El Aleph
Las extrañas aventuras de JOJO: El Aleph (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 無限の王, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken Mugen no Ō, lit. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Infinity King) is a light novel written by Junjo Shindo for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's 35th Anniversary. It was originally titled La Extraña Aventura de JOJO: rey infinito when published in JOJO magazine.
The series was announced in the February 2022 issue of Ultra Jump and was published in the Spring 2022 issue of JOJO magazine,[1] and later continued with additional chapters in the Winter 2022 issue.[2] The final arc released in the Winter 2023 issue on December 19, 2023.[3]
Set between Battle Tendency and Stardust Crusaders in 1973-1986, a research group from the Speedwagon Foundation is sent to Antigua, Guatemala under Lisa Lisa's orders to investigate the identity of a serial killer with an unknown power. Their investigation leads them to Fernando Alhorn, a gang leader who has been using the Arrow to amass his own private army.
A hardcover novel of the story compiling the three arcs will release on April 18, 2024. It includes a limited giveaway of acrylic keychains for 500 people using the illustration of Lisa Lisa on the cover.[4]
Summary
Guatemala Arc
The Lord of the Flies
In around November 1972, Lisa Lisa, now the head of the Paranormal Phenomena Section of the Speedwagon Foundation after being a special advisor for many years, dispatches a group of investigators to Antigua, Guatemala, to capture a serial killer with supernatural powers. After five months of investigation, the representative of the group, J.D. Hernández, sends a detailed report back to the Foundation's headquarters. All of the 27 victims were devout Christians who were shot in locked rooms with no evidence left behind. From the unusual circumstances surrounding the victims, J.D. theorizes that the serial killer has "invisible bullets", an ability that may be connected to the Ripple. They realize that the killer will most likely strike again during Semana Santa, Antigua's biggest parade of the year in April where the streets will be filled with holy iconography. J.D. enlists the help of two teenage locals, Octavio Luna Kan, and Joaquín Ruiz-Jorruda, to help him find the killer. Utilizing their network of informants on the streets, they successfully track down the serial killer, an indigenous man named Fabio Ubuh.
Octavio pins down Fabio in the plaza but the killer summons a massive swarm of flies, shooting Octavio in the shoulder and back. Lisa Lisa reveals herself, taking off her disguise as a homeless lady, and creates a massive electrified dome using the Ripple on leaves, flowers, and dyed sawdust from rugs. Dubbed "Thousand-Color Overdrive", the technique manages to stop all of the flies. Fabio attempts to summon another horde of flies from his throat but Lisa Lisa redirects them using her muffler. She grabs Fabio by the throat and fills his body with the Ripple, rendering him unconscious. She confirms that Fabio's ability is not the Ripple, but something else.
The Duo's Challenge
They eventually learn that Fabio has named his power "El Señor de las Moscas". Meanwhile, Octavio and Joaquín request Lisa Lisa to employ them as official members of the SPW Foundation. She denies at first, but gives them a challenge consisting of two tasks. After they pass the challenge using their multitude of skills, Lisa Lisa hires them. From both Fabio's testimony and the duo's investigation, a group of human traffickers seem to be connected with Fabio's newfound power.
A Game of Hopscotch
Accompanied by Lisa Lisa, Octavio, and Joaquín, the research group led by J. D. arrive at a small settlement where the human traffickers are rumored to be. A mysterious paranormal occurrence later recorded in the SPW Foundation's files as "Hopscotch" attacks them again, this time by a 15-year-old orphan named Izahela Mena-Mena, assisted by other children. After being placed under the protection of the SPW Foundation alongside the other children, Izahela reveals that a group of human traffickers led by an individual called Alhorn are indiscriminately shooting emigrants from Guatemala attempting to cross the border to Mexico with Arrows, exploiting the surviving victims for their new abilities.
In the briefing room for the research group later, Lisa Lisa recounts the magnitude 8.1 earthquake causing widespread crustal movement in the mountain ranges of Peru. Strangely the research body which attempted to conduct a geographical survey of this area were infected by an unidentified illness causing mostly death, but survivors exhibited unnatural bodily changes such as spontaneous combustion and electric discharge. Presumably, a pathogen which was hitherto confined underground was released. This virus derived from minerals may not be limited to just Peru; it may exist inside an earth-wide stratum. Moreover, the virus most likely encroaches the intrinsic soul and consciousness of humans to overwrite its very foundations. Lisa Lisa reveals she had been investigating this subject for many years, and alongside informed circles and researchers, have hypothesized that somebody who wished for the power of a perfect god had become aware of the existence of these minerals, and processed the ore into the shape of an arrow as a source of a transcendent virus metamorphizing human existence, awakening an ability of extraordinary power surpassing human understanding.
