JoJo's has a complicated history spanning half a century, though it'd be hard to tell just by reading Phantom Blood. Having some of the most pure, raw energy, letting out a primal response when I see Jonathan leave all of his battles beaten bloody, but still the victor, even through all the sheer grotesque moments. Something about a manga series lasting near 50 years and still going on, there's nothing like it coming from an avid reader. When you read the reboot series first and go back to the og, all and all even if I hated reading part 1, the amount of respect I have for JoJo's (i hope, anyway) will stay unlimited. Seeing its growth, but more importantly how it all started, I'm now made very excited to go back to the reboot series one day. Frankly, I wish there was more proper substance I could use to make this review super long, but we'll see how I do.

Nothing like seeing the old art-style, in all its disproportionate glory. Detailed, don't mistake me, but reading from page-to-page sometimes Jonathan's biceps wiil be the size of a watermelon, the next page they'll be the 1.5x times the size. It saddens me to say, as to me its all for the goal of making the most expressive poses and attacks in all of manga. When Jonathan blocks the blow from Dio attempting to hit Zeppli, their arched back on the mountain amidst the moonlight, all the while Dio shows a snaggle-fang in response to how utterly detested he is of his enemies at that point, its unforgettable.

To that front, the JoJo/Dio rivalry is just as unforgettable. From the very beginning, Araki doesn't shy away from showing how noble Jonathan is and how vile Dio actually is as the main antagonist to contrast Jonathan. Kicking a dog in the face taking nearly an entire page of a chapter is the perfect way to show how important their relationship will be. Still to this day, the most jarring scene I've ever watched when it comes to a character defining introduction. The fact this was made in the 80's during the Dragon Ball era is quite shocking in hindsight (god help me when I read Devilman soon).

I'm gonna knock it down a bit for how simple it is, it's really easy to tell what happens as it continues, but there's a certain charm of that kind of narrative when nothing else drags it down. With the sole exception of the gore, I love how detailed the deaths are, but with how many gory moments that exist, I can't help but wonder if Zeppli's death would have even more impact if that was the most grotesque page in the manga (spoiler-alert, it isn't. Dio turns a mother into a vampire and eats her baby. Not shown exactly, but trust me, there's enough. More than enough).

Overall, a solid start to a series I know will consume my life as I finally join my friends in watching one of the GOATS.
(It gains points for being a series from the 80's and not having blatant sexism and sexual harassment in basically any chapter. Looking at you, Dragon Ball. Somehow with having one of the most detestable villains of all time, the respect for women from the mc's is SO refreshing, reader, you have NO idea. Look forward to my Dragon Ball review, whenever day will come.)