Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure 19
Posted: June 15, 2007 Filed under: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure 2 Comments »EDIT: I think I pointed this out with the first Jojo review, but I go by the Japanese numbering for volumes. Not for any ill feelings like being shorted or whatever, but I do hope that we’ll catch up with the early volumes eventually, plus it helps me to remember where we are inbetween the second and fourth story arcs.
When I got completely lost in work last week, I did celebrate a birthday. Among other things, I read the only manga worthy of my birthday: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
This probably should be added to my top 5 favorite series of all time. I talk about it constantly, to the point where my roommate is going to punch me in the face the next time I tell him that Kraftwerk is the name of a stand in part 5. The art, the overlapping stories, the influence on other series, the characters, the humor, and the violence are all things I could go on and on about indefinitely. It’s insane that there aren’t more people reading this in English. But these are topics for another day.
True to the spirit of the series, this volume is NUTS, and pulls one of the most unbelievable fake-outs you can imagine. In any other series, this would be the lamest device ever, but this one is perfectly aware that there is no way this could have happened, so to cover up the complete glossover on how it was possible, they distract you with Polnareff abuse and the fact that, for whatever reason, someone was able to obtain a submarine. To cross the Red Sea. AND SOMEHOW A STAND WAS ALREADY INSIDE. But that’s just the last couple chapters.
We also get two chapters wrapping up Death 13 and Kakyoin’s moment in the spotlight. He finishes up by feeding that smarmy baby its own excrement.
The main feature is the fight with Judgement, however. It’s Polnareff’s turn to go one-on-one, and his fights are always the best because it’s hard not to just tear into Polnareff. He’s too funny. The stand says it grants wishes, and of course Polnareff wishes his sister back alive. It’s kind of sad to see how excited he gets before he realizes what’s going on. There’s nothing terribly violent about this fight, but Polnareff… does get an exciting new ally in the end.
I also forgot about “HAIL 2 U!” That phrase that wouldn’t be nearly as awesome if it appeared anyplace else.
[...] reviews vol. 1 of Gunsmith Cats Burst for Anime on DVD. At Slightly Biased Manga, Connie checks out vol. 19 of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. Daijoubu checks out vol. 1 of Shugo Chara! At Active Anime, Holly Ellingwood reviews vol. 13 of [...]
Just wait to get to the final battle. That’s the paradigm of epic.