From the inherent nature of the Arrows, they have traversed the world and must have emerged even in battlefields and conflicts. Lisa Lisa states that it is now their duty to retrieve every Arrow in circulation under the SPW Foundation's administration. For the present, they will focus on capturing the subordinates of Alhorn and recover the Arrows they possess in Latin America.
Peru Arc
Dark Experimentation
Fernando Alhorn, born to a wealthy Peruvian oil and mining family, opted for the military over inheritance. He served in the Ecuadorian border conflict with the Agrupamiento del Norte's 33rd infantry brigade. Facing diseases like malaria and witnessing deaths, he traveled post-conflict, working various jobs from day laborer to geological survey assistant. Feeling hollow, he believed he heard an inner scream, which he later identified as his "alma gritando" when he turned 50.
In 1974, Alhorn visits Santa Rosa, staying at a house owned by Dos Santos. They stay for days, drinking and discussing the nature of war, murder, and the awakening of the "alma gritando". However, the house conceals a dark secret: the dead bodies of Dos Santos's pregnant sister and her husband. Alhorn had cruelly killed them with an Arrow, in a bid to awaken their powers. When Dos Santos finds them and also the corpses of his parents, Alhorn reveals that he is testing the link between bloodline or environment and the awakening of powers, since Dos Santos possesses a unique power. Having used the Arrow on numerous individuals, with a success rate below 20%, Alhorn crafted a selection criteria for potential subjects. As they leave the house, they're confronted by Santa Rosa police. Alhorn accuses Dos Santos of betraying him and is ordered to dispatch the police using his "Fantasma", displaying the might of his power.[5]
Tracking Down Alhorn
Octavio recounts his traumatic childhood, marked by the loss of his family, leading to his stay in an orphanage where he met Joaquín, a mute boy. Their bond was deep, with Joaquín being the only colorful memory in Octavio's otherwise monochromatic past. The two are now working undercover in San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru, as salvage dealers while actually gathering information for the Speedwagon Foundation. Octavio grumbles about the job, whereas Joaquín is more adaptable. They are not there for profit but rather intel.
The Speedwagon Foundation, known for its rigorous investigator training, had unique expectations for Octavio and Joaquín. Joaquín was the diligent one, thoroughly familiarizing himself with the Foundation's history and teachings. Octavio, less academically inclined, was more interested in learning the Ripple power, which was employed frequently by Lisa Lisa. The Foundation's research division, led by Welmer Domingo, gives a briefing on their investigation of the superpowered individuals they'd encountered in Guatemala. These individuals, when using their abilities, experienced distinct visions. Fabio saw an insectoid noble figure, while Izahela could summon magical chalk. The Arrow was identified as the catalyst for these powers.
The main suspect, Fernando Alhorn, had a criminal history and was now using the Arrow, potentially to create a paramilitary group. Aki Marcela de la Vega, an archaeologist, explains Alhorn's history and plays a recorded interrogation of Alhorn, where he describes a shadowy figure or "Fantasma" that he believed emanated from within him. Alhorn's cryptic words suggested he was aware of the Arrow's effects and might be experimenting on live subjects. Lisa Lisa reveals that two special Ripple-trained investigators, critical to the Foundation's future and her safety, had been near Alhorn but lost contact. Their last known location was in a "barriada," a dangerous, lawless area. Lisa Lisa stresses the need to locate them, asserting their crucial importance to the Foundation and the Ripple's legacy.[6]
Octavio and Joaquín venture into the barriada under the guise of salvage dealers. While there, they notice unusually aggressive behavior among the local cats. Octavio is ambushed by about ten thugs while Joaquín is away. Despite being initially overpowered, Octavio retaliates and subdues the attackers with precise strikes. A police officer arrives, but it becomes evident he's not there to help; he's involved with the ambush. When Octavio mentions the Arrow and Alhorn, the officer becomes tense, drawing his gun on Octavio.[7]
Negotiation Attempt
Using clever negotiation tactics, Octavio reveals information about Fabio and Izahela's powers, intriguing the officer enough not to shoot. Instead, the officer decides to take Octavio to, presumably, Alhorn. Unbeknownst to the officer, Joaquín had been observing everything from a concealed spot. Concerned for Octavio's safety, Joaquín pursues the departing patrol car on foot.[7]
Octavio is taken to a secretive, sprawling compound atop San Juan de Lurigancho by the corrupt policeman. The building seems to be Alhorn's hideout, an old factory turned maze-like fortress. Octavio almost betrays Lisa Lisa and J.D. by attempting to convince Alhorn to shoot him with the Arrow so he can gain powers in exchange for information. When Octavio hints that Alhorn could be a good archer, Alhorn declares how he plans to make war into a sport as privatized conflicts between mercenaries. Octavio tries to negotiate and gain insight into Alhorn's interest in the Arrow but is met with a terrifying display. Alhorn tortures prisoners, believing extreme pain and fear can awaken powers once hit by the Arrow. The three tortured men are revealed to be part of Mexican militia groups who had targeted Alhorn.
