Vento Aureo, the fifth part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, is often considered one of the most controversial installments. However, upon revisiting the series, I've come to appreciate many aspects of Part 5. While it has its flaws, these issues don't entirely detract from the overall story. Part 5 isn't bad, but it could have been even better.
When Jotaro discovers Dio's son, Giorno Giovanna, he sends Koichi to confirm his suspicions. It's soon revealed that Giorno is indeed Dio Brando's son but also carries the Joestar lineage, marked by the Joestar birthmark. This makes him Jonathan's second son in a way. Giorno inherits traits from both fathers: he's charismatic and intelligent, with a virtuous heart, yet willing to commit crimes for peace. His mission is to infiltrate the Italian Gangstars to eliminate drug trafficking and protect minors. He joins the Passione faction led by Bruno Buccellati, who shares his goal of stopping the organization's drug routes and eliminating the boss. The adventure kicks off after an operative's death and the revelation of the boss's daughter, who must be protected from traitorous Stand User Assassins.
The new art style in Part 5 takes some getting used to, but the appeal lies in the action. Unlike Parts 3 and 4, Vento Aureo delivers nonstop action. These parts focused more on suspense, often dragging out battles with minimal physical contact. Golden Wind dives straight into fights, featuring chases, gunfire, stabbings, and actual fistfights. The introduction of stand abilities remains suspenseful, but the heroes quickly devise solutions, speeding up the battles. Stands like Sex Pistols and Aerosmith, which fire bullets, introduce a new combat dynamic, often culminating in standoffs where both hero and villain are about to unleash their final moves.
Another standout feature of Golden Wind is its villains. Unlike the assassins in Parts 3 and 4, who were cold-blooded killers, the Gangstar villains are serious and deranged, rarely backing down. Their loyalty to each other adds depth, as seen in the mentor-student relationship between Pesci and Prosciutto. Most villains face their end bravely, reminiscent of the Pillar Men's mental fortitude.
However, the main antagonist, Diavolo, is a weak point. Initially intriguing due to his mysterious nature, he lacks the charisma of previous villains. Diavolo's secrecy-driven ambitions make him similar to Yoshikage Kira rather than the ambitious Cars or Dio. Despite his ambitions, Diavolo's cowardice undermines his threat level. He boasts superiority but constantly hides his face and uses his stand to foresee events, revealing his fear of the unknown and inability to trust others. Unlike Golgo 13, a fictional assassin known for survival skills despite being cautious, Diavolo lacks resolve, relying on followers to do his dirty work. His constant hiding to avoid risks makes him appear overly tactical but perpetually worried.
The quality of Part 5 suffers due to Diavolo, his confusing stand King Crimson, Polnareff's unbelievable storyline, and the awkward ending structure. Part 5 lacks a climactic final battle and concludes with an unnecessary epilogue. In earlier parts, Jotaro and Josuke engaged in back-and-forth battles with their adversaries. However, the final fight between Giorno and Diavolo is one-sided. Adding to the discomfort, certain "Stand Requiem" events lead to unconventional dangers, hinting at other supernatural beings, only to drop the idea abruptly. The prelude to the final battle feels more climactic than the actual conclusion.
There are issues towards the end, including a plot hole from the beginning involving the battle with Black Sabbath. Another inconsistency is Polnareff's plight, left in danger for 15 years during Part 4. Did Jotaro or anyone else ever try to find him? It seems implausible. What makes Part 5 strong is its tone and characters. Despite their flamboyant appearances, the cast has tragic pasts and displays manly moments, often sustaining bloody injuries in battle. While other JoJo characters faced similar challenges, Part 5 reestablishes a familial team dynamic, best exemplified in the boat scene asking "who's in or out?" Although I didn't enjoy every character or battle, Vento Aureo maintains a mostly serious pace without filler-like battles. Golden Wind ends on a somewhat tragic note, but if Araki had written the villain and final battle better, Part 5 could have been better received as the fifth installment of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Story (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.50/10) Very Good
The story in Part 5 of JoJo’s is very good, though it isn't without its pacing issues. Part 5 expands on the concept of Stands more than any previous part, which is great since before Part 4, Stand introductions often felt random. The plot here is straightforward and reminiscent of Part 3, where a villain sends Stands to fight the protagonist and their allies. This setup works well if you enjoy that type of narrative. However, some Stand arcs, like "Green Day" and "Oasis," may feel overly drawn out.
Art (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.50/10) Very Good
Hirohiko Araki's art style in this part leans heavily into flamboyance, which I don’t fault him for. However, during certain action sequences, about 40% of the time, it was hard to decipher what was happening in the panels. This issue existed in Part 4 but occurred less frequently there. In Part 5, there were several scenes that left me puzzled, forcing me to stare at the panel for an extra minute or two to figure out what was going on. This was especially noticeable when depicting King Crimson’s abilities, which are already complex. While understanding these concepts might have been challenging to portray visually, it occasionally detracted from my enjoyment.
Characters (9/10) Great
The characters in Part 5 are fantastic, largely due to their compelling backstories, some of the best I've encountered in any JoJo part so far. Giorno Giovanna, however, ranks as my least favorite JoJo protagonist. He lacks a distinctive personality, making him less engaging compared to others like Jotaro, whose laid-back demeanor was somehow more enjoyable. Despite his lineage, Giorno never quite captured my interest. That said, he isn’t a bad character; he just falls short of being memorable. Diavolo presents mixed feelings—he could have been a standout villain but ultimately feels underwhelming. Though he fully grasps his Stand's power, his characterization leaves something to be desired. His paranoia seems contrived, and while his individual traits are somewhat unique, his overall impact as a villain pales in comparison to those from earlier parts. Additionally, some character deaths felt abrupt and unnecessary, and one member abandoning the group midway through seemed like wasted potential. These factors prevent me from giving this section a perfect score.
