Reviews for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 2: Battle Tendency

Any patience you had with the flawed first arc will be rewarded handsomely. While Phantom Blood was dragged down by an extremely dull protagonist, an overly-evil villain, poor art, and a slow beginning, by the very first chapter Battle Tendency has already done away with half of this. BT picks up 50 years onwards from Phantom Blood, in the 1930s, and now follows the grandson of Jonathan Joestar, Joseph Joestar. While the two are dead ringers for each other in appearance, you would never mistake one for the other - they're polar opposites in terms of personality. Where Jonathan was noble, gentlemanly, and generically heroic, Josephis brash, loud, and not afraid to pick a fight. On top of that, he's not just willing to fight dirty - fighting dirty is his defining character trait. Not that he is without a sense of honour, though - his reasoning for picking fights is always noble (well, almost), and does not hesitate to put himself in harm's way for a loved one. While this does, to some degree, make him sound like a standard idiot hero shonen protagonist, the key factor that sets Joseph apart from the ilk is that his attitude is misleading - he's incredibly smart and quick-witted, and always prepared. Joseph is a big fan of Sun Tzu's "The Art Of War", and it shows in his continued pragmatism in combat and his constant trickery.

I touched upon this in my review of Phantom Blood, but what really stands out above all else in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure are the fights. Whereas most shonen series will rely on delaying the protagonist's appearance to increase plot tension, or using a convoluted string of powerups to justify the protagonist's ability to win, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is all about the tactics. The biggest strength in this is that the question ceases to be "who will win?", or "when will they win?", but "how will they win?". The problem with the Phantom Blood, however, was that while this sometimes happened, Jonathan wasn't the kind of character who would intentionally use deception, which highly limited what ways he could achieve victory. Joseph, however, is deception incarnate, and as a result Battle Tendency is truly able to shine. There really is no better representative of JJBA as a whole than Joseph Joestar.

While JJBA is more driven more by fights and characters than by plot, Battle Tendency is nonetheless an improvement on the first arc in the plot department. In the very first chapter, things immediately escalate with the discovery of an ancient man inside a stone pillar... surrounded by dozens of copies of the vampire-making stone mask from Phantom Blood. "Oh, shit" is the appropriate reaction here. What's more, the man inside the pillar? He's not quite dead. Nor is he quite the only one of his kind.

Another interesting point about how this arc compares to the first is that, in spite of the name "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure", the first arc really wasn't much of an adventure. After all, the bulk of the plot is divided up into three locations in Victorian England, and the setting in general feels very claustrophobic. But Battle Tendency truly lives up to this title. It begins in New York, but the discovery of the Pillar Men and his need for Hamon/Ripple training ends up leading him to travelling to numerous different countries. While the first took after vampire horror more than anything, Battle Tendency follows more in the footsteps of Indiana Jones movies than anything else.

While it is easy to ramble at length about what makes Joseph far and away one of the best characters in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as a whole, he is far from the only good character in this arc. Erina, Straits, and Speedwagon from the first arc are all still present, with the latter ironically being more useful in his old age than he ever was in Phantom Blood. But the real stars here are the new additions. Joseph gains allies in two Ripple users who are both his senior - Lisa-Lisa, the master of a school of the Ripple in Italy, and her disciple, Caesar Zeppeli, the grandson of Jonathan's master. Caesar is definitely the standout here - while he isn't quite an amazing character in his own right, his aloof and cultured nature is a direct opposite to Joseph's, and the two clash wonderfully.

On the opposite side of things, we have the Pillar Men. These three serve as the main rivals to the Ripple warriors: Wham, ACDC, and Cars. Cars is the leader of the three, and is one of the few things I fault about this series - his motive and overall personality are quite generic for a villain. While Dio was also overly evil, he was extremely fun about it. Cars doesn't quite match up - however, he doesn't need to all that much, because the real rivalry here is between Joseph and Wham. Ironically, Wham is the lowest Pillar Man in terms of Hierarchy, serving behind their leader, and his right hand-man, the strange and disturbing ACDC, and yet he's by far the most prominent of the three. Though all of the Pillar Men, like Cars, lack any value for life as most humans would, Battle Tendency makes use of him not being human. He has his own moral compass, revolving around the honour of battle. Wham values the honour of the fight above all else, making an interesting parallel to Joseph in the process. Though their powers are generic - the use of the powers of Wind, Fire, and Light respectively - in true JJBA fashion, they still manage to make inventive use of them.

Yet another thing JoJo 2 has improved upon is the art. Though it's still very rough around the edges, having some awkward muscle structures and overly thick lines in places, it's a firm improvement - and at it's best, it's downright eye-candy.

With all this having been said, it's hasn't completely patched up what mistakes Phantom Blood made - it still contains one key fault from the first that would not be fix'd until the third arc. Joseph is almost as much of a camera-hog as Jonathan, in that the vast majority of the fights revolve around him, which limits how good Caesar and Lisa-Lisa can be, especially the latter, as Caesar's interactions with Joseph do allow him enough screentime. Similarly, it helps greatly that unlike Jonathan, Joseph is a protagonist worth giving the spotlight to 90% of the time. Due to these two factors, it is a slight improvement, it hasn't fixed the problem.

However, this is merely a small scratch on an otherwise shiny diamond - it's hard to care in the face of how incredibly fun JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 2 actually is. Joseph alone is enough to carry this arc, but a more dynamic story, a better all-round cast, and much more focus on the intelligent action that is JJBA's raison d'etre rounds Battle Tendency out as one of the greatest highlights in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

Final Words: An improvement in every way. Arguably the best arc JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has to offer.

Story/Plot: 8/10.

Characters: 9/10.

Art: 8/10.

Overall: 9/10.

For fans of: Fist of the North Star, Toriko.

Depending on whether you rate helpful or not, I may have to kick your ass!

(Sorry. Couldn't resist.)

As the second Part of the long running series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Battle Tendency finds itself in an interesting position that many other series would not find themselves in: it sits between what some might consider an average first act and a third act where many people say "is where the series becomes really good" and it is thus not unheard of for people to gloss over this part all together. Which is a shame as Part 2 is a great part in its own right and doesn't see half of the praise that it deserves. While the story of Phantom Blood was difficult to explaindue to just how bizarre yet oddly linear the narrative was on paper, Battle Tendency's is a case of it being both very weird in nature while also being much larger and better defined in scope. Events take place a few decades after the end of Phantom Blood, picking up in 1930's America when the world was on the edge of a second world war. We are quickly introduced to our protagonist Joseph Joestar, age 18 who is a nigh splitting image of his grandfather Jonathan. Joseph possesses an innate ability to harness the power of the Ripple, an ability that he has inherited from his grandfather before him and can use to great effect, quickly utilising it to rescue a pickpocket named Smokey Brown from a couple of corrupt police officers. Meanwhile we are reintroduced to his "Uncle", the aged Robert Speedwagon (who has managed to strike oil and create an organization in his name between the 50 year gap), where it is revealed that he has discovered ruins which allude to the origins of the vampire-creating stone mask. It is here that he uncovers the true origins of the accursed mask and a promise of a threat that is of a much greater scale: vampire transcending beings simply known as the Pillar men.

In summary it's basically more of the same nonsense that was present in Phantom Blood, but more refined and benefitting from a shift in genre; while it can be said that Phantom Blood's atmosphere was designed to reflect classic horror's like Dracula, Battle Tendency strives to provide a more traditional adventure series like Indiana Jones. This is especially apparent as the series visits multiple countries around the world as the story goes on. Note that while the series is more refined than its predecessor it still falls for similar pot holes that hurt the overall tone of the story (probably the best example of this is how the main characters are aided by the Nazi’s at one point without any sense of irony), which is more of a quirk of Hirohiko Araki’s writing style and continues to pop up throughout the series. In the end the story is what it is: the series is funny when it’s meant to be funny, sad when it’s meant to be sad and you're rooting for the main characters to overcome their enemies around every bend of the story, which is exactly what needed to be done.

In contrast to a majority of the characters in Phantom Blood, the characters in Battle Tendency are all interesting and more complex than how they initially appear. Joseph, despite the strong resemblance towards Jonathan (the previous part's protagonist for anyone unfamiliar) is about as similar to him as night is to day: while Jonathan was more of a stupidly naïve hero who always fought in a gentlemanly manner, Joseph starts out as a rebellious, jerk-ish hothead whom is not above fighting dirty or comically running away from a situation. This immediately makes his character a lot more interesting, as it shows that he's a far cry from Jonathan’s near messianic level of heroism yet maintains a sincere care for those who he makes deep connections towards. This causes him to give his all to protect them and in turn leads him into becoming a better person as a result. Overall he’s a much stronger main character than Jonathan was and the story benefits greatly from it. Supporting protagonists and secondary characters are likewise more interesting than in the previous part, with the important ones possessing a surprising amount of depth behind their surface personality traits. Special mentions go towards Caesar, eventual rival and friend of Joseph and Stroheim, a patriotic Nazi soldier whom Joseph encounters on his journey, as they both provide a great contrast between themselves and Joseph. The only real characters one could take an issue with are Suzi Q who was introduced solely to provide a love interest towards Joseph and the Pillar Men whom make some baffling poor decisions for beings of their age and intelligence level. To top things off they're frankly not as memorable or entertaining a villain as the first parts villain, Dio. Of course these are more nit-picky complaints than anything else and can easily be overlooked when focusing on the more positive aspects of the series.

As was the case with Phantom Blood, the combat is the absolute high point of the series and has matured to be a lot more creative in execution. The Ripple fighting style that appeared in previous series reappears here shockingly enough, but the utilisation in Battle Tendency favours focusing Ripple energy (basically chi mixed with UV rays for those unfamiliar) into other objects than transferring the energy into their foes by punching them. This logical evolution adds a broader range of combat possibilities and strategies that were simply in a state of infancy when the Ripple was used in the previous part and is nearly comparable to the “Stand” abilities that appear in part 3 onwards. The abilities that each of the Pillar Men possess are very entertaining as well (if a bit less creative) and subsequently provide excellent enemies to Joseph and Co.

The art style of the series is essentially more of the same as the previous arc; featuring handsome muscle-bound characters and beautiful women with a liking for uniquely styled clothing. Having said this there is definitely an evolution in Araki’s drawing style as lines appear bolder than what they did in Phantom Blood and panels appear somewhat neater, giving an impression of increased experience. Background art is worth a decent mention as well: this series visits a variety of different countries and is able to capture pure scenic at the best of times. All in all the artwork is something that you may enjoy, though it is hardly the author’s best work.

So is Battle Tendency a good manga to read? Yes, provided that you have read Phantom Blood before reading this part. It’s a superior series in nearly every way and gives a good indication of just what direction the series is heading towards. If Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure was to be compared to a butterfly’s lifecycle; Battle Tendency would be Jojo’s chrysalis stage; in the middle of changing from its Phantom Blood larvae stage and heading towards its emergence from its cocoon (Stardust Crusaders), where it becomes something awe inspiring. If nothing else if you're planning to read this series the way through then this part is definitely worth the time you'd spend reading it.

《TO BE CONTINUED||

Following up to the successful Phantom Blood, Hirohiko Araki delivers a perfect example of a good sequel: get everything great about the first and build on it, and get everything bad about the first and improve it. What Araki creates is one of the best direct sequels in manga history. Story: 8/10 Battle Tendency picks up 50 years after the events of Phantom Blood, around 1940. After the ending of Phantom Blood, Speedwagon moves to America and becomes an insanely rich oil tycoon. He forms the Speedwagon Foundation with the ultimate goal of protecting the Joestar family and killing all vampires. Jonathan's wife, Erina, raisesher grandson Joseph Joestar, the second true Jojo. Joseph moves to America while Speedwagon discovers frozen vampires in Mexico. However, Nazis led by Rudol von Stroheim kidnap him and accidentally awaken the vampires, known as the Pillar Men. Now they have to team up with Speedwagon, Joseph, Zeppeli's grandson Caesar, and a mysterious martial artist named Lisa Lisa to stop the Pillar Men (Santana, Wham, ACDC, and Kars) from destroying the world. It's a very fun story that never has a slow moment unlike Phantom Blood. Much more comedic than it's predecessor, the dramatic moments still hit hard. The climax, though stupid beyond belief, is nevertheless epic and hilariously over the top.

Art: 8/10

The art has improved greatly since Phantom Blood. Araki is still sticking with the overly macho man style while dealing a little bit better with anatomy. Not much o say here other than it's a great improvement over Phantom Blood, while still retaining its style, a style Araki won't really change until Part 4.

Characters: 8/10

For the most part, the characters are very fun. Speedwagon is pretty much useless, but it fits his character who not only is frail and timid to begin with but is now like 89 years old. von Stroheim, especially when he becomes a cyborg, is simply awesome, and his assertions of Nazi German superiority seem true. Caesar serves a similar role that his grandfather did in Phantom Blood, but he's much more young and hotheaded, making him a perfect counterpart to Joseph. The Pillar Men are pure hype, and Wham specifically is one of the best Jojo antagonists ever. I did not care much for Lisa Lisa or Smokey Brown (A kid that Joseph takes with him when eh tried to pickpocket Joseph) at all.

But to make up for that, Joseph. Addressing the complaints that Jonathan was "too dull" and "too one dimensional", Joseph is a colorful character and unlike Jonathan, is a trickster. Rather than fight nobly, Joseph gets enjoyment out of creating master ruses to piss off his enemies. His trademark "You're next line will be..." is hilarious. Pretty much everything about him is hilarious in fact, whether crossdressing to sneak into a Nazi camp or throwing dismembered arms to choke enemies. It's impossible to not be tricked into following this crazy bastard thanks to his endless charisma, wackiness, and flamboyance.

Enjoyment: 9/10

Battle Tendency is a very fun story arc for all the reasons above. It feels much more like a "bizarre adventure" than Phantom Blood did, and it delivers all the goods expected and more. It's very, very dumb, but that's the fun. And even with the comedy, there are still some damn fine dramatic moments, and it's overall very well written as expected of Araki.

Overall: 8/10

Great fights, great characters, great art, Battle Tendency is just lots of fun. A more than worthy follow up to Phantom Blood, it's like the Terminator 2 of manga.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency is an appropriately bombastic, artistically successful action series with engaging characters that falls just short of excellence. The story of Battle Tendency starts 50 years after Phantom Blood in pre-World War II New York. It involves Joseph Joestar, the grandson of Jonathan, and his battles against the creators of the stone masks, ancient vampires named ACDC, Wham and Cars (yes, they are actually called this). One of the most appealing aspects about Battle Tendency’s story is that it spans across several different countries, involves many new and exciting characters and several creative set-pieces. The story is appropriately tense and fast pacedwhile still retaining its humour in a way that feels natural and complementary, rather than conflicting. From the beginning until the end, the audience are not faced with the question of what will happen, but rather how it will. This leads to the more tense and engaging action sequences, helped largely by eccentric villains and likable lead and supporting characters.

Joseph Joestar is the most enjoyable part of Battle Tendency, balancing juvenile behaviour with quick, believable wit underpinned by his genuine kindness and awareness of the situation. His amusing running jokes, like guessing the enemies words and making them look foolish before defeating them, and his interactions with his allies and opposition really elevate the reading experience to something much more entertaining than it would first appear to be. Caesar is also an interesting character, appropriately brash and forceful, but he serves primarily as foil for Joseph. Lisa Lisa is memorable in both design and attitude, though is slightly short-changed in interaction and development. The other characters who show up briefly serve their purpose well without overshadowing the main characters, and the larger character cast gives Battle Tendency and overall grander feel than Phantom Blood. The villains are also quite distinct, each having a different attitude and method of defeating the main character, though ACDC is admittedly less compelling than Cars or Wham. They feel legitimately threatening, though at times they do fall into shounen stereotypes.

The art is of slightly higher quality than Phantom Blood’s, though the main reason for the aesthetic improvement lies in the more ambitious designs. Joseph looks much like Jonathan, but is more noticeable because of the unique way in which his body moves. Caesar looks much like Joseph, but a few key changes, such as his hair style and bandana, does prevent the audience from ever confusing the two of them. Lisa Lisa looks quite different to all other females in Jojo’s Bizarre adventure, seeming strong, agile and confident without pride or bombast. The villains’ designs, however, are the most outstanding visual element of Battle Tendency. They appear proud and ancient while still maintaining that distinct Jojo look of strength and durability. The action sequences, without exception, are well-crafted, clearly drawn and never leave the audience feeling cheated or underwhelmed.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency is a sizable step-up from Phantom Blood in many aspects, be it engaging and distinct characters, or well-drawn and executed action or comedy, Battle Tendency is a great shonen action series with a lot going for it, and I certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Phantom Blood.

Part 1 was at 19th Centuary England, Part 2 was around late 30s just before world war II and it spaned from America to Italy. Part 1's Jonathan Joester, the 1st Jojo was a noble gentleman, Part 2's Joseph Joester The 2nd Jojo (the grand son of Jonathan) was a hot headed smart and talented kid who could use hamon special tecniques without training and he loved comics, it cought my eyes that he had Superman comics in his hands at a flight travel panel in plane. lol Jonathan and Joseph look visually exactly the same btw. I didn't like the Part 2 as muchas the Part 1 cause Part 1 had a pure 100% evil villain called Dio and the end was sour... I like a villain who has no trace of goodness in him/her and i actually like bad ends over anything but a sour end was close so it has my symphaties. lol Part 2's naive parts bothered me more for some reason and villains were bigger, Santviento, Wamuu, Esidisi and The Master of them all Kars, the 4 Pilar Men, Pilar Men were god like beings, they all had their special powers so they were bigger than the first part's villain Dio who was just a Vampire, after all the next installment must be bigger, and some of the villains had honor at Part 2 so it wasn't as much as appealing to me like a pure evil villain Dio. The stone mask of the first part was connected to the Pilar Man btw.

Dio, Esidisi and Zeppeli character names sounds familiar to you too ? If you like Rock and Metal music, it must have. These names come from none other than the famous Metal Band Dio and AC DC (Esidisi) and Rock band Led Zeppelin (Zeppeli). Mangaka Hirohiko Araki is a Rock and Metal music lover just like his many readers including me.

Jojo part 1 and 2 was not for everyone for sure. If you can endure, look over some naive writting and if you especially have a taste for some naivety like half an hour falls from hights and the fights still go on while they are falling, the outragously naive ways that they survive from the falls... Joseph's way of wining the battles, Ceasar's Bubbles... those were impossible to buy into. Especially If you have a taste for naive parts like those, you will like Jojo part 1 and 2. I started to read Jojo cause people say it got really good with Part 3: The Stardust Crusaders so i read it for the promise of good future parts and i'm there now, i will see how good it's. Just waiting for Part 3 to be completed in its english publication so i can read it from start to finish without a long break.

DISCLAIMER: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a currently ongoing series with (at the moment of writing), 7 complete parts and one ongoing one. It's important to first make the distinction that this is NOT one ongoing story split into parts, but rather 8 stories in the same universe following the Joestar bloodline, that share similar elements, plot points, and even motivations in some cases. Due to that, this and my other JoJo reviews will follow an unique JoJo rating system, since in my opinion it cannot be easily compared to other manga, done in a beginner-friendly way so as to illustrate whether or not it is worthit to get invested in the series, and how it compares to other parts of it.

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If Phantom Blood took notes from Fist of the North Star when it comes to the artstyle, Battle Tendency takes notes from it for the story. Despite being barely longer than Phantom Blood, it packs a lot more plot and enjoyable moments.

Picking up 50 years after the events of Phantom Blood, we follow our second Joestar protagonist, Joseph Joestar, as he has to learn the Ripple to combat an ancient superhuman threats awakened by nazis.

Yes you heard that right, similar to PB, BT is also essentially a B-movie in manga form, but this time it's on the higher end of them.

Once again, we follow Ripple/Hamon users as they breathe their way to victory, one puff at a time. However this time the Ripple is utilized to its fullest extent. If you wondered "why don't they just do __" during Phantom Blood, rest assured that this time they most likely will. It's extremely to fun to see the crazy stuff Joseph and Caesar come up with to win, and speaking of crazy things...

Battle Tendency is crazy.

It's just not crazy, it's insane.

The Ripple is utilized in insanely ingenious ways to ensure victory, and the Pillar Men, the villains of this part, are giant, muscular half-naked men with varying powers, including heating up their body so much that throwing their blood at things makes them melt.

And let's not forget Nazis and a Nazi Cyborg are in it as well.

Art is a slight step up from Phantom Blood, easier to understand but due to the previously mentioned insanity of it, the weird artstyle actually complements the series rather well this time around.

Both Joseph Joestar and Caesar Zeppeli are awesome protagonists with amazing chemistry. Joseph always has a trick up his sleeve to adapt to the situation (or run from it), while Caesar is stubborn and tries his best to train and win.

The villains are also extremely charismatic and beloved by the fandom, and they completely deserve that. While not as memorable as Dio, they are essentially Fist of the North Star bosses, with supernatural abilities complementing their martial arts, and the final villain has a breathtakingly amazing fight.

Overall it's a HUGE step up from Phantom Blood in everything, definite recommendation if you want a solid battle manga, and it truly rewards the reader for trudging through Part 1. The finale is one of the most memorable despite it only being 7 volumes long, which deserves a lot of praise.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 2 is a strange thing. It’s loud, absurd, often nonsensical, and full of moments that make you question what you’re even reading, but somehow, by the end, it managed to win me over more than I ever expected. Coming off of Part 1, which I found clumsy, dull, and borderline awful in both pacing and character work, Part 2 immediately improves in one major way: Joseph Joestar. He’s a far more entertaining lead than Jonathan ever was. Brash, unpredictable, and constantly talking his way into or out of trouble, Joseph’s presence carries the manga through even its weakest sections. He doesn’t savethe whole experience on his own, but he definitely gives it a personality that was missing before.

The story this time focuses on a group of ancient beings called the Pillar Men, and while the overarching plot isn't complex, it’s surprisingly compelling. There's real momentum behind it, and the stakes escalate well. The villains themselves are more memorable than they have any right to be, and the supporting cast, particularly Caesar and Lisa Lisa, adds a lot to the experience.

That said, JoJo Part 2 remains deeply flawed. The art is wildly inconsistent, with anatomy that often looks broken and action that can be hard to follow. Fights are packed with sudden reversals and over-explained tactics that feel like the author is improvising panel by panel. The tone swings between serious and slapstick constantly, and not always successfully. It’s goofy, and it doesn’t always embrace that goofiness in a satisfying way.

But around the halfway mark, something shifts. The pacing tightens, the characters deepen, and the story starts to land real emotional punches. The final act is genuinely strong, with creative fights and satisfying climaxes. I found myself actually enjoying it, not just tolerating it. Some scenes even hit emotionally, which I never thought this series was capable of after Part 1.

JoJo Part 2 isn’t going to change your mind if you fundamentally dislike chaotic storytelling or over-the-top ridiculousness of part 1, but if you’re willing to adjust your expectations and lean into its madness, there’s a surprisingly fun ride there. It’s still far from perfect, but it’s a massive step up and worth the time for anyone curious why this franchise is so beloved.

