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This manga can best be described as a pulse pounding gambling thriller. It's a great one too: an easy 8.5/10 that I will round up to a 9.

In short is it a gorgeously drawn manga with dementedly detailed facial expressions that heighten drama and tension during adrenaline pumping gambling games between gorgeous girls. If that sounds like your thing then just go read it.

Art in this manga is a solid 10/10.

It's drawn with the sort of manic and warped facial expressions you'd see in a horror series. The main character Jabami Yumeko has a gorgeous design with a look reminiscent of Jigoku Shoujo while ... staring at you with the bloodlust-filled eyes of Alucard from Hellsing. The manga absolutely soars during the tensest moments, usually the climaxes of each gamble. The manga does not shy away from using extreme facial expressions to heighten drama at every turn. And those facial expressions are absolutely delightful: from Yumeko's lustful gazes or sadistic pressure, to the looks of despair and desperation in those losing a gamble, to the wonderfully smug faces of winners. Not since Great Teacher Onizuka have I seen such a diversity in facial expressions used to portray the extremes of emotion. And you would think with a cast that was 90% female that it would get same-facey, but somehow all the character designs are distinguished and it isn't hard at all to tell them all apart.

This brings me to the characters, which I would rate an 8/10.

There is only so much character-building one can do in a manga where the focus isn't character development, but the gambles themselves. Through those gambles we can really get a strong understanding of our main character Yumeko and her psychology. She shines the brightest among the cast, and her mesmerizing presence carries pretty much every page she is on. The side characters, however, suffer a bit. The manga tries and succeeds in weaving many side characters back into the story to give them more development and things to do even after their "main gamble" is many chapters in the past. There is a delightful sense of having no throwaway characters in this manga. A huge amount of the cast sticks around and has active parts in the plot or as a fun peanut gallery in the later chapters, and it is appreciated. Goku wouldn't be half as entertaining in DBZ without his gang of friends following him around, and it's the same here with Yumeko and the friends she makes along the way. Still, don't expect extremely deep characterization, since this is not the focus of this manga.

The weakest part would have to be the story, which I rate 7/10.

It's a bit above average, dragged down mainly by the world building and setting. The world is almost wholly unbelievable and falls apart on close inspection, which impacts the stakes involved in the gambles. How a school like this exists requires an enormous amount of suspension of disbelief which distracts you from the story. However, the plot itself moves at a very good pace, and the overall narrative goes from gamble to gamble seamlessly and ceaselessly. The games chosen for this manga are relatively straightforward (at least compared to the complex scoring system of Mahjong in Kaiji). This is a blessing and a curse. Sometimes the games feel too simple, where a more complex game could lead to more mind games and more reversals. But it is also good that the manga does not overburden the reader with long pages of rules or the chance to get completely lost trying to figure out the games being played. The plot does its job, and goes by fast enough and entertainingly enough to distract you from its unbelievable set-up. So long as you can get lost in the gambling, the story is good enough.

Enjoyment is easy 10 though.

This score is admittedly a bit biased because I am already predisposed to loving gambling manga such as Kaiji and Akagi. I have also enjoyed shows themed around high stakes games such as No Game No Life or One Outs. Lastly, I gravitate towards overpowered sadistic characters like Alucard from Hellsing who toys with his prey and needlessly ups the stakes to amuse himself. This manga tickles me in all the right places and I can't help but smile while reading every chapter.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a truly unique show. It's one of those rare shows that defines its own standard and redraws boundaries of what should and should not be done with aesthetics and fight scenes. The clothes are fabulous, the action is ridiculous, the voice-acting exudes energy, the poses are awe-inspiring, and the soundtrack is a treat for the ears.

When speaking of other anime you can usually use comparisons to pigeonhole that show into a category, but JoJo is pretty much a category in and of itself. No other show has dialogue like JoJo, a story like JoJo, art style like JoJo, characters like JoJo, ... or fight scenes like JoJo. Myanimelist lists the show as "shounen", but JoJo only fits that description in a loose sense.