Enjoyment (8/10) Very Good
My overall enjoyment of Part 5 was very good. The interactions among Giorno’s crew were the highlight, providing the most entertaining moments. The antagonists and their Stands varied in appeal; arcs like "The Express Train Heading Towards Florence" and "White Album" were enjoyable, whereas others like "Notorious B.I.G." and "Green Day"/"Oasis" felt less captivating and even dull at times.
Overall (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.50/10) Very Good
Golden Wind is a very good part, despite the controversies surrounding it. Personally, I don’t think it’s bad. It attempts to improve upon Part 3, and whether one is superior remains debatable. Both parts excel in their own ways, but Golden Wind arguably offers deeper characters and rivals Part 3 in terms of memorable fight scenes—possibly surpassing it with 4-5 standout battles compared to Part 3’s three. Regardless, Part 5 is very good and certainly not the worst in the series, with that title likely belonging to either Part 6 or Part 8.
JoJo's Bizarre Part 5: Vento Aureo/Golden Wind is undoubtedly one of the most polarizing entries in the JoJo series. While there's a consensus that part 6 is underwhelming and part 4 is exceptional, opinions on part 5 are deeply divided. Some adore it, while others detest it. Personally, I lean towards the former. Although it might not be the pinnacle of JoJo's parts, I believe it surpasses the highly praised part 4. There are several reasons for this preference, which I will elaborate on throughout this review.
The Fights
Part 5 shines brightest in its fight sequences, arguably the best across all JoJo parts. These battles represent a natural progression from the stand combat formula established in parts 3 and 4. Each encounter is characterized by a compelling back-and-forth dynamic, with both sides gaining and losing the upper hand. Every fight feels like an intense trial. The adversaries here are seasoned gangsters and assassins, making them far more perilous than typical JoJo villains. Moreover, many of these foes boast their own character arcs and genuine development.
The Characters
Many argue that part 5 mirrors part 3, and to some extent, they're correct. It shares more similarities with part 3 than with part 4 or the subsequent parts 6 through 8. However, part 5 excels in character development compared to part 3. In part 3, most characters were static, lacking significant growth; Polnareff was the sole exception with a meaningful arc. Conversely, in part 5, the majority of the main characters experience substantial transformations throughout the story. Giorno, Bucciarati, Mista, Narancia, and Trish all undergo notable changes, providing a clear purpose for their presence in the narrative.
As the protagonist, Giorno Giovanna isn't flawless but is at least driven, making him more engaging than Jotaro or Josuke. While his personality may be somewhat bland and his abilities verging on perfection, you sense his dedication to his mission and witness the formation of genuine friendships with his fellow gang members as the story unfolds.
The Plot
One of part 4's major shortcomings was its plot structure. It followed a pattern: a storyline event occurs, followed by numerous filler arcs, another random event triggers further story progression, and then more filler—repeating endlessly. The plot would halt for extended periods before resuming due to arbitrary events. Fortunately, part 5 eliminates this flaw entirely. The narrative flows continuously, with each arc contributing meaningfully to the overall story. Surprisingly, this doesn't eliminate necessary downtime for character development. There's sufficient interaction between characters between fights to foster a deeper understanding of them without hindering the plot's momentum.
Conclusion
While part 5 has its flaws, detailing them would involve spoilers, and ultimately, these negatives don't overshadow the positives. This installment is easily the most underrated in the JoJo series and remains one of the most memorable.
This is my first manga review. I'll try not to give any spoilers, okay?
Story: It's more like Stardust Crusaders in the sense that the protagonist and Buccellati's gang travel across almost all of Italy, much like what happened in SC. However, the story is really good. I think Araki wanted to continue the story about the *SPOILERS* arrow a little more. Giorno Giovanna's dream of becoming a gangster to stop drug dealing is great, in my opinion—a story about the mafia, that's cool. Besides, the enemies that appear during Giorno's journey are fantastic too. Every battle feels intense because you don't even know how the good guys can possibly beat the bad guys.
Art: 10/10. Araki always impresses me with his art, and if you get a color scanlation, you'll probably feel like you're in paradise. Need I say more?
Characters: The cast of characters—GOD, I LOVED IT! Buccellati's gang felt more like a family than just a group or gang. I completely fell in love with every single character. But I don't give it a ten because I didn't like the fact that two of them weren't developed much. Also, the main antagonist of this part isn't my favorite (Kira, Kars, and DIO are amazing, but this one was my least favorite). I wanted more from him, more development, honestly. Also, the final battle between *SPOILERS* and Giorno was a bit short—previous parts handled that much better. The main antagonist isn't bad, but it isn't my favorite among the five parts I've read so far. The enemies that Buccellati's gang has to face are great too. They're all expert assassins, and their Stands make for some REAL fights.
Enjoyment: People say this is the worst JoJo part, right? But actually, it's pretty good and one of my favorites. I've enjoyed this part a lot and have actually developed feelings for the characters in this part (I cried when *SPOILERS* died...). It seems like Araki is very good at making you fall in love with his characters or developing strong feelings for them. Anyways, I give it a 9 for enjoyment because some parts were a little boring for me—just a few of them. There weren't many boring parts, though!
OVERALL: 9. I highly recommend it! JoJo fans HAVE to read this, regardless of whether it's considered "bad" or not. It's one of the best JoJo parts, in my opinion, and you'll like it a lot—I'm serious. Also, if you haven't read the previous four parts, well, do it! Those are great too.
I hope this helps someone. Sorry if there are grammatical errors or anything like that—English isn't my native language.
The super entertaining and dynamic battles, with a lot of strategy and twists that leave you with a "wtf is happening here" face. The designs are insane and very original. 100% recommended but make sure to watch all of JoJo beforehand.
The villain is very interesting and their Stand is one of my favorites. Bucciarati pulls through the entire story. All the villains in this part have memorable Stands, with original abilities and spectacular designs. Honestly, this part ranks as number 2 among the JoJo parts because, considering everything, it's one of its best.
If you can read the colored manga, I would recommend it since Araki's art can sometimes be quite confusing and hard to follow.
