#JOJO BIZARRE ADVENTURE: STEEL BALL RUN (SPOILERS AHEAD)#

Context: Steel Ball Run is the seventh part of Araki's work and now he is going to break all the previous concepts we had in JoJo, will develop his stands and his characters much more than before. He flirted with it with the Möbius Strip in the Jolyne and Pucci fight (6th part), when he started to put dimensions never seen before in JJBA. It is impressive the level of knowledge that Araki seeks and possesses. He doesn't write anything he doesn't have prior knowledge about and that's awesome.

With a western background from the United States in the 19th century, the seventh part of JJBA, Steel Ball Run is a masterclass of history, geography, art, philosophy and even religion. But what's so good about it? Why people praise SBR so much? Worth it the #2 spot all-time manga on Anilist? What is the difference from the other parts? Overrated or not? From now on, you'll see my opinion about these questions
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What's so good about it?

This is the simplest answer in this review. Virtually all the characters are well developed, charismatic and those who are meant to be hated play their role very very well and we understand their motivations except for some characters who are just Valentine's henchmen.

Why is SBR so praised?

Araki is probably one of the most prolific mangakás of all time. Only (maybe) losing to Eiichiro Oda (One Piece) or Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Pluto, Dororo, Buddha). Araki's creativity and storytelling on SBR is mesmerizing and unique. As a JJBA fan I can tell you that some parts of it have narrative flaws and gaps that are never really filled, and that's okay, every manga is doomed to someday have however small it may be, a flaw. For example, in Diamond is Unbreakable (pt. 4) the Joestars adopt an invisible baby who, after a few chapters, is never mentioned again; or in Stardust Crusaders that you can get really tired with the ''Monster of the Week'' style. But in Steel Ball Run you can't really tell nor see narrative flaws during the progression of the story. The story begins, develops, and ends as if the author had set it up from the beginning. and not narrative inventions or plot armor due to lack of content and creativity. The author does not rely on a Deus Ex Machina out of nowhere, he develops the solutions and makes us understand them.

Is it worth #2 all-time manga on Anilist?

Yes. I already answered this above at this point.

What is the difference from the other parts?

After SBR's 4 volume, Araki transited from Shonen Jump to Ultra Jump, making JJBA for the first time, a seinen. My personal opinion is Araki was looking for more creative freedom and a more mature audience for this western mystery oriented plot. Complex stories do better with a more mature audience. We see that more clearly in JoJolion when the author finally (in my opinion) achieves the complexity and confusion he wanted to cause to his readers.

Overrated or not?

I'm gonna say not. Steel Ball Run is NOT overrated. It is rated the much it deserves. And deserves a faithful adaptation to anime by a studio that recognizes the greatness of this masterpiece. For being serialized as a seinen, the seventh part of JJBA can be more expressive and more mature in the majority of the themes. For example the introduction of the Golden Spiral, something trivial but younger readers and children would probably not understand the brilliance and master of general knowledge that Araki is. They can enjoy the manga, but not as someone more mature.

Overall

I have to say, this is peak fiction.
When watching/reading JoJo's, you can get and see the flaws, but when you read SBR, I can assure you there are none.
For me, SBR is a 10/10. The ending got me in tears. None of the arc's were weak or boring. Since the beginning I just knew I was gonna love it. The last arc was outstanding. Araki's Magnum Opus, Steel Ball Run.

Thank you for reading my review.