Alhorn demands details about Octavio's affiliations and threatens that he'll be next in line for the torture session. Before Octavio could try to flee, Alhorn's guards tackle him and he is imprisoned. In his cell, Octavio admits to himself that the situation is his own fault, but reveals that he stole the jailer's key before he was captured. He escapes, disguising himself in a soldier's uniform he finds in the compound's laundry room and navigating the fortress undetected. Discovering a high-security prison block, Octavio believes Alhorn's intended Arrow victims might be inside, including the two special agents of Lisa Lisa.
Out the window, Octavio spots a figure in the distance, which he believes to be Joaquín. He uses a glass shard to send a light signal in Morse code indicating the prisoners' location. Joaquín acknowledges with a flashlight response, confirming his presence and understanding of the message.[8]
Prison Infiltration and Escape
Joaquín attempts to infiltrate the southern building of the complex. Despite the building's intimidating height, Joaquín, confident in his climbing skills, begins to scale its exterior. However, he unexpectedly encounters a sticky, glowing substance on the wall, which activates when touched, turning the building into a trap. As the wall tilts perilously toward a deadly cliff drop, a haunting chant "Écue-Yamba-Ó" surrounds him. Struggling against the adhesive and barbed net on the wall, Joaquín uses his unique ability to heighten his senses in stressful situations, allowing him to maneuver with remarkable precision in the face of danger. He successfully manages to enter the building via a vent before the building fully tilts over.
Inside, he finds a room resembling a quarantine ward holding around 15 prisoners. Among them is Sasha Loggins, who identifies herself as a close associate of Lisa Lisa and a Ripple user. She communicates to Joaquín using pen and paper, revealing that many prisoners, including herself, were shot with Alhorn's Arrow to observe its effects. Many succumbed, including her partner Gustave Shaulo Messina. Sasha also mentions the presence of multiple evil spirits, suggesting Alhorn's intent to create an army of power wielders. Committed to updating Lisa Lisa on the situation and seeking escape, Sasha offers to assist Joaquín by acting as his "radar" using her ability to detect these spirits. Before they proceed, Sasha pays tribute to Gustave, vowing to return for his body.[9]
Sasha, using a cord made from the same material as Lisa Lisa's scarf, employs her Ripple Overdrive to neutralize guards in their path. As they assist able-bodied prisoners to evacuate, they unexpectedly run into Octavio. Dressed in camouflage, Octavio startles them with a loud greeting. He introduces a new complication by admitting he started a fire as a distraction, hoping to force Alhorn to flee with the Arrow. This action inadvertently turns the facility into a potential inferno when the flames reach a gas cylinder, causing an explosion. Amidst their escape, Sasha chastises Octavio for his thoughtless plan that endangered hostages. As they near the exit, they're ambushed by more guards. Octavio demonstrates his combat prowess by swiftly disabling the soldiers and seizing a machete. Sasha, using her whip and Ripple abilities, also efficiently takes down the adversaries.[10]
The Green House
Their escape route is obstructed by an army of soldiers and the formidable Dos Santos, known to Sasha as Alhorn's right-hand man and her captor. Upon confronting them, Dos Santos uses his ability, La Casa Verde, to turn their environment into a dense forest by accelerating the growth of underground plants. While Dos Santos can manipulate this vegetation, the main body of his power, the "Fantasma", is concealed deep within the woods. The group faces aggressive aerial roots that ensnare them. Although Octavio gets trapped, Joaquín aids in his release. As the vegetation onslaught persists, Octavio, despite possessing a talent to detect enemies' vulnerabilities, feels overwhelmed and discouraged.
