Many anime and manga series debut and leave an irrevocable mark on the industry, but Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series has been particularly unique. The first chapter of Araki's sprawling generational saga of the Joestar lineage started back in 1987 and continues to change and evolve in exciting ways.
Each new chapter in the JoJo's canon expands on the universe in exciting ways, but Part 8's JoJolion recently completed its ten-year run, and Araki has hinted at the future of the franchise. Details remain sparse but dedicated JoJo's fans can look forward to the fact that Part 9, The JOJOLands, is on the way.
Updated January 3rd, 2023, by Daniel Kurland: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure remains one of the biggest series of its generation. The conclusion to Part 8's JoJolion in August 2021 isn't the end for the series and there will be at least one more major saga in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 9, The JOJOLands. Like many new JoJo's sagas, Hirohiko Araki has kept many of the specifics of this story close to his chest, but there are still some tantalizing details that fans can obsess over in the meantime.
11 The JOJOLands Sets Sail On February 17, 2023
Part 9 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure was announced immediately after the conclusion of JoJolion's 110th chapter, but there wasn't an exact return date provided beyond the vague news that it would come in 2023. Audiences won't have to wait much longer since it's now public knowledge that The JOJOLands will release its first chapter in the February 17, 2023 issue of Ultra Jump.
This means that the hiatus between JoJolion and The JOJOLands has been a year and a half. This is hopefully enough time for Araki to fearlessly forge ahead without any intermittent breaks during Part 9's release schedule.
10 The JOJOLands Is Going To Feature Some Sort Of Aquatic Transportation
One of the few teases that have been provided for The JOJOLands is a rough sketch of a sailboat and remnants of an island terrain. This strongly indicates that Part 9 will take to the seas, which would admittedly be a fun change of pace for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
A pirate story set in the JoJo's universe would be a lot of fun, as would the aquatic adventures of some intrepid explorer from the Joestar bloodline. There were rumors that The JOJOLands might focus on the mysterious island where JoJolion's Rokakaka fruit is originally from, which is still a possibility within these parameters.
9 "The JOJOLands" Wasn't Its Original Name
One of the few details that Hirohiko Araki has come forward with regarding Part 9 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is that the title for the new expansion will be The JOJOLands. However, it's common for Araki to make use of placeholder titles that change during his creative process. In the case of Part 9, Araki's title became slightly more refined as it changed from JoJolands to The JOJOLands
In fact, it’s actually the norm for Araki to decide upon an altered name between when a new chapter gets announced and when it hits the shelves. Part 8's JoJolion is the only previous title that hasn't experienced a major revision during production.
8 The JOJOLands Is The Third Series Set Within The Steel Ball Run Timeline
One of the most appealing aspects of the growing JoJo's saga is that each new part can function as its own story, but they typically connect with the pre-existing Joestar adventures. Araki makes a radical decision at the end of Part 6's Stone Ocean where the core timeline more or less gets reset, and a new timeline gets established with Part 7's Steel Ball Run.
This trajectory hasn't changed, and The JOJOLands will continue on in this new chronology. This makes it the third series to continue on Steel Ball Run's altered continuity and timeline.
7 Hirohiko Araki Has Had The General Outline For Part 9 Done For Some Time
It's not unusual for an author's plan to shift from their original vision. Sometimes it can even be detrimental to remain too rigid to the initial plan. Araki isn't a perfect writer, and there are times when he occasionally overlooks details or can't connect all of the dots.
That being said, Araki is also highly meticulous, and he's gone so far as to announce that he's already put together outlines for Parts 7, 8, and 9. Naturally, it's possible that Araki's original plan for The JOJOLands will change, but it's encouraging that he already has the framework in place for where he wants to take the series.
6 The JOJOLands Will Continue On With Characters From JoJolion
Fans were eagerly reading the events of Part 8's JoJolion for over a decade, and it still seemed like there was a lot of story left to cover when it reached its finish. The conclusion of JoJolion comes as a major surprise, and the saga's final chapter takes an odd approach that doesn't necessarily do much to tie up Part 8's loose ends.
Accordingly, fans were curious if The JOJOLands will be a direct sequel to Part 8 and resolve some of the lingering themes and characters that are still in play. JoJolion's final chapter introduces this timeline's version of Joseph Joestar, who seems to be the connective tissue in Part 9. Araki has confirmed that the protagonist of The JOJOLands is a descendant of this Joseph Joestar.
5 The JOJOLands May Be Set In The Scottish Highlands Or Northern Europe
One factor that's helped keep JoJo's Bizarre Adventure so evergreen over the years is that different parts of the story are set all over the world, and it doesn't feel the need to confine itself to Japan's borders. Some of JoJo's is set in England, Italy, and Florida, which makes it feel like any destination is possible.
Araki has expressed interest in setting a story in the Scottish Highlands or somewhere in Northern Europe, which he might finally take advantage of in The JOJOLands. Araki has also been interested in setting another story in Italy, so maybe Part 9 will also return there in some capacity.
4 The JOJOLands May Focus More On Hamon & "The Spin"
In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure there's a huge shift from the Hamon energy force that's essential during the first two parts of the series to the humanoid Stand abilities that eventually become the norm. Stands completely replace Hamon, but both Steel Ball Run and JoJolion make subtle nods to the old source of energy with Johnny Joestar's "Spin" power.
The Spin returns in a big way during the conclusion of JoJolion, not to mention a Stand version of Hermit Purple, too. It's possible that The JOJOLands will dig even deeper into these concepts and fully bring Hamon back as its primary power.
3 The JOJOLands Is Unlikely To Bear Connections To The Current Josuke & Hol Horse Spin-Off
The announcement of The JOJOLands was paired together with news of the first official JoJo's manga spin-off, Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak. This spin-off already has a few volumes underway, and it remixes characters and events from Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable together: Hol Horse and Josuke Higashikata.
Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak is written by Kouhei Kadono, who previously penned the Purple Haze Feedback light novel, while No Guns No Life's Tasuku Karasuma will handle the artwork. There was some speculation that this new spin-off adventure would tie together with The JOJOLands, but it's now unlikely that this alternate reality will connect with Part 9's saga.
2 The JOJOLands May Feature A Return Of Morioh
Hirohiko Araki has created such rich worlds through the different chapters of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure that it can often be bittersweet when the setting is completely abandoned for a fresh location. Morioh, the humble neighborhood in Diamond is Unbreakable, is one of the most beloved locations throughout the JoJo's series.
Araki has expressed interest in returning to Morioh in some capacity in either Part 8 or Part 9. JoJolion contains an altered version of Morioh, but it's not impossible for The JOJOLands to do even more in this regard.
1 The JOJOLands Will Be Serialized In Ultra Jump
Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure originally began its run in Weekly Shonen Jump, back in 1987. JoJo's spent a lengthy run in Weekly Shonen Jump before it transitioned over to the slightly more mature monthly editions of Ultra Jump.
Araki has no plans to rock the boat for his upcoming Part 9, and when it debuts in February, it will also be serialized through Ultra Jump's monthly issues. The JOJOLands was first advertised at the end of Ultra Jump's September 2021 issue and audiences can't wait to experience a brand new JoJo's adventure in 2023.