"To stop the gangsters who sell drugs to children, you must become a gangster yourself."
JoJo's series has always revolved around growth. It could be the growth of the characters or Araki maturing as an artist and storyteller; the human capacity to achieve and create has consistently been a central theme in his work. In Part 5, we see Araki take the best elements from his previous parts and craft something entirely fresh and original.
Addressing the most common criticisms, namely that Giorno isn't a very interesting main character, and Diavolo isn't a very effective villain, I can't entirely disagree with the notion that Giorno is less captivating. He's not as cool as Jotaro, not as likable as Josuke, and not as humorous as Joseph. In many respects, he harks back to the more "Mary Sue" traits of Jonathan Joestar, being defined by his exceptional proficiency in everything. The antagonist, however, I argue, is pretty awesome. Diavolo stands apart from the villains of all prior parts. Unlike other installments where the villains only appear later, Diavolo is a legendary figure perpetually lurking in the background, serving as the axis around which the story revolves. He's an absolute tyrant, and his sheer madness fittingly brutalizes a series centered on what is essentially gang warfare.
Without revealing too much, the series can be divided into two major arcs. The first half mirrors Part 3, with our group of Italian gangsters embarking on a journey constantly interrupted by assassins, while the latter half resembles Part 4, with the gang searching for their boss. It's straightforward, but it allows the story to focus on combat. And oh boy, the combat! These are the finest stand battles in JoJo so far. Each villain possesses powers that are creatively utilized to inflict brutally violent outcomes, and Araki was evidently having a blast illustrating all the gory consequences.
The art is also a highlight. Witnessing Araki evolve from someone who struggled with anatomy in Part 1 to someone who effortlessly produces stunning two-page spreads is incredibly rewarding. The composition is inventive, the illustrations are exquisite, and occasionally, you'll wonder how he could surpass himself, only to realize he did just that on the next page.
This manga is outstanding. I'm pleased that the anime has prompted people to revisit and reconsider this part, which seemingly has been a black sheep for a while. If you read this, you won't be disappointed.
More trendy, more fashionable guys, more terrifying Stand abilities, but less entertaining overall.
Moving through the Jojos chronologically, this entry offers yet another twist on the established formula by straying from featuring a true Joestar and instead presenting a peculiar half-hero with villainous roots. The action develops into a chase reminiscent of Part 3, but set across Italy and filled with morally ambiguous characters. A would-be mafioso isn't your typical protagonist, and it's disappointing that Giorno lacks personality compared to Jotaro, as there was potential to explore his motivations and his strategy of fighting from within the system. Instead, he becomes a stoic badass who barely speaks after the first 15 chapters and is excessively overpowered for the plot (marking the third consecutive time a Jojo character dominates combat in an unrealistic way).
The artwork features some striking cut-ins that effectively capture reactions to the unfolding madness, adding a nice touch to this part. However, the art style feels less polished and coherent compared to the previous two parts. The characters are somewhat intriguing but lack the charm of Jotaro or Josuke's groups (with the exception of Mista, who stands out as exceptional).
If you're looking for the series to become even more stylish and enjoy watching people dissolve into grotesque puddles, then this might be your favorite installment! For me, though, I don't anticipate remembering it fondly.
It's actually quite visually appealing, and the first two-thirds are fantastic both in concept and delivery. However, it starts to unravel by introducing too many overly complex stands, unnecessarily prolonging the conclusion, and pulling random story elements out of nowhere, ultimately mishandling the defeat of the main antagonist. The ending is frankly pretty lackluster.
To reiterate, the first two-thirds are excellent:
The premise: Mafia Jojo, tasked with escorting a person across Italy while fending off assassins along the journey.
The art: truly outstanding, featuring memorable characters, though the designs grow increasingly absurd (and distracting) as the narrative progresses.
Yet, as it nears the end, everything begins to crumble, leaving a rather sour taste. Do yourself a favor and stop following Jojo after part 4.
It's an engaging read with some genuinely fascinating aspects, but I can't help but dwell on that unsatisfactory ending. The sole reason it doesn't receive a lower score regarding the story is that the initial two-thirds are superb; however, the final third significantly lowers the overall rating.
HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED THE MANGA
I adore Jojo; this series is undeniably fucking awesome. However, for me, part 5 was somewhat of a letdown. Let's start with the characters—every character in part 5 is solid... except for the two that matter the most: the protagonist and antagonist.
Giorno and Diavolo are weak as hell. One major issue with these two is that they have too many traits that don't actually matter. Giorno is DIO's son, but when does that ever become important? When does it truly matter who Giorno's father is? It feels like DIO having a son was merely an excuse to make Giorno part of the Joestar family, which seems like a waste to me. The son of DIO should be a huge deal considering who DIO is, but it never becomes one. It's very disappointing that Giorno never even discovers who DIO really is or what the Joestars represent. Giorno doesn't accomplish anything significant; Mista and Buccelatti seem to carry most of the weight, and then Giorno just swoops in at the end to steal the win. Everyone acts like "Hey, this Giorno kid is so cool, maybe he should be the one in charge." To me, this feels like poor writing. It never seemed like Giorno earned his accomplishments, and his lack of meaningful character moments makes him feel practically nonexistent.
Diavolo. Diavolo spends all of part 5 hiding his identity, but when you do that, you place plot relevance and emphasis on what his true identity must be. When you create a mystery, you expect there to be a twist—it's like watching an episode of Scooby-Doo, where you try to guess his identity because you feel like he must be someone you already know, someone important, or at least someone unexpected. But Diavolo is none of those things. He's no one; his identity doesn't matter. He could have been anyone—a random guy we've never seen before—and that makes what could have been an interesting twist fall flat. It disappoints me when I think about what Araki could have done instead. Diavolo's backstory doesn't matter because his personality doesn't either; neither becomes an interesting or relevant plot point. His motivation is to conceal his identity and stay the boss, but that's just Kira done poorly. Diavolo is an extremely unremarkable and forgettable antagonist.