JoJo is the embodiment of Kitsch and Camp; a sort of over-the-top silliness that pokes fun at the wider action conventions while simultaneously making fun of itself. It is so ridiculous that instead of eliciting face-palms it instead puts the audience in a state of euphoric enjoyment and delight. This is a show that realizes the inherent lunacy of cultural "manliness", and then puts it on full display in its comedic glory.

If JoJo must be categorized then it is the following in descending order: Action + Adventure + Comedy + Fantasy + Horror + Supernatural + Drama.


STORY: 8/10

The first season of Stardust Crusaders is very much the beginning of the journey. The core gang of Jotaro, Joseph, Avdol, Kakyoin, and later Polnareff team up together to reach Egypt in order to stop Dio, an old nemesis from the first season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. This first part of Stardust is simply put, a long build-up. It ramps up the stakes and the action over the course of the entire season, introducing new Stands and letting the audience get comfortable with the idea of Stands, their limitations (or lack thereof), and building an attachment to the core group of adventurers.

The pace is significantly slower than the first season of JJBA, much to the rejoicing of manga readers. However, I feel this is a weakness and not a strength. Many minor fights, which serve no consequence, are thrown into the middle arcs of the show. These are nothing more than filler, and can be summed up as: our heroes suspect a stand user, they discover the limitations of the enemy stand, the heroes beat up the stand user, and continue on their journey. It is an effective formula nonetheless, and is a classic one that has been a staple of Asian storytelling since the novel "Journey to the West".

The story could have used a bit trimming, however. By staying so true to the manga the story suffers from a bit of unnecessary fluff. Many of the fights are disjointed single-episode throwaways, where the bad guy of the week is beaten to a pulp and nothing of significance or consequence happens. This is the largest problem with Stardust Crusaders in comparison to the first season of JoJo, where filler was nowhere to be seen and every fight served a purpose.

The biggest addition this season is Stands, which replaces Hamon, as the principal method of combat. Stands are essentially mystical/magical powers that are manifestation of the users' spiritual energy. Their forms are diverse and their application is wildly imaginative and wonderfully realized on screen.

It is, ultimately, a great adaptation.


ART: 9/10

JoJo is the absolute embodiment of the camp aesthetic. Inspired by Fist of the North Star, 80s fashion, glamrock, and psychedelic rock, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a synthesis of color and imagination. The author of JoJo, HIrohiko, once said in an interview that he didn't think much for realism when he colored, but instead focused on what would look interesting. No other show shares the same color palette as this show. The bright teals and purples are very much an attempt to replicate the coloring of the manga.

What is immediately clear to any newcomers is the outfits and costuming of this show. While it might be too strange to handle for some, the elaborate and excessive fashion for JoJo only helps to elevate the humor and highlight the oddness of their situation. For such an over-the-top show about magical powers and manly contests of strength, it would be a disservice if their clothing were not over-the-top.

Another highlight of JoJo is the weirdness of the opponents, the excessive oddness of the Stand powers, and the horror elements. It's the kind of vibrant entertainment that filled the old pulp sci-fi magazines of the early 20th century.

I refrain from rating a perfect 10 because JoJo, for all its beauty, has a few moments of choppy animation. It is, after all, difficult to translate such a manga-specific art style to a state of motion. Many characters and fights also lose a bit of detail in transition from the manga, as Araki is known for his laborious and fabulous use of line to accentuate his action scenes.


SOUND: 9.9/10

Stardust Crusaders has a near flawless soundtrack that complements the show perfectly. From the opening ballad to the throwback "Walk Like an Egyptian" ED, to the energizing guitar/saxophone combo that shows up every time Jotaro is in a moment of triumph, the OST has it all. Of special note are the perfectly suited It is by far the best thing about the adaptation that elevates the story to a new level.

Many adaptations suffer from a problem where they don't add anything of value to the original manga. They leave the question, "why would I watch this when I could read the manga?" For JoJo I can confidently say that the music is one of the main reasons the show might surpass the source material for some fans. Some tracks such as "Virtuous Pope" and "Stardust Crusaders" will have fans fist-pumping and shouting at their screens with joy

The Japanese voice actors have done an absolutely incredible job. Every character sounds perfect, and is brought to life in the same bombastic fashion as the first season. Of special note are Jