Jodio Joestar and Dragona Joestar, the grandchildren of Joseph Joestar, and takes place around a decade after JoJolion.
Craving more? There are several spin-offs related to the series.
JoJo-Related One-Shots By Araki
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan is a spin-off series created by Araki, featuring Rohan. The series has random episode numbers but does not have to be read in the order of the numbers. The order listed below is based on release order. However, it does not really matter what order you read these spin-offs in.
Episode 16: At a Confessional
- One-Shot: Episode 16: At a Confessional was the first Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 1997.
- OVA: An OVA adapting the one-shot released on March 25, 2020.
Episode 2: Mutsu-kabe Hill
- One-Shot: Episode 2: Mutsu-kabe Hill was the second Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 2007.
- OVA: An OVA adapting the one-shot released on July 19, 2018.
Rohan au Louvre
- One-Shot: Rohan au Louvre is a one-shot manga written by Araki and released in 2010. It does not have the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan title in its name, but official sources consider it an episode of the series.
Kishibe Rohan Meets Gucci
- One-Shot: Kishibe Rohan Meets Gucci is a one-shot released in 2011. It does not have the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan title in its name, but is included in the first volume of the spin-off and considered an episode of the series by official sources.
Episode 5: Millionaire Village
- One-Shot: Episode 5: Millionaire Village was the third Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 2012.
- OVA: An OVA adapting the one-shot released on September 20, 2017.
Episode 6: Poaching Seashore
- One-Shot: Episode 6: Poaching Seashore was the fourth Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 2013.
Episode 4: The Harvest Moon
- One-Shot: Episode 4: The Harvest Moon was the fifth Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 2014.
Episode 7: A Rainy Monday
- One-Shot: Episode 7: A Rainy Monday was the sixth Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 2015.
Episode 8: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
- One-Shot: Episode 8: Deoxyribonucleic Acid was the seventh Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 2017. It was originally titled as Episode 9: D.N.A but changed in the volume.
Episode 9: The Run
- One-Shot: Episode 9: The Run was the eighth Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in 2018. It was originally titled as Episode 10: The Run but changed in the volume.
- OVA: An OVA adapting the one-shot released on March 25, 2020.
Episode 10: Hot Summer Martha
- One-Shot: Episode 10: Hot Summer Martha was the ninth Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in March 2022.
Episode 11: Drip Painting Style
- One-Shot: Episode 11: Drip Painting Style was the tenth Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan spin-off released, in April 2022.
Besides Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan there are two other one-shots set in the world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Deadman's Questions
- One-Shot: Deadman's Questions is a one-shot that released in 1999. The story follows the day-to-day life of a vagabond spirit trying to find happiness by performing assassination requests.
There is also a non-canon spin-off written by Araki featuring Jolyne Cujoh as the protagonist along with some characters from Part 5.
Jolyne, Fly High with GUCCI
- One-Shot: Jolyne, Fly High with GUCCI is a one-shot that released in 2012. The characters do not have the same roles as they had in the main series and it is set in its own continuity.
Spin-Offs by Other Manga Artists
Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak
- Manga: Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak is a manga starring Hol Horse and Josuke Higashikata which takes place a month before Part 4 and started releasing on December 2021. It was written by Kouhei Kadono and illustrated by Tasuku Karasuma. It features Hol Horse travelling to Morioh to search for a missing parrot, and coincidentally meeting Josuke Higashikata who allies with him.
A novelization for the manga is also written by Kadono. It has the same Japanese name, but it's called Crazy Heartbreakers in English.
Fujiko's Bizarre Worldly Wisdom
- One-Shot: Fujiko's Bizarre Worldly Wisdom -Whitesnake's Miscalculation- is a one-shot by Sho Aimoto that released on December 2021. It features Jolyne Cujoh meeting with an artist named Fujiko Fujiyama whose ability can control the mental state of others.
