How Many Parts Are In JoJo'S Bizarre Adventures?

The music references make it easy to remember. Each part's name is a song or album title. So you could say there are eight classic rock/pop references that form the spine of the series. 'Stone Ocean' is a Bob Dylan reference, 'Steel Ball Run' is from a band called 'Steely Dan'... it goes on. This quirky naming convention is a staple. So when you list the eight parts, you're also listing eight pieces of music trivia. It's part of the charm. The total number is baked into the fandom's identity through these titles. You're not just a fan of a manga; you're a fan of a vibe, a aesthetic, and a playlist.

Some editions can be tricky. The 'Bunko' re-releases in Japan condense things into smaller, more volumes. So Part 3 might be split across 10 bunko volumes instead of 16 tankobon. The best advice is to always go by the part title—'Diamond is Unbreakable' will always be Parts 1-19 of the bunko release, for example, but it's the same story as tanks 29-47. For a newcomer, just follow an official English publisher's list, like Viz Media's, which uses the original tankobon volume numbers and clearly marks the part on the cover or in the product description.

The 'JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure' manga is this sprawling epic that’s been running since the 80s, and it’s divided into distinct story arcs called 'Parts,' each with a new JoJo protagonist. Right now, there are eight completed Parts, and Part 9, 'The JOJOLands,' is currently serializing in Ultra Jump. Part 1, 'Phantom Blood,' introduces the foundational lore with Jonathan Joestar, while Part 2, 'Battle Tendency,' shifts to his grandson Joseph. The series keeps reinventing itself—Part 4, 'Diamond is Unbreakable,' is a quirky small-town mystery, and Part 7, 'Steel Ball Run,' is a horse race across America with gravity-defying Stands. What’s wild is how Araki’s art and storytelling evolve over time. Early Parts feel like gothic horror, but by Part 5, 'Golden Wind,' it’s a mafia saga with flamboyant designs. Part 8, 'JoJolion,' blends body horror and family drama in a way only 'JoJo' can. I love how each Part stands alone but threads together through themes like fate and legacy. The recent anime adaptations have brought new fans in, but the manga’s sheer creativity is unmatched. Can’t wait to see where 'The JOJOLands' takes us next!

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is one of those series where the order really matters, not just because of continuity but because each part builds on the themes of the last while introducing wild new concepts. The correct sequence starts with 'Phantom Blood,' which introduces the Joestar bloodline and Dio’s rivalry. Then comes 'Battle Tendency,' a personal favorite with its over-the-top battles and Joseph Joestar’s hilarious antics. 'Stardust Crusaders' shifts to Stands, and 'Diamond Is Unbreakable' brings a smaller-town vibe with Josuke. 'Golden Wind' heads to Italy, 'Stone Ocean' takes a darker turn with Jolyne, and 'Steel Ball Run' reboots the timeline in the Wild West. Finally, 'JoJolion' ties into the new universe. Each part feels distinct, but they all share that signature JoJo flair—dramatic poses, bizarre powers, and emotional stakes. I love how Araki’s art and storytelling evolve over time. 'Phantom Blood' feels almost classic gothic horror, while later parts get progressively weirder and more creative. If you skip around, you’ll miss how the series reinvents itself while keeping core themes like fate and family. And honestly, the memes alone make it worth experiencing in order—nothing beats the 'To Be Continued' arrow or Dio’s 'WRYYYY.'

Don't sleep on the soundtracks for each part. Watching in order lets you hear the musical motifs develop and reappear. The 'Avalon' theme from Part 1 echoes in later parts during emotional moments. These subtle callbacks are a reward for following the timeline. It's a layer of craftsmanship that's easy to miss.

My head spins a little every time I trace the threads between 'Stone Ocean' and 'Steel Ball Run' — it’s one of those wild JoJo revelations that feels bigger the more you stew on it. At the end of 'Stone Ocean', Enrico Pucci's Stand evolution to 'Made in Heaven' accelerates time to the point that the universe is effectively rewritten. Time speeds up, history collapses, and then there’s this reset: a brand-new universe is born where familiar faces appear in different guises. That reset is the key connector; after the final pages, Araki gives us the implication (and later confirmation) that the new universe is what Parts 7 and 8 take place in. Technically, 'Steel Ball Run' was introduced as a fresh continuity and a creative reboot, but Araki later tied that choice back to the climax of 'Stone Ocean'. Instead of a clean split, the connection is metaphysical: souls, themes, and design echoes are carried into the new reality. You see it in character echoes (people who look like prior characters but have new names and roles), in recurring motifs like fate vs. free will, and even in the echo of the Joestar legacy — Johnny Joestar carries the name into a very different historical setting. It's less about direct plot handoffs and more about thematic reincarnation and a universe birthed by Pucci’s actions. I love how this makes the series feel cyclical and tragic: Pucci’s attempt to create a “perfect” universe ends up seeding the next era of bizarre adventures. It’s a clever, emotional pivot that lets Araki reinvent the world while keeping a ghostly continuity thread — and I still get chills picturing Emporio watching the new world unfold.

The beauty of the JoJo order is that each part feels like a distinct genre experiment while being part of a whole. Part 1 is Gothic horror, Part 2 is pulpy adventure, Part 3 is a globe-trotting quest, Part 4 is a small-town mystery, Part 5 is a gangster epic, Part 6 is a prison break, Part 7 is a historical race, Part 8 is a... well, JoJolion is indescribable. You need that sequential exposure to appreciate how Araki keeps the core spirit of 'bizarre' while changing everything else.

Wait, does the digital Shonen Jump subscription use the original volume breakdown or their own part-based grouping? I've never used it for JoJo.

Part 5 of 'JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,' titled 'Golden Wind,' is set in Italy and follows Giorno Giovanna, the son of Dio Brando (using Jonathan Joestar’s body). Giorno dreams of becoming a 'gang-star' to overthrow the corrupt mafia and bring justice to the streets. He joins Passione, a powerful crime syndicate, and teams up with Bruno Bucciarati’s squad. Their mission? To protect the boss’s daughter, Trish Una, while uncovering the dark secrets of Passione’s leadership. The story escalates into a wild chase, with Stand battles that push creativity to the limit—like turning life into inanimate objects or looping time itself. The final arc is a masterclass in tension, as Giorno’s team faces the boss, Diavolo, whose Stand 'King Crimson' can erase time itself. The duality of fate and free will plays a huge role, especially with Giorno’s Stand, 'Gold Experience,' evolving into 'Gold Experience Requiem' to counter Diavolo’s power. What I love about this part is how it blends Italian aesthetics with over-the-top action—like a gangster opera with supernatural twists. The ending is bittersweet but satisfying, cementing Giorno’s legacy as one of the most unique JoJos.