One of the major ways in which Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure differs from other shonen and action-centric series is that each new installment ostensibly stands on its own, while also furthering the growing narrative of the incredible Joestar family.
The latest chapter in the JoJo saga, Part 8's JoJolion, just completed a ten-year run, and fans are already excited to see what Part 9's The JOJOLands will bring. With the recent conclusion of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Stone Ocean anime adaptation, there's never been a better time to reflect on the ending of each saga and how they all stack up against each other.
Updated December 29, 2022 by Daniel Kurland: It’s hard enough to come up with one satisfying conclusion that’s creatively challenging and still manages to please the masses, but JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has had to come up with eight unique endings over its 35-year run, some of which work better than others. The JOJOLands pushes the franchise into new territory in February and it’s possible that Araki already knows how he wants to end Part 9.
8 Part 8's Ending Leaves Many Threads Unresolved & Open To Interpretation
JoJolion
JoJolion is the longest of Araki's sagas, but its ending finally happened and its announcement seemed highly premature. JoJolion's conclusion tells an odd story about this timeline's version of Joseph Joestar and his encounter with Lucy. JoJolion does reach an ending of sorts, but it's easily the JoJo chapter that leaves the most unresolved.
There's a flash-forward that's never addressed, the Rokakaka fruit is left up in the air, and Yasuho is left in a state of impending danger around two Rock Humans. Part 9's The JOJOLands will pick up with a descendant of this version of Joseph Joestar, so JoJolion's conclusion may fare better in the future. Nevertheless, it's still a rushed and confusing confusion.
7 Part 5’s Finale Rushes To A Conclusion After A Thrilling Final Showdown
Golden Wind
Golden Wind is another Part in the JoJo saga that goes against the grain with its time spent in Italy and a protagonist that’s technically a descendant of DIO. The final act of Golden Wind reaches some extremely ridiculous heights with rampant body-swapping and one of the franchise’s most complex and evasive villains, Diavolo.
To be clear, the final fight with Diavolo is fantastic, especially the deadly purgatory that he’s eternally confined in. That said, the actual ending is quite rushed and employs some odd narrative decisions, like focusing on a flashback arc set before the start of the Part. Giorno becomes head of the Passione crime family, but audiences deserve to see that accomplishment play out and not just settle for the results.
6 Part 3's Conclusion Closes The Book On DIO’s Villainy... For A While
Stardust Crusaders
There’s a considerable amount of anticipation that surrounds the ending of Stardust Crusaders since it’s the longest JoJo’s season. Stardust Crusaders also largely functions as the conclusion of the series’ fascination with DIO, which also generates serious stakes.
The final battle between Jotaro and DIO has become iconic, especially DIO’s creative use of a road roller, but it concludes in a fairly predictable fashion afterward. If nothing else, the many losses over the course of this journey are reflected upon, which adds some extra emotional impact to this goodbye.
5 Part 4 Uses All Of Morioh To Bring Justice To Its Big Finish
Diamond Is Unbreakable
Diamond is Unbreakable is tonally quite different from Stardust Crusaders, and there are many great elements that this season precariously juggles before it builds to its finish. Yoshikage Kira is a phenomenal villain who is actually intimidating, but the evolving rules of his Stand become a little obnoxious.
That being said, the ending of Diamond is Unbreakable cleverly devises a scenario where it feels like the entirety of Morioh contributes to Kira's defeat, right down to the ghost of Reimi. It's a cathartic finish that celebrates the characters of Diamond is Unbreakable and feels like the right time to say goodbye to these individuals.
4 JoJo’s Original Part 1 Storyline Closes With A Gutting Surprise
Phantom Blood
Phantom Blood is the first Part that kicks off JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and while it's comparatively simple, it’s still incredibly powerful with what it accomplishes. Phantom Blood establishes the undying rivalry between Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando, which festers in fascinating ways.
What makes the conclusion of Phantom Blood hit so hard is that Dio actually wins and succeeds in his defeat over Jonathan. It’s a turn that comes as a major surprise, especially since it seems to randomly occur in episode nine rather than a more conventional point to conclude a storyline.
3 Part 2 Confronts Joseph With An Impossible Foe Who Elegantly Wraps Things Up
Battle Tendency
The first season of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is divided among Parts 1 and 2, with Battle Tendency feeling like the big finish to the story’s first major section. Part 2’s Joseph Joestar is one of the most entertaining Joestars due to his cocky and impulsive attitude, which becomes a crucial factor in his final showdown against Kars.
Joseph usually has a solution to every problem, but Kars introduces an unprecedented level of strength that seems impossible to overcome. Battle Tendency’s climax reaches progressively wild places, but it helps establish the more exaggerated tone that JoJo goes on to embody.
2 Part 7 Races To A Climactic & Epic Finish
Steel Ball Run
Part 7's Steel Ball Run is such a startling change of pace for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and positions itself against a cross-country race. The race structure gives Steel Ball Run an appreciated burst of adrenaline, but it also covers some decidedly unexpected territory like the assembly of a holy corpse and the return of an alternate version of Dio, Diego Brando, who becomes a dinosaur.
Steel Ball Run revolves around a cross-country race and there are high expectations regarding who deserves to win and at what cost. Steel Ball Run's ending provides a satisfying finish to its epic race even though Johnny doesn't win. It's also hard to be disappointed in the final duel against Valentine and how Tusk is used to tip the scales in the heroes' favor.
1 Part 6 Concludes The Original JoJo Timeline In Superlative Fashion
Stone Ocean
Stone Ocean is a groundbreaking installment in the JoJo saga that features the series' first female protagonist in the form of Jolyne Cujoh. Stone Ocean builds an apocalyptic sense of dread as it approaches its conclusion, and the fight against Pucci and Made in Heaven is among the best in the franchise. What makes the conclusion in Stone Ocean so significant is that the world is literally reset, minus Pucci.
It's a convenient way for Araki to "conclude" the series and then begin a slightly simplified new canon in Part 7. This farewell becomes even more powerful in the anime, which fittingly returns to Phantom Blood's "Roundabout" to thematically tie the first six parts together and reiterate that this really is the end. A Steel Ball Run anime is still years away, if one is happening at all, but Stone Ocean's ending is the perfect note to go out on if it needs to function as an unofficial finish to the anime.