The universally beloved Battle Tendency is a big contrast to the sincere but awkward Phantom Blood. It's the Part that introduced to the world how much variety JoJo's Bizarre Adventure would truly have, and to Araki's unique charm. Despite a comparatively much less loaded, impactful story than the previous part, Battle Tendency has managed far more success and critical acclaim. Its complexity and humor, I believe, is the root of this difference. Joseph Joestar is the polar opposite of his grandfather, a constantly lucky (his running joke is that he keeps surviving plane crashes) and brilliantly street smart brawler. He comes into his heroism instead ofstarting with it, and even then is more of an old school "anti-hero" like Spider-Man, Bilbo Baggins or Mrs. Brisby. He's not as physically strong, either, which leads him to rely on frequently ridiculous strategies and psychological warfare to win his battles. This is a major aspect of the JoJo series moving forward, and will soon be perfected to a much finer state than it is in here. Still, these intellectual twists are mostly funny and sometimes exhilarating, with the occasional downside some of Joseph's plans feeling borderline nihilistically flawless. It appears sometimes that Joseph Joestar is the smartest man in the entire world, judging by how quickly and consistently he thinks of plans that actually work (he outsmarts a villain who canonically has an IQ of "at least 400"). This is all a part of Joseph's arc, and is funny and unique, so it is not too big of an issue, but there are moments where it feels lazy and takes the tension out of some battles.

The side cast is much stronger here than in Part 1, though, which helps plenty. Beautiful friendships and fun, memorable side characters are a JoJo staple that is introduced in Part 2. It makes the Part feel more confident and gives it more of a unique identity than its predecessor. It is especially important here, however, because in addition to fate (Araki's perennial theme) there is a major theme throughout Battle Tendency of empathy. Sincere connection between superficially different people, be it in demeanor, race, or species, is the backbone of Battle Tendency. This is noticeable on a large scale certainly, but becomes even clearer in the minutia, as the story is filled with small, incidental moments of people overcoming their prejudices or speaking through their perceived differences. This conceit would not work nearly so well without such likable and distinct characters.

Some of the flaws of Phantom Blood carry over to Part 2. Araki does not have a traditionally expressive artstyle, and his paneling and artwork has not nearly reached its peak yet. There are also some hiccups unique to Part 2. Joseph looks terribly similar to Jonathan, something that Araki himself has expressed regret over. The main villain is generally forgettable. The basic story is less resonant than Phantom Blood (the strength of Battle Tendency is in the details). These shaky elements seem to be wiped away by the first of Araki's legendary escalating climaxes, a thing so frankly special and inspired that spoiler-free explanation simply does not do justice.

The weight of the franchise is not carried on Part 2's back, as opposed to Part 1, but the definition of its cultural identity certainly begins with it. It's lovely, really.

JoJo part 2 is one hell of a ride. Whether you take this part seriously or not, there’s no denying that this is very fun to sit through. The craziness as well as how it fiddles with exploration in the best ways possible is what makes this part unique. Not only that but it further extends the variety of the franchise’s writing since part 1. While part 1 is a good introduction to the franchise and is far better than what people give credit for, part 2 is on a different level with how it extends the charms part 1 has. What is Battle Tendency? It’sthe part that comes after Phantom Blood. Since the death of Jonathan Joestar and the supposed “defeat” of Dio Brando, Erina is now a Joestar and took good care of Lisa Lisa and George Joestar II, both of which eventually took good care of Joseph Joestar until George died which eventually led to Lisa Lisa leaving the family while Erina takes care of Joseph. Speedwagon now owns a company and his goal is to explore the Pillar Men, the inventors of the stone masks. Joseph is kind of left unaware until he faces his first opponent which makes him discover the Pillar Men the same way as the Speedwagon Foundation. This part, again, is more substantial compared to part 1 because whereas part 1 portrays the stone mask as a cursed and mysterious decoration, part 2 finally shows us the answer about how the stone masks are made.

That’s not the only thing that makes part 2 special, though, it also works more on worldbuilding. Going from New York to Mexico to Italy, all while finding clues and battling unique foes in each location adds more to the franchise’s adventure aspect. We get to see how Joseph likes to fool around and still does but also needs to progress from place to place to solve each problem alongside his sidekicks. It gives the progression more life with how it presents how we go and execute each scenario from point A to point B. Even if it’s a battle Shounen, it excels at mystery-solving. Notice how Joseph has Hamon arguably not as potent as Jonathan’s yet is more substantial at fighting with finding more strategy. Not just utilizing Hamon uniquely but also finding the available resources to make up for a lack of strong punch. While some tactics can be off-putting, and I will get to that, it makes for great fight scenes, both in style and in substance.

Another thing the series does a good job at is how it still further extends the Joestar bloodline. How it portrays the bloodline is actually tragic. George II was a great soldier who fought in a war and was married to Lisa Lisa. Both of them were a loving husband and a loving wife respectively to each other, despite Lisa Lisa training hard to master Hamon. Eventually, however, George II was slaughtered by the last zombie made by Dio and Lisa Lisa had no choice but to risk and kill that zombie which temporarily turned her into a wanted person. She was forced to abandon Joseph so as to not give him a weird reputation. Can you imagine how tragic it is? Lisa Lisa wants to be a loving mother yet faces so many consequences that she needs to leave her son to have him protected. Again, there are some problems that I’ll get into but nonetheless, this portrayal is beautiful.

The same probably cannot be said for the Zeppeli bloodline, however. It’s nice that there’s more extension to it, especially with a good backstory, but it felt rather underutilized and we only get to see some substantial moments of it. It’s understandable that the Zeppeli bloodline needs to end right here but give us more of it. There’s no way it was intentionally treated as some sort of plot device for something. It’s kind of disrespectful.

Now, the characters. Starting with Joseph, the second JoJo, and a professional trickster, Caesar, the bubble-making avenger, and Lisa Lisa, the mentor and mother of Joseph. Joseph is a very good character. Not only he is fun to watch, but he’s also a genius when it comes to finding a strategy. He isn’t your typical protagonist who relies solely on powers. He finds other ways in order to win a fight. His chemistry with any character, especially Caesar, also makes him substantial. Just one problem, however. Some of his tricks are absurd and can considered to be asspull. Some examples include the grenade trick and countering Kars in the final fight. Now of course, JoJo is a series that isn’t taken seriously but even for that standard, those tricks can be too ridiculous for their own good. Nonetheless, Joseph is still pretty great.