Joaquín discerns that the forest has various root types, each serving a distinct purpose. He concludes that by targeting the respiratory roots, they might disrupt Dos Santos's dominion over the forest. Yet, conveying this to the team amid the chaotic environment proves tough. As Sasha tries to shield a child, both get trapped by the roots. Sasha loses hope and feels useless for being unable to protect her partner before and now the child. Suddenly, baby birds unexpectedly hatch from Sasha's hat. This peculiar event distracts Dos Santos, leading him to wonder if these birds are Sasha's power awakening. Concurrently, Octavio discerns that some roots are dormant and uses this insight to navigate through the forest, positioning himself to challenge Dos Santos directly.[10]
As day breaks, several cars led by Lisa Lisa arrive at the vine-covered citadel. The Speedwagon Foundation agents had been tracking Octavio and Joaquín, locating them through signals left by Joaquín. From a vantage point, Lisa Lisa and J.D. spot Sasha, Octavio, and Dos Santos enmeshed in the forest battle. Octavio grapples with Dos Santos, trying to choke him, but is impeded by the forest's roots. Simultaneously, Joaquín maneuvers the forest to help Octavio. Sasha spots Lisa Lisa below her and yells out about her new power letting her hatch unique birds. Lisa Lisa advises Sasha to use the Ripple on Dos Santos, but he is too far for her braided cord to reach. However, her birds manage to fly and attach the braid from Sasha to Octavio and Lisa Lisa. Despite the challenges faced by the birds, especially a determined toucan-like one, the connection is eventually established. With this link, Lisa Lisa and Sasha channel the Ripple into Octavio, which bypasses through him and then surges into Dos Santos, disabling him and halting the forest's aggressive growth. Octavio falls unconscious from exhaustion and is carried by Joaquín.
While heading back down to Lisa Lisa, Joaquín suddenly experiences intense pain. He turns around to see Alhorn at a distance in a truck, holding a crossbow. Both Joaquín and Octavio have been shot by the Arrow, changing their fates. Taunting them, Alhorn departs, hinting at seeing them again in the future. As Lisa Lisa, J.D., and Sasha hasten towards the duo, pain and the looming uncertainty of their transformed destinies cause Joaquín's world to fade to black.[11]
Eternal Night
Joaquín, in a semi-conscious state, continuously awakens to night. He's in the Foundation's infirmary, recovering from being shot by the Arrow. Joaquín senses a change in the staff's attitude towards him, feeling isolated and missing Octavio. Sasha assures Joaquín that he doesn't seem to exhibit any Fantasma like the one Dos Santos had. Lisa Lisa visits, sharing stories of her worldly humanitarian endeavors and expressing her ambition for future generations inheriting her legacy. Joaquín feels that he and Octavio are now intertwined with her narrative. However, Lisa Lisa reveals Octavio suffered an infection from the Arrow, leading to gangrene and a leg amputation in order to save his life. Visiting Octavio, Joaquín finds him changed, full of despair and envious about why the Arrow selected Joaquín instead of him.
Joaquín discovers his power from the Arrow: perpetual night when he's awake, which affects everyone near him, making them lethargic. Recognizing this uncontrollable curse, Joaquín decides to leave the Foundation so that he doesn't harm Lisa Lisa or the others. Octavio, despite his condition, insists on joining him. Both embark on a journey, avoiding human settlements due to Joaquín's power that darkens the environment and saps life. Octavio grapples with his lost limb, and they eventually paddle up the Amazon river in a rowboat, searching for isolation. In later years, the Speedwagon Foundation would dub Joaquín's ability as "El Aleph".[12]
Final Arc
Jungle Warfare
In 1986, a commander and his Guardia Civil soldiers from Peru undertake an unsanctioned operation to penetrate the Amazon rainforest near the Peru-Brazil border, targeting the Selva Cartel. The soldiers, equipped with rifles, grenades, and night vision gear, expect bonuses and promotions for disrupting the cartel's operations. They navigate by patrol boat, arriving at a cartel commune with extensive cocaine production facilities.
The Selva Cartel, comprised of various indigenous and mestizo members, senses their arrival using natural jungle alarms. Armed with invisible beings, they ambush the soldiers, who suffer bizarre, fatal attacks. Unable to retaliate or retreat, some soldiers are manipulated into attacking their comrades. Amidst the chaos, a soldier tries to flee but is assaulted by a lobster-like creature. A bandanaed cartel member taunts the dying soldier about how they don't even know what happened to them since they can't see these abilities. The soldier longs to see the sunrise before dying, but is told it will never come. The area around the commune experiences a constant night-like state, resembling a nuclear winter, which has altered the local ecosystem.[13]
Mansion Investigation
Sasha Loggins visits a neglected mansion in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The mansion is one of the last known bases of the elusive Fernando Alhorn, which is now in disrepair with graffiti and overgrown gardens. Alhorn has been inciting civil wars and disguising himself in various personas since the Foundation exposed his base in Peru. However, he disappeared in the early 1980s, so Sasha is continuing her search for him. Sasha employs her unique ability to control a flock of birds to search the mansion. These abilities have various names: "Monstruo" in Guatemala, "Fantasma" in Peru, and "Astral" by the Foundation. These birds, which she calls "El Obsceno Pájaro de la Noche," can interact with the environment and are even audible to non-ability users. She promises them a special treat if they can find clues quietly.
