Amalgamating the absurd and the touching into one unique package, Araki managed to craft a compelling story of progression and improvement. Each part expands on the previous ones, constantly referring itself to create an experience unlike any other. One of the series’ greatest strengths are its characters, all able to stand out and leave an impression. And for this list I’ll be ranking the 25 best ones, so some spoilers ahead! This is naturally going to be a subjective list – and we’ll be going over the parts yet to be adapted, too – so please bear with me here… I had to narrow this list down from 70.
25. Noriaki Kakyoin
From Part 3: Stardust Crusaders. After a visit to Egypt resulted in brainwashing by DIO, Kakyoin tries but fails to kill Jotaro Kujo. Following the influence, he dedicates himself to the Stardust Crusaders to hunt DIO down and kill him. He’s a womanizer and a loyal companion for his teammates. One of the best JoBro’s out there. His friendship with Jotaro Kujo, and his complex Stand – Hierophant Green – makes him a versatile best friend character who leaves a large impression by the end.
24. Narancia Ghirga
From Part 5: Golden Wind When his mother died and his father became estranged to him, Narancia turned to the streets. After being deceived by his friend and spending a yar in a detention center, he was saved from homeless starvation by Bruno and recruited to Passione. His loyalty towards his friends, illiterate and under-educated attitude, and aggressive temperament, make him a consistently engaging character. His enthusiasm is contagious, infecting his group (and the audience) on their travels across Italy. His Stand, Aerosmith, is a small fighter plane capable of packing a punch and tracking a person’s breath.
23. Ringo Roadagain
From Part 7: Steel Ball Run Ringo is a minor character who makes a large impression due to his muted personality, honor system, and interesting Stand. As a child, he was constantly ill and weak until one day when a man murdered his family, prompting Ringo to kill in self-defense. Ever since, his constitution has improved with each battle he engages with. Believing that conflict betters his soul and body. He is a gun wielding duelist who can use his stand, Mandom, to rewind time up to 6-seconds. Despite having so little presence, Ringo is an unforgettable part of the overall narrative that leaves an impact on our protagonists. I love his click, clean design, too.
22. Risotto Nero
From Part 5: Golden Wind Risotto first got his hands dirty avenging his cousin at the age of 14, which quickly threw him into the professional world of assassination. In his late 20s, he’s given leadership of La Squadra Esecuzioni, a squad called upon for hitman purposes. However his team decides to revolt against the boss of Passione, making them core antagonists for Team Bucciarati to overcome. His stand, Metallica, allows him to manipulate metal via magnetism. This is powerful on its own, but when compounded with the iron found in blood, allows him to literally form a pair of scissors in your body. He’s a lethal, ruthless personality who is always alert to any enemy he may encounter. I love his cold, complex behavior and flamboyant neo-Gothic design.
21. Kars
From Part 2: Battle Tendency The main antagonist of Battle Tendency, Kars, is the leader of the mysterious Pillar Man. Centuries ago, he crafted the Stone Mask (that turned Dio into a vampire). His constitution forbids him from being in the sun, and so he aims to claim the Red Stone of Aja to grant him immunity and become an Ultimate Being. His presence can be felt throughout the entire series due to being an immortal ancient being, setting off many of the events from before part 1.
20. Joseph Joestar
From Part 2: Battle Tendency Known for his cocky, dishonorable, and conman attitude. Joseph is a troublemaker who knows when to give up, always willing to unleash his ultimate move of Running Away. He’s an integral part of the JoJoverse, appearing in multiple parts at different ages. Joseph is a natural Ripple user, and eventually gets his own underpowered Stand – Hermit Purple – that allows him to track people through technology.
19. Enrico Pucci
From Part 6: Stone Ocean The antagonist of Stone Ocean, Enrico Pucci, is a devout chaplain priest overlooking Green Dolphin Street Prison. His goal is to achieve heaven, a goal laid out to him by his lover DIO. He is a strong believer of determinism and wields this belief with arrogance and confidence. He acquires three different Stands throughout the series. Whitesnake can take a person’s soul and Stand ability in the form of a disk; C-Moon makes him the center of gravity, shifting the orientation of his enemies within a large radius; and Made in Heaven, which can accelerate the rate of time through universe gravity manipulation. He’s a formidable, uniquely designed antagonist.
18. Jean Pierre Polnareff
From Part 3: Stardust Crusaders The boasting Frenchman Polnareff is on a quest to avenge his sister, killed by a man with two right hands. We’re first introduced to him when he attacks our protagonists under the belief one of them killed her. When he discovers this was a lie made by DIO, who himself if harboring the murderer, he joins the Stardust Crusaders on hunting him down. Driven by a strong honor code and peculiar, exaggerated sensibilities, Polnareff is a standout character of JoJo’s. His Stand – Silver Chariot – is simple but effective; it wields a sharp rapier lade and is one of the fastest.
