In what can be considered the grand finale of Jojo, Stone Ocean has a lot to live up to. But does it deliver?
STORY: 9/10
Stone Ocean begins 10 years after Golden Wind, following Jotaro’s daughter, Jolyne, who is wrongfully imprisoned in a jail where the warden, the enigmatic Father Pucci, may have ties to DIO.
Stone Ocean is one of the more dramatic Parts. It is much more story-focused than other Parts, which often used their narratives as an excuse for a voyage filled with fight after fight. Stone Ocean's plot truly concludes Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure up to this point, and it delivers. In particular, the ending deserves praise and offers a beautiful conclusion to one of the most legendary manga series of all time—until Part 7, that is! Stone Ocean is a fantastic and dramatic journey that packs an emotional punch stronger than any physical blow thrown in its battles.
ART: 9/10
I might be a bit biased because Stone Ocean is the only Part whose fully colored scans are completely translated into English. It features some truly stunning artwork, and the colors enhance its appeal significantly. However, character designs take a slight hit. Jotaro no longer resembles the bulked-up powerhouse he once was, DIO is just... ugh, and a character named Anasui closely mirrors Diavolo’s design from Part 5. On the other hand, characters like Jolyne, Foo Fighters, Weather Report, and Father Pucci boast excellent designs.
CHARACTERS: 8/10
The supporting cast is enjoyable. Jolyne’s best friend, Hermes, is both funny and badass, Foo Fighters is adorable and hilarious, and Weather Report is mysterious with a crazy Stand power. However, Jotaro and Anasui are the weakest links. Jotaro feels ruined in Part 6, reduced to a shadow of his former self from Part 4, while Anasui comes off as an overly edgy "muh waifu" type.
The Jojo of this Part, Jolyne, is the only female Jojo to date. She is a fascinating and dynamic character who undergoes significant development throughout the story and is well-defined as her own individual. The main villain, Father Pucci, is my second favorite Jojo antagonist. He is menacing and incredibly powerful but not maniacal like his master, DIO. Pucci is one of the most human Jojo villains, and his backstory provides justification for his actions and perspectives.
ENJOYMENT: 8/10
Stone Ocean is a captivating and entertaining Part. The characters elevate the experience, making you genuinely care about each one. Jolyne’s adventure is among the most mature and well-written character arcs in Jojo, and the fights are spectacular. It also features some of the most insane and devastating Stands, easily making it the most "bizarre" Part.
OVERALL: 8.5/10
Stone Ocean is excellent. It marks a very mature turn for Jojo and foreshadows the series' transition from shounen to seinen in Part 7. It’s a great story overall. The ending sparks discussion and interpretation and ranks among the best I’ve ever encountered. Filled with compelling drama and intense fights, Stone Ocean surprises readers at every turn and isn’t afraid to take extreme and bold risks.
<p>It's possible that other people might say the first three parts are the best, but I believe this part is one of the greatest. Part 6, Stone Ocean, in my opinion, has the best ending and features the best duo. While some may think Jolyne and Hermes are the ultimate pair, I believe Anasui and Weather Report are the best duo. I really enjoy the friendship they share and their dynamic. In my view, Weather Report is the best character in this part. I also love how Pucci, a Black man, employs the KKK to kill a white man. The ending was both happy and, at the same time, sad. The enemies in this part are cooler, and their abilities are more complex. I started reading Stone Ocean before it was animated, and I have no regrets about it.</p>
I wasn't a fan of Part 5, so I was hoping this one would be better, especially since the prison setting seemed like a refreshing change for JoJo. Unfortunately, for me, this is the worst part so far.
The story flows nicely, and the ending, while strange, was quite unique and somewhat satisfying. But again, I'm talking about the story, not the final fight. The last battle was average and dull, just like in Part 5. That's the issue—this part has the worst fights in the entire series. At least in Part 5, every bad fight was balanced by a good one, but most of the fights here are mediocre or worse. Chapters 1-20 were intriguing, and I was excited to continue reading, but after that, the quality drops significantly. They start introducing the main cast, and I found myself forcing my way through boring and overly complex battles. Especially the fight against the old man with the dragon—it was so tedious that I lost focus halfway through. After Chapter 100, it became truly monotonous, and I was only pushing through to finish it. Essentially, almost all the stands in this part are uninteresting, which is what made me dislike it the most.
The characters are hit or miss, similar to Part 5.
Jolyne has a great personality, definitely one of the best in the series, but her stand isn't showcased much throughout the part, making her slightly less enjoyable. Her being Jotaro's daughter adds engagement, and their interactions are hilarious. I'd say she's a better character than Giorno overall.
Hermes is my least favorite among the main characters. Her backstory and revenge plot felt forced and out of place; she comes across as an empty character to me.
Annasui was okay. His stand was lackluster, but his personality was decent, though they didn't really explain his habit of breaking things or expand on it. His interactions with Jolyne were inconsistent.
Pucci started off as an average character for me, but once we learned his backstory, I grew to like him. His goal was weird yet fascinating. I was genuinely surprised by his actions at the end, which made him a far better character than Diavolo.
That's all I have to say about the main characters. There are others, but they're fine, I guess.
I begin to think the author lacked inspiration when creating this part. Even Part 3, despite its inconsistencies, had plenty of great fights. It's disappointing that I can only name 3-4 good fights in Part 6, and two of them happen early on. I'm glad this part is supposedly the conclusion of Parts 1-6, and that the author took JoJo in a new direction afterward because it clearly needed it after this installment.
This was the first manga I ever read, and I'm incredibly glad it was. After binge-watching all the JoJo anime up to that point, I couldn't contain my excitement—I had to know where the story went from there. So, I picked it up and just couldn't put it down. In short, despite its fair share of eccentricities, Stone Ocean is an incredible arc with a gripping narrative. It serves as a fitting conclusion to the saga before the new continuity kicks off in Steel Ball Run. This part will always remain one of my favorites, and I hold it dear to my heart. I truly believe you should give it a genuine chance.
While Part 5 felt like the most self-contained chapter to me, I'd argue that Part 6 is the least so, as it primarily acts as a continuation and resolution of elements introduced in Part 3 and earlier. Understanding the context from those arcs is crucial to grasping why events unfold the way they do. A common critique of Part 6 is that Stands grow excessively complex, making some battles hard to follow. I see where that sentiment comes from; the lengthy explanations detailing these bizarre abilities can sometimes feel exhausting. However, for me, these aspects don't significantly detract from the overall experience. Araki was clearly experimenting wildly here—he drew inspiration from various random facts to craft Stands based on concepts like Skyrods, Zeno's Paradox, Universe Bounceback Theory, Möbius Strips, Feng Shui, and more. Despite the complexity, it remains undeniably entertaining.