Fugo... well, Fugo sucks. He only has one fight and then disappears. Mista and Narancia are pretty cool, but I don't have much to analyze about them.
Abbacchio. I actually really like Abbacchio because I relate to him a lot. Every time he would trash-talk Giorno, I'd be so happy because I always agreed with him. Giorno sucks.
Buccelatti. Okay, this guy is fucking rad. While Giorno sits around talking about his dumb dream hoping it will come true, Bruno is out there accomplishing his dream for him. He has the resolve, the skills, the vision, and he worked hard to become the boss—not Giorno. So seeing Bruno get killed and Giorno take over instead was infuriating and completely disappointing. Bruno succeeded where Giorno failed as a protagonist, yet Giorno gets all the glory because he's the main character.
I won't analyze them individually, but La Squadra was amazing—absolutely incredible. Some of the most compelling villains to date, they have great dynamics with each other, and I was moved by their quest to overthrow the boss to avenge Gelato and Sorbet, their fallen comrades whom the boss killed.
Alright, that's all I wanted to say about the characters. Let's talk about the plot.
We have a really cool story setup: a small-time crook wants to make it big as a gangster, finally gets his chance to rise to the top as his team seeks to overthrow the mysterious gang boss, while a more experienced team of gangsters races against them to kill the boss first, whose reasons for doing so might even be better than our protagonist's. Ordinarily, this would make for a fantastic story, and part 5 might have been the best part of Jojo ever if Giorno and Diavolo had lived up to expectations. I'm disappointed that Risotto, who was a hyped-up villain, ends up getting killed by Doppio instead of Bruno's gang. I think it would have been far more interesting to see Bruno or Giorno fight him. I hate how the final battle was resolved with a deus ex machina—the Requiem Arrow. It's like, what was the point of that whole fight if Giorno just magically wins at the end? All the battles leading up to that were some of the best in the series, and I'd argue every single one of them is better than the final fight. It's incredibly disappointing to see so much hype build up to a fight and receive something so mediocre. People naturally expect the next fight to be better, or at least the final battle, which is the most significant one, to be the best. Failing to deliver on this is shameful on Araki's part. I hate criticizing a normally outstanding mangaka like Araki so harshly, but part 5 was just so disappointing. Also, the part at the end with Rolling Stones was unnecessary and confusing. If you're going to include something like Rolling Stones, don't put it at the end. It would have been a great mini-arc to start with, to foreshadow what would happen later, but honestly, I wouldn't have included it at all.
Now, the art, which is... fellas, the art is good. And I really mean that. Easily the best thing about part 5 is Araki's art. Even though the plot can be flimsy at times, Araki still knows how to craft an incredible manga. The way he constructs panels is simply incredible. There's so much detail in every single one, and the panels always end up being more than the sum of their parts. They're packed with sound effects and spine-cracking poses. There's so much depth to each scene, and he portrays breathtaking settings, especially in this part. You can tell this is Araki's love letter to Italy, and he delivers in the art category. When Araki went to Italy before creating Jojo, he saw the Apollo and Daphne sculpture and wanted to portray that in a manga. He succeeded; his poses are so iconic. Honestly, I cannot praise his art enough.
I'm giving this a 6/10 overall. That sounds bad, but even at its worst, Jojo is still better than average—a decent read, honestly.
<p>Just finished my reread of this manga using the new colored scanlations. Hats off to the Jojo's Colored Adventure Team for all their hard work.<br /><br />This is, in my opinion, the best Jojo's Bizarre Adventure story so far. While I thoroughly enjoyed Diamond is Unbreakable overall, it left me somewhat underwhelmed due to its abandonment of many elements that made the series special to me. The narrative being confined to a single town significantly reduced the grand sense of adventure that defined parts 2 and 3. There was no traveling across various locations, no thrilling battles in the sky, at sea, on horseback, or aboard a train. Moreover, the slice-of-life pacing was a major letdown. The story lacked urgency compared to previous arcs. A friend or ally would be brutally killed, yet a few chapters later, Josuke would be casually playing dice with Rohan as if there wasn't a serial killer on the loose. Or, he'd waste time investigating someone living on a transmission radio tower. It felt static. Nearly every enemy eventually became an ally, which diminished the perception of danger except during the climax. Most of these former foes were either ineffective or absent when confronting the main villain. Vento Aureo completely flips this script.<br /><br />The sense of adventure makes a triumphant return. The characters journey across Italy via various modes of transportation, leading to some of the most diverse stand battles in the series. Not only are the stands crazier and more imaginative, but the settings where these battles unfold are equally inventive. Many fights occur on vehicles moving at high speeds, adding excitement and increasing the risk factor. There's also a strong sense of urgency and high stakes. A chase ensues between three distinct groups, each willing to kill to achieve their objectives. Additionally, these are the most brutal villains in the series, ensuring minimal downtime as the characters constantly move toward their goals while evading deadly pursuers.<br /><br />It's like Stardust Crusaders on (a lot of) steroids. Replace the relatively straightforward stand battles from Stardust Crusaders with the most creative and brutal encounters featuring the most fearsome stands and villains, and you have Vento Aureo.<br /><br />Vento Aureo boasts my favorite Jojos in the series. They're incredibly likable, funny, and deliver unforgettable moments. They form an exceptional group.<br /><br />In terms of characters, battles, villains, twists, comedy, hype moments, visuals, etc., Vento Aureo is undoubtedly my favorite story. I believe it represents the pinnacle of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, sharing this honor with Battle Tendency and Steel Ball Run.</p>
<p>the most underrated part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (possibly besides Part 1, but "second most underrated" doesn't have the same ring to it lol)<br /><br />Golden Wind is a really unique part. It blends elements from Parts 3 and 4, with a mystery surrounding who the boss is, combined with the "villain of the week" structure similar to Part 3. Golden Wind begins with an unexpected protagonist: the son of Dio, yet technically a Joestar due to some body-switching shenanigans. Giorno is an incredible main character whose greatness is often overlooked because it's so subtle. He embodies the best qualities of both Dio and Jonathan. He has Jonathan's morality and Dio's ruthlessness, which becomes very evident at certain points. The supporting characters, like Bruno, Mista, and Fugo, possess significant depth and are wonderful additions to the cast. La Squadra also serve as fantastic antagonists. In my opinion, this part was the most entertaining and had me completely hooked from start to finish.</p>
While I feel Jojo Part 5 takes a step back from Part 4, it still delivers a solid experience.