17. Jolyne Cujoh
From Part 6: Stone Ocean Our first introduction to Jolyne is when she’s being carted off to Green Dolphin Street Prison after being framed for driving under the influence and killing someone. Soon, weird things start happening around her and she realizes she needs to escape – except she has a score to settle with prison warden, Father Enrico Pucci. We quickly discover she’s the estranged daughter of a previous protagonist, and within no time she receives a Stand. Stone Free permits Jolyne the ability to unravel herself into string, making her a versatile and difficult person to encounter.
16. Slow Dancer
From Part 7: Steel Ball Run An old 11-year-old appaloosa known for its communicative difficulty. However once bonded with, it’s a fast and reliable steed able to maintain great speeds with stellar intelligence. He becomes one of Johnny and Gyro’s greatest allies, always there when they need him and playing a key component in their battle against the President of the United States of America.
15. Yasuho Hirose
From Part 8: JoJolion Yasuho is an inquisitive university student living in the quiet village of Morioh. At the beginning, she discovers the protagonist of JoJolion and rescues him after discovering he has no memory. Throughout the series she serves as his rock, always rooting him to reality and reaffirming his new identity through his romantic connection to her. Truly best girl. Her stand, Paisley Park, can manipulate technology to investigate – it’s like the ultimate Google.
14. Giorno Giovanna
From Part 5: Golden Wind Giorno suffered from the abuse of his stepfather until befriending and saving a gangster in the streets. From that day, he knew what his dream was: to become a top gangster and use his power for the good of the people. Calm, collected, composed. Giorno Giovanna is the embodiment of resolve and determination, not letting anything stop him and his stand, Gold Experience – which can embed life energy into anything.
13. Doppio Vinegar
From Part 5: Golden Wind The secondary antagonist, working directly with the Boss, Doppio is an unassuming man with eccentric behavior. He often hears the Boss communicating with him through environmental object. He possesses half of King Crimson – Epitaph – which gives him a ten second glimpse into the future. One of my favorite characters for his unusual attitude and killer design. The further you get, the more about Doppio is revealed.
12. Josuke Higashikata
From Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable Josuke is just about to start his first year of high school when his nephew arrives to the quiet town of Morioh searching for a serial killer. In no time at all, his humdrum life is turned around when he begins encountering Stand users threatening to disrupt the relationships made in his town. He’s a carefree, though very caring soul who only gets angry when you insult his hair or harm those he cares for. His Stand, Crazy Diamond, can reverse damage and repair anything, making him a fantastic combat support.
11. Guido Mista
From Part 5: Golden Wind When he was a child, a neighbor of Mista’s adopted a kitten from a litter of four that then proceeded to claw the owner’s eyes out. This left him with a crippling feat of 4 (tetraphobia). Then, in his later teenage years, he rescued a woman from assault – only to enter an altercation with the men. He somehow avoided every bullet before returning fire with perfect accuracy. He was sentenced to thirty years in jail, only pardoned thanks to the sway of Bruno Bucciarata and requested for his power. His gunslinging skills are amplified by his Stand, Sex Pistols, which makes his bullets autonomous and able to change direction mid-shot.
10. Jotaro Kujo
From Part 3: Stardust Crusaders Many people’s favorite JoJo character, due to his stoic and calm attitude that unravels over the course of the franchise and his repeated appearances. We first meet him in a jail cell he refuses to leave due to the ‘ghost’ possessing him. When his grandfather Joseph reveals it as a Stand, and requests his help in taking down DIO, he refuses. Until his mother falls sick, and he decides to join the Stardust Crusaders. His stand is legendary. Star Platinum is strong – very, very strong – and fast. This is because he distorts the perception of time when it punches, though its true power had not yet woken.
9. Jobin Higashikata
From Part 8: JoJolion Jobin puts his wife, Mitsuba, and son, Tsurugi, above even himself. He’s searching for a Locacaca fruit in order to cure Tsurugi of the ailment that has cursed the Higashikata family. His design is really cool, wearing a black hoodie underneath a thorned jacket. He’s fascinated by beetles and collects them avidly. Despite his honorable, complex side – he’s considered a major antagonist for the protagonists of JoJolion. His Stand, Speed King, can produce and manipulate intense levels of heat with things he’s in contact with.
8. Rohan Kishibe
From Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable Rohan is a prolific, renown manga artist who holds the art in the highest regard. He is often dragged into the mischief of the town against his will, but quickly grows a trusting relationship with the cast except Josuke who he inherently distrusts. His design is stellar; neat an unique, with his layered hair almost acting as a crown. His Stand reflects his career and outlook on people. Heaven’s Door lets him read people, and even alter their ‘story’ by writing or editing things. In the right hands, Heaven’s Door would be one of the strongest, were it not owned by someone who just wants to draw.