Caesar, he’s alright. His chemistry with Joseph is the best part about his character but other than that, he’s lacking. He does show his history with his family and how he sets his things but neither of those aren’t explored fully. He also can be a little hypocritical for the wrong reasons. Lisa Lisa is a disappointing character. It’s nice that she has a dark history with the Joestar bloodline with how many consequences she faces and how she contributes as a main mentor but in the later parts of the story, she almost becomes a damsel in distress. She showed little with what she’s capable of which is sad.

The side characters are probably the best part of the cast as they showed more character than the main sidekicks, especially Stroheim, despite his history and troublesome actions. But the Pillar Men are the weakest parts of the cast. Satana is there, even though he introduced us to the concept of the Pillar Men. Wamuu is an exception, though, as he’s an honorable warrior who fights fair and square. While he doesn’t have that much characterization, he’s still a good villain. Esidisi is just annoying. He’s way too expressive with his emotions and doesn’t do much at all. Kars is pretty okay. He has a great backstory but he doesn’t hold the same charm as Dio. Half of the time, he’s almost a Gary Stu. Kars seeks more power and he doesn’t have any unique features for that.

Now, the last main part I want to talk about is the finale of Battle Tendency. It’s relatively weak. Sure, seeing Kars turn into the ultimate lifeform looks hella awesome but that’s more of a spectacular display than an actual part of a story. The plane fight, while great on paper, is nothing too much to talk about. It makes sense that Joseph has to run away from Kars but there aren’t many special contrasts for the two of them to clash with each other besides finding a way to hit a mark nicely. It gets worse when they launch themselves from a volcano, though. How in the world did Joseph manage to brute force Kars out of the Earth? Even for this series’ standards, it doesn’t make any sense, unless you consider the Red Stone as a hyperreactive and unstabled source of energy.

The art, just like part 1, has aged well. It gives more detail and expression to both the environment and the cast. Fashion choices are even better here.

Battle Tendency is just fun in a lot of ways. It’s crazy yet it’s enjoyable enough to not be annoying to watch… for the most part… Both the story and the worldbuilding are great and the characters are charming. But if we’re being honest, this part is far from a masterpiece. Even if it intentionally isn’t serious, there are some inconsistencies that tend to be a flip-off. Some characters are underdeveloped and some strategies could at least be elaborated a little more. But until then, if part 1 isn’t good enough then part 2 is a well-deserved step up.

Battle Tendency is Part 2 of the JoJo series so please read Part 1 first. 50 years after the events of Phantom Blood, Joseph Joestar makes his debut as the grandson of Jonathan Joestar. The story begins once Straights uses the stone mask battling Joseph who then later encounters The Wermacht & the series villains; The Pillar Men who created The Stone Masks of Part 1. This story continues the original message of the importance of family as history repeats itself with the descendants of The Joestars & The Zeppelis having to face Aztec Vampires. Battle Tendency succeeds as a sequel as it vastly improves The Rippletechnique along with having 3 major enemies this time around. Other pros include a greater art style, usage of better designed poses, & possibly better leading characters. Much like part 1, this sequel contains over the top dialogue, manly battles, creative abilities & flourishes more into comedy while still retaining its signature horror.

Overall, Battle Tendency only offers benefits with not much to criticize. If anything, this is where JoJo briefly shows its flamboyant side as The Pillar Men & at times Joseph & Caesar are drawn in very fabulous clothing (especially Cars).

Part 2 is about breaking The Joestar family curse & the passing of lineage as it displays how men learn to accept their pasts & discover the value of the next generation. Most of the content in Battle Tendency is greatly appreciated due to the tragic events that occurred in part 1 as it helps the reader see the progress of not just a family but the author's writing style.

Look forward to Part 3 Stardust Crusaders as it focuses more on horror & introduces its iconic STANDS creating the structure of the following parts of JoJo.

It's.... roughly the same in quality as Phantom Blood. Quite fun but still awkward in places and certainly not a masterpiece in any area. People say biggest improvement is probably in the MC department but I'm not too sure about that, I mean sure Joseph has more attitude than his grandfather but he's just your typical rash and stubborn shounen portagonist archetype. I think I actually prefer Jonathan for being more subdued actually. Also the villains are worse. Better side characters though. Stronheim, Caesar and Lisa Lisa were a fun band and Speedwagon is ever present (I'm guessing it is a theme in this series forsurviving characters to return in future parts much older.) Part 3 seems to be the point where the series truly comes into it's own so I am hoping for a step up in quality.

Simplesmente incrível, apesar dos stands ainda não estarem na trama, a criatividade, as batalhas e principalmente as BIZARRICES, estou muito bem colocadas, cada uma em seu lugar, ver o descendente de Jonathan Joestar enfrentar seres muito mais fortes que ele, utilizando apenas truques e manhas, fez com que o Joseph fosse pra mim, o melhor JOJO! Sem contar seu parceiro, Ceasar, que tem ligações com um personagem da parte 1, fazendo uma ponte muito estabelecida entre as duas partes. A personalidade de Ceasar é muito bem construída conforme você lê, no começo achando que ele é só um personagem irritante que só está lápra te fazer ter raiva, mas depois tem sua história aprofundada, e uma construção de seu relacionamento com Joseph!

Battle Tendency was one of the manga I thought lived up to be better after Part 1, Enter Joseph Joestar who is a charming, funny, and clever/creative MC. Joseph in Battle Tendency is without a doubt, one of the funniest characters I've seen in Manga/Anime alike, he's so enjoyable and so charismatic and it makes him enjoyable to watch and still will forever be enjoyable to rewatch, when I first got into JJBA I thought that Joseph was a character I could truly relate too. The plot of the Manga using elements of going into different countries and the characters returning and being essential tothe plot was something I really enjoyed, Araki had done an excellent job writing this story down. Out of the pre-stand JoJo part, I would say this has probably one of the best art-styles I've probably ever seen be used in JoJo, all of the characters have some form of personality (even the side and hell, why not, the background characters too) overall, a proper 8/10 overall for me.

