Cradle of Love

My initial experience with Vento Aureo was nothing short of magnificent, then it became slightly less so but still incredibly great, to... well, I'm not entirely sure how to describe it. However, this wasn't due to the story itself losing its charm; rather, it was influenced by the way I read it. Initially, I dove into Jojo's Colored Adventure scans in vibrant full color, which were absolutely stunning. Then, I had to switch to black and white scans because they hadn't been colored yet at that point. Finally, during the finale, I had to rely on outdated, poor-quality scans since Jojo's Colored Adventure hadn't translated that far yet. Despite these challenges, Part 5 remains one of my favorite arcs in the entire Jojo series, though I understand why some might find it less enjoyable even without considering translation issues.

I completed VA several months ago, back in December if memory serves, and since then, Jojo's Colored Adventure has made remarkable progress in coloring and translating this part. In fact, they're set to finish by June 27!

This is significant given that the finale of Part 5 has long been considered the most confusing by fans. The inaccurate translations made it difficult and perplexing to follow the action and dialogue in the climax. Correction: it used to be hard and confusing. JCA are professional translators, and their work speaks for itself—every other Part of Jojo has been translated and colored by them (except for Part 8, which is ongoing, so I'll give it a pass). For about two months now, I've been re-reading arcs as they get colored, and I must say it has genuinely deepened my appreciation of Part 5. It's starting to become my absolute favorite part in the series, surpassing even Parts 4 or 7, but that's a topic for another time.

While I thoroughly enjoyed reading Vento Aureo the first time around, the recoloring and retranslations have truly elevated the experience to something truly golden! If you liked VA initially and are interested in revisiting it now that it's nearly complete, I highly recommend giving it a shot. And if you had doubts about this part before the new scans were available, I encourage you to reconsider. There are inherent issues with the manga unrelated to scan quality, such as Araki's use of flashbacks, exposition, and backstory when introducing main characters, but even accounting for that, Golden Wind is an entertaining story with some of the best artwork and action in any main-series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure arc. Bellissimo!

This might be considered a bold opinion, but I don't care. In my view, Part 5 is the second-best part in the entire Jojo franchise when considering parts 1 through 8; though I'm eagerly awaiting JoJolands. There's so much I want to say about the masterpiece that is Part 5.  

The stands introduced in this part are some of the most thoughtfully designed in all of Jojo. The characters are outstanding, the themes profound, and the supporting villains are the best across the series.  

The consistent forward momentum and setting are incredible. The tone shift and the era it draws inspiration from mesh perfectly with the narrative.  

As for the art style, it's unmistakably Araki, so its brilliance comes as no surprise. I could go on endlessly about how exceptional Giorno is as a character, yet he often receives unwarranted criticism.  

This part is brimming with iconic characters, memorable battles, high stakes, compelling interactions, and so much more to explore.  

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I feel like I'm reading a comic crafted by a seasoned veteran who has mastered the art of creating shonen manga, ticking off all the essential elements. He hits every point on that checklist, yet it feels empty and devoid of the heart that defined earlier JoJo's. It seems like a significant step down from the previous part, which was far more distinctive and emotional. You can really sense the passion Araki must have poured into creating Diamond is Unbreakable in contrast.  

This might be worth checking out for some competent, albeit somewhat monotonous, battles, but overall, you may find yourself struggling to genuinely care by the end of it. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

Part 5 was my first dive into the JoJo manga, as I had become a fan by catching up with the anime just as the "Diamond is Unbreakable" series concluded.  

Switching from the vibrant and stylish anime adaptation to the original manga format was quite a surprise initially, but it didn't take long for me to get hooked. Especially during a memorable dancing scene on top of a boat.  

At first, I wasn't too fond of Giorno. He appeared overly confident, and his self-assuredness occasionally veered into recklessness.  

It wasn't until I encountered the rest of the group that this part truly began to shine. The interactions between the characters are incredibly entertaining, though in a manner distinct from the Stardust Crusaders, whose members were driven by personal ambitions. The Passione gang operates under a shared ideal and holds deep admiration for their leader, Bruno Bucciarati.  

The mafia backdrop gives the story a significant shift toward a more mysterious and thrilling adventure, which I personally found very engaging.  

For me, this is one of the best JoJo parts, blending the sense of adventure from Part 3 with the mystery drama of Part 4. It would be a 10/10 for me if the ending had been slightly different.

Well, at the outset of this review, I want to highlight some very positive aspects that were crucial for the subsequent parts of JJJBA.  
Firstly, Araki's effort in crafting a detailed backstory for each main character, along with assigning distinct motifs to each, is extremely commendable. This evolution can be compared to Part 3 (Stardust Crusaders), where the backstories were shallow and unoriginal. This point was one of the most vital elements of the work.  
Secondly, the resolution and conclusion regarding the Stand powers were executed exceptionally well, mainly because it was a necessary development after such a long narrative arc.  

Let's begin.  

The story starts off well with a unique plot that stands apart from the main storyline, much like Part 2. It begins with good development, a well-constructed geographic setting, and an excellent portrayal of Italian culture, which adds perfection to the narrative. The story captivates right from the start by showing a brief continuation of Part 4, with Koichi playing a role.  