Ultimately, the story is fantastic, the characters are consistently compelling, the art is breathtaking, and it's exhilarating to witness the epic tale of the Joestars and Dio reach its conclusion in such a manner. Moreover, the ending delivers a perfect bittersweet closure to a journey that began decades ago. Stone Ocean will forever occupy a special place in my heart. What a wonderful world indeed!
I provided a review for the preceding part, Vento Aureo/Ougon no Kaze (Jojo Part 5), and this review will mirror that one quite closely.
My take on Vento Aureo was that towards the end (the final third or so), the narrative started to drag, the stands grew excessively convoluted, and the character designs became distracting and irritating. This was disappointing because the first two-thirds were fantastic, boasting an incredible premise, engaging characters, and fascinating stands.
This sentiment holds true for Stone Ocean as well.
The concept is incredibly cool: Jolyne Kujo must escape from a prison overrun with stand users? Brilliant!
The characters are also solid, featuring some truly inventive stands.
However, once again, the last third (closer to the halfway point) becomes significantly drawn out, leaving me wishing it would just end already. They keep introducing new characters with overly complex stands, characters whose stand abilities shift unpredictably, and stands based on absurdly obscure phenomena and urban legends, dragging on endlessly across volumes.
And it only gets worse as it approaches its conclusion. Then it ends, and the ending is truly terrible.
That's why I rate it an overall 4 and 4 for story. While the first two-thirds are absolutely fantastic and enjoyable to read, the ending is so abysmal that it substantially lowers the score.
Once more, I advise you to stop following Jojo after part 4.
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 6: Stone Ocean Review
(This review is not spoiler heavy nor is it spoiler free)
Story (7/10) Good
More Specifically (7.50/10) Good
The story for Part 6 Stone Ocean was good but it definitely is probably the least liked story of JoJo's thus far overall, including Part 1. Now, the reason I say this is not because of its main plot, which at the beginning had A LOT of potential and I was hyped for it. Personally, I care far more about the execution of a story than what the story actually is. I feel the execution of Part 6's story left much to be desired. I don't care how much hype or suspense you built up in the synopsis or those first few chapters because when it's all said and done, and you look back on how it went through and concluded, I can't give this any higher than a 7.50. Which isn't bad—7 means good to me. But coming from JoJo's, that is quite low for me. What I think really killed it for me the absolute most was the ending, and if you know how it ends, then I don't need to say anymore. As far as I see, the majority of people liked it because it gave them the "feels" or because it's the first female Joestar protagonist, but for me, I can't cosign this as a very good conclusion or an overall story. Additionally, the villain-of-the-week formula for this part I felt was at its weakest and least memorable (which is probably why this part was the last part to heavily rely on that formula).
Art (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.75/10) Very Good+
The art in Part 6 was very good, and out of all the categories, I would say it's the best thing Part 6 had to offer in terms of its art style. It was definitely better than Part 5. Character designs were better than the previous part, but I would consider it only a tad better for characters like Part 6 Jotaro, Enrico Pucci, Jolyne, and Sports Maxx. The only design I didn't like was Annasui, for the same reason why I couldn't get behind the majority, if not all, of the designs for the Part 5 cast—it's too flamboyant for me (And yes, I do know Annasui was supposed to be a girl, but either way, I'm not a fan of that character's outfit design, at least for a guy). I know this is JoJo's, but at the end of the day, I don't like it, and characters like Jotaro prove that Araki doesn't have to make them look like drag queens, especially when we see Annasui in his purple outfit, which is better. Anyway, the fight choreography, I had quite a few issues with back in Part 5, but not so much in Part 6. In Part 5, it happened in almost every fight, but in Part 6, I only really remember it happening about twice, and since Part 6 is longer than Part 5, I do see that as an improvement because no one likes being confused. Lastly, the art style on the characters' faces did change throughout the series, but none of them were bad art style choices to me, and it really wasn't even that noticeable when the change occurs, which is a good thing because I saw it in Part 4 and Part 5 to a noticeable degree, and I had to live with it.
Characters (7/10) Good
More Specifically (7.75/10) Good+
The characters in Part 6 Stone Ocean, I thought, didn't live up to what I usually expect from JoJo's. Coming into this, Jolyne, being the daughter of Jotaro, I felt had great potential. Her start was fun and extremely unique in comparison to any Joestar protagonist before her. She had some character development with her father, and she stayed at a consistent pace of fun/chipper during regular downtime events and brave/fearless during serious/battle moments. I didn't have that big of an issue with Jolyne Cujo as I do think she is more entertaining than Giorno, Jotaro, and Jonathon; she's arguably up there with Josuke and Joseph. I would say she's a mix of Joseph and Jotaro—entertaining like Joseph and fearless like her father—and she knows when to stop her comedic relief and act serious and vice versa, whereas Joseph was comedic relief all the time, and Jotaro was serious all the time (which isn't a bad thing but helps Jolyne as a character standpoint by being more dynamic when comparing her to those two). Now, as far as the majority of the other characters in Part 6, this can't be said. Emporio was an okay character, and I felt he was basically the Speedwagon, Robert E. O., or Koichi of this part where, for the majority of the time, his role was to commentate on what's going on during fight scenes, which isn't a bad role, it's just besides that I felt he didn't serve much of a purpose until the very, very end of the manga, and I didn't care for him too much for the majority of the manga, which even at the ending, I felt he, out of all characters, didn't deserve that shine. Annasui's character made no sense to me as he's first introduced as a character that apparently doesn't give a shit about anything according to Emporio, and all of a sudden falls for you know who, and it just felt out of nowhere and forced, which is probably what it was since he wasn't even supposed to be a "he" to begin with, but we aren't going to talk more about that. Weather Report I felt was another dull character, and aside from his backstory, which we got close to the end of the manga, he had nothing going for him as a character I'm supposed to stay interested in either (in hindsight, I like him a lot, but not because he's interesting in the present story but because his backstory holds up very well). Costello Hermes was a decent character, and although her backstory wasn't as entertaining as Weather Report's and is a bit too similar to that of Polnareff in Part 3, she still ends up being entertaining and keeping up with Jolyne's wild/entertaining side—the alligator scene just shows that Hermes and Jolyne were like two peas in a pod, and it was always entertaining to read with little downtime we actually got in this part. Foo Fighters I felt was a random character, unique and debatable if I liked her or "it" as a character; I felt it died a bit too early, and that hindered my final impressions on the character because I wanted to see more. Enrico Pucci is a very good villain as every time he's shown, suspense occurred within me—he's a character with a semi-god complex, and those types are always cool to me. His two backstories were also entertaining to read and gave us a better look at a side of a previous villain that we barely see, and with the combination of him and Enrico, it made that other villain's characterization retroactively deeper, which some can see that as a good thing or a bad thing—I see it as a good thing since it doesn't heavily contradict the characterization of that said past villain. And the other backstory he has that intertwines with Weather Report was also a very good but fucked-up backstory. I never thought Enrico Pucci by the end of Part 6 would leave this much of an impact on the entire series because when you think about it, he indeed leaves the biggest impact BY FAR. All of the side villains, other than Sports Maxx and MAYBE Versace, aren't really worth mentioning, which is a bad thing. So, with all that being said, the only characters from Part 6 I can give my personal approval to are Jolyne, Hermes, Pucci, and maybe Weather Report, which isn't closer to a bad thing than a good thing, seeing as that's only four characters overall. (Jotaro doesn't count since he's a returning character, and I maybe would give some extra points if I saw a father/daughter ORA ORA beat down, but that never happened.)