(ENG) Although JJBA is not primarily focused on writing, that was the aspect I found most lacking in Phantom Blood. In Battle Tendency, however, there’s a clear sense of growth in that regard. The balance between character development and action scenes, something that bothered me in the first part, is handled much better here. The inclusion of a training arc, along with more elaborately constructed character arcs and a more charismatic protagonist, makes the battles not only more exciting but also more meaningful within the narrative. Another notable sign of maturity lies in the series’ eccentric tone, which feels far more self-aware and authentic this time around. --- (PT-BR) Apesar deJJBA não ser centrado em escrita, esse foi o aspecto que mais me careceu em Phantom Blood. Já em Battle Tendency, nessa questão percebe-se amadurecimento.

O equilíbrio entre o desenvolvimento de personagens e as cenas de ação, que foi algo que me incomodou na primeira parte, está bem melhor. O fato de ter um arco de treinamento, aliado a personagens com trajetórias mais elaborada, e um protagonista mais carismático, torna as batalhas não apenas mais empolgantes, mas também mais significativas dentro da narrativa.

Outra questão de amadurecimento notável está no quesito excêntrico da obra, que parece muito mais autoconsciente e autêntico.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures Part II: Battle Tendency – Spoiler Free – Recommended TLDR Story – 6/10 – 6 x 0.275 = 1,65 Art – 7/10 – 7,5 x 0.2 = 1,4 Characters – 8/10 – 8 x 0.225 = 1,8 Enjoyment – 6/10 – 6 x 0.3 = 1,8 Total: 6,65 -> 7 Story – 6/10 The story of the second instalment of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures is less well-developed than the first part. The sorry is less interesting, and although it is not confusing (the plot is straightforward), it doesn’t have the same allure or the charm of its predecessor. The story is, however, truly international – the story happens in multiple countriesand continents, such as Mexico, Italy and Switzerland – ending up developing a storyline of the stone mask’s power of the race of immortal vampires that arose thereof. We also see a continuation of the Hamon fighting style, which reaches its apex (and also its saturation). Verily, we see multiple action scenes that not only add to the overall story but are a joy to read, thanks to Hirohiko Araki’s unique art style. There are also some very epic moments throughout the manga, especially in the second half. Plus, if you like the theme of the Second World War, there are also nazis!

Art – 7/10

The art is once more unique, following closely what Hirohiko Araki did in the first instalment of the series. The character design, although funky and sometimes over the top (both in a good sense), is technically well done and typical of JoJo’s. The fight scenes are very well executed and not confusing at all. The panels have a good fluency and rhythm to them, which helps the overall readability. The landscapes of the various sites they visit also have personality and are quite detailed. There are also some quite good panels.

Characters – 8/10

The characters, as in any JoJo, are charismatic and very well done. It is impossible not to think of Battle Tendency and not remember Speedwagon, Zeppeli, Lisa Lisa, and (of course) Joseph Joestar, the grandson of Jonathan Joestar – the protagonist of the first instalment. The villains are, however, more average, and definitely, no Dio Brando, being more common in their abilities and simple plot. Unfortunately, Joseph Joestar is not Jonathan Joestar. The characters are generally slightly worse than in Phantom Blood.

Enjoyment – 6/10

As with any JoJo, enjoyment isn't lacking whatsoever. It's a funny and thrilling story with some good and epic moments, as well as fight scenes that are worth reading, especially in the send half. The enjoyment isn't as high as in the first instalment of the series, but it is not bad. Again, although not as good as Phantom Blood, it still deserves a recommendation.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is, in my opinion, the greatest manga I've experienced, and this is part of its beginning. It may not be as great as it would become, but much of it is already present. I feel like its fame as a meme series gets in the way of how people perceive the series as a whole. It is very 'memeable,' yes, but it is much more than that. Okay, that said, we will start with what this manga is about and what kind of themes it is trying to explore. I’ll discuss whether the start is misleading, and then we’ll delve into how itachieves its goals using all the major elements of the medium.

I don't think anyone is going to skip to Part 2, so I won’t dwell on its merits as a starting point for JJBA. Instead, I’ll tell you to begin with the Part 1 manga. In my review of Part 1, I mention other possible starting points, but that is the best one.

So, what is this show about?

Every part of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure shares the common theme of 'love for humanity,' with a special focus on karma as it pertains to fate, family, and community. Each part also explores additional thematic focuses that deepen the overarching theme. Part 1 centered on honor and courage in the 1880s, embodying the ideals of a gentleman. Now, set in the 1930s, the focus shifts toward heroes, making will and courage the center of attention.

The themes of fate and the ripples your actions create within family and society are also strongly present. It’s important to note that the 1930s is the decade of the rise of the Nazis. In my opinion, there are few greater depictions of Nazis in the manga world. I can't speak to how much of this was intentional, but Nazi ideology closely relates to the concept of the Übermensch, contrasting the literal superior being with what a hero truly is. This approach is somewhat common in Western works and yet remains effective and somewhat rare in manga.

First things later, let's talk art direction.

Araki is highly capable when it comes to drawing, and it shows. This is a technically impressive work, albeit very experimental. While there are many innovative elements that were uncommon in manga even today, some aspects of the art are simply subpar. The paneling is particularly evident in this regard; there are some atrocious layouts in this work, though there are also some stunning pages.

Honestly, it feels strange to not give this part a 10 purely because of the art, as Araki is a remarkable artist. Immersion isn't crucial in every work; it depends on the artist's intention, and JJBA does play with that, often breaking immersion at the right moments. However, being taken aback by odd paneling can only be as good as the paneling itself, and it is atrocious at times.

So, how does it start?

The start of Part 2 is almost perfect and lays out how everything will be similar or different from Part 1. If you enjoy the first few chapters, continue on. If you don’t, you might consider jumping to Part 3, Part 5, or even dropping the series altogether, as it may not be for you.