Golden Wind is truly the odd one out in the series. You could jump straight from Diamond is Unbreakable to Stone Ocean without losing much continuity. Golden Wind stands almost entirely on its own. There are ties to earlier parts, though, since our hero is the offspring of Dio and Jonathan. The story occasionally leans on his lineage, but Giorno Giovanna himself is fairly straightforward. That said, it works because the Jobros are a cool bunch, Bruno especially. The only flat character is Fugo, as an arc where he would’ve played a key role was cut, which is unfortunate.
In certain respects, Golden Wind blends the best aspects of Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable. It merges Part 4's small-scale focus with Part 3's road trip format, offering a generalized take on Part 5. The narrative is also more intricate than in Part 3. Events unfold meaningfully, making some fights feel pivotal. Even if the plot were absent, these battles are so outstanding they'd still shine. Golden Wind boasts the greatest battles in any anime or manga, a claim I don't make lightly. My sole gripe is that Giorno's Stand feels too similar to Josuke's.
Another highlight is the thematic core of Part 5. Jojo arcs rarely emphasize themes, often serving as purely entertaining stories. Golden Wind, however, explores relationships. Giorno frequently depends on others for victory, just as they rely on him. Even the antagonists depend on one another. Except Diavolo, who seeks to sever all external ties to secure his reign. His isolation leads him to create an alternate personality to counteract humanity's inherent need for love and friendship. Yet Giorno and his crew triumph due to their bonds. This theme is why Golden Wind resonates so deeply with me.
One issue is that the ending feels somewhat like a deus ex machina, raising questions about the subsequent part (I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers). Additionally, King Crimson proves more confusing in the manga compared to the anime. In my view, the anime offers the optimal way to experience Golden Wind.
Popular Reviews
When Jotaro discovers Dio's son, Giorno Giovanna, he sends Koichi to confirm his suspicions. It's soon revealed that Giorno is indeed Dio Brando's son but also carries the Joestar lineage, marked by the Joestar birthmark. This makes him Jonathan's second son in a way. Giorno inherits traits from both fathers: he's charismatic and intelligent, with a virtuous heart, yet willing to commit crimes for peace. His mission is to infiltrate the Italian Gangstars to eliminate drug trafficking and protect minors. He joins the Passione faction led by Bruno Buccellati, who shares his goal of stopping the organization's drug routes and eliminating the boss. The adventure kicks off after an operative's death and the revelation of the boss's daughter, who must be protected from traitorous Stand User Assassins.
The new art style in Part 5 takes some getting used to, but the appeal lies in the action. Unlike Parts 3 and 4, Vento Aureo delivers nonstop action. These parts focused more on suspense, often dragging out battles with minimal physical contact. Golden Wind dives straight into fights, featuring chases, gunfire, stabbings, and actual fistfights. The introduction of stand abilities remains suspenseful, but the heroes quickly devise solutions, speeding up the battles. Stands like Sex Pistols and Aerosmith, which fire bullets, introduce a new combat dynamic, often culminating in standoffs where both hero and villain are about to unleash their final moves.
Another standout feature of Golden Wind is its villains. Unlike the assassins in Parts 3 and 4, who were cold-blooded killers, the Gangstar villains are serious and deranged, rarely backing down. Their loyalty to each other adds depth, as seen in the mentor-student relationship between Pesci and Prosciutto. Most villains face their end bravely, reminiscent of the Pillar Men's mental fortitude.
However, the main antagonist, Diavolo, is a weak point. Initially intriguing due to his mysterious nature, he lacks the charisma of previous villains. Diavolo's secrecy-driven ambitions make him similar to Yoshikage Kira rather than the ambitious Cars or Dio. Despite his ambitions, Diavolo's cowardice undermines his threat level. He boasts superiority but constantly hides his face and uses his stand to foresee events, revealing his fear of the unknown and inability to trust others. Unlike Golgo 13, a fictional assassin known for survival skills despite being cautious, Diavolo lacks resolve, relying on followers to do his dirty work. His constant hiding to avoid risks makes him appear overly tactical but perpetually worried.
The quality of Part 5 suffers due to Diavolo, his confusing stand King Crimson, Polnareff's unbelievable storyline, and the awkward ending structure. Part 5 lacks a climactic final battle and concludes with an unnecessary epilogue. In earlier parts, Jotaro and Josuke engaged in back-and-forth battles with their adversaries. However, the final fight between Giorno and Diavolo is one-sided. Adding to the discomfort, certain "Stand Requiem" events lead to unconventional dangers, hinting at other supernatural beings, only to drop the idea abruptly. The prelude to the final battle feels more climactic than the actual conclusion.
There are issues towards the end, including a plot hole from the beginning involving the battle with Black Sabbath. Another inconsistency is Polnareff's plight, left in danger for 15 years during Part 4. Did Jotaro or anyone else ever try to find him? It seems implausible. What makes Part 5 strong is its tone and characters. Despite their flamboyant appearances, the cast has tragic pasts and displays manly moments, often sustaining bloody injuries in battle. While other JoJo characters faced similar challenges, Part 5 reestablishes a familial team dynamic, best exemplified in the boat scene asking "who's in or out?" Although I didn't enjoy every character or battle, Vento Aureo maintains a mostly serious pace without filler-like battles. Golden Wind ends on a somewhat tragic note, but if Araki had written the villain and final battle better, Part 5 could have been better received as the fifth installment of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Story (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.50/10) Very Good
The story in Part 5 of JoJo’s is very good, though it isn't without its pacing issues. Part 5 expands on the concept of Stands more than any previous part, which is great since before Part 4, Stand introductions often felt random. The plot here is straightforward and reminiscent of Part 3, where a villain sends Stands to fight the protagonist and their allies. This setup works well if you enjoy that type of narrative. However, some Stand arcs, like "Green Day" and "Oasis," may feel overly drawn out.