7. Yoshikage Kira
From Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable Kira is torn between his two instincts: to have a peaceful, lonesome life, and to murder and salvage human hands. Naturally, they’re opposing sides threatening to collapse into one another. When he accidentally raises his infamy, he attracts Josuke and his friends. He uses his Stand, Killer Queen, to put an end to anybody who gets in the way of that peaceful life. It can explode anything it touches, among other things.
6. Dio Brando (DIO) (Diego Brando)
From Part 1: Phantom Blood One of the best antagonists of all time. Witty, completely arrogant, and unwilling to be perceived as anything less than a God. I love all of his designs, and he steals the show with each appearance. Dio Brando is a commoner of grandiose ambition, adopted into the Joestar family where he plots to usurp his new brother Jonathan. However, he becomes a vampire after encountering the Stone Mask. DIO is a 100-year-old immortal vampire keen to conquer the world and rule supreme, wielding his powerful Stand, The World, which permits him to stop time for up to 9 seconds (which can decrease / increase based on training). Diego Brando is a selfish genius jockey with parent issues keen to compete and win the Steel Ball Run race. He soon enters an intense, violent rivalry with Gyro and Johnny. He achieves dominance of the Stand Scary Monsters, allowing him to transform himself – and other biological entities – into dinosaurs, enhancing his already superior senses.
5. Funny Valentine
From Part 7: Steel Ball Run The main antagonist of part 7, and the 23rd President of the United States. He observes the events of the Steel Ball Run race from the sidelines, hoping to creep ever closer to his ulterior goal. His Stand, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (D4C) allow him to travel across the multiverse, bringing alternate versions of himself and others into his original timeline. As such, his power is near-immeasurable in its potential – especially when it evolves to gain the ability, Love Train.
4. Johnny Joestar
From Part 7: Steel Ball Run Johnny Joestar lost the use of his legs when he was shot in the spine at the height of his jockey career. His life subsequently went downhill after he caused the death of his dear brother, eventually succumbing to a deep and intense depression. When he meets Gyro Zeppeli before the beginning of the Steel Ball Run, he sees hope for the first time and decides to follow the man into the race to overcome himself and improve his resolve. I love his determination and depth, so he quickly became a favorite for me. His Stand manifests later, so he mainly revolves on the enigmatic power of the Spin taught to him by Gyro. However, his Stand is called Tusk. It can spin his fingernails into bullets and evolve into three different forms.
3. Gyro Zeppeli
From Part 7: Steel Ball Run The Zeppeli family are masters of the Spin – a mysterious ability reliant on rotation and the Golden Ratio – and Gyro is its youngest member. The Zeppelis are executioners of the Kingdom of Naples, and he enters the Steel Ball Run to pardon a child he was unable to kill. Gyro is one of the most fleshed out, endearing characters in the franchise. His design – the hat, the goggles, the grills! – feature wholly unique elements to him, making him stand out in an already vibrant cast. He’s an honorable warrior and serves as a teacher for Johnny Joestar. His Stand depends on him executing an incredibly rare Golden Spin. Ball Breaker can travel dimensional barriers and rapidly accelerate aging.
2. Bruno Bucciarati
From Part 5: Golden Wind Bruno is a Mafioso of Passione, working directly under Polpo as a leader of his own team. He’s sent out to find the killer of Leaky-Eye Luca, and quickly discovers and befriends the aspiring Giorno Giovanna. He’s tasked with protecting Trish, the daughter of the boss, though him and Giorno have ulterior motives. His calm, motherly demeanor, and patient yet intense attitude, makes him stand out. Fabulous in his design, with various zips adorning his gorgeous suit, Bruno steals the show to become the true Best Girl. His stand, Sticky Fingers, allows him to open zips in any surface to then enter or emerge from. This makes him a versatile, acrobatic, and unpredictable opponent.
1. Gappy (Josuke Higashikata)
From Part 8: JoJolion Gappy (as fans call him based on his diastema) is my favorite JoJo’s character so far. He begins the story with retrograde amnesia – literally a blank slate – and aims to rekindle his true self. But along the way he develops a new identity and sense of self, developing new friends, and even entering a new family, making him wonder whether he should. He has four split-irises, four testicles, and a tongue made of two distinct shades and textures. His brilliant sailor uniform design ends up becoming a huge defining part of his character, and the way he doesn’t properly fit in the town of Morioh. Nonetheless, he’s perhaps the most sympathetic JoJo yet. He feels human, weak and frail at times yet never lacking in that hallmark Joestar resolve. His Stand is Soft & Wet; it can steal properties (eyesight of the eyes, light from a bulb) and redirect or extinguish them via small soap bubbles that pop to capture the targeted aspect. I cannot wait to see JoJolion adapted!