At this point, I want to comment on the world-building. The world of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is a slight alteration of our real world, featuring alternative explanations for events, along with some fictional characters, places, and incidents. While it's not particularly strong in this part, we do encounter beautiful locations and cultures. It excels at what it aims to achieve and neither loses nor gains points in this regard.

What about the characters?

The characters are the true hidden gems of Jojo's. They feel as if they were crafted for another series where they would be the main character, yet somehow they end up here as random helpers with unnecessary depth and personality.

They resemble real people you might meet in life, simply coming and going. They don’t always complete their 'character arcs' or provide explanations for their motivations, giving the impression that they left too soon. It’s almost as if Araki is recounting a story that actually happened, where these individuals were genuinely part of it.

This starts to change in Part 2, where there is a recurring main cast that receives more development. Since all these characters are significant to the themes, everyone gets a character arc, which is not common for Jojo's, so don't get used to it!

What about the story itself?

This narrative revolves around one of Jojo's most beloved protagonists for a reason. It is as much about Joseph Joestar as it is about the events unfolding around him. While the story still lacks some complexity, the themes are already much more intricate than in the first part.

As I mentioned in my Part 1 review, Araki writes a tale that could be told around campfires, relying heavily on tension and themes. Tension is a simple yet effective element, focusing on just how evil the antagonist is, and he delivers on that front. The themes evolve from part to part, allowing for more complex explorations as the story progresses.

Then, what did I think of it as a whole?

I believe Jojo's is far less niche than people often credit it for. It is also deeper and better written than many give it credit for. The series contains ample suspense, with even horror elements woven throughout. The art is masterful, and the themes ultimately dive into profound territory. Parts 7 and 8 even introduce more complex plot developments and mature ramifications of the explored themes.

Part 2 stands as a very enjoyable segment on its own, as Joseph is that rare protagonist who is intelligent, crafted by a smart writer. His tactics are consistently grounded in concepts that are theoretically possible but truly unthinkable in battle.

I wouldn't go as far as to recommend this part without Part 1, since it really doesn't make much sense given the brevity of Part 1. However, if you’re adamant about not watching it, this part is genuinely good independently—just not as great as it is with Part 1 backing it up.

This is an upgrade compared to the first installment of the long-running series - Phantom Blood. The protagonist is funnier the story fights are on way higher level and overall the world that was built is more interesting. We travel a bit around Europe to see Italy and Switzerland but also other places like US and Mexico. There is a lot going on in all of this places. The way Nazis were portrayed is very funny, too. Stroheim is one of my favorite characters of this part. The story about stone mask and becoming the strongest being in the world isn't that particularly complicated orsophisticated but for this format is is just about fine. I wish there was more complexity in next parts but this is yet to be seen. Other than that the main protagonists are a bit bland. It is purely let's get three badass guys and fight with them. There is no personality to Wham or Cars or AC/DC. Naming enemies with band names is also interesting pick and adds a bit to the sauce. Some of their attacks are interesting but I can't see this series going so far without introducing stands. Hamon in itself was quite simple and could not create too many new options for interesting and captivating fights.

This part is definitely better than the first one. Can't wait to read what the next ones are going to bring to the table. Recommend to all fans of JoJo!

It's a basic story. Part 1 of JoJo is very different from this one. The focus is mostly on it's main character, instead of it's villain. The cast of characters revolve around Joseph and the story, unlike part 1, where it seem everything was about Dio and his evil scheme. Making Jonathan feel weak as a character from a writting stand point. Add to that he was already a "boring" archtype to begin with, and he was screwed from the start. Here however, we go a full 180. Joseph catches your attention from the word go, and his schemes, guts and memes (yes), will notlet go until....well never really. He is still my favorite JoJo for a reason. Part 2 is a MUST READ.

Introduction: After I read Phantom Blood, I was definelty ineterested in checking out Battle Tendency but I was worried it wouldn't be as good as I expected it to be due to how average Phantom Blood felt. But I'm happy to say that Battle Tendency blew away my expectations. Story: When you read this part the story, the seems rather simple. But just like with any other JoJo part, you sound like a madman trying to explain it. I don't wanna spoil anything but I'll say this, the story is solid without being very complex. 8/10 Art: The art definetly did improve from Phantom Blood. While Araki still uses the sameart style, his proportions are more consistent and less wacky (I don't mean wacjy in a good way). The volume covers are also eally nice.

7/10

Character:

The main character in Battle Tendency is the grandson of Jonathan, joseph Joestar. Joseph Joestar is arguably my favorite main character in all of anime, he's probably the funniest main character I've ever seen in a manga. The villains were also really solid since there only like 4 so Araki could focus more on them. Santana is cool and a great indtroduction to the Pillar Men, Esidisi is a great fight which demonstrates Joseph's Hamon abilties very well, Wamuu is likable and has two amazing fights & Kars is a solid main villain with a great backstory. The supporting cast is nothing special but still solid.

9/10

Enjoyment:

I'm not gonna say much but the comedy in this part is amazing. I do admit though that Joseph Joestar is not for everyone but I enjoyed the hell out of his jokes.

10/10

Overall:

This part is without a doubt way better than Phantom Blood due to Battle Tendency's tendency to joke around.

Story: 8/10

Art: 7/10

Character: 9/10

Enjoyment: 10/10

Average: 8.5/10

Overall: 9/10

Grandson of a true gentleman, Joseph is one of the spunkiest Jojos to grace the pages of Jump Magazine. Joseph Joestar brings the classic quirkiness of JoJo's for all to see for the first time. Bold, brash, and not afraid to pick a fight whether it be petty play with a cat, or standing up for someone facing unjust treatment. Battle Tendency shows the first spark of the Joestar name travelling across the continents, silently fighting the local big bad with the help of new comrades made in some of the strangest places. Araki's tendency to play tricks and reveal shocking new lore has had it's chanceto flower and begin a long chain of revelations to come. Once again, if not more, this amazing mangaka shares his passion for music with us. If you're a fan of classic 70s groups you'll love each bit of it, and if you're not you may find yourself listening to a song or two in the end just to see what the fuss was all about.