Enjoyment (6/10) Fine
More Specifically (6.75/10) Fine+
My enjoyment for Part 6 Stone Ocean was a roller coaster as when it first started, I was really hyped based on what I heard, people's rating of it, and the adventure of following the offspring of Jotaro. But once the cast is introduced and the constant flow of uninteresting enemies came flowing in, I quickly became less interested, and if it wasn't focused on moving the main plot forward or showing off a backstory, it kind of felt like a chore to read, which is a bad thing. People complained about the villain-of-the-week formula that Part 3 introduced, but I personally felt Part 6 did it far worse—a decent amount of them were far from entertaining. I'm sure when it gets animated, it'll probably be more enjoyable to experience. My enjoyment went up around the end, but then that ending left me extremely unsatisfied because I'm a guy that loves a good payoff conclusion, and Part 6's conclusion I would consider the most controversial to the entire JoJo universe at this point for obvious reasons. I have no clue how anime watchers will react to such an ending when it ever gets animated. I've heard some people say they liked it, and some, like me, say "wtf kind of ending was that."
Overall (7/10) Good
More Specifically (7.75/10) Good+
Part 6 was good, but it, in my opinion, doesn't live up to the hype everyone gives it. This is probably my least liked part of JoJo's yet, as now I would rank them Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 5, Part 1, and this one, Part 6. I always wondered why Part 7 took place in an alternate universe and I thought that was a mangaka decision which was not affected by the part that happened previously to it. But I was wrong—that ending felt like something you would expect from a DC or Marvel comic where the universe has to take place in a different one because of how messy it ended up getting in the previous parts before it, and that's not a good thing in my books. Hopefully, Part 7 lives up to the hype that everyone puts it at. A lot of people consider it "The best JoJo's Part Araki has ever created," now it just feels like moving from X-men 3 to Days of Future Past... we'll see when I read it in a couple of weeks.
Stone Ocean was an intriguing experience. Right after finishing it, I recalled enjoying the journey, but upon reflection, it's clear that it has significant flaws. There are certainly commendable aspects, yet many issues were evident from the outset. Let's delve into the story, which I will be discussing in detail, including spoilers.
The narrative is fairly straightforward. Jolyne is wrongfully accused of a crime and ends up in prison. Her father, Jotaro, arrives to assist her but is placed in a comatose state by the main antagonist. Consequently, Jolyne must remain in the prison to uncover the assailant and rescue her father. While I don't anticipate much complexity in the overarching stories, Stone Ocean stands out as the weakest in terms of structural execution. Stardust Crusaders' storyline had its own set of problems: the 'ticking time bomb' element combined with filler episodes and minimal character development. Many of these issues resurface in Stone Ocean (though the characters are slightly better-developed here), but the traveling aspect of the Crusaders provided a sense of progression. This isn't the case in Stone Ocean, as the characters are confined within a prison. Although the plot is more dynamic than in Stardust Crusaders, this doesn't negate the fact that numerous arcs contribute little or nothing to the overall story. The prison setting is extensively explored, but this doesn't alleviate the narrative shortcomings, and the characters aren't freed from the prison until about two-thirds through the story.
The characters are generally good. Jolyne is somewhat more engaging than most Jojo protagonists. Her relationship with her father, Jotaro, introduces an element of vulnerability, though this isn't significantly developed after Jotaro falls into his comatose state. Similarly, Hermes receives a backstory reminiscent of Polnareff early on but doesn't have much to do afterward. These characters possess some motivation and can be entertaining, but they aren't exceptional. Foo Fighters, however, is one of the standout characters in the series. She's hilariously funny, conceptually fascinating as a sentient amalgamation of plankton, and exits the story on a high note. Anasui is decent; I find him amusing, but the theme of 'a murderer striving to improve for the love of a girl' could have been further explored. Weather Report remains mysterious for most of the series and essentially transforms into a different person before his demise. Honestly, he isn't my favorite character.
Pucci is adequate but inferior to most other villains in the series. I appreciate that he had a connection (interpret that as you wish) with Dio, yet his vision of 'heaven' remains ambiguously vague until the conclusion, leaving me uncertain if even he knew what he desired. Dio's sons are serviceable representations of Dio's negative traits and offer some interest.
The stands in Stone Ocean are notoriously perplexing. Dragon's Dream, Heavy Weather, those baffling rods, and several others lack clear explanations. Nevertheless, Stone Free, Jolyne's stand, might just be my favorite among all Jojo stands. Despite its limitations, it's utilized creatively in various ways. Pucci's stands are excellent too (all of them), but the peculiar digestion ability eludes me—it should have been one of Pucci's discs. However, the concept of discs containing people's stands is perfect for a villain. Gravity manipulation? Outstanding. The power to move at light speed, accelerating the world to a degree where the universe repeats and everyone knows their destinies? A terrifying notion. Other cool stands include Bohemian Rhapsody, which brings fictional characters to life. How is it defeated? The heroes create a character that defeats Bohemian Rhapsody, which then comes to life and does so. Absolutely remarkable. Returning to the topic, Stone Ocean is arguably on par with Stardust Crusaders as having the worst stands in the series, ironically for opposite reasons.
The ending is a fascinating aspect because, despite the series often delivering mediocre conclusions, Stone Ocean's is undoubtedly the best. Emporio wasn't particularly memorable overall—I forgot about him until I started writing this paragraph. However, his role provided a strong finale with a happy ending for the Joestars: one free from Dio's influence, bringing closure to the original saga of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Reflecting on it, the effectiveness of this ending lies in one of the series' central themes: Fate. Emporio was destined to meet Jolyne and the others, and Jolyne was fated to become a hero despite her trials. One could argue against the validity of fate, but within the context of Jojo's fictional universe, it resonates effectively in many ways.
The artwork is solid throughout. If you've read Golden Wind, you know what to expect: expressive yet detailed with stylish designs and poses. The paneling is also commendable; while not the finest I've encountered, it's clear and enhances the reading experience.
In summary, Stone Ocean is decent. It's not the worst part of Jojo's series, but it's far from the best. If you've followed the series up to this point, you should definitely read it, but be prepared for a wandering plot, mixed battle sequences, and an overall underdeveloped cast.