Sasha finds frescoes depicting brutal punishments and a puzzling alteration to a Biblical text, suggesting a denial of light's existence. The mansion's damage seems more like the aftermath of an animal rampage than mere neglect, leading Sasha to suspect Alhorn's mysterious ability might be involved. A bird leads Sasha to a hidden basement entrance behind a bookshelf. The basement, filled with a foul air and destruction worse than the upper floors, appears to have been a factory of unknown purpose. Amidst the chaos, she discovers human skeletons in various poses, including one with a severed neck bone and missing skull, suggesting violent events took place here.[14]
Blood Festival at Lake Titicaca
Lisa Lisa, now in her late nineties, awakens on a train journey through the Andes, reflecting on her past travels and numerous surnames. She has been known as Elizabeth Straizo, Joestar, and Greenberg. Greenberg was the surname of her second late husband, a Hollywood screenwriter. Lisa Lisa took care of him when he fell ill and needed chemotherapy, until he eventually passed away when Lisa Lisa was in her mid-seventies. She prefers to use the name "Lisa Lisa" out of all of them, since that is how she has been known for most of her journey. Lisa Lisa has aged a lot herself and feels weaker, fearing she will stop breathing soon.
At the train station, she is met by J.D. Hernández and other Foundation members, who are there to ensure her safety at the request of her son, Joseph Joestar. Hernández is concerned that Lisa Lisa still involves herself with the Foundation despite retiring, as she still secretly reads their reports. Nonetheless, he discusses the Selva Cartel with her to get her opinion on the situation. The organization is known for their night-time operations, drug trafficking, and influence in Brazil and Peru. The cartel is suspected to be led by Alhorn, as their group employs various powerful individuals, including Devo the Cursed and a foreigner with two right hands. So far, the Foundation has had limited success in capturing Alhorn, who has managed to escape from them three times while causing casualties. Lisa Lisa is haunted by the disappearance of two Foundation members, Octavio and Joaquín, and feels determined to continue her involvement in spite of her age to tie up that loose end.
The group travels to Lake Titicaca to meet a man named Pisco, who is living in isolation. Pisco is a young man who was one of Alhorn's prisoners they saved from his base in Peru. He is suffering from a painful ability called Yawar Fiesta, which creates clones of objects underneath his skin that have made contact with his skin or blood in the past. He cannot control it, so his body is now deformed from all the internal objects inside him. Suddenly, Yawar Fiesta possesses Pisco and warns Lisa Lisa that "El Aleph" will kill her. Pisco tells Lisa Lisa to leave, believing the Foundation can't help him. However, Lisa Lisa uses the Ripple which helps to alleviate Pisco's suffering. She encourages him to control his ability by explaining how the power is an extension of his soul. Thus, he succeeds in transforming his capabilities, expelling stones, a needle, and fish from his body. Before leaving, Lisa Lisa requests for him to recreate the Arrow that shot him in the past. Hernández and Pisco try convincing her not to, but Lisa Lisa refuses to run away without trying this as a last resort. She doesn't care if the Arrow kills her as she is near death regardless, so she is determined to do whatever they can try without sacrificing anyone else. Grateful to her, Pisco agrees to try creating it. He is successful and the miracle Lisa Lisa wished for comes true.[15]
Journey into the Amazon
Lisa Lisa, Sasha, Hernández, and the Speedwagon Foundation's team embark on a mission into the Amazon rainforest where it is eternally night. The environment was transformed by the absence of sunlight into a bizarre, dangerous jungle. As they ascend the Amazon River, the team, including archaeologists and geologists, speculates about the cause of the darkness, such as ash or mass hypnosis, but cannot conclude using conventional logic. In the jungle, they manage health and sleep vigilantly, with Lisa Lisa and Sasha maintaining their well-beings through the Ripple. The team includes the Rueda Squad, a modern combat unit trained in anticipation of battling against ability users. The group encounters challenges like altitude sickness and a worsening miasma. Lisa Lisa is monitored closely for her health but remains determined to keep up. Sasha calls back a bird who went scouting, and they follow it toward the commune.
Upon encountering the Selva Cartel's guards, Lisa Lisa tries to negotiate, asking to meet their boss. However, the guards are hostile and summon various Astrals, including humanoid, animal-like, machine-like, and unclassifiable figures, for an imminent battle. Despite the Foundation soldiers' training, they struggle against these Astrals. Sasha counterattacks with her flock of birds, forming a giant bird entity to protect the team and attack the guards.
