Parallel World

In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, the concept of alternate universes, realities or dimensions has been a reoccurring theme periodically introduced throughout the later portion of the series. Originally conceptualized as the premise behind certain Stand abilities, the idea surrounding the existence of such universes has become one of the prominent features of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

SPOILER WARNING: Part 1-8 spoiler details may follow.

Stand Abilities

Cream

Vanilla Ice's Stand, Cream is able to devour itself and its user to become a void that devours everything it comes in contact with. Vanilla describes it as a dimension of darkness, though he is unsure himself where exactly the objects are sent to. While in this dimension, Vanilla and his Stand are invulnerable to attacks.

The Hand

Okuyasu Nijimura's The Hand is similar to Cream, able to erase whatever space its right hand touches. Okuyasu states that not even he knows where the voided objects go, but it seems the objects are eliminated like an extremely sharp blade had sliced clean through them. This ability allows the normally short-range Stand extreme distance in its attacks, as it can simply remove the air between itself and a target to bring them within range.

Made in Heaven

• Fromonetoanother.jpg

  From One Universe...

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  ..To Another

Made in Heaven increases the speed or rate of the flow of time; achieved through its ability to control the gravitational forces of the earth, moon, and seemingly the entire universe (in reference to aspects of the theory of relativity).

As time continues to travel, the universe will hit a "vanishing point", and a new universe will be created, where everything repeats itself, according to "fate". The Stand's user may then alter the characteristics of the universe and the fates of the people in the recreated universe and create the perfect world they desire.

In the story, just after Enrico Pucci's death at the hands of Emporio Alnino and the Stand Weather Report, the universe completes a second cycle. In this renewed world, characters of seemingly very similar identities to Jolyne, Ermes, Anasui and Weather Report fortuitously gather in Emporio's proximity. However, the characters now have different names such as Irene and Annakiss, along with different lives and memories.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

President Funny Valentine's Stand, D4C allows different parallel worlds/dimensions to co-exist at the same time and/or in the same place. It also allows its user to visit these parallel worlds/dimensions and interact with them. Valentine travels by being closed between two objects, shown first by the use of a door against a wall. This method allows practically anything to travel between dimensions, including other people. Valentine takes advantage of this towards the end of Steel Ball Run to bring forth Diego Brando from Another Universe to aid him.

Steel Ball Run Universe

The Steel Ball Run universe (SBR universe) is an alternate world within the setting of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Its name is derived from the first story set in this new world, Steel Ball Run. It also encompasses the successor to SBR, JoJolion. There exists a number of names, events, roles, personalities and relationships appearing in Steel Ball Run and JoJolion similar to those appearing in the original timeline.

Importantly, Hirohiko Araki has not stated whether the universe shown at the end of Stone Ocean is the SBR universe or an altogether different one; and he indicates in the All Star Battle guidebook that Diamond is Unbreakable and JoJolion are parallel worlds not linked in time or space, and that their respective characters will never meet each other in the manga, including both Josukes and Rohan.

Steel Ball Run

Steel Ball Run, set in 1890, like Phantom Blood in 1880, follows Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, characters with a number of ostensible similarities to Jonathan Joestar and Will Anthonio Zeppeli. Johnny is learning the Spin, a mystical power comparable to the Ripple, from Gyro, an Italian expert in the art, similar to Will.

JoJolion

JoJolion is set in the year 2011 and follows amnesiac Josuke Higashikata, named after Josuke Higashikata of Diamond is Unbreakable, as he searches for clues to his identity in Morioh, a town named after and located in the same place as the setting of Part 4. Along the way he discovers ties between himself and Yoshikage Kira, named after the primary antagonist of Part 4.

Alternate Counterparts

In the Steel Ball Run universe, there are many characters who reference characters in the original universe in some way; some closely, by the similarities to their roles in their respective stories, while others share only a few distinctive traits or experiences. In some cases, several characters share traits with a single character from the original universe, while others superficially similar to a previous character may harbour stark differences.

Morioh, the town serving as the location of Part 4, is similarly reincarnated in JoJolion.

The following represents a provisional list of those characters with obvious similarities.

Original Characters Compared to Steel Ball Run/JoJolion Characters

Original Characters	SBR/JJL Characters	Similarity
Jonathan Joestar	Johnny Joestar	Name, Main protagonist, Certain life events
William Anthonio Zeppeli	Julius Caesar Zeppeli	Surname, Nationality, Ally, Mystic arts, Mentor to Jonathan/Johnny
Caesar Anthonio Zeppeli	Julius Caesar Zeppeli	Name, Nationality, Ally, Mystic arts, Friend of Joseph/Johnny
Diavolo	Funny Valentine	Main antagonist, Similar fate, Position, Possession of arrows/Corpse parts.
Robert E. O. Speedwagon	Mountain Tim	Ally, Scar on face
Erina Pendleton	Rina Higashikata	First Name, Relationship to Jonathan/Johnny
Erina Pendleton	Lucy Pendleton	Maiden Name
Dio Brando	Diego Brando	Name, Appearance, Nationality, Certain life events, Rival to Jonathan/Johnny
Dio Brando	Diego Brando from another universe	Name, Appearance, Nationality, Personality, Antagonist, Certain life events, Rival to Jonathan/Johnny, Stand (appearance/function)
Danny	Danny	Name, Pet to Jonathan/Johnny
Will's Father	Gregorio Zeppeli	Name, Nationality, Relation to Will/Gyro
George Joestar I	George Joestar I	Name, Relation to Jonathan/Johnny, Favoritism toward Dio/Nicholas
Rudol von Stroheim	Fritz von Stroheim	Name, Appearance, Nationality
Muhammad Avdol	Urmd Avdol	Name, Appearance, Nationality
Kars	Magent Magent	Similar fate
Poco	Pocoloco	Name
Koichi Hirose	Sandman	Stand function
Koichi Hirose	Yasuho Hirose	Name, Ally
Josuke Higashikata	Josuke Higashikata (JoJolion)	Name, Main protagonist
Josuke Higashikata	Norisuke Higashikata IV	Birth Name, Son of Tomoko
Josuke Higashikata	Josefumi Kujo	Appearance, Raised by single mother, Saved by a stranger as a child
Joseph Joestar	Josefumi Kujo	First name
Jotaro Kujo	Josefumi Kujo	Surname, Goal of saving Holy
Jotaro Kujo	Yoshikage Kira (JoJolion)	Son of Holy, Marine Biologist/Marine Surgeon
Yoshikage Kira	Yoshikage Kira (JoJolion)	Name, Personality, Stand (appearance/most functions)
Holy Kujo	Holy Joestar-Kira	Name, Illness, Daughter of Joseph
Okuyasu Nijimura	Kyo Nijimura	Surname, Younger sibling
George Joestar II	George Joestar II	Name, Son of Jonathan/Johnny, Saved by their fathers
Yukako Yamagishi	Karera Sakunami	Ally, Stand function

Trivia

• Araki conceived the idea of the alternate universe present in Parts 7-8 towards the end of Stone Ocean's serialization. Likening the concept of a series returning to its roots to the Italian Renaissance.
• Other minor characters share small traits with past characters; for example, Andre Boom Boom demonstrates the ability to stuff his entire ear into his earhole, like Giorno Giovanna.