Reviews for Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe

Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai (Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan/ Kishibe Rohan does not move) is a great manga that I would recommend to anyone that is a fan of Rohan. Each chapter follows Rohan as he investigates, or encounters something out of the ordinary. Story: 9 I enjoyed each chapter, and I thought each story was clever and interesting. If you like the mystery or horror genre, then I think you would definitely like this manga. You also don't need to have watched or read any JJBA stuff to really understand what's happening, although Rohan's stand is briefly mentioned in a couple chapters. Art: 8 The artwas good, and especially great in the "Rohan goes to Gucci" chapter, and was very colorful and bright.

Character: 8

There weren't a ton of characters in this manga, with the main focus being Rohan, but there were some recognizable faces from JJBA Part 4, and some of the characters that were introduced were very intriguing and well-written.

Enjoyment: 9

I would give my enjoyment of this manga a solid 9. Definitely very entertaining and fun, super exciting, I loved it and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Overall, a fantastic manga that I would recommend to any Rohan fans that would like some more Rohan content or just want a good manga to read!

Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe is an OVA Manga about the side-stories of Rohan Kishibe, a very influential figure in DIU (JoJos part 4). If you want to read any of this, you need to watch/read Part 4 first. That being said, I read this before the Anime adaptation (which was okay), but I prefer the source material. Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe is a collection of side stories, set some years after Golden Wind/Vento Aureo. There is some great subject matter here, and I'd hate to spoil it. I will say this though: If you are a fan of bizarre, stand-only horror mangaka (Ex. Junji Itou), thenthis is right up your alley. Still, I'd recommend this for any JoJo fan that has finished Part 4.

Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan is such a unique experience and I firmly believe that anybody will find some appreciation for it. It's even constructed in such a way, that I even think if you're not a fan of JoJo or haven't read it yet, you can still experience this and get it. These one shots are a great peek into Araki-sensei's writing, allowing him to experiment freely and really show what he's got. It's a short read, but a must read and despite what others might say, I look forward to when new Rohan chapters are released! Araki-sensei has always been a fan of horror andthriller, which shows greatly in JoJo, but nowhere is this passion more apparent than in these one shots. Every chapter swerves and twists in unexpected ways and you can never predict what will be on the very next page. It really shows the variety and intensity that this madman is capable of even in such compact stories. With very brief setup, he's able to build these incredibly intense and dramatic moments that leave you on edge, eager to see what comes next and how it all goes down. While paranormal and supernatural elements like the various creative yokai are very prevalent and add a lot of intrigue, it also shows Araki-sensei's insane creativity and unmatched talent to take the most mundane things in real life and turn them into something dramatic, intense and even horrifying. The weird bum that stumbles nearby and starts talking to you, the guy at the gym giving off unsettling vibes, all the people walking on their phones without looking where they're going, the weird and oddly specific rituals of certain people, being forced to follow strict etiquette at important events, etc. Such normal things that a lot of us are likely to have experienced and yet here they are pushed to the extreme. No punch-fighting, no direct confrontation and yet it feels even more dangerous than any fight in a battle shonen. Only Araki can make a scene of a guy trying to catch popcorn in his mouth be so nail-bitingly intense and nerve racking. Each chapter is just so unique and stands on its own as something noticeably different from the rest, you never know what you're going to get, except that it will be thoroughly exciting!

The whole ordeal is really engaging from an artistic standpoint too, because these chapters were made years apart and you can clearly see Araki-sensei's artstyle evolve with time. Like little time capsules of moments of his career captured on the face of one of his favourite characters (and mine too). Regardless of the time they were made, each chapter was drawn just as crisp and clean as we've come to expect from the legend. Not just that, but the paneling, page layouts and flow are exquisite as well and always keep you on your toes! The little details in the panels foreshadowing future moments and plot developments are exquisite too. Araki-sensei has always been excellent at that and here his skills are on full display, turning every simple dialogue scene into a theatric experience full of emotion and intrigue.