It’s important to note that Golden Wind structures the elements of gangs and mafias in a highly effective manner, which is a significant positive aspect of the work.  

So, why not give the story a higher rating? Simply because Jotaro's quest is sidelined in favor of Giorno's, which feels abandoned. Unlike in Part 4, where certain omissions were not problematic, here there is a stronger connection that could have been better explained. Nevertheless, I consider it a story above average—a good story with a satisfying conclusion that isn't rushed, which is rare in Jojo's series.  

Art: I have no complaints about the art. Here we see Araki's evolution as an artist, retaining many of his old traits while continuously improving.  

Characters: Ah... this is where things get complicated. To explain better, let me compare it to Part 3: In Part 3, we have a somewhat generic Jojo, fitting into a stereotypical edge character mold, but with highly charismatic side characters. Similarly, in this part, Giorno is somewhat bland, showing little emotion, yet surprisingly charismatic. However, he is overshadowed by his companions. What does this have to do with Part 3? Well, here the secondary characters have compelling, well-rooted stories, each with a clear purpose and a more in-depth explanation of their involvement with Passione. This is a strong point—never before in Jojo's series have so many secondary characters been explored and developed to such an extent. Meanwhile, Giorno remains somewhat generic, having moments of glory but nothing extraordinary. I find it difficult to overestimate him just because of his incredible powers.  

Final Villain: I was disappointed with this antagonist. They had all the potential to be better but unfortunately only surpassed some villains like Kars. In terms of charisma, they are on par. While Yoshikage Kira was, in my opinion, the first great villain in Jojo's character construction, in Part 5, this quality diminishes. The main villain is quite ordinary, nothing spectacular, except for an AMAZING ability. I wouldn’t call them a bad villain; on the contrary, their character concept is incredibly original and well-crafted. However, as a villain within the context of Jojo's, they are rather average.  

Final Verdict: My opinion comes from someone who appreciates the work as a whole but doesn't let personal bias override reason. Part 5 is not bad—it has numerous wonderful positive points and its flaws. It is not a masterpiece, nor is it the best part of Jojo's. Giorno lacks the qualities to be considered the best Jojo (unfortunately). Still, I recommend it and disagree with skipping this part just because it seems disconnected from the main story, as matters are resolved here.  

What is missing for it to be better? Perhaps more spotlight for the protagonist throughout the manga, greater depth in his personality, building more climactic tension, and adding more intensity to the final battle. This point might be controversial, as many would argue against my stance, but I cannot agree otherwise. Other parts of the series surpass this in terms of climactic tension and suspense. The final fight also left much to be desired, though it was impossible to extend it further without additional chapters.  

The failure to fully realize the initial premise, something achieved in Part 4, is also disappointing.  

Scores: 7; 8; 8; 8  

I recommend!

DISCLAIMER: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a currently ongoing series with (at the moment of writing), 7 complete parts and one ongoing one. It's important to first make the distinction that this is NOT one ongoing story split into parts, but rather 8 stories in the same universe following the Joestar bloodline, that share similar elements, plot points, and even motivations in some cases.  
Due to that, this and my other JoJo reviews will follow an unique JoJo rating system, since in my opinion it cannot be easily compared to other manga, done in a beginner-friendly way so as to illustrate whether or not it is worth it to get invested in the series, and how it compares to other parts of it.  
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Golden Wind, the second most controversial JoJo part. Before anything, it must be addressed that the reason for the largely negative Western reception to this compared to the largely positive reception in Japan is due to the awful quality scans of the manga published years ago, which tainted people's opinions of it. It's impossible to enjoy a product for its content when the image quality is bad and the translations range from bad to nonsense. That said...  

Golden Wind is amazing.  
It's essentially Stardust Crusaders if they had a better motivation than "stopping world-ending threat and saving my mom." Giorno Giovanna is the son of "Dio," but technically actually Jonathan's since Dio was only the head of the body... yes, that's weird, but just roll with it. Despite being a Joestar, he's akin to Joseph in the sense that he's not exactly a moral protagonist. He used to steal and scam people, and he does some questionable things in the story to further his dream. But what IS his dream?  

Well, the story this time is about the Italian mafia, as Giorno disagrees with their methods (mostly selling drugs to kids) and decides to use his wit and Stand ability to infiltrate it and overtake the Mafia Boss from within. So despite his questionable methods, he's still a good guy deep down.  

Stand Abilities are once again very interesting and cool to look at, thankfully the next JoJo installments follow the Diamond is Unbreakable formula of treating Stand fights as "puzzle fights," and compared to DiU, Golden Wind takes a LOT of liberties with that. A lot of the solutions to these Stand fights are borderline nonsensical due to how Giorno's modus operandi is, so if you can get over the fact that "I turned my hand into a piranha and turned your bike into your hand" is a legitimate way of winning a fight, then you'll really enjoy the insanity of it. Unlike previous parts, due to their traveling all over Italy, you're going to see a lot of iconic locations and awesome set pieces.  