Toshikazu Hazamada's Questionable Adventure
- One-Shot: Toshikazu Hazamada's Questionable Adventure is a one-shot by Kyosuke Usuta releasing on December 2024, starring Toshikazu Hazamada.
Light Novels
There are several light novels related to JoJo that are not written by Araki but he has illustrated covers and some images for them. As a result, they are considered non-canon by most of the community, although the canonicity of these novels has never been brought up by Araki. The order you read these in are completely optional. These have not been officially released in English but most have fan translations available.
The Genesis of Universe
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (subtitled The Genesis of Universe in the Italian release) is the first light novel related to JoJo. It released in 1993. It takes place during Part 3: Stardust Crusaders.
GioGio's Bizarre Adventure II: Golden Heart, Golden Ring
GioGio's Bizarre Adventure II: Golden Heart, Golden Ring is the second light novel related to JoJo, released in 2001. It takes place during Part 5: Vento Aureo.
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is an unreleased light novel started being written around 2001, which got reworked into The Book ~jojo's bizarre adventure 4th another day~. It is a sequel to Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable.
The Book jojo's bizarre adventure 4th another day
The Book ~jojo's bizarre adventure 4th another day~ is the third light novel related to JoJo, released in 2007. It is a sequel to Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable.
Purple Haze Feedback
Purple Haze Feedback is the fourth light novel related to JoJo, released in 2011. It is a sequel to Part 5: Vento Aureo, featuring Pannacotta Fugo as the protagonist.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Over Heaven
JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE OVER HEAVEN is the fifth light novel related to JoJo, released in 2011. The book is written and presented as the lost transcript of DIO's Diary from Part 6: Stone Ocean.
JORGE JOESTAR
JORGE JOESTAR is the sixth light novel related to JoJo, released in 2012. The book features characters from Parts 1-7, mainly focusing on George Joestar II, Lisa Lisa, and Jorge Joestar (a character from the 37th universe in the novel).
El Aleph
El Aleph is the seventh light novel related to JoJo, initially publicated in the JOJO magazine with all three arcs releasing in hardcover format in 2024. Set between Part 2: Battle Tendency and Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, a research group from the Speedwagon Foundation is sent to Guatemala under Lisa Lisa's orders.
Iggy the Stray Dog
Iggy the Stray Dog is the first stand-alone short story related to JoJo, released in 2022. It is a prequel to Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, disclosing the first time Iggy and Muhammad Avdol met.
testimone di gangster
testimone di gangster is the second stand-alone short story related to JoJo, released in 2022. It is a prequel to Part 5: Vento Aureo, featuring Squalo and Tizzano as they carry out their first Passione mission together.
There's No Love Like a Parent's
There's No Love Like a Parent's is the third stand-alone short story related to JoJo, released in 2023. It is a prequel to Part 5: Vento Aureo, in which Melone is assigned to assassinate a film director.
My Prized Hook and Line
My Prized Hook and Line is the fourth stand-alone short story related to JoJo, releasing in December 2024, starring Pesci and Prosciutto.
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: Short Story Collection
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: Short Story Collection is an anthology of short stories based on the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan series releasing since 2017.
Other Adaptations
JoJo was also adapted by other companies in the forms of OVAs and films. These are optional to watch.
Phantom Blood (Film)
Phantom Blood is a film produced by Studio A.P.P.P. adapting the first part of the series. Unfortunately, it was never released to home video after its limited theatrical release. However, there are some videos of it on our wiki page.
Phantom Blood (Musical)
Phantom Blood is a musical performed in 2024 adapting the first part of the series.
Stardust Crusaders (OVA)
There are two OVA series by Studio A.P.P.P. which adapt Part 3: Stardust Crusaders. In total, it is 13 episodes with lots of cuts and changes to the source material.
Diamond is Unbreakable (Film)
There is a live-action film adapting Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable. It covers up to the fight against Keicho Nijimura.
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan (TV Drama)
There is also a live-action mini-series adapting Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan along with centain arcs from Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable and short stories.