JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an anime that’s influenced the medium in a number of different way, but its superpowered Stands are often what audiences gravitate towards. Stands have become the dominant tools for combat in JoJo, but they’re incredibly diverse and unpredictable entities. They’re a very unusual way to depict energy.
The Stands in JoJo have only gotten crazier and more powerful over time. This is usually exciting for fans, but for some the Stands have been pushed too far. Accordingly, here are 5 ways that the Stands from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure are the best anime superpowers and 5 better alternatives.
10 The Best: Their Versatility
Regardless of how strong the Stands in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure are, they make for such a fascinating superpower because everyone’s is different. Energy blasts in something like Dragon Ball can begin to have diminishing returns and all bleed together.
JoJo makes sure that each of the Stands are unique entities, not only in terms of their looks, but also the attacks that they administer. JoJo even understands how to have fun with the audience regarding the mysteries that surrounds certain Stands before they’re revealed. It turns their powers into a game of manipulation.
9 Better Alternative: Super Saiyan
Out of all of the extravagant transformations and superpowers that have turned up in anime over the years, Super Saiyan is definitely one of the most popular. They’re such a visual signifier that plenty of series even parody it is as a demonstration of growth in power.
The Super Saiyan transformation doesn’t fundamentally change who the person is, but rather simply amplifies their skills in unprecedented ways. Additionally, the Super Saiyan transformation can evolve and become more powerful with the user, which gives it a shelf life that could be more advantageous than what comes along with a Stand.
8 The Best: They Can Evolve
Different Stands in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure function in various ways and so there are definitely going to be some that are more powerful than others. JoJo tries to curb this situation with how some Stands are actually able to evolve and take on different and advanced skillsets. Koichi’s Stand is the best example of this, but other Stands that remain the same can still extend the limits of their powers with dedication and practice. It’s another dimension that shows the complexity of Stands as a superpower.
7 Better Alternative: The Titan
Attack on Titan is one of the most popular anime of this generation. It does a remarkable job at painting a brutal war between humanity’s last stand and these horrifying bloodthirsty giants. Humans come up with plenty of creative ways to level the playing field against Titans, but the biggest surprise is that some people actually have the ability to turn into a Titan and use the form to their advantage. Once this ability is properly mastered it’s really unlike anything else. Additionally, there are several variants of Titan out there, which add even more powers to the impressive juggnernauts.
6 The Best: Their Connection To Popular Music
This may not seem like the most important aspect of a superpower to focus on, but JoJo’s Bizare Adventure understands the importance of flair and making a flashy entrance. The Stands look like intimidating creatures and they really get to exhibit creativity, both in terms of their looks and abilities, but there’s a silly joy to be had in how all of the Stands have names that derive from popular music, whether they’re bands or song titles. It’s entirely perfunctory, but it makes JoJo a lot more fun and provides Stands with a certain charm that’s absent from other superpowers.
5 Better Alternative: Alchemy
A lot of the powers looked at here can be easily obtained or mastered through dedicated hard work. The ability of alchemy from Fullmetal Alchemist is very different because it functions as a catch-22 of sorts. The individual has to make an incredible sacrifice to get the power of alchemy, but as long as they’re willing to go through with it then they’ll have access to unbelievable strength. Alchemy allows individuals to create whatever they want or combine items together in surprising ways. It’s a vast, complex power that some may think justifies its steep cost.
4 The Best: They Can Work Independently Of The User
There have been various ways to access power in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but the addition of Stands are so unique because they’re not just added strength, but they’re a whole partner for the user. Stands have their own level of intelligence and can operate independently of the user’s knowledge. Sometimes a person doesn’t even realize that they’re a Stand user. Users don’t have to train their Stand or be a pro, yet their Stand can still be powerful in its own right. Most other superpowers in anime do require the user to train and refine their skills.
3 Better Alternative: Devil Fruit
Devil Fruit are the fantastical food source that have provided Luffy and countless others with their superpowers in One Piece. Devil Fruit are a fascinating item because they allow strength to individuals in an easy, but permanent way. They don’t have to master any skills, but just find the fruit. Much like Stands, Devil Fruit lead to limitless possibilities with the superpowers that they grant. Different regions even have different kinds of Devil Fruit. For some the decision to eat the Devil Fruit is a dangerous turning point, but many are able to productively use the power that it provides.
2 The Best: They Can Literally Re-Shape The Universe
Stands all vary in terms of abilities and severity of strength, but as JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure goes on, the villains at the end of each saga have Stands that feature some truly unreasonable powers. Stands are already powerful and unpredictable, but these villains can do things like rewind or erase time, trap people in time loops, and even restart the universe. These are abilities that even surpass the strength of Gods, so they’re definitely going to make a greater impact than any other superpower. Whatever damage that gets done, the most powerful of Stands could just undo it from happening.
1 Better Alternative: Death Note
This one may be thinking a little outside of the box, but the way in which the titular book in Death Note operates is not unlike a superpower. The Death Note is dangerously overpowered and the user has the power to kill anyone whose name they write in the notebook. With Death Note it's less an issue on whether if the power will work, but if the user will stoop to that level. It's much more of a moral dilemma. Besides, in a strange way Death Note's Ryuk really isn't that different from a Stand. It's a very similar look.