Just last year, Hirohiko Araki finished upJoJolion, the eighth and most recent part ofhis long-running epicJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Concerning the adventures of a strange man given the name Josuke Higashikata in an alternate universe Morioh, the eighth part finished with an inconclusive ending that left a few plot points open. While the major conflict ofJoJolionis resolved, it is obvious that there is a lot left to clear up.
After the conclusion of Part 8, Araki announced that after a short hiatus he would soon be back with Part 9, which he has tentatively namedJOJOLANDS. Many fans were certainly already expecting a ninth part, especially after the open-ended conclusion ofJoJolion. However, what the new series is about is not exactly certain. While there are not really a lot of clues with which fans can use to theorize over what the ninth part ofJoJo’s Bizarre Adventurewill be, there’s a little bit of information here and there that can help out.
RELATED:Which JoJo Protagonist Has the Strongest Stand?
What Araki Has Said
For his part, Hirohiko Araki,the famed mangaka behindJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, has said very little about the story of Part 9 outside of the fact that it is in the works. This can be attributed to the likelihood that he has only just started work on the series, and there is not yet much to reveal. However, in a few interviews he has hinted at a few things that might be clues to what exactly will take place in his new manga. These clues are few and far between, but they are good jumping points for theorizing on the possible storyline for Part 9.
In an older interview around the time when he was working on Part 7,Steel Ball Run, Araki mentioned thathe had planned out the storylines for Parts 7 to 9 together, suggesting that the three stories are very likely interconnected. While there is not a lot shared between Part 7 and 8, there are a few themes that occur between the two stories. The tentative nameJOJOLANDSalso implies a possible journey similar to the adventures had in Parts 3 and 5.In a Q&A section with a fanduring the serialization of Part 8, Araki also mentions that a future story might feature the Scottish Highlands. This may have very little to do with Part 9, but it is a possible setting for a new series.
RELATED:JoJo: Why Are Stand Names Changed In The Localization?
Clues From Previous Story Arcs
Starting fromSteel Ball Run, Araki starteda newJoJouniverse that followed an alternate Joestar bloodline. While the new parts reference and call back to people and abilities featured in the original parts, they also introduce a lot of new concepts that carry on from part to part. After being mostly unmentioned for the majority of Part 8, Part 7’s Spin returns to the story in a climactic fashion, meaning that there is a strong likelihood that it will also appear in Part 9.
In addition, Part 8’s unresolved plot lines, such as Holy Joestar-Kira’s uncured illness, still have yet to be resolved. In fact, Josuke even mentions the possibility of another Locacaca fruit being out there, meaning that Part 9 might involve a search for it in addition to its own plot threads. This also means that Josuke may show up in Part 9 as a supporting character, in very much the same way that Joseph appeared in Part 3 as a supporting character to Jotaro. Because of the time gap between Parts 7 and 8, this wasn’t possible forJoJolion, so it would be nice to see twoJoJoprotagonists working together again.
RELATED:How JoJo’s Most Twisted Villain Found Their Perfect Job in the Afterlife
What To Expect From A New JoJo Protagonist
EveryJoJopart has always featureda different member of the Joestar bloodline as a protagonist, andJOJOLANDSis certain to be no different. The question here is exactly what kind of protagonist will take the role this time around. While their backgrounds were very different, the protagonists of Parts 7 and 8 took their names from previous protagonists in the story:Steel Ball Run’s Johnny Joestar gained his name from Part 1, whileJoJolion’s Josuke Higashikata took his name from Part 4.
It’s possible that Part 9’s protagonist may gain his name in the same fashion, but it is just as possible that the new protagonist will be a new character not based on anyone from the previous timeline. A newJoJowould allow Araki to create a protagonist that isn’t weighed down by comparison to a previous character. Regardless of which way Araki chooses to go with the new protagonist, it is certain to make for an interesting lead for the new part. It’s still uncertain exactly when Part 9’s serialization will actually begin, but when it does, it is certain to feature more bizarre Stand battles, lots of quirky and expressive characters, and a wild adventure that can only come from a series likeJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
