Hirohiko Araki is a bizarre manga author, which is quite fitting as the mangaka behind the sensational Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. The series is his bread and butter and has garnered millions of fans worldwide. So one could imagine the anticipation for the spin-off series, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe had fans waiting on pins and needles. It's safe to say that the wait was well worth it, because Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe has all the strange charm, expressive visuals, and wacky misadventures that are expected of something that comes from the world of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

Following the exploits of the side character from the fourth part of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure named Rohan Kishibe, the reader goes into his world as a globe-trotting manga author who is looking for his next source of inspiration. Along the way, he uncovers murder mysteries and nefarious plots that he finds himself -- unwillingly -- involved in and with the help of his stand, Heaven's Door, he is always one step ahead of his enemies.

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Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe will be, undoubtedly, a hit with Jojo fans, as the spin-off features all the common themes and traits the community has grown to adore. For newcomers, however, this may be a different story. Concepts dependent on knowledge of Jojo's established world, such as 'stands', might throw new readers for a loop. However, this is a blessed double-edged sword because on the one hand, there is jargon from the predecessor series that is thrown about, but the actual knowledge of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure required is minimal. And since the Jojo series is long, spanning several decades, a shorter spin-off series might be just the thing to entice newcomers to see if they want to delve into the rest of the Jojo saga.

The artwork is ubiquitous to Hirohiko Araki's unusual style and very few other manga series quite like it. Complete with pretty boys doing outrageous poses during battles, to some genuinely grotesque imagery that rivals that of some of the greatest horror films, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe will scratch the itch of those who are looking for something out of the norm when it comes to their manga consumption. People who are also weary of entering the world of manga can be eased in through this series, as Araki is known to pepper his work with references and styles that showcase his love for Western pop culture.

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One cannot read Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe without referencing Western pop-culture influences, such as characters named after famous rock bands and pop stars. It is also known that Hirohiko Araki is an Italophile and loves classical Roman art, modeling his characters and their mannerisms after visiting Rome and observing the ancient statues of their heroes and myths. Araki has an eye for traditional beauty in his male characters, making them look and move as if they were strutting down the runway, decked out in Gucci clothing during Milan fashion week. Rohan himself has all the appealing features of a Greco-Roman hero. Araki seems more than happy to carve such a character from the proverbial marble of the classical Roman artists he idolizes.

Another strength of Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe is that, instead of a continuing story, the narrative is told in vignettes, allowing readers to pick up a copy and a chapter at random to enjoy. These segments are like bite-sized one-shots within a larger picture that gives readers a choice into which one they prefer, with each story having its own unique flair, making for quick and enjoyable reading. Overall, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe is a fun introduction to the Jojo franchise with intriguing art and a set of tantilizing stories where anything can be morphed into a suspenseful event. Readers who want something different from the norm in the world of manga, maybe even something 'bizarre', should give Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe a space on their shelves.