Art (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.50/10) Very Good
Hirohiko Araki's art style in this part leans heavily into flamboyance, which I don’t fault him for. However, during certain action sequences, about 40% of the time, it was hard to decipher what was happening in the panels. This issue existed in Part 4 but occurred less frequently there. In Part 5, there were several scenes that left me puzzled, forcing me to stare at the panel for an extra minute or two to figure out what was going on. This was especially noticeable when depicting King Crimson’s abilities, which are already complex. While understanding these concepts might have been challenging to portray visually, it occasionally detracted from my enjoyment.
Characters (9/10) Great
The characters in Part 5 are fantastic, largely due to their compelling backstories, some of the best I've encountered in any JoJo part so far. Giorno Giovanna, however, ranks as my least favorite JoJo protagonist. He lacks a distinctive personality, making him less engaging compared to others like Jotaro, whose laid-back demeanor was somehow more enjoyable. Despite his lineage, Giorno never quite captured my interest. That said, he isn’t a bad character; he just falls short of being memorable. Diavolo presents mixed feelings—he could have been a standout villain but ultimately feels underwhelming. Though he fully grasps his Stand's power, his characterization leaves something to be desired. His paranoia seems contrived, and while his individual traits are somewhat unique, his overall impact as a villain pales in comparison to those from earlier parts. Additionally, some character deaths felt abrupt and unnecessary, and one member abandoning the group midway through seemed like wasted potential. These factors prevent me from giving this section a perfect score.
Enjoyment (8/10) Very Good
My overall enjoyment of Part 5 was very good. The interactions among Giorno’s crew were the highlight, providing the most entertaining moments. The antagonists and their Stands varied in appeal; arcs like "The Express Train Heading Towards Florence" and "White Album" were enjoyable, whereas others like "Notorious B.I.G." and "Green Day"/"Oasis" felt less captivating and even dull at times.
Overall (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.50/10) Very Good
Golden Wind is a very good part, despite the controversies surrounding it. Personally, I don’t think it’s bad. It attempts to improve upon Part 3, and whether one is superior remains debatable. Both parts excel in their own ways, but Golden Wind arguably offers deeper characters and rivals Part 3 in terms of memorable fight scenes—possibly surpassing it with 4-5 standout battles compared to Part 3’s three. Regardless, Part 5 is very good and certainly not the worst in the series, with that title likely belonging to either Part 6 or Part 8.
The Fights
Part 5 shines brightest in its fight sequences, arguably the best across all JoJo parts. These battles represent a natural progression from the stand combat formula established in parts 3 and 4. Each encounter is characterized by a compelling back-and-forth dynamic, with both sides gaining and losing the upper hand. Every fight feels like an intense trial. The adversaries here are seasoned gangsters and assassins, making them far more perilous than typical JoJo villains. Moreover, many of these foes boast their own character arcs and genuine development.
The Characters
Many argue that part 5 mirrors part 3, and to some extent, they're correct. It shares more similarities with part 3 than with part 4 or the subsequent parts 6 through 8. However, part 5 excels in character development compared to part 3. In part 3, most characters were static, lacking significant growth; Polnareff was the sole exception with a meaningful arc. Conversely, in part 5, the majority of the main characters experience substantial transformations throughout the story. Giorno, Bucciarati, Mista, Narancia, and Trish all undergo notable changes, providing a clear purpose for their presence in the narrative.
As the protagonist, Giorno Giovanna isn't flawless but is at least driven, making him more engaging than Jotaro or Josuke. While his personality may be somewhat bland and his abilities verging on perfection, you sense his dedication to his mission and witness the formation of genuine friendships with his fellow gang members as the story unfolds.
The Plot
One of part 4's major shortcomings was its plot structure. It followed a pattern: a storyline event occurs, followed by numerous filler arcs, another random event triggers further story progression, and then more filler—repeating endlessly. The plot would halt for extended periods before resuming due to arbitrary events. Fortunately, part 5 eliminates this flaw entirely. The narrative flows continuously, with each arc contributing meaningfully to the overall story. Surprisingly, this doesn't eliminate necessary downtime for character development. There's sufficient interaction between characters between fights to foster a deeper understanding of them without hindering the plot's momentum.
Conclusion
While part 5 has its flaws, detailing them would involve spoilers, and ultimately, these negatives don't overshadow the positives. This installment is easily the most underrated in the JoJo series and remains one of the most memorable.
Story: It's more like Stardust Crusaders in the sense that the protagonist and Buccellati's gang travel across almost all of Italy, much like what happened in SC. However, the story is really good. I think Araki wanted to continue the story about the *SPOILERS* arrow a little more. Giorno Giovanna's dream of becoming a gangster to stop drug dealing is great, in my opinion—a story about the mafia, that's cool. Besides, the enemies that appear during Giorno's journey are fantastic too. Every battle feels intense because you don't even know how the good guys can possibly beat the bad guys.
Art: 10/10. Araki always impresses me with his art, and if you get a color scanlation, you'll probably feel like you're in paradise. Need I say more?
Characters: The cast of characters—GOD, I LOVED IT! Buccellati's gang felt more like a family than just a group or gang. I completely fell in love with every single character. But I don't give it a ten because I didn't like the fact that two of them weren't developed much. Also, the main antagonist of this part isn't my favorite (Kira, Kars, and DIO are amazing, but this one was my least favorite). I wanted more from him, more development, honestly. Also, the final battle between *SPOILERS* and Giorno was a bit short—previous parts handled that much better. The main antagonist isn't bad, but it isn't my favorite among the five parts I've read so far. The enemies that Buccellati's gang has to face are great too. They're all expert assassins, and their Stands make for some REAL fights.
