Star Birthmark
The Joestar Birthmark (ジョースター母斑, Jōsutā Bohan) is a distinct, five-pointed, star-shaped mark appearing in the region of the back of the left shoulder or close to the neck on all JoJos or individuals of or in certain ways connected to the Joestar bloodline.
It was introduced in Stardust Crusaders and becomes an important plot device in later events during Stone Ocean. The anime incorporates the birthmark earlier, depicting Jonathan Joestar and Joseph Joestar with it.
History
Original Universe
The origin of the Joestar birthmark is unknown, but within Phantom Blood onward, every member of the Joestar family bears the birthmark. At the end of Phantom Blood, Dio Brando murders Jonathan Joestar and takes over his body. Through this process he inherits the birthmark but rests at the bottom of a sea for a century. Later, in 1983, DIO reawakens after escaping his coffin. He travels around the world, and impregnates multiple women with his children. Importantly, Giorno Giovanna, the protagonist in Vento Aureo.
The birthmark is only formally introduced in Stardust Crusaders by Joseph Joestar to Jotaro Kujo. With DIO's reawakening, the special connection he gained through Jonathan's body puts Holy Kujo in-danger, so they set out to destroy DIO.
At some point before these events, Joseph Joestar has an affair that results in Josuke Higashikata; who as a part of the Joestar family, inherits the birthmark.
In Stone Ocean, the birthmark becomes integral once again. Jotaro Kujo's daughter Jolyne Cujoh faces off against an eccentric priest, Enrico Pucci. During the events of Stone Ocean, Pucci fuses with the Green Baby and gains the birthmark, as the homunculus partially originated with DIO's Bone. His brother, Weather Report also receives the mark; and as twin brothers, they connect and affect one another in the same way DIO does Joseph, Holy and Jotaro in Stardust Crusaders.
At the end of the story, Emporio Alnino enters the new universe. Where he discovers Irene, a woman nearly identical to Jolyne, shockingly possesses the mark.
Steel Ball Run Continuity
Like the original universe, the origin of the birthmark is unknown but all members of the Joestar family bear it. The protagonist Johnny Joestar, who sets out on a perilous race, has the birthmark like the rest of his family (though it is never depicted).
Later on, in Jojolion, the protagonist Josuke Higashikata's bears the birthmark through seemingly unknown means. It is eventually revealed that he inherited this birthmark through a locacaca fusion of Yoshikage Kira, and Josefumi Kujo. Kei Nijimura, Kira's sister, bears the birtmark along with Josefumi, however his connection with the family is currently unknown.
The Joestar birthmark plays into Josuke's usage of the Spin, as the bubble comes out through it.
Properties
Original Universe
Common within other families in the story, the birthmark allows members of the Joestar family to sense each-other supernaturally and affect each-other. This special connection causes the events of Stardust Crusaders, as DIO's reawakening causes the Holy's stand to reawaken and put her life in danger.
These properties pop up often, as Joseph and Jotaro are capable of sensing DIO's presence in Cairo. In Stone Ocean, the supernatural connection transfers injuries to other members of the family. When Jotaro carves a message onto his arm, Jolyne recieves the same injury.
Steel Ball Run Continuity
In the Steel Ball Run continuity, the birthmark possesses no such supernatural ability. Though it does open important mysteries within Jojolion.
Characters
- Albeit they haven't been depicted visibly with the birthmark, it may be assumed that George Joestar I, both the original universe and Steel Ball Run universe George Joestar II, Donatello Versus, Johnny Joestar, Nicholas Joestar, George Joestar III, and Holy Joestar-Kira all have the birthmark as well, as they are JoJos, Joestars, or members of DIO's progeny.
Gallery
- Joestar Birthmarks anime.png
In anime.
In OVA.
Jonathan Joestar (Phantom Blood (film))
Trivia
- Both Jonathan and Joseph Joestar didn't have the Joestar birthmark until Stardust Crusaders, but it was later included in the anime.
- Johnny Joestar is the only JoJo thus far that has not displayed a mark.
- Josefumi Kujo is the only character who has a birthmark whose connection to the Joestar family is currently unknown, as he does not appear on the Higashikata family tree in Family Tree.
- There is an error in Hirohiko Araki JoJo Exhibition 2012 showing Lisa Lisa with the birthmark, even though Lisa Lisa came from a different family and is not biologically related to the Joestar family.