As the battle intensifies, Lisa Lisa could not bear to see Sasha get hurt any longer. Since her Ripple is ineffective against the Astrals, she considers summoning her own Astral. However, the confrontation is halted by the arrival of Joaquín, revealed to be a high-ranking member of the cartel. Lisa Lisa and her team don't immediately recognize him as his features changed. He is now skinnier, has braided hair, has dark bags under his eyes, and a black mark resembling a dragon tattoo is coiled around his wrist. He sends out a chilling black wave at them. Although it drains their energy, it leaves Lisa Lisa and her group mostly unharmed. Lisa Lisa understands that Joaquín was demonstrating that the endless night is actually his power.[16]
The Cartel's Origination
Twelve years ago, Joaquín and Octavio embarked on a journey in a world of endless darkness, losing their sense of time. Joaquín struggled with circadian rhythm disorders and felt less human, relying on Octavio's voice to maintain his sense of self. They traveled through various landscapes, burdened by Octavio's phantom leg pain and Joaquín's guilt for being chosen by the Arrow instead of Octavio. Without a home, they headed east into the jungle, contemplating their past and seeking revenge against Alhorn. Living almost animalistically, they settled briefly in different places, including north of the Rio Branco as hunter-gatherers, and later near the Marañón River with a dying tribe. Their peculiar condition where night would follow them led to local legends portraying them as supernatural beings, devils, and vampires.
They eventually met a revolutionary from Ayacucho, who saw their eternal night ability as an asset for political upheaval. Despite initial reluctance, they joined him, drawn by shared indigenous identity and stories of conflict and suffering in South America. They became guardians of a coca leaf commune, using Joaquín's night power for protection. After the commune's owner died, they established the Selva Cartel. Joaquín and Octavio, now deeply entrenched in their roles, adapted to their new reality. Octavio used their earnings for a titanium prosthetic leg. Joaquín, consumed by darkness, embraced instinct and violence, accepting their fate in the unending night.[17]
Bittersweet Reunion
In the commune of the Selva Cartel, Lisa Lisa reflects on what she could do now considering the Selva Cartel's impact and her mission to neutralize the threat of the Arrow. Joaquín's appearance has also complicated the situation as she was hoping to just have to fight their leader and retrieve the Arrow. Lisa Lisa, Sasha, and Hernández have their arms bound and are under heavy guard, led by Joaquín deeper into the commune. They see that the residents in the commune have adapted to the perpetual night and it resembles a religious settlement. They are taken to a temple-like building and into a chamber where they meet the cartel boss.
Contrary to their expectations, the boss is revealed to be Octavio, not Alhorn. Octavio, now with long hair and a beard, casually dismisses concerns about his inhumane acts, justifying them as necessary for the survival of his community. He confronts the group with hostility, flaunting his prosthetic leg and asking if they came to apologize for chopping his leg off without permission. He reveals that he organized his army using the Arrow, leading to questions about how he acquired it from Alhorn.
Octavio then shocks them by showing the severed head of Alhorn, kept in a birdcage. He expresses a twisted gratitude towards the Foundation, admitting he allowed them to see him only because it was them. He appreciates that Hernández taught him and Joaquín a lot, and always thought Lisa Lisa was cool despite how old she was. However, he demands they leave his business alone. He also reveals that Alhorn had named Joaquín's night ability El Aleph, which surprises Lisa Lisa due to the prophecy she heard from Yawar Fiesta. The head of Alhorn is still somehow semi-conscious but decaying. He greets Lisa Lisa and asks her if she can persuade Octavio to put him out of his misery. Octavio uses Alhorn's state to demonstrate his control over the former gang boss. Alhorn still claims to be a king, but Octavio dismisses his assertions. Octavio then encourages Alhorn to narrate their past encounter, with Alhorn agreeing as it's all he can do in his current state.[18]
Heart of Darkness
Alhorn narrates his past encounter with Octavio and Joaquín. He was running an illegal firearms factory in Salvador, selling to guerrillas, when Octavio and Joaquín approached under the guise of a business deal. However, Alhorn quickly realized their true intent was revenge. Alhorn killed several of Octavio's guards using his guns to prove that they work, provoking them to summon their Fantasmas. He thought they didn't do anything, but it suddenly got dark outside. Alhorn then summoned his own Fantasma, El Corazón de las Tinieblas, a muscular Inca warrior-like figure.