Enjoyment: People say this is the worst JoJo part, right? But actually, it's pretty good and one of my favorites. I've enjoyed this part a lot and have actually developed feelings for the characters in this part (I cried when *SPOILERS* died...). It seems like Araki is very good at making you fall in love with his characters or developing strong feelings for them. Anyways, I give it a 9 for enjoyment because some parts were a little boring for me—just a few of them. There weren't many boring parts, though!
OVERALL: 9. I highly recommend it! JoJo fans HAVE to read this, regardless of whether it's considered "bad" or not. It's one of the best JoJo parts, in my opinion, and you'll like it a lot—I'm serious. Also, if you haven't read the previous four parts, well, do it! Those are great too.
I hope this helps someone. Sorry if there are grammatical errors or anything like that—English isn't my native language.
The villain is very interesting and their Stand is one of my favorites. Bucciarati pulls through the entire story. All the villains in this part have memorable Stands, with original abilities and spectacular designs. Honestly, this part ranks as number 2 among the JoJo parts because, considering everything, it's one of its best.
If you can read the colored manga, I would recommend it since Araki's art can sometimes be quite confusing and hard to follow.
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JoJo's series has always revolved around growth. It could be the growth of the characters or Araki maturing as an artist and storyteller; the human capacity to achieve and create has consistently been a central theme in his work. In Part 5, we see Araki take the best elements from his previous parts and craft something entirely fresh and original.
Addressing the most common criticisms, namely that Giorno isn't a very interesting main character, and Diavolo isn't a very effective villain, I can't entirely disagree with the notion that Giorno is less captivating. He's not as cool as Jotaro, not as likable as Josuke, and not as humorous as Joseph. In many respects, he harks back to the more "Mary Sue" traits of Jonathan Joestar, being defined by his exceptional proficiency in everything. The antagonist, however, I argue, is pretty awesome. Diavolo stands apart from the villains of all prior parts. Unlike other installments where the villains only appear later, Diavolo is a legendary figure perpetually lurking in the background, serving as the axis around which the story revolves. He's an absolute tyrant, and his sheer madness fittingly brutalizes a series centered on what is essentially gang warfare.
Without revealing too much, the series can be divided into two major arcs. The first half mirrors Part 3, with our group of Italian gangsters embarking on a journey constantly interrupted by assassins, while the latter half resembles Part 4, with the gang searching for their boss. It's straightforward, but it allows the story to focus on combat. And oh boy, the combat! These are the finest stand battles in JoJo so far. Each villain possesses powers that are creatively utilized to inflict brutally violent outcomes, and Araki was evidently having a blast illustrating all the gory consequences.
The art is also a highlight. Witnessing Araki evolve from someone who struggled with anatomy in Part 1 to someone who effortlessly produces stunning two-page spreads is incredibly rewarding. The composition is inventive, the illustrations are exquisite, and occasionally, you'll wonder how he could surpass himself, only to realize he did just that on the next page.
This manga is outstanding. I'm pleased that the anime has prompted people to revisit and reconsider this part, which seemingly has been a black sheep for a while. If you read this, you won't be disappointed.
Moving through the Jojos chronologically, this entry offers yet another twist on the established formula by straying from featuring a true Joestar and instead presenting a peculiar half-hero with villainous roots. The action develops into a chase reminiscent of Part 3, but set across Italy and filled with morally ambiguous characters. A would-be mafioso isn't your typical protagonist, and it's disappointing that Giorno lacks personality compared to Jotaro, as there was potential to explore his motivations and his strategy of fighting from within the system. Instead, he becomes a stoic badass who barely speaks after the first 15 chapters and is excessively overpowered for the plot (marking the third consecutive time a Jojo character dominates combat in an unrealistic way).
The artwork features some striking cut-ins that effectively capture reactions to the unfolding madness, adding a nice touch to this part. However, the art style feels less polished and coherent compared to the previous two parts. The characters are somewhat intriguing but lack the charm of Jotaro or Josuke's groups (with the exception of Mista, who stands out as exceptional).
If you're looking for the series to become even more stylish and enjoy watching people dissolve into grotesque puddles, then this might be your favorite installment! For me, though, I don't anticipate remembering it fondly.
To reiterate, the first two-thirds are excellent:
The premise: Mafia Jojo, tasked with escorting a person across Italy while fending off assassins along the journey.
The art: truly outstanding, featuring memorable characters, though the designs grow increasingly absurd (and distracting) as the narrative progresses.
Yet, as it nears the end, everything begins to crumble, leaving a rather sour taste. Do yourself a favor and stop following Jojo after part 4.
It's an engaging read with some genuinely fascinating aspects, but I can't help but dwell on that unsatisfactory ending. The sole reason it doesn't receive a lower score regarding the story is that the initial two-thirds are superb; however, the final third significantly lowers the overall rating.
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I adore Jojo; this series is undeniably fucking awesome. However, for me, part 5 was somewhat of a letdown. Let's start with the characters—every character in part 5 is solid... except for the two that matter the most: the protagonist and antagonist.
Giorno and Diavolo are weak as hell. One major issue with these two is that they have too many traits that don't actually matter. Giorno is DIO's son, but when does that ever become important? When does it truly matter who Giorno's father is? It feels like DIO having a son was merely an excuse to make Giorno part of the Joestar family, which seems like a waste to me. The son of DIO should be a huge deal considering who DIO is, but it never becomes one. It's very disappointing that Giorno never even discovers who DIO really is or what the Joestars represent. Giorno doesn't accomplish anything significant; Mista and Buccelatti seem to carry most of the weight, and then Giorno just swoops in at the end to steal the win. Everyone acts like "Hey, this Giorno kid is so cool, maybe he should be the one in charge." To me, this feels like poor writing. It never seemed like Giorno earned his accomplishments, and his lack of meaningful character moments makes him feel practically nonexistent.