Rohan is also such a perfect character to be the audience surrogate and narrator of these wacky tales. I'm a wannabe author myself and I know for a fact that in order to write great characters and stories, you need to go out there and experience life yourself. Your characters will only ever be as interesting, intelligent and wise as you are, so you need to make yourself an interesting person for their sake if nothing else. You have to visit new places, try new things, meet new people and do some thorough research, especially of the on-site variety. This is why Rohan's endless and sometimes even risky curiosity is so captivating. His desire to experience reality and discover the weirdest and wackiest things life can offer are palpable and infectious. Plus, he is himself a rich, multilayered, morally ambiguous character who is cunning, smart and observant, but also arrogant and stubborn, which make him a very compelling protagonist as well. In the chapters where he does get directly involved in the action and the story fully revolves around his own experience, he confidently carries the story and provides a lot of intrigue. I loved Rohan since I first saw him in part 4 and I enjoy him even more in this role. Others might disagree and call him a self insert but I don't buy that. Rohan is one of the most engaging JoJo characters and out of many that deserved to have their own spinoff, he definitely topped the list.

Overall, Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan is a really engaging read that I can't recommend enough. It's a short, casual experience that is incredibly intense and captivating. While JoJo is obviously the work Araki-sensei has dedicated his life to, it's clear that the Rohan one shots are his beloved passion project and also go to explain why year after year, he keeps coming back to write more. Plus, it allows him to revisit the old universe and let us say hello to some iconic characters one more time. If you love horror, thriller, mysteries, the supernatural, the paranormal or anything similar, this is a must read.

It's a bit under the radar, but I feel like this is a real manga connoisseur's choice. Like, if you're an intense JoJo fan and Araki simp like me, you'll definitely pick this up, but if you're also deep into the manga sphere, you've already read JoJo and you want something a little different, this is a natural place to go. Regardless, even if you're new to this, I still heartily recommend it, because these bite sized stories are still so well written and enthralling, that you'll be hooked either way. Also, watch the OVAs too, they're really good! Fingers crossed that DavePro adapt the other chapters some day as well.

Solid series of one-shots (typically) starring the most stuck-up dude in Diamond is Unbreakable as he discovers some insane stuff going on in the world! I typically have issues with the coherence of art in Jojos - it can be hard to tell if someone 1) has correct anatomy and 2) is supposed to HAVE correct anatomy in the first place. Not the case here, everything is clean and easy to read. Rohan Kishibe is a fun character in a world where he has a stable job amid the insanity of the Jojo setting, and is just powerful enough and smart enough to make him verycapable and fun. I'm a fan of one-shots so I am definitely enjoying this series so far (if they ever make more), and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes Jojo overall!

Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan serves as Araki's way of continuing to create one-shot comics. He once mentioned that if he were to write something outside of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (referred to as JJBA) while it is still ongoing, it would inevitably resemble JJBA. In other words, he’s been infected by "Jojobrain disease." This compilation features a series of one-shots that, while entertaining, lack significant cohesion beyond the familiar characters and shared world. Each story presents a distinct premise and execution, leading to a varied reading experience. The art is stunning, showcasing Araki's signature style, but the narratives often shift from suspenseful to genuinely unsettling. This resultsin a mix of impactful tales alongside those that may not resonate as strongly.

Some stories captivate with their intensity and originality, immersing readers in unique experiences, while others feel more like fleeting glimpses into the bizarre. This blend creates an intriguing dynamic; even if some narratives don’t fully land, the collection remains compelling and worth exploring.

I appreciate how this collection expands on the lore surrounding stands, their different users, and concepts, which is how the book fits into the JJBA continuity. Some stories function as standalone pieces, relying very little on what’s established in the main JJBA narrative.

The tales adapted into anime—specifically "At a Confessional," "Mutsukabe Hill," "Millionaires Villa," and "The Run"—are by far the best among the first two volumes. I wouldn’t go so far as to recommend the anime over the manga, but if you’ve already watched the adaptations or tend to favor anime over manga, I wouldn’t suggest purchasing these books.

Aside from those, "D.N.A." is worth checking out. "Hot Summer Martha" and "Drip Painting Style" (the newer stories not yet compiled into volumes) may also be interesting, depending on what else is included in their eventual release.