El Corazón attacked Joaquín, who seemed to communicate non-verbally with Octavio and defend himself with dark spots on his body, hinting at his own Fantasma. Alhorn then targeted Octavio, grotesquely transforming his body due to El Corazón's ability to swap parts of objects and organisms. Octavio's body parts were rearranged in a horrific manner; his blood vessels were swapped with his body hair, and his hand and finger bones were swapped with his teeth. He continued grotesquely deforming Octavio to torment him, swapping his right ear with his left toe, his left collarbone with his kneecap, his left leg with his right arm, and his right eighth rib with his left sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Alhorn then chased Joaquín through the mansion with El Corazón attempting to trap him by swapping walls around to create a labyrinth. Suddenly, Octavio, despite his injuries, managed to stab Alhorn using his prosthetic leg. Octavio thanked Alhorn for making it easier to stab him since his prosthetic leg was now his arm. Alhorn realized the duo were telepathically communicating somehow. He tried to recall El Corazón, but it was attacked by a dark beast summoned by Joaquín. As Alhorn's head was severed, he used El Corazón's power to swap his heart with his cheekbone, keeping him alive as a disembodied head. The effects on Octavio ceased, and El Corazón disappeared, leading Alhorn to believe it was due to the loss of his body. Octavio then confronted Alhorn, demanding the location of the Arrow.[19]
The Aleph
Sasha accuses Octavio of essentially becoming Alhorn's successor by creating an army with the Arrow's power. Octavio views the Arrow as essential for survival in a world where individual superpowers can rival armies. Lisa Lisa sees parallels between Octavio's path and others who succumbed to evil, including her foster father, Straizo. Octavio commands Joaquín to use his power, El Aleph, against the group. Joaquín refuses at first but succumbs to pressure and reluctantly releases a dark orb. A coccoon falls from it, which spawns numerous nightmarish, blind creatures that attack indiscriminately, causing chaos in the temple.
Sasha discovers these creatures are vulnerable to the Ripple after getting her blood drained from one creature, and she and Hernández manage to escape with her birds' help. Alhorn is ecstatic in the chaos, hoping the creatures will eat him. Meanwhile, Lisa Lisa confronts Octavio and Joaquín on the half-destroyed rooftop of the temple. Considering El Aleph's creatures are devouring most of his guards, Octavio knows that he'll have to rebuild the organization again. He suggests to Joaquín that they leave the jungle and hold a siege in the city. Despite Lisa Lisa's attempts to connect with them, Octavio remains focused on his power and authority.
Lisa Lisa challenges them to a match with her Astral, The House of Earth. It is a powerful close-range ability, which surprises Octavio considering Lisa Lisa's age. However, Lisa Lisa declares that it is the strength of her soul. Several creatures swarm from below the rooftop, piling up on top of each other and lifting the ground up to form an arena. Sasha and Hernández arrive while carried by the birds. Sasha reveals to Lisa Lisa that the creatures are weak to the Ripple. Grateful for that weakness, Lisa Lisa uses The House of Earth to generate a solar wind that she infuses with the Ripple to wipe out most of the creatures, though they constantly multiply. Her technique is the culmination of the Ripple technique, and she sees the faces of past warriors flashing in the wind like her memories flashing before her eyes.
While Octavio roars upon seeing his creatures being destroyed, Lisa Lisa reveals that Joaquín is actually Octavio's Astral, created unconsciously to be a friend. Joaquín is shocked by this revelation, realizing his existence is tied to Octavio's desires. He thinks back to when he first became Octavio's friend, understanding he was just manifested in the darkness at the Hill of the Cross near Octavio's orphanage. Lisa Lisa believes that Octavio must have learned the fact at some point, even if he didn't know when he was younger. Joaquín feels angry toward Octavio for forcing him to commit evil deeds and for not telling him about his true identity earlier if he knew. Despite his newfound self-awareness, he continues to protect Octavio.
Octavio dismisses Lisa Lisa's words, clinging to his aspirations. Lisa Lisa wishes that her final moments will be graced with the smiles of her loved ones, including Octavio and Joaquín. Yet, she acknowledges this as just a fantasy, unlikely to become reality. A giant crane-fly like creature attacks the ground, causing both her and Octavio to nearly fall off a cliff. Joaquín saves Lisa Lisa, while Octavio narrowly avoids falling. When Octavio tries to kick Lisa Lisa off the cliff again, Joaquín intervenes, protecting her. Octavio is shocked that Joaquín is betraying him, but their bond is still unbreakable. The House of Earth pauses its wind and attacks Octavio with a barrage of punches, but Joaquín shields his user, taking the blows. The punches cause them to fall into the abyss where El Aleph's creatures lurk, leaving their fate uncertain.
