JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is famous for its bold storytelling, generational heroes, and complex chronology that spans centuries. Created by Hirohiko Araki, the series is divided into distinct parts, each following a new protagonist while remaining connected by the Joestar legacy. For newcomers and longtime fans alike, understanding the complete JoJo timeline helps reveal why this franchise is so influential in anime and manga history.
Below is a clear, chronological breakdown of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, from its origins to its alternate-universe saga.
Part 1: Phantom Blood (1880s)
The JoJo timeline begins in late 19th-century England with Jonathan Joestar, a noble-hearted young man whose life is upended by his adopted brother, Dio Brando. This part establishes the series’ core themes: fate, rivalry, and the supernatural. Dio’s transformation into a vampire introduces the use of Hamon, a life-energy technique that becomes crucial in early JoJo battles.
Phantom Blood sets the emotional foundation for everything that follows, especially the long-standing Joestar–Dio conflict.
Part 2: Battle Tendency (1930s–1940s)
Set decades later, Joseph Joestar, Jonathan’s grandson, takes center stage. More comedic and unpredictable than his predecessor, Joseph faces the ancient Pillar Men, beings tied to the origins of vampirism. This arc expands the JoJo mythos, deepens Hamon lore, and introduces a more strategic, mind-game-focused battle style.
Part 3: Stardust Crusaders (1988–1989)
This part marks a turning point in the timeline with the debut of Stands, psychic manifestations that replace Hamon as the primary combat system. Jotaro Kujo, Joseph’s grandson, leads a global journey to defeat a resurrected Dio.
Stardust Crusaders is one of the most iconic JoJo arcs, cementing Stands as a defining feature of the franchise and shaping all future parts.
Part 4: Diamond Is Unbreakable (1999)
Set in the quiet Japanese town of Morioh, this arc follows Josuke Higashikata, another Joestar descendant. While the scale is smaller, the stakes remain intense as the story explores serial killers, moral ambiguity, and everyday life mixed with supernatural danger.
This part shows how the JoJo timeline can thrive even without world-ending threats.
Part 5: Golden Wind (2001)
Moving to Italy, Giorno Giovanna—Dio’s son through Jonathan’s body—seeks to reform the mafia from within. Golden Wind blends crime drama with high-stakes Stand battles and explores themes of justice, ambition, and legacy.
Despite limited involvement from the Joestar family name, it remains firmly connected to the timeline.
Part 6: Stone Ocean (2011)
The original JoJo timeline reaches its climax with Jolyne Cujoh, Jotaro’s daughter. Set in a Florida prison, Stone Ocean delivers intense emotional arcs and cosmic-level consequences that ultimately lead to the collapse of the original universe.
This ending resets everything JoJo fans thought they knew.
Part 7: Steel Ball Run (Alternate Universe, 1890s)
After Stone Ocean, JoJo enters a new continuity. Steel Ball Run takes place in an alternate version of America, following Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli during a deadly cross-country horse race. Though disconnected from earlier parts, it reimagines classic JoJo themes with deeper philosophical storytelling.
Part 8: JoJolion (2010s, Alternate Universe)
Set in the same alternate timeline, JoJolion focuses on Josuke Higashikata (different from Part 4) in a mysterious version of Morioh. This arc emphasizes identity, memory, and family secrets, further solidifying the rebooted JoJo universe.
Why the JoJo Timeline Is So Unique
Rather than a single linear story, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure evolves through generations, genres, and even universes. This structure allows Araki to reinvent the series while preserving its core identity—making JoJo both timeless and endlessly fresh.
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