The story in volume 2 picks up right where volume 1 ended. The brash teen Jotaro Joestar is traveling across the world to stop the menacing Dio before his mother Holly perishes from the strain of her newfound Stand. Along with for the ride joins his grandfather Joseph Joestar (the protagonist from the previous Battle Tendency arc), and a neat cast of characters whom all have their own unique Stand power.

In this volume, JoJo and company are off at sea and continue to fight off a plethora of strange killers out in the open water. Kakyoin and Polnareff, who were foes in the last volume, have turned a new leaf and decide to aide JoJo on his cause. Also new to the gang is a young stowaway girl, a spunky kid who seems to be the only female character who won’t fawn over our teen protagonist. JoJo’s certainly rounded up some important allies, but can he really trust every single person who joins his crew? It’s hard enough to watch their backs for murderous villains, but the anxiety is doubled when they find out that there is a traitor amongst their ranks!

Volume 2 ups the ante on the tension of such a grand journey. Dio is relentlessly sending assassins to combat our crew, which inevitably creates a constant sense of paranoia every step of the way. It’s hard to really trust anyone (and sometimes…anything) that our heroes come across on their way to Egypt. The enemy is out there, but our heroes just don’t know where the attack will come from!

If the gore from the last volume was enough to make your stomach turn, then buckle up for some more of that. Way more, actually. You really have to give it up for Hirohiko Araki, even if the blood and violence really isn't your thing. The way he continues to push the envelope and put out twisted material is creative, to say the least. (Some chapters feel like they’re straight out of a slasher flick!) And this time around, Araki Sensei sprinkles in a touch of eeriness to the plot, particularly with how he handles the reveal of Dio’s assassins.

The villains are at the forefront of these chapters, since we’ve already been acquainted with our band of heroes. Araki creates such interesting villains that seem simple, but are multi-dimensional. Most of his villains are terrifying assassins with devastating power; yet also manage to have a humorous side to them (The dirty magazine-loving orangutan certainly comes to mind). But more importantly, Araki continues to feed us bits and pieces of his main villain’s psyche while simultaneously keeping him a mystery.

Dio briefly reveals his own thoughts and fears in some panels, perhaps showing a more vulnerable side to him. In doing so, Dio becomes a little more human than myth, which makes it easier for us to understand where he’s coming from. However, we have yet to see what Dio is truly capable of, or how far he’s willing to go to get what he desires. 

The action of this series really continues to be top notch! This may be “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure," but he isn’t the only one that gets all the fun. Other characters get the opportunity to shine in this volume, and some even get a few chapters to themselves to display their own battle expertise. The storytelling truly benefits when the heroes and villains each have their own distinctive Stand power. No two fights are the same in this arc, and it really forces the characters to think of new and clever ways to get themselves out of tight pinches.

And that’s what keeps me intrigued with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. This isn’t just a typical shonen manga where the one who wants it more bulldozes their way to victory. Neither is it a one-character story while the others stand by and watch on from the background. Instead, what we have here is a rad journey that isn’t afraid to have fun and push itself creatively to entertain its audience. And it still entertains today. Just think about it. This series started off in the late 80s, but still manages to get reprints and anime adaptations long after its time! Kind of makes you wonder what all the fuss is about, doesn’t it?

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders--Volume 2 by Hirohiko Araki is available here! 

by Jeric Llanes