Lisa Lisa uses all of her remaining Ripple energy with The House of Earth's solar wind to wipe out the remaining creatures on the cliff, including the giant crane-fly creature. However, she reaches her physical and mental limits and collapses. Before losing consciousness, she urges Sasha and Hernández to save Octavio and Joaquín. As the night caused by El Aleph fades, the sky is highlighted by a colorful aurora caused by the effects of The House of Earth's solar wind. Morning finally arrives in the jungle, marking the end of the endless night.[20]
Epilogue
After returning from the Amazon, Lisa Lisa's story concludes in the Speedwagon Foundation's records. She survived a bout with malaria, which had her teetering between life and death. Choosing to live in a sanatorium, she enjoys solitude, nature, and memories of her past. The Selva Cartel's operations are shut down by the Guardia Civil. The fate of Octavio and Joaquín remains officially unrecorded, but their memory persists among those involved. Moreover, Sasha and Hernández secured Octavio's arrow and stored it in a concealed location.
Joseph and Lisa Lisa's daughter-in-law, Suzi Q, visit her a few months after she moved into the sanatorium, bringing a brief resurgence of her spirit. Suzi Q notes Lisa Lisa's deteriorating physical condition, while Joseph reassures her, believing in his mother's resilience despite her weakened state. Lisa Lisa claims that Octavio and Joaquín have visited her a couple of times, though Joseph doesn't know if she means in dreams or not. She and Joseph discuss the emergence of extraordinary powers worldwide, including his own abilities. His thorny vines and spirit photography have revealed DIO's revival. He also talks with his mother about the Star Birthmark and all sorts of topics. Lisa Lisa believes there is nothing she can do about DIO in her current state.
Joseph contemplates the terminology for these powers, considering a new term since 'las Maravillas' and 'Astral' doesn't resonate with him. Lisa Lisa suggests 'Friends', inspired by Octavio and Joaquín, though Joseph finds it too mellow. The mother and son have an emotional parting, with Joseph preparing to travel to Japan. He hugs his mother tightly, reluctant to say goodbye, and she reassures him that it's okay.
In her solitude, Lisa Lisa reflects on the world's transition to a new era led by younger generations, including her descendants. While Joseph heads to the airport, he listens to a Ben E. King song on his Walkman. He would later name the power a "Stand", inspired by his mother's story. Lisa Lisa falls into a peaceful sleep, unaware of the challenges and adventures that await Joseph.[21]
Characters and Stands
Gallery
Novel cover with obi strip
Lisa Lisa on the cover of the second arc
Lisa Lisa on the cover of the final arc
Ultra Jump February 2022 Announcement
Store exclusive postcard featuring Lisa Lisa
Ultra Jump December 2022 Advertisement
Ultra Jump December 2023 Advertisement
Trivia
- The new Stands featured in this short story are named after novels (Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar, Écue-Yamba-O by Alejo Carpentier, The Green House by Mario Vargas Llosa, The Aleph by Jorge Luis Borges, The Obscene Bird of Night by José Donoso, Yawar Fiesta by José María Arguedas, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, and The House of Earth trilogy by Pearl S. Buck) as opposed to their names being music-related like most Stands, or being based off of films like in JORGE JOESTAR.
- The Speedwagon Foundation investigators in South America call the power awakened by the Arrows "la Maravilla" (
驚異の力 ).[22] Before being called a "Stand", the vision or physical form of the abilities is referred to as a "Monstruo" (怪物 ) in Guatemala, a "Fantasma" (悪霊 ) in Peru, and an "Astral" (幽体 ) by the Speedwagon Foundation.[14]
Notes
- ↑ Combined page count of the Guatemala (30 pages), Peru (35 pages) and Final (38 pages) arcs.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vish (January 15, 2022), "Lisa Lisa, Iggy, and Avdol Will Star in Two New JoJo Spin-Off Short Stories", JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Vish (November 16, 2022), "JOJO Magazine: Golden Wind Novel, rey infinito Part II, and Manga Techniques Sequel Announced", JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vish (October 18, 2023), "JOJO magazine 2023 WINTER Releases in December With New Novels and Manga", JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Vish (March 18, 2024), "Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan’s 5th Short Story Collection and rey infinito Novel Release in April", JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia.
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 4: IV - Peru Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 5: V - Peru Arc
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 El Aleph Chapter 6: VI - Peru Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 7: VII - Peru Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 8: VIII - Peru Arc
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 El Aleph Chapter 9: IX - Peru Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 10: X - Peru Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 11: XI - Peru Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 12: XII - Final Arc
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 El Aleph Chapter 13: XIII - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 15: XV - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 16: XVI - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 17: XVII - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 18: XVIII - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 19: XIX - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Final Chapter: Epilogo
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 1: I - Guatemala Arc
