Hirohiko Araki's enduring work, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, continues to surprise fans around the world, maintaining its vitality for over 35 years. The latest narrative journey, The JOJOLands, marks the ninth major installment in the iconic series and the third in its renewed continuity, following the tumultuous events of Stone Ocean.
With 13 chapters, The JOJOLands takes us deep into a complex crime story, weaving a story different from the mob drama Golden Wind set in Italy.
Protagonist Jodio Joestar and his brother, Dragona, find themselves embroiled in a puzzling mystery that promises to upend Hawaii's established order by the story's end.
Regardless of its promising start, determining the full scope and direction of the new JoJo adventure can be challenging in the early stages.
True to form, JOJOLands introduces a plethora of characters and some of the series' strangest and most unique Stands in its first dozen chapters.
However, in Chapter 13, titled “The Ridiculous Event That Happened to Me That Year,” the story took an important turn. This chapter provides important insights into Jodio and Dragona's past, shedding light on their current predicament.
“The Absurd Event That Happened to Me That Year” emerges as one of The JOJOLands' most assured installments, benefiting from a deeper understanding of the characters and the trajectory of the unfolding story .
Activate Dragona and Jodio's special powers in JoJoLands Chapter 13
Previous chapters of The JOJOLands have thoroughly explored the series' Hawaiian setting, introduced a new cast of characters, and set the stage with an intriguing mystery that reunites fans with beloved characters like Rohan Kishibe.
Chapter 12, titled “His Name is 'Charming Man'”, introduces the story to new players.
However, it is Chapter 13 that takes an important detour, reaching into the past to shed light on Joestar's central characters, providing deeper insights into more than just “The Charming Man.” and his missing brother but also the overarching theme of Season 9.
In “The Ridiculous Event That Happened to Me That Year,” the story rewinds four years, when Dragona was 14 years old and Jodio was just 11 years old.
While flashbacks are not uncommon in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, they usually focus on supporting characters rather than the main character. This shift in focus gives Chapter 13 a heightened energy, allowing the different parts of The JOJOLands to be more closely tied together.
This flashback serves as more than just a storytelling device; it reveals the key moments that awaken Dragona and Jodio's Stands – Smooth Operators and November Rain.
This chapter puts Dragona first, describing the relentless bullying he endured in high school. What begins as juvenile taunting escalates to extremely uncomfortable levels, as Dragona becomes the target of humiliation and even sexual abuse.
Araki deftly places the audience in Dragona's plight, capturing the disturbing power dynamics fueled by the bully's wealth, privilege, and social status.
Luckily, Jodio intervened in time, using the November Rain Stand to protect his brother from further harm. Araki ensures that this depiction remains sensitive and purposeful, emphasizing the themes of fate and the pervasive influence of wealth that pervade The JOJOLands.
This flashback not only adds depth to Jodio and Dragona's motivations but also emphasizes the tragic circumstances that motivated their pursuit of wealth.
In a dramatic turn of events, Jodio, driven by a desire to protect his brother, finds himself on the brink of causing disaster. His actions nearly lead to the deaths of many innocent bystanders when a trapped parrot causes a change of heart.
Although Jodio was ultimately spared, the aftermath left many people with severe burns — a heartbreaking scene, especially since Jodio was only 11 years old. This display of aggression, unprecedented in the series, hints at potential consequences for any villain who dares to provoke Dragona.
Chapter 13 of The JOJOLands delves into Dragona's anguish, fear, and determination to never feel helpless again. It highlights Jodio's unwavering commitment to his brother's safety, shedding light on their new relationship, which takes on even greater significance after the revelations in the previous chapter regarding He Charming man and his younger brother, Mauka.
The shared pain and solidarity between siblings acted as a catalyst for the emergence of Jodio and Dragona's Stands, which they used not for personal gain but to support each other — a witness for their lasting brotherhood.
Hirohiko Araki's fascination with fate and the invisible forces that shape our lives takes center stage in Chapter 13 of The JOJOLands. Here, fate, destiny, and karma are portrayed as “absurd events” that are indispensable to everyone's existence regardless of whether they are involved or not.
This concept is poignantly illustrated when Jodio's impulsive actions accidentally cause a chain reaction, leading to his father's disgrace and subsequent departure from Hawaii.
This event puts additional stress on their mother, Barbara, forcing Jodio and Dragona to turn to a life of crime to support their family.
These differing perspectives on responsibility—Jodio's guilt and Dragona's acceptance of randomness—offer a fascinating exploration of the Joestar siblings' characters, emphasizing their contrasting approaches. them to protect themselves.
Although Chapter 13 enriches our understanding of Jodio and Dragona, its place in the story raises questions about its effectiveness.
Although well-lit, its placement feels a bit forced, as if Araki is weaving together story threads that weren't originally planned.
However, the chap's insights into the brothers' motivations and the complexities of fate leave an indelible mark, elevating The JOJOLands to new heights of narrative complexity and dimension. emotional depth.
The charming man assists Meryl's group in planning a lucrative heist
Even though Chapter 13 of The JOJOLands primarily takes place four years ago, it cleverly keeps the narrative momentum moving forward. In the present, Meryl hesitantly greets
Charming Man enters her criminal circle. However, his dedication to finding his missing brother and his valuable knowledge of mysterious lava rocks influenced her decision.
These rocks, which have been shrouded in mystery for dozens of chapters, are now ready to take center stage. This chapter provides important insights into the Lava Rocks and their significance in Hualalai, where Muaka disappeared.
Charming Man introduces an impending challenge that involves storming Hualalai and retrieving the rocks, setting the stage for the next phase of the story.
Meryl reveals her group's ambitious plan to gain control of the entire Hualalai mountain by infiltrating HOWLER, the company that owns the land. This bold plan aims to give them a staggering $50 billion, with each team member receiving a generous cut.
However, Meryl remains a mysterious character, her true intentions are kept secret. It's possible she's hiding important information, willing to endanger Jodio, Dragona, Charming Man, and others if it advances her own agenda, which may be relevant. to the Lava Rocks she craves.
However, the prospect of the next heist, along with the lucrative financial rewards, adds an element of excitement to The JOJOLands' developing story, moving away from stagnant storytelling and offering a Fascinating look at what lies ahead.
JOJOLands promises a promising start with clear storytelling
Considering the precedent set by Steel Ball Run and JoJolion's JoJo Bizarre Adventure, each running around 100 chapters long, it's clear that The JOJOLands is still in its nascent stages.
The series has yet to fully reveal its central plot and villain. While the early chapters of the JoJo series can be rough at times, The JOJOLands represents a strong start, weaving together thematic elements effectively and laying the groundwork for a better story.
Chapter 13, “The Ridiculous Event That Happened to Me That Year,” showcases Araki's beautiful artwork, especially in depicting the younger versions of Jodio and Dragona.
Unlike some previous chapters, where complex Stand abilities led to confusion in the artwork, this one maintains clarity and provides a visually engaging reading experience.
The success of “The Absurd Event That Happened to Me That Year” lies not only in the character development but also in the story development, signaling promising prospects for the ongoing plot of The JOJOLands. With a strong beginning and cohesive storytelling,
JOJOLands has the potential to carve its own place in the illustrious lineage of JoJo adventures.