The cast is awesome. Bruno's gang, of which Giorno is a part of, is filled with interesting characters with a ton of personality akin to Josuke's circle of friends in Part 4. A big difference this time is that Giorno's relation with the rest of the gang is very similar to Jonathan-Zeppeli and Joseph-Caesar, which is to say they're ALWAYS helping each other and looking out for each other.  

After the lighthearted Part 4, Part 5 comes in heavy as a ton of bricks, with a lot of brutal deaths left and right. Forget Stardust's and Diamond's "ENEMY: RETIRED" status; these guys get MURDERED. Which makes sense since they're all gangsters, but it's still a big shock to see.  

The main villain is the most misunderstood in JoJo, largely due to how complex his psyche is. His appearance in the manga comes a little bit too late, and his development comes a little bit too fast for most people to care about, and as a result, his motivations get misunderstood and he gets chalked up to being "evil for the sake of evil."  

It's also important to realize that unlike previous parts, Giorno is NOT the focus of the manga, as he is only one of the members of Passione, the gang. So it only makes sense that the rest of them would be about as competent as he is, and sure enough, everyone except one of them gets enough screen time and battles of their own to solidify them as real characters, unlike previous supporting casts in the series. This leads to people thinking "it's bad because Giorno's bad," when in reality, it's just that everyone is around the same level as he is, and he's not even the boss of his own gang, so of course Bruno will be competent enough to handle things on his own sometimes. Which is not a FLAW, it's a CHOICE.  

Overall, it's yet another very solid entry into the JoJo series, and there are few flaws with it that I agree with (mostly some Stand fights drag on, and some abilities are in fact nonsense), but I cannot say that they really impacted my enjoyment of the manga as a whole, and I would recommend checking this one out, but keeping an open mind about it.

<p>Vento Aureo is a continuation of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. While it's a great addition to the series, I think it's the weakest one I've read so far. This might be partly because I have trouble relating to the characters and the translation is mediocre. As for the story, it's pretty much the same as the other parts of Jojo. There are enemies and the main characters have to fight them, which is essentially what it boils down to. The main characters are all gangsters, which just makes me a little less interested. </p>
<p>Overall, the story is good, but just good and nothing more. The art, in my opinion, is amazing, and Araki never stops being awesome at drawing. The characters have cool designs, and the new stands introduced are very unique and cool. I enjoyed it, but unlike the previous parts, I didn't feel like reading it sometimes and waited a long time before I finished.</p>

Vento Aureo represents the fifth part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, chronicling Giorno Giovanna's ambition to become the leader of Italy's most powerful gang, Passione. With Bruno Bucciarati and his team offering crucial support, this part stands out as one of my favorites due to its intense stand battles. The fights in Vento Aureo are notably more brutal compared to earlier parts, adding an element of unpredictability. A prime example is seen in the 'The Grateful Dead' storyline.

Each stand confrontation in this part surpasses the last in memorability, evoking genuine satisfaction each time an enemy stand is defeated. From parts 1 to 7, Araki employs a consistent narrative structure where the protagonist has a clear objective—whether it's defeating an immortal vampire, capturing a serial killer, or reaching Egypt. To maintain reader engagement, obstacles are placed in the protagonist's path, introducing what I call the 'Stand-user of the week' formula. This involves new enemy stand users appearing in each chapter for the heroes to combat until they confront the main villain.

In my opinion, Vento Aureo excels at this formula because its adversaries are far more unforgiving and resilient than those in previous parts. Any minor villain from Part 5 could potentially serve as the main antagonist, showcasing their formidable capabilities. Earlier parts often focused excessively on the main villain, making the journey seem like an easily surmountable ladder for the protagonist. In contrast, Vento Aureo starts with quick progress but becomes increasingly challenging as Bucciarati's gang uncovers clues about the main villain, Diavolo. As stakes rise and enemies grow tougher, the metaphorical ladder shakes, symbolizing the heightened threat level.

Diavolo, the leader of Passione, remains shrouded in mystery until late in the story, keeping readers intrigued as each chapter reveals new hints about him. Parts 1, 2, and 3 failed to sustain this suspense, making their stand battles feel repetitive and predictable. Vento Aureo boasts a strong roster of unique stands and characters, with Bucciarati's gang standing out as the most likable group in JoJo thus far. Unlike previous parts, the characters in Part 5 are introduced collectively rather than individually, enhancing the sense of uncertainty and aiding character development.

Among the standout characters are Bruno Bucciarati, admired for his righteousness and kindness, Narancia, known for his childlike innocence, Mista, who transitions from comic relief to a serious figure during battles, and Risotto, a memorable minor antagonist with the terrifying Metallica stand. Despite these strengths, Vento Aureo has some flaws: the ending feels rushed, although the light novel 'Purple Haze Feedback' provides additional closure. Additionally, the relentless pace of stand battles offers little respite for readers. Nevertheless, the art style in Vento Aureo ranks second only to that of SRB/Part 7, thanks to its distinctive facial structures and striking stand designs.

Considering all factors, I've rated Vento Aureo an 8/10. I apologize if this review lacks clarity; I'm still refining my skills.

- Loak