JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is not a typical anime series. For one, it doesn't follow a single narrative. Instead, it's broken up into separate parts, each with its own set of characters, villains, setting, story, and even its own unique JoJo protagonist. It's a novel way to set up a series, and it's proved to stand the test of time as the series is over 30 years old.

The way JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is formatted means that it never feels stale, since each part constantly reinvents the broader franchise. While there's no JoJo part that's bad, some chapters are more popular than others. That said, different viewers/readers are going to have their own opinions regarding their favorite JoJo parts.

Updated on December 26, 2023 by Ajay Aravind: Each chapter of Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure steers its focus to a new member of the Joestar bloodline, which opens itself up to exciting storytelling possibilities. Araki finds clever ways to connect these sagas and indulge in different genres, some of which have been more successful than others. There are no bad installments in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, but it's challenging to determine which part fans like best. As such, we've updated this list of all the JoJo parts ranked.

9 Phantom Blood Is Indicative Of How Much JoJo Has Evolved

Part 1 (Released on August 10, 1987)

Phantom Blood might be the first chronologically, but it's certainly not the best JoJo part. It tells the story of the gentlemanly Jonathan Joestar as he grows and matures into a warrior to combat the scheming and ruthless Dio Brando, his adopted brother. There is drama and betrayal, a gothic setting, and even vampires, but it still ends up being the weakest part of the series.

It's not that Phantom Blood is necessarily bad; it's just that series creator Hirohiko Araki was still finding his voice and confidence as a writer at this point. As a result, Phantom Blood doesn't feel like the classic JoJo's that audiences today love, and it's indicative of just how much JoJo's has evolved since its introductory saga.

8 The JOJOLands Is Already Off To A Promising Start

Part 9 (Released on August 18, 2023)

Audiences have been incredibly excited to see what Araki has in store in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's ninth and most recent saga, The JOJOLands. Starting its serialization in February 2023 and still in its infancy, the Hawaii-set story follows Jodio Joestar, a 15-year-old with antisocial personality disorder who makes ends meet by working with a group of small-time criminals.

The JOJOLands is off to a strong start with its introductory jewel heist, which brings Diamond is Unbreakable's Rohan Kishibe back into the mix in a major way. That being said, with only a few chapters currently available, it's hard to put The JOJOLands above many of the finished JoJo parts even if it's off to a promising start.

7 Stone Ocean Features A Mostly Female Cast Of Characters

Part 6 (Released on May 1, 2000)

Framed for a crime she did not commit, Jolyne Cujoh, the main protagonist of Stone Ocean, is sent to Green Dolphin Street Prison. While serving her sentence, Jolyne develops a clever, powerful Stand and investigates a mystery surrounding the prison's priest, Father Enrico Pucci.

Stone Ocean features some of the strangest Stands in the series, as well as a mostly female cast of characters and the return of Jotaro Kujo. However, it still suffers because of its setting. Most of Stone Ocean takes place within the walls of a prison, which causes the series to feel stagnant. Further, one of the most iconic characters meets their end in this JoJo part.

6 Battle Tendency Is Where JoJo Truly Comes Into Its Own

Part 2 (Released on October 7, 1988)

Phantom Blood is pretty bizarre but Part 2, Battle Tendency, is when the series comes into its own. This JoJo part focuses on Jonathan Joestar's grandson, Joseph Joestar, and continues the story of the mysterious Stone Masks that turn people into vampires. Joseph is in almost every way the polar opposite of his grandfather, but they both have the same spirit for justice.

Battle Tendency is also the last part of JoJo that features Hamon before Stands take over the narrative. Battle Tendency alone is why some JoJo's fans still prefer Hamon to Stands. Battle Tendency takes everything people thought they knew about JoJo's after Phantom Blood and turns it on its head.

5 Diamond Is Unbreakable Takes The Series From Buff To Camp

Part 4 (Released on November 4, 1992)

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has always been entertaining, but Diamond is Unbreakable takes the series from fabulously buff guys to fabulously camp guys. Diamond is Unbreakable centers on Josuke Higashikata, the illegitimate son of Battle Tendency's Joseph Joestar, as he investigates a series of murders in his hometown.

Any story that involves a murder mystery centering on a David Bowie-lookalike serial killer is sure to stick in people's minds. Diamond is Unbreakable still remains many fans' favorite part, and it even manages to include a scene where its protagonist logically punches a plate of spaghetti with intention.

4 JoJolion Contains Characters Filled With Psychological Depth

Part 8 (Released on December 19, 2011)

JoJolion is the most recently completed part of the JoJo manga. JoJolion takes place in a new version of Morioh set during the new continuity that begins in Steel Ball Run. This JoJo part follows a different version of Josuke Higashikata as he tries to recover the lost memory of his identity.

Eventually, the ghosts of Josuke's previous life come back to haunt him, and he gets tied up in an impending threat. All the characters in JoJolion are filled with psychological depth, from the main players and villains down to the minor, one-off characters. Between this and the series' focus on strategic Stand battles, it's no wonder that JoJolion was so well-received.

3 Golden Wind Was Hugely Popular When First Released

Part 5 (Released on May 10, 1996)

Easily one of the best JoJo parts, Golden Wind follows Giorno Giovanna, DIO's illegitimate son. Giorno chases his rebellious dream to rise in the ranks of the Neapolitan mafia, rid it of corruption, and become a "Gang-Star." Giorno is a "JoJo" by technicality, due to how DIO makes off with Jonathan's body at the end of Phantom Blood.

Golden Wind's manga was hugely popular in Japan when it was first released, but it's not as well-received in English-speaking countries due to controversial translations. Thankfully, Golden Wind has since been given much better treatment, including an anime adaptation, so fans can fully appreciate the story's complexities.

2 Stardust Crusaders Helped Change The Series' Formula In Many Ways

Part 3 (Released on December 5, 1989)

By and large the most well known of all the JoJo's parts, Stardust Crusaders helped change the series' formula in some major ways. The biggest shake-up to the series is the introduction of Stands, physical manifestations of a person's fighting spirit and soul, and JoJo has never turned its back on the idea since.

Stardust Crusaders is a major hit with its delinquent main character, Jotaro Kujo, and it's the first part to include the previous JoJo's protagonist among its main characters. Stardust Crusaders gets referenced the most in other anime, and it's the part that many cite as their favorite. Stardust Crusaders is one of the best JoJo parts because it draws in those who were previously on the fence about the series.

1 Steel Ball Run Can Be Considered A Reboot Of The Series

Part 7 (Released on May 20, 2004)

The greatest change to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure comes with the series' seventh part, Steel Ball Run. In many ways, this part can be considered a reboot of the series. It technically takes place in an alternate universe where some familiar names crop up, but they barely resemble their past selves.

Steel Ball Run follows Johnny Joestar, an alternate version of Jonathan Joestar, as he competes in a cross-country race across the United States. Steel Ball Run begins as a race for $50 million, but it soon becomes a race against the President of the United States to collect the mummified body parts of Jesus Christ. It's a wild adventure that's easily the best JoJo part — at least for now.