Diavolo. Diavolo spends all of part 5 hiding his identity, but when you do that, you place plot relevance and emphasis on what his true identity must be. When you create a mystery, you expect there to be a twist—it's like watching an episode of Scooby-Doo, where you try to guess his identity because you feel like he must be someone you already know, someone important, or at least someone unexpected. But Diavolo is none of those things. He's no one; his identity doesn't matter. He could have been anyone—a random guy we've never seen before—and that makes what could have been an interesting twist fall flat. It disappoints me when I think about what Araki could have done instead. Diavolo's backstory doesn't matter because his personality doesn't either; neither becomes an interesting or relevant plot point. His motivation is to conceal his identity and stay the boss, but that's just Kira done poorly. Diavolo is an extremely unremarkable and forgettable antagonist.
Fugo... well, Fugo sucks. He only has one fight and then disappears. Mista and Narancia are pretty cool, but I don't have much to analyze about them.
Abbacchio. I actually really like Abbacchio because I relate to him a lot. Every time he would trash-talk Giorno, I'd be so happy because I always agreed with him. Giorno sucks.
Buccelatti. Okay, this guy is fucking rad. While Giorno sits around talking about his dumb dream hoping it will come true, Bruno is out there accomplishing his dream for him. He has the resolve, the skills, the vision, and he worked hard to become the boss—not Giorno. So seeing Bruno get killed and Giorno take over instead was infuriating and completely disappointing. Bruno succeeded where Giorno failed as a protagonist, yet Giorno gets all the glory because he's the main character.
I won't analyze them individually, but La Squadra was amazing—absolutely incredible. Some of the most compelling villains to date, they have great dynamics with each other, and I was moved by their quest to overthrow the boss to avenge Gelato and Sorbet, their fallen comrades whom the boss killed.
Alright, that's all I wanted to say about the characters. Let's talk about the plot.
We have a really cool story setup: a small-time crook wants to make it big as a gangster, finally gets his chance to rise to the top as his team seeks to overthrow the mysterious gang boss, while a more experienced team of gangsters races against them to kill the boss first, whose reasons for doing so might even be better than our protagonist's. Ordinarily, this would make for a fantastic story, and part 5 might have been the best part of Jojo ever if Giorno and Diavolo had lived up to expectations. I'm disappointed that Risotto, who was a hyped-up villain, ends up getting killed by Doppio instead of Bruno's gang. I think it would have been far more interesting to see Bruno or Giorno fight him. I hate how the final battle was resolved with a deus ex machina—the Requiem Arrow. It's like, what was the point of that whole fight if Giorno just magically wins at the end? All the battles leading up to that were some of the best in the series, and I'd argue every single one of them is better than the final fight. It's incredibly disappointing to see so much hype build up to a fight and receive something so mediocre. People naturally expect the next fight to be better, or at least the final battle, which is the most significant one, to be the best. Failing to deliver on this is shameful on Araki's part. I hate criticizing a normally outstanding mangaka like Araki so harshly, but part 5 was just so disappointing. Also, the part at the end with Rolling Stones was unnecessary and confusing. If you're going to include something like Rolling Stones, don't put it at the end. It would have been a great mini-arc to start with, to foreshadow what would happen later, but honestly, I wouldn't have included it at all.
Now, the art, which is... fellas, the art is good. And I really mean that. Easily the best thing about part 5 is Araki's art. Even though the plot can be flimsy at times, Araki still knows how to craft an incredible manga. The way he constructs panels is simply incredible. There's so much detail in every single one, and the panels always end up being more than the sum of their parts. They're packed with sound effects and spine-cracking poses. There's so much depth to each scene, and he portrays breathtaking settings, especially in this part. You can tell this is Araki's love letter to Italy, and he delivers in the art category. When Araki went to Italy before creating Jojo, he saw the Apollo and Daphne sculpture and wanted to portray that in a manga. He succeeded; his poses are so iconic. Honestly, I cannot praise his art enough.
I'm giving this a 6/10 overall. That sounds bad, but even at its worst, Jojo is still better than average—a decent read, honestly.
Golden Wind is truly the odd one out in the series. You could jump straight from Diamond is Unbreakable to Stone Ocean without losing much continuity. Golden Wind stands almost entirely on its own. There are ties to earlier parts, though, since our hero is the offspring of Dio and Jonathan. The story occasionally leans on his lineage, but Giorno Giovanna himself is fairly straightforward. That said, it works because the Jobros are a cool bunch, Bruno especially. The only flat character is Fugo, as an arc where he would’ve played a key role was cut, which is unfortunate.
In certain respects, Golden Wind blends the best aspects of Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable. It merges Part 4's small-scale focus with Part 3's road trip format, offering a generalized take on Part 5. The narrative is also more intricate than in Part 3. Events unfold meaningfully, making some fights feel pivotal. Even if the plot were absent, these battles are so outstanding they'd still shine. Golden Wind boasts the greatest battles in any anime or manga, a claim I don't make lightly. My sole gripe is that Giorno's Stand feels too similar to Josuke's.
Another highlight is the thematic core of Part 5. Jojo arcs rarely emphasize themes, often serving as purely entertaining stories. Golden Wind, however, explores relationships. Giorno frequently depends on others for victory, just as they rely on him. Even the antagonists depend on one another. Except Diavolo, who seeks to sever all external ties to secure his reign. His isolation leads him to create an alternate personality to counteract humanity's inherent need for love and friendship. Yet Giorno and his crew triumph due to their bonds. This theme is why Golden Wind resonates so deeply with me.
One issue is that the ending feels somewhat like a deus ex machina, raising questions about the subsequent part (I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers). Additionally, King Crimson proves more confusing in the manga compared to the anime. In my view, the anime offers the optimal way to experience Golden Wind.
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