Stone Ocean, in my opinion, is by far the worst part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. I was expecting a well-crafted story, but instead, it was non-stop action. Literally, non-stop action. Throughout the entire arc (except for some chapters focusing on DIO), characters do nothing but fight. Additionally, I found the fights in this part to be the worst in all of JoJo. They were dull and rarely moved the story forward.
On a positive note, the main cast had some fun characters. I enjoyed Jolyne Cujoh the most; she's a fantastic protagonist. The other characters were also interesting, but unfortunately, they don't get much screen time. The antagonist, too, lacked depth, as they don't have a clear goal and rely heavily on luck.
One good aspect of Stone Ocean is its bizarreness—it feels the most "JoJo" out of all the parts because of its eccentricity. If you decide to read this manga, I highly recommend doing so in color, as it becomes very confusing without them.
SUMMARY:
+bizarreness
+Jolyne is an excellent protagonist
-too much focus on fighting that doesn't advance the plot
-too much spotlight on Jolyne
There are additional reasons why this is my least favorite JoJo part, but I can't elaborate due to spoilers.
Stone Ocean serves as a profoundly cathartic conclusion to the main JoJo universe, though it feels somewhat like the black sheep of the JoJo manga series. It doesn't receive harsh criticism akin to certain Part 5 translations, nor does it garner the acclaim that Part 7 enjoys. Nevertheless, I believe it's still worth discussing.
For my part, there isn't much I can fault except for the dialogue and some Stand abilities. Panels occasionally become overly verbose, and abilities seem to contradict King Crimson's simplicity by over-explaining and complicating themselves. Jolyne's Stand is straightforward: manipulate string and pack a powerful punch. However, when you reach something like Dragon's Dream, well...
Regardless, Araki's art continues to evolve into a slimmer, more model-like style, which I think suits the series perfectly given its longstanding fashion inspiration. The backgrounds are impressive, and Stand designs remain unique and intriguing.
The characters are all excellent. Notable members of the main cast include Foo Fighters, Hermes, and Weather Report. Among the villains, we have Sports Maxx, Miraschon, and of course the primary antagonist Pucci. As with almost every other part, DIO continues to be a significant influence even after his demise, this time with world-altering repercussions.
Part 6 isn't my favorite installment of JoJo, but I can honestly say I enjoyed it. It frustrates me that I can't pinpoint what isn't "clicking" for me here; perhaps it's just the extensive text I have to endure, who knows.
Excuse me if my English isn't perfect—I'm actually writing this mostly with the help of a translator.
Although Stone Ocean has its fair share of comedy and absurd moments, it's primarily the part where Araki crafted a compelling tragic story—a drama set in a prison involving Stands? That sounds incredible!
And then there's a Black gay priest striving to reach the "sky"? That sounds even better.
Jolyne, Hermes, Anasui, Weather Report, and even F.F. all have their reasons tied into the narrative, creating immense tension and drama as we uncover who the user of White Snake really is.
The character development here is outstanding; even Jotaro feels more human and relatable compared to his portrayal in earlier parts.
As for the antagonist, Pucci—he seems to me one of the best I've encountered in any story. His backstory and motivations for "reaching heaven" are deeply justifiable, making every action he takes seem logical from his perspective.
Jolyne stands out as the first JoJo character with significant character development compared to previous arcs.
I'm genuinely impressed by how Araki handles philosophy so effectively without overcomplicating or ruining it.
That said, on the downside—and not counting the main antagonist—the other villains aren't particularly memorable, and their Stands often don't make much sense. However, the weekly villain formula isn't as prevalent here as in earlier parts, and these foes still contribute meaningfully to advancing the plot.
There’s not much more I can say about this part—it simply feels like Araki's finest work. Memorable characters, an excellent antagonist, a deeply reflective ending that leaves a lasting impact, and superb dialogue all come together seamlessly. The issues within the story are handled exceptionally well. I don't understand why so many people disliked it or consider it the worst when it's clearly very well-written.
Thank you for reading! (Originally written by me in a Reddit post.)
OK, here we see for the first time what Araki undoubtedly wanted to convey, and if you disagree that this is by far the best part of the first six, then there are issues.
In all the previous parts, we see a serious problem that plagues 95% of JoJo protagonists: lack of growth. None of the characters seem to measure up; with few exceptions, they all have either decent or poor plots and die in stupid and emotionless ways. Here, we see the complete opposite—Jolyne is an exceptionally well-crafted character throughout the chapters. Her brutally feminine and human actions give this part a charisma entirely of its own because of her, unlike someone like Giorno, who feels like a deus ex machina, or a character like Joseph, who is forced to be funny by the script despite being unlikable. This applies to most others except Josuke, which I discuss further in my DiU review.
The villain is certainly one of the best. Instead of hiding and being shrouded in mystery, we all know who Pucci is, and as the story progresses, we uncover his backstory and goals, making everything crystal clear. This contrasts sharply with Diavolo, who hides throughout the manga and, when revealed, turns out to be a huge disappointment. Personally, this narrative style surrounding Pucci excites me.
I admit the manga unnecessarily drags on with its focus on the prison, but in this section, it was kind of unavoidable for the plot.
I will not comment on the ending.
The JoJo fandom should stop loving the terrible Part 2 and start appreciating this one more.
Women in prison. Alright, I've got your attention now.
Featuring one of the most absurdly intense and violent games of catch ever, Stone Ocean surpasses even Part 5 of the JoJo saga. If Golden Wind was the pinnacle of the JoJo franchise, then Stone Ocean is the peak. Okay, they both essentially mean the same thing, but you get the gist.
Starring Jotaro's daughter—stoic, bland yet incredibly powerful—the story leaps a few years ahead to 2011, Florida, USA. Jolyne finds herself in a "tight spot," as the Japanese would say. She's on her way to a sprawling prison complex off the coast of Florida, having been framed, hearing voices in her head, and now there's a string inexplicably protruding from her finger. Things just got real.
The JoJo saga has always showcased a vast array of unique characters and abilities, but at its heart, it revolves around a simple concept: the violent clash between two bloodlines—Joestar versus Dio and his minions. Stone Ocean is no exception, though lacking Dio himself, his influence continues to plague the unfortunate Joestar lineage. Free from the overt humor of Part 4 and following Part 5's unbelievably potent powers, Araki found himself in a tight spot, pondering where to take the story next.
What better solution than introducing more female characters into the saga and setting it in a confined space brimming with potential? A maximum-security prison split between females on one side and males on the other becomes the backdrop. Jolyne is thrust into a brutal world without allies, forced to learn the rules of prison society, such as how to bribe people just to make a phone call.
The abilities are still named after famous artists and bands, yet they're far more unconventional and bizarre than usual. You have to admire it. The imagination displayed throughout the JoJo saga consistently surprises, leaving you in awe of Hirohiko Araki's creativity, like pitting two seasoned stand-users against a newborn baby. You'll be grinning or pumping your fist in excitement at how Araki maintains tension and danger for the characters, pushing them to their limits before pulling them out of harm's way. It never feels like a cop-out; he always makes their efforts to escape danger believable and well-earned.
Jolyne is a compelling character, feminine yet assertive like all JoJos, intelligent, and equipped with a highly useful ability that she exploits to its fullest potential, frequently extricating herself from perilous situations and delivering brutal beatings to those who cross her.
Stone Ocean is another stellar addition to the JoJo saga, a brilliant shonen with enough horror elements to almost classify it as seinen. The battles are ingenious and often brutal, filled with body mutilation, and as typical for an Araki manga, climaxes result from characters acting intelligently rather than contrived power-ups, a trend prevalent in post-millennium works.
In terms of rating the final battle of this volume compared to others, it undoubtedly ranks among the best, a significant improvement over Part 5's battle in Italy. There are insane powers causing chaos on a global scale and unexpected counterattacks that remain logically consistent within the context of the manga.
I adore the author; he consistently devises crazy solutions to crazy problems. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is as enduring and consistently entertaining as the Joestar bloodline itself.
Popular Reviews
STORY: 9/10
Stone Ocean begins 10 years after Golden Wind, following Jotaro’s daughter, Jolyne, who is wrongfully imprisoned in a jail where the warden, the enigmatic Father Pucci, may have ties to DIO.
Stone Ocean is one of the more dramatic Parts. It is much more story-focused than other Parts, which often used their narratives as an excuse for a voyage filled with fight after fight. Stone Ocean's plot truly concludes Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure up to this point, and it delivers. In particular, the ending deserves praise and offers a beautiful conclusion to one of the most legendary manga series of all time—until Part 7, that is! Stone Ocean is a fantastic and dramatic journey that packs an emotional punch stronger than any physical blow thrown in its battles.
ART: 9/10
I might be a bit biased because Stone Ocean is the only Part whose fully colored scans are completely translated into English. It features some truly stunning artwork, and the colors enhance its appeal significantly. However, character designs take a slight hit. Jotaro no longer resembles the bulked-up powerhouse he once was, DIO is just... ugh, and a character named Anasui closely mirrors Diavolo’s design from Part 5. On the other hand, characters like Jolyne, Foo Fighters, Weather Report, and Father Pucci boast excellent designs.
CHARACTERS: 8/10
The supporting cast is enjoyable. Jolyne’s best friend, Hermes, is both funny and badass, Foo Fighters is adorable and hilarious, and Weather Report is mysterious with a crazy Stand power. However, Jotaro and Anasui are the weakest links. Jotaro feels ruined in Part 6, reduced to a shadow of his former self from Part 4, while Anasui comes off as an overly edgy "muh waifu" type.
The Jojo of this Part, Jolyne, is the only female Jojo to date. She is a fascinating and dynamic character who undergoes significant development throughout the story and is well-defined as her own individual. The main villain, Father Pucci, is my second favorite Jojo antagonist. He is menacing and incredibly powerful but not maniacal like his master, DIO. Pucci is one of the most human Jojo villains, and his backstory provides justification for his actions and perspectives.
ENJOYMENT: 8/10
Stone Ocean is a captivating and entertaining Part. The characters elevate the experience, making you genuinely care about each one. Jolyne’s adventure is among the most mature and well-written character arcs in Jojo, and the fights are spectacular. It also features some of the most insane and devastating Stands, easily making it the most "bizarre" Part.
OVERALL: 8.5/10
Stone Ocean is excellent. It marks a very mature turn for Jojo and foreshadows the series' transition from shounen to seinen in Part 7. It’s a great story overall. The ending sparks discussion and interpretation and ranks among the best I’ve ever encountered. Filled with compelling drama and intense fights, Stone Ocean surprises readers at every turn and isn’t afraid to take extreme and bold risks.
The story flows nicely, and the ending, while strange, was quite unique and somewhat satisfying. But again, I'm talking about the story, not the final fight. The last battle was average and dull, just like in Part 5. That's the issue—this part has the worst fights in the entire series. At least in Part 5, every bad fight was balanced by a good one, but most of the fights here are mediocre or worse. Chapters 1-20 were intriguing, and I was excited to continue reading, but after that, the quality drops significantly. They start introducing the main cast, and I found myself forcing my way through boring and overly complex battles. Especially the fight against the old man with the dragon—it was so tedious that I lost focus halfway through. After Chapter 100, it became truly monotonous, and I was only pushing through to finish it. Essentially, almost all the stands in this part are uninteresting, which is what made me dislike it the most.
The characters are hit or miss, similar to Part 5.
Jolyne has a great personality, definitely one of the best in the series, but her stand isn't showcased much throughout the part, making her slightly less enjoyable. Her being Jotaro's daughter adds engagement, and their interactions are hilarious. I'd say she's a better character than Giorno overall.
Hermes is my least favorite among the main characters. Her backstory and revenge plot felt forced and out of place; she comes across as an empty character to me.
Annasui was okay. His stand was lackluster, but his personality was decent, though they didn't really explain his habit of breaking things or expand on it. His interactions with Jolyne were inconsistent.
Pucci started off as an average character for me, but once we learned his backstory, I grew to like him. His goal was weird yet fascinating. I was genuinely surprised by his actions at the end, which made him a far better character than Diavolo.
That's all I have to say about the main characters. There are others, but they're fine, I guess.
I begin to think the author lacked inspiration when creating this part. Even Part 3, despite its inconsistencies, had plenty of great fights. It's disappointing that I can only name 3-4 good fights in Part 6, and two of them happen early on. I'm glad this part is supposedly the conclusion of Parts 1-6, and that the author took JoJo in a new direction afterward because it clearly needed it after this installment.
Oh, and remember, these are OPINIONS :)
While Part 5 felt like the most self-contained chapter to me, I'd argue that Part 6 is the least so, as it primarily acts as a continuation and resolution of elements introduced in Part 3 and earlier. Understanding the context from those arcs is crucial to grasping why events unfold the way they do. A common critique of Part 6 is that Stands grow excessively complex, making some battles hard to follow. I see where that sentiment comes from; the lengthy explanations detailing these bizarre abilities can sometimes feel exhausting. However, for me, these aspects don't significantly detract from the overall experience. Araki was clearly experimenting wildly here—he drew inspiration from various random facts to craft Stands based on concepts like Skyrods, Zeno's Paradox, Universe Bounceback Theory, Möbius Strips, Feng Shui, and more. Despite the complexity, it remains undeniably entertaining.
Ultimately, the story is fantastic, the characters are consistently compelling, the art is breathtaking, and it's exhilarating to witness the epic tale of the Joestars and Dio reach its conclusion in such a manner. Moreover, the ending delivers a perfect bittersweet closure to a journey that began decades ago. Stone Ocean will forever occupy a special place in my heart. What a wonderful world indeed!
My take on Vento Aureo was that towards the end (the final third or so), the narrative started to drag, the stands grew excessively convoluted, and the character designs became distracting and irritating. This was disappointing because the first two-thirds were fantastic, boasting an incredible premise, engaging characters, and fascinating stands.
This sentiment holds true for Stone Ocean as well.
The concept is incredibly cool: Jolyne Kujo must escape from a prison overrun with stand users? Brilliant!
The characters are also solid, featuring some truly inventive stands.
However, once again, the last third (closer to the halfway point) becomes significantly drawn out, leaving me wishing it would just end already. They keep introducing new characters with overly complex stands, characters whose stand abilities shift unpredictably, and stands based on absurdly obscure phenomena and urban legends, dragging on endlessly across volumes.
And it only gets worse as it approaches its conclusion. Then it ends, and the ending is truly terrible.
That's why I rate it an overall 4 and 4 for story. While the first two-thirds are absolutely fantastic and enjoyable to read, the ending is so abysmal that it substantially lowers the score.
Once more, I advise you to stop following Jojo after part 4.
(This review is not spoiler heavy nor is it spoiler free)
Story (7/10) Good
More Specifically (7.50/10) Good
The story for Part 6 Stone Ocean was good but it definitely is probably the least liked story of JoJo's thus far overall, including Part 1. Now, the reason I say this is not because of its main plot, which at the beginning had A LOT of potential and I was hyped for it. Personally, I care far more about the execution of a story than what the story actually is. I feel the execution of Part 6's story left much to be desired. I don't care how much hype or suspense you built up in the synopsis or those first few chapters because when it's all said and done, and you look back on how it went through and concluded, I can't give this any higher than a 7.50. Which isn't bad—7 means good to me. But coming from JoJo's, that is quite low for me. What I think really killed it for me the absolute most was the ending, and if you know how it ends, then I don't need to say anymore. As far as I see, the majority of people liked it because it gave them the "feels" or because it's the first female Joestar protagonist, but for me, I can't cosign this as a very good conclusion or an overall story. Additionally, the villain-of-the-week formula for this part I felt was at its weakest and least memorable (which is probably why this part was the last part to heavily rely on that formula).
Art (8/10) Very Good
More Specifically (8.75/10) Very Good+
The art in Part 6 was very good, and out of all the categories, I would say it's the best thing Part 6 had to offer in terms of its art style. It was definitely better than Part 5. Character designs were better than the previous part, but I would consider it only a tad better for characters like Part 6 Jotaro, Enrico Pucci, Jolyne, and Sports Maxx. The only design I didn't like was Annasui, for the same reason why I couldn't get behind the majority, if not all, of the designs for the Part 5 cast—it's too flamboyant for me (And yes, I do know Annasui was supposed to be a girl, but either way, I'm not a fan of that character's outfit design, at least for a guy). I know this is JoJo's, but at the end of the day, I don't like it, and characters like Jotaro prove that Araki doesn't have to make them look like drag queens, especially when we see Annasui in his purple outfit, which is better. Anyway, the fight choreography, I had quite a few issues with back in Part 5, but not so much in Part 6. In Part 5, it happened in almost every fight, but in Part 6, I only really remember it happening about twice, and since Part 6 is longer than Part 5, I do see that as an improvement because no one likes being confused. Lastly, the art style on the characters' faces did change throughout the series, but none of them were bad art style choices to me, and it really wasn't even that noticeable when the change occurs, which is a good thing because I saw it in Part 4 and Part 5 to a noticeable degree, and I had to live with it.
Characters (7/10) Good
More Specifically (7.75/10) Good+
The characters in Part 6 Stone Ocean, I thought, didn't live up to what I usually expect from JoJo's. Coming into this, Jolyne, being the daughter of Jotaro, I felt had great potential. Her start was fun and extremely unique in comparison to any Joestar protagonist before her. She had some character development with her father, and she stayed at a consistent pace of fun/chipper during regular downtime events and brave/fearless during serious/battle moments. I didn't have that big of an issue with Jolyne Cujo as I do think she is more entertaining than Giorno, Jotaro, and Jonathon; she's arguably up there with Josuke and Joseph. I would say she's a mix of Joseph and Jotaro—entertaining like Joseph and fearless like her father—and she knows when to stop her comedic relief and act serious and vice versa, whereas Joseph was comedic relief all the time, and Jotaro was serious all the time (which isn't a bad thing but helps Jolyne as a character standpoint by being more dynamic when comparing her to those two). Now, as far as the majority of the other characters in Part 6, this can't be said. Emporio was an okay character, and I felt he was basically the Speedwagon, Robert E. O., or Koichi of this part where, for the majority of the time, his role was to commentate on what's going on during fight scenes, which isn't a bad role, it's just besides that I felt he didn't serve much of a purpose until the very, very end of the manga, and I didn't care for him too much for the majority of the manga, which even at the ending, I felt he, out of all characters, didn't deserve that shine. Annasui's character made no sense to me as he's first introduced as a character that apparently doesn't give a shit about anything according to Emporio, and all of a sudden falls for you know who, and it just felt out of nowhere and forced, which is probably what it was since he wasn't even supposed to be a "he" to begin with, but we aren't going to talk more about that. Weather Report I felt was another dull character, and aside from his backstory, which we got close to the end of the manga, he had nothing going for him as a character I'm supposed to stay interested in either (in hindsight, I like him a lot, but not because he's interesting in the present story but because his backstory holds up very well). Costello Hermes was a decent character, and although her backstory wasn't as entertaining as Weather Report's and is a bit too similar to that of Polnareff in Part 3, she still ends up being entertaining and keeping up with Jolyne's wild/entertaining side—the alligator scene just shows that Hermes and Jolyne were like two peas in a pod, and it was always entertaining to read with little downtime we actually got in this part. Foo Fighters I felt was a random character, unique and debatable if I liked her or "it" as a character; I felt it died a bit too early, and that hindered my final impressions on the character because I wanted to see more. Enrico Pucci is a very good villain as every time he's shown, suspense occurred within me—he's a character with a semi-god complex, and those types are always cool to me. His two backstories were also entertaining to read and gave us a better look at a side of a previous villain that we barely see, and with the combination of him and Enrico, it made that other villain's characterization retroactively deeper, which some can see that as a good thing or a bad thing—I see it as a good thing since it doesn't heavily contradict the characterization of that said past villain. And the other backstory he has that intertwines with Weather Report was also a very good but fucked-up backstory. I never thought Enrico Pucci by the end of Part 6 would leave this much of an impact on the entire series because when you think about it, he indeed leaves the biggest impact BY FAR. All of the side villains, other than Sports Maxx and MAYBE Versace, aren't really worth mentioning, which is a bad thing. So, with all that being said, the only characters from Part 6 I can give my personal approval to are Jolyne, Hermes, Pucci, and maybe Weather Report, which isn't closer to a bad thing than a good thing, seeing as that's only four characters overall. (Jotaro doesn't count since he's a returning character, and I maybe would give some extra points if I saw a father/daughter ORA ORA beat down, but that never happened.)
