What exactly is a JoJo reference, anyway?

You may or may not have heard of the ongoing JoJo's Bizarre Adventure saga, one of the crown jewels of comics. It's constantly referenced by other works that it has influenced, and its fans have been known to swarm the comment sections of prog-rock albums on YouTube. However, it has yet to gain the following that other manga hits like Dragon Ball and Naruto have picked up in the West, leaving many to wonder what it's all about.

Creator Hirohiko Araki started JoJo with the Phantom Blood arc in 1987 (the year Watchmen concluded in the US). This was the tale of the rivalry between the compassionate Johnathan Joestar and the malicious Dio Brando, serving as commentary on two disparate lifestyles. To begin with, the series didn't really push the boundaries too far - it was really just a hyper-violent martial-arts story paving the way for something far greater.

Araki really shattered traditional manga conventions when he wrote the Battle Tendency arc (the second part of the ongoing story), introducing the new protagonist, Johnathan's grandson Joseph, a change previously unheard of in the industry. And he didn't stop there - JoJo has since featured a total of eight unique protagonists, each the star of their own arc. Up until the seventh story-line, which serves as a reboot, each of these parts of the multi-generational saga are tied to the initial conflict between Johnathan and Dio.

By part three, Stardust Crusaders, the battles in JoJo are like no other manga. The heroes and villains have "Stands": physical manifestations of their fighting spirit that grant the "Stand user" special (and often peculiar) abilities. In the original Japanese editions, most Stands are named after Araki's favourite songs and albums (often the works of Prince, Queen, and British prog-rock bands). These names have largely been changed in the official English editions to avoid copyright issues, but you can still see the influence of Western musicians in the form of character designs and even parts of the plot.

One of the aspects of JoJo that is constantly referenced is its unparalleled art-style. The first three arcs largely resemble other series from that era, such as Fist of the North Star, but by the Diamond is Unbreakable arc, Araki had started to develop a distinct look. JoJo's art is known for its realism, wacky costumes, iconic poses, over-the-top gore and unusual sound-effects, all of which have been emulated in many homages to this manga since.

Above all things, however, JoJo is known for incredible storytelling. You love the heroes, you hate the villains, and the stakes are always high. Araki grows as both an artist and a writer over time, to the point where part seven, Steel Ball Run, could actually be considered the perfect comic.

Viz Media have so far released an official translation of the first three parts, available in both physical and digital format. There's also a brilliant anime adaptation that goes up to part four, and serves as the perfect gateway to the series. With it continuing to have a massive impact on the world of manga and anime, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is really a franchise you cannot afford to miss.