Hirohiko Araki's long-running series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has been in print since 1987, and its recent anime adaptation has greatly expanded the audience for this venerated series. But there isn't just one main character for this classic Shonen series; there are eight, and counting.
In the first arc, we meet Jonathan Joestar, and he later passes the torch to his grandson Joseph Joestar, then his grandson, Jotaro Kujo. In the fourth arc, Diamond is Unbreakable, we also meet Joseph's illegitimate son Josuke Higashikata, who takes after his father in all kinds of ways. Now we ask: how to Jonathan and Josuke measure up for Best Boy? We all love Joseph and Jotaro... but what about the other JoJo leads? Let's figure this out together.
10 Jonathan: Endured Great Loss
Even though Phantom Blood is a brief nine episodes long, that is time enough for a movie-style story to unfold involving the vicious Dio Brando, the Joestar family, and the legacy of hamon (ripple). Early on, Jonathan loses his dog Danny, then his father, then his entire home!
Despite these losses (and a broken arm), Jonathan kept his spirits up, and he was gung-ho about finding Dio and settling the score once and for all. He had his mind only on the mission after he properly grieved for his family, and we applaud his remarkable strength of spirit.
9 Josuke: Manly Hair
While Jonathan, Joseph, and Jotaro had pretty ordinary Shone-style hair, Josuke put a little more effort into his stylish appearance, and it totally paid off. He's got the king of all pompadours, and he takes good care of it.
Time and again, we see Josuke carefully grooming it, and if anyone dares make fun of it or criticize it, Josuke will leap into action and take them on! It's hilarious and awesome to see Josuke stand up for his carefully-maintained hairstyle, and it makes for a fine first impression.
8 Jonathan: Him And Erina
Jonathan is a proper gentleman, as he sometimes reminds us, and he knows how to treat a lady. As a boy, he rushed to Erina's defense when two boys harassed her, and though he was a bit cold to her afterwards, he soon grew up.
Jonathan risked and eventually lost his life for Erina's sake (more on that soon), and his widow greatly missed her remarkable husband. If only Jonathan could have grown old with her, and showed her every day how much he loved it. It doesn't get more wholesome than this.
7 Josuke: Relatable Street Kid
Josuke isn't a total jerk or anything, but he does have a punk streak that we think is pretty cool. He's a tough teenager in a boring town (Morioh), and he acts the part every time we see him. It's fun to see him get wrapped up in goofing off with his friends, playing video games, and nagging his friends about their intriguing love lives.
This makes Josuke feel very real and relatable, and many viewers can easily put themselves in his shoes, and the rest probably know someone just like him. What will he get up to next? There's plenty of adventure in Morioh if you're creative enough!
6 Jonathan: Stylish Outfit
We love Josuke's cool hair and how much he cares for it, but let's not forget the wardrobe. Each JoJo hero has a different outfit to reflect their time period and personal taste, and Jonathan's duds are even cooler than Josuke's.
Jonathan lived during the Victorian period, the best possible time for men's fashion. Top hats, cloaks, shiny leather shoes, vests, gloves, and pocket watches ruled the day, and Jonathan never fails to look his best. For that matter, Dio and Speedwagon look pretty good, too.
5 Josuke: Awesome Stand
Meet Crazy Diamond (localized as Shining Diamond), the stand of Josuke Higashikata. Stands didn't appear in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure until the third arc, but now that they're here, we can't imagine going back.
Josuke's stand is a tough melee fighter like Jotaro's Star Platinum, but it has even more tricks up its sleeve. It can repair or heal just about anything, which is useful for helping injured victims, fixing damaged property, and even tracking down an item or person (by breaking off a piece and making that piece go after the item for repairs). Jonathan could never do that.
4 Jonathan: Defeated Dio Without A Stand
What a scene this is! While it's true that stands are the best part of the combat system in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, we must give Jonathan some serious credit for defeating the vampire overlord Dio Brando without using one.
Instead, Jonathan used hamon, the strength of body and will, and even that sword to challenge this mighty vampire, and against all odds, he eked out a victory atop Dio's castle. Jonathan very nearly lost his life, and it's true that Dio survived as a severed head, but this is still a major accomplishment.
3 Josuke: Recruited Many Allies
Josuke has a real knack for making some unexpected but helpful allies during his adventures in Morioh. He faced the vicious Nijimura brothers in battle... only to end up with the younger one, Okuyasu, as a new friend!
If that weren't enough, Koichi unlocks his own stand, and Josuke supports him in battle as best he can. And if that weren't enough, a number of minor enemies turned allies join the fray, and let's not forget Shigechi, either. Josuke sure knows how to round up a proper squad around here.
2 Jonathan: Heroic Sacrifice
We mentioned this earlier, and now it's time to discuss it. Just when Jonathan and Erina thought that Dio was dead and gone, they boarded a passenger liner headed for the U.S... and Dio's head emerged from a coffin, ready for revenge!
Jonathan faced Dio with all his remaining strength, but the ship caught fire and Jonathan was badly hurt. With no way to escape, Jonathan hung onto Dio's head and made sure that the vampire would perish with him, saving Erina's life. What's even more incredible is that Jonathan did not hate Dio for what he had done.
1 Josuke: Crafty Revenge
This ties in to Josuke's cool punk streak. Not only will he retaliate against anyone who criticizes that hair, but he knows how to get even with just about anyone in all kinds of ways. When the stand Highway Star met its end at Josuke's hands, Josuke healed its hospitalized owner completely... just as an excuse to beat him up!
Later, Joseph overspent on baby supplies, and Josuke was furious that his elderly father spent his last dime. So when Joseph departed on that boat, Josuke used Crazy Diamond's repair ability to recall Joseph's wallet... and get an allowance!