Enjoyment (6/10) Fine
More Specifically (6.75/10) Fine+
My enjoyment for Part 6 Stone Ocean was a roller coaster as when it first started, I was really hyped based on what I heard, people's rating of it, and the adventure of following the offspring of Jotaro. But once the cast is introduced and the constant flow of uninteresting enemies came flowing in, I quickly became less interested, and if it wasn't focused on moving the main plot forward or showing off a backstory, it kind of felt like a chore to read, which is a bad thing. People complained about the villain-of-the-week formula that Part 3 introduced, but I personally felt Part 6 did it far worse—a decent amount of them were far from entertaining. I'm sure when it gets animated, it'll probably be more enjoyable to experience. My enjoyment went up around the end, but then that ending left me extremely unsatisfied because I'm a guy that loves a good payoff conclusion, and Part 6's conclusion I would consider the most controversial to the entire JoJo universe at this point for obvious reasons. I have no clue how anime watchers will react to such an ending when it ever gets animated. I've heard some people say they liked it, and some, like me, say "wtf kind of ending was that."
Overall (7/10) Good
More Specifically (7.75/10) Good+
Part 6 was good, but it, in my opinion, doesn't live up to the hype everyone gives it. This is probably my least liked part of JoJo's yet, as now I would rank them Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 5, Part 1, and this one, Part 6. I always wondered why Part 7 took place in an alternate universe and I thought that was a mangaka decision which was not affected by the part that happened previously to it. But I was wrong—that ending felt like something you would expect from a DC or Marvel comic where the universe has to take place in a different one because of how messy it ended up getting in the previous parts before it, and that's not a good thing in my books. Hopefully, Part 7 lives up to the hype that everyone puts it at. A lot of people consider it "The best JoJo's Part Araki has ever created," now it just feels like moving from X-men 3 to Days of Future Past... we'll see when I read it in a couple of weeks.
The narrative is fairly straightforward. Jolyne is wrongfully accused of a crime and ends up in prison. Her father, Jotaro, arrives to assist her but is placed in a comatose state by the main antagonist. Consequently, Jolyne must remain in the prison to uncover the assailant and rescue her father. While I don't anticipate much complexity in the overarching stories, Stone Ocean stands out as the weakest in terms of structural execution. Stardust Crusaders' storyline had its own set of problems: the 'ticking time bomb' element combined with filler episodes and minimal character development. Many of these issues resurface in Stone Ocean (though the characters are slightly better-developed here), but the traveling aspect of the Crusaders provided a sense of progression. This isn't the case in Stone Ocean, as the characters are confined within a prison. Although the plot is more dynamic than in Stardust Crusaders, this doesn't negate the fact that numerous arcs contribute little or nothing to the overall story. The prison setting is extensively explored, but this doesn't alleviate the narrative shortcomings, and the characters aren't freed from the prison until about two-thirds through the story.
The characters are generally good. Jolyne is somewhat more engaging than most Jojo protagonists. Her relationship with her father, Jotaro, introduces an element of vulnerability, though this isn't significantly developed after Jotaro falls into his comatose state. Similarly, Hermes receives a backstory reminiscent of Polnareff early on but doesn't have much to do afterward. These characters possess some motivation and can be entertaining, but they aren't exceptional. Foo Fighters, however, is one of the standout characters in the series. She's hilariously funny, conceptually fascinating as a sentient amalgamation of plankton, and exits the story on a high note. Anasui is decent; I find him amusing, but the theme of 'a murderer striving to improve for the love of a girl' could have been further explored. Weather Report remains mysterious for most of the series and essentially transforms into a different person before his demise. Honestly, he isn't my favorite character.
Pucci is adequate but inferior to most other villains in the series. I appreciate that he had a connection (interpret that as you wish) with Dio, yet his vision of 'heaven' remains ambiguously vague until the conclusion, leaving me uncertain if even he knew what he desired. Dio's sons are serviceable representations of Dio's negative traits and offer some interest.
The stands in Stone Ocean are notoriously perplexing. Dragon's Dream, Heavy Weather, those baffling rods, and several others lack clear explanations. Nevertheless, Stone Free, Jolyne's stand, might just be my favorite among all Jojo stands. Despite its limitations, it's utilized creatively in various ways. Pucci's stands are excellent too (all of them), but the peculiar digestion ability eludes me—it should have been one of Pucci's discs. However, the concept of discs containing people's stands is perfect for a villain. Gravity manipulation? Outstanding. The power to move at light speed, accelerating the world to a degree where the universe repeats and everyone knows their destinies? A terrifying notion. Other cool stands include Bohemian Rhapsody, which brings fictional characters to life. How is it defeated? The heroes create a character that defeats Bohemian Rhapsody, which then comes to life and does so. Absolutely remarkable. Returning to the topic, Stone Ocean is arguably on par with Stardust Crusaders as having the worst stands in the series, ironically for opposite reasons.
The ending is a fascinating aspect because, despite the series often delivering mediocre conclusions, Stone Ocean's is undoubtedly the best. Emporio wasn't particularly memorable overall—I forgot about him until I started writing this paragraph. However, his role provided a strong finale with a happy ending for the Joestars: one free from Dio's influence, bringing closure to the original saga of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Reflecting on it, the effectiveness of this ending lies in one of the series' central themes: Fate. Emporio was destined to meet Jolyne and the others, and Jolyne was fated to become a hero despite her trials. One could argue against the validity of fate, but within the context of Jojo's fictional universe, it resonates effectively in many ways.
The artwork is solid throughout. If you've read Golden Wind, you know what to expect: expressive yet detailed with stylish designs and poses. The paneling is also commendable; while not the finest I've encountered, it's clear and enhances the reading experience.
In summary, Stone Ocean is decent. It's not the worst part of Jojo's series, but it's far from the best. If you've followed the series up to this point, you should definitely read it, but be prepared for a wandering plot, mixed battle sequences, and an overall underdeveloped cast.
Stone Ocean, in my opinion, is by far the worst part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. I was expecting a well-crafted story, but instead, it was non-stop action. Literally, non-stop action. Throughout the entire arc (except for some chapters focusing on DIO), characters do nothing but fight. Additionally, I found the fights in this part to be the worst in all of JoJo. They were dull and rarely moved the story forward.
On a positive note, the main cast had some fun characters. I enjoyed Jolyne Cujoh the most; she's a fantastic protagonist. The other characters were also interesting, but unfortunately, they don't get much screen time. The antagonist, too, lacked depth, as they don't have a clear goal and rely heavily on luck.
