The Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure the series has been running for over 35 years, telling the stories of various members of the illustrious (if cursed) Joestar bloodline. The series has changed a lot over the years, adding new mechanics and elements to the story, and trying out a variety of protagonists and story genres along the way. While every part of the story has its merits, there’s no denying that some are a bit more interesting than others.
The ranking of different parts of Jojo will determine which one best represents the entire series. The weirdness and annoyance that sometimes comes with it, the unpredictable power and abilities the characters wield, the quality of the plot, and the characters that make up each part are all important things to consider when rating Jojo.
9 Land of JoJo
The JoJoLands is the most recent, considered the ninth installment of the series. It doesn’t seem fair to automatically rank it last, but the fact of the matter is that there isn’t enough content yet to really rate it fairly against the others. JoJoLands has been interesting so far, with crime protagonist Jodio having a very different tone of voice than his predecessors. The JoJoLands’ ranking will most likely improve as it continues to grow and more people know about its characters and story, but for now, it should still be at the bottom of the list, if only to be fair to previous installments.
8 demon blood
The first part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure may well be one of the weakest. The conflict between Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando is only one-sided, with Dio being so evil that he literally kicks a dog in the first few pages of the story. Jonathan is also a brilliant hero, so shining that he is unfortunately a bit boring, especially compared to his descendants. Phantom Blood also lacks the Stand ability, which wasn’t created until season 3, but has become a symbol of the entire series. That’s not to say Phantom Blood is bad, but it doesn’t quite capture everything that makes Jojo…Jojo.
7 golden winds
The fifth installment of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure follows Giorno Giovanna, DIO’s biological son from when he was alive and briefly active in the 1980s. Giorno is a gangster who is against the idea of crime, which puts a strange contradiction at the heart of his character. In the end, it also feels like a side story, as Giorno’s story is set in Italy and has almost nothing to do with any of the other parts. Giorno Golden Wind’s Stand ability, while fun, is ultimately a difficult power for a protagonist, which is why its inevitable upgrade is completely different.
6 rocky oceans
Season six of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure returns to the mainline by focusing on Jotaro’s daughter, Jolyne, who is sent to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Although the story has been praised overall for being the first to feature a female Jojo, Jolyne’s portrayal, especially in the early chapters, can be seen as rather misleading. The villain’s Heaven plan is also quite complicated, which can sometimes make it a bit difficult to follow. Still, the Stand’s abilities are perhaps the most creative they’ve ever been, and the cast of characters is perhaps the loveliest outside of Stardust Crusaders.
5 JoJolion
The eighth season, which ended most recently in 2021, is the longest to date, having run for 10 years on a monthly schedule. It’s set in a different setting than seasons 1-6, which some fans didn’t like. However, JoJolion tells a complicated story starring an alternate Josuke Higashikata, a complicated character who can be more ruthless and less heroic than some of the previous Joestars. However, that’s part of what makes JoJolion so interesting; Josuke is able to grow and change as a character in significant ways throughout its run, and he possesses one of the strangest and most versatile Standing abilities among the main heroes.
4 Combat Tendencies
Jojo season two stars Joseph Joestar, one of the most popular and longest-lived Jojos, also appearing in the two sequels. Joseph is not a pillar of righteousness like his grandfather Jonathan, and that makes him a much more interesting character. The Pillar Men also make great enemies, enemies with great ambitions, who believe they deserve to have dominion over the human race. While Battle Tendency lacks Stands, like season 1, the innovative applications of Hamon techniques seen here make up for that fact. Joseph also happens to be one of the most popular Jojos, and a quick read or watching season two will surely reveal why.
Run 3 steel balls
The seventh season of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is also the first to take on a new setting, going back to the 1800s and starting over, this time with “Johnny” Joestar, an American-born Jojo who started off as a bitter man due to a horseback riding accident that left him paralyzed. Johnny’s growth throughout the series is considered one of the best character development Jojo has to offer, and he eventually becomes a heroic and likable character. Steel Ball Run also introduces a new concept of Spin, which will return in JoJolion, set in a similar setting.
2 unbreakable diamonds
The fourth season, Diamond is Unbreakable, is set in the lovely little town of Morioh, which also appears in JoJolion and in the spin-offs Thus talked about Rohan Kishibe. The story follows Josuke, the son of Joseph born into a love affair, who grew up without knowing his family history. Josuke is a nice boy with a short temper that makes for an interesting protagonist, but Morioh is really the star of the movie. Diamond is Unbreakable features a large number of recurring characters, all of which have their own fans. It also sees the return of Jotaro Kujo, the previous Jojo, to a supporting role, meaning this story gives you two Jojos (and the arrival of Joseph!) for the price of one.
1 Stardust Warrior
When people think of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure in general, they’re probably thinking of season three: Stardust Crusaders. This part sees Joseph teaming up with his nephew Jotaro to save his daughter, and Jotaro’s mother, Holly, sending them on a cross-world mission to Egypt to defeat the resurrected Dio. It’s a showcase of Stand’s abilities and features some of the most memorable one-off villains the series has ever seen. It’s no exaggeration to say that Stardust Crusaders changed everything for the future Jojo franchise, as all subsequent installments are modeled more closely on it than Phantom Blood or Battle Tendency.
Regardless of their place on this list, every part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is worth a look for those who love the series. In both anime and manga form, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the best action series out there, and fans should read any that they haven’t had a chance to enjoy. With The JoJoLands still going on, the story of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is far from over, and hopefully it will continue for a very long time.