One good aspect of Stone Ocean is its bizarreness—it feels the most "JoJo" out of all the parts because of its eccentricity. If you decide to read this manga, I highly recommend doing so in color, as it becomes very confusing without them.
SUMMARY:
+bizarreness
+Jolyne is an excellent protagonist
-too much focus on fighting that doesn't advance the plot
-too much spotlight on Jolyne
There are additional reasons why this is my least favorite JoJo part, but I can't elaborate due to spoilers.
My score: 53%
For my part, there isn't much I can fault except for the dialogue and some Stand abilities. Panels occasionally become overly verbose, and abilities seem to contradict King Crimson's simplicity by over-explaining and complicating themselves. Jolyne's Stand is straightforward: manipulate string and pack a powerful punch. However, when you reach something like Dragon's Dream, well...
Regardless, Araki's art continues to evolve into a slimmer, more model-like style, which I think suits the series perfectly given its longstanding fashion inspiration. The backgrounds are impressive, and Stand designs remain unique and intriguing.
The characters are all excellent. Notable members of the main cast include Foo Fighters, Hermes, and Weather Report. Among the villains, we have Sports Maxx, Miraschon, and of course the primary antagonist Pucci. As with almost every other part, DIO continues to be a significant influence even after his demise, this time with world-altering repercussions.
Part 6 isn't my favorite installment of JoJo, but I can honestly say I enjoyed it. It frustrates me that I can't pinpoint what isn't "clicking" for me here; perhaps it's just the extensive text I have to endure, who knows.
Although Stone Ocean has its fair share of comedy and absurd moments, it's primarily the part where Araki crafted a compelling tragic story—a drama set in a prison involving Stands? That sounds incredible!
And then there's a Black gay priest striving to reach the "sky"? That sounds even better.
Jolyne, Hermes, Anasui, Weather Report, and even F.F. all have their reasons tied into the narrative, creating immense tension and drama as we uncover who the user of White Snake really is.
The character development here is outstanding; even Jotaro feels more human and relatable compared to his portrayal in earlier parts.
As for the antagonist, Pucci—he seems to me one of the best I've encountered in any story. His backstory and motivations for "reaching heaven" are deeply justifiable, making every action he takes seem logical from his perspective.
Jolyne stands out as the first JoJo character with significant character development compared to previous arcs.
I'm genuinely impressed by how Araki handles philosophy so effectively without overcomplicating or ruining it.
That said, on the downside—and not counting the main antagonist—the other villains aren't particularly memorable, and their Stands often don't make much sense. However, the weekly villain formula isn't as prevalent here as in earlier parts, and these foes still contribute meaningfully to advancing the plot.
There’s not much more I can say about this part—it simply feels like Araki's finest work. Memorable characters, an excellent antagonist, a deeply reflective ending that leaves a lasting impact, and superb dialogue all come together seamlessly. The issues within the story are handled exceptionally well. I don't understand why so many people disliked it or consider it the worst when it's clearly very well-written.
Thank you for reading! (Originally written by me in a Reddit post.)
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In all the previous parts, we see a serious problem that plagues 95% of JoJo protagonists: lack of growth. None of the characters seem to measure up; with few exceptions, they all have either decent or poor plots and die in stupid and emotionless ways. Here, we see the complete opposite—Jolyne is an exceptionally well-crafted character throughout the chapters. Her brutally feminine and human actions give this part a charisma entirely of its own because of her, unlike someone like Giorno, who feels like a deus ex machina, or a character like Joseph, who is forced to be funny by the script despite being unlikable. This applies to most others except Josuke, which I discuss further in my DiU review.
The villain is certainly one of the best. Instead of hiding and being shrouded in mystery, we all know who Pucci is, and as the story progresses, we uncover his backstory and goals, making everything crystal clear. This contrasts sharply with Diavolo, who hides throughout the manga and, when revealed, turns out to be a huge disappointment. Personally, this narrative style surrounding Pucci excites me.
I admit the manga unnecessarily drags on with its focus on the prison, but in this section, it was kind of unavoidable for the plot.
I will not comment on the ending.
The JoJo fandom should stop loving the terrible Part 2 and start appreciating this one more.
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Featuring one of the most absurdly intense and violent games of catch ever, Stone Ocean surpasses even Part 5 of the JoJo saga. If Golden Wind was the pinnacle of the JoJo franchise, then Stone Ocean is the peak. Okay, they both essentially mean the same thing, but you get the gist.
Starring Jotaro's daughter—stoic, bland yet incredibly powerful—the story leaps a few years ahead to 2011, Florida, USA. Jolyne finds herself in a "tight spot," as the Japanese would say. She's on her way to a sprawling prison complex off the coast of Florida, having been framed, hearing voices in her head, and now there's a string inexplicably protruding from her finger. Things just got real.
The JoJo saga has always showcased a vast array of unique characters and abilities, but at its heart, it revolves around a simple concept: the violent clash between two bloodlines—Joestar versus Dio and his minions. Stone Ocean is no exception, though lacking Dio himself, his influence continues to plague the unfortunate Joestar lineage. Free from the overt humor of Part 4 and following Part 5's unbelievably potent powers, Araki found himself in a tight spot, pondering where to take the story next.
What better solution than introducing more female characters into the saga and setting it in a confined space brimming with potential? A maximum-security prison split between females on one side and males on the other becomes the backdrop. Jolyne is thrust into a brutal world without allies, forced to learn the rules of prison society, such as how to bribe people just to make a phone call.
The abilities are still named after famous artists and bands, yet they're far more unconventional and bizarre than usual. You have to admire it. The imagination displayed throughout the JoJo saga consistently surprises, leaving you in awe of Hirohiko Araki's creativity, like pitting two seasoned stand-users against a newborn baby. You'll be grinning or pumping your fist in excitement at how Araki maintains tension and danger for the characters, pushing them to their limits before pulling them out of harm's way. It never feels like a cop-out; he always makes their efforts to escape danger believable and well-earned.
Jolyne is a compelling character, feminine yet assertive like all JoJos, intelligent, and equipped with a highly useful ability that she exploits to its fullest potential, frequently extricating herself from perilous situations and delivering brutal beatings to those who cross her.
Stone Ocean is another stellar addition to the JoJo saga, a brilliant shonen with enough horror elements to almost classify it as seinen. The battles are ingenious and often brutal, filled with body mutilation, and as typical for an Araki manga, climaxes result from characters acting intelligently rather than contrived power-ups, a trend prevalent in post-millennium works.
In terms of rating the final battle of this volume compared to others, it undoubtedly ranks among the best, a significant improvement over Part 5's battle in Italy. There are insane powers causing chaos on a global scale and unexpected counterattacks that remain logically consistent within the context of the manga.
I adore the author; he consistently devises crazy solutions to crazy problems. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is as enduring and consistently entertaining as the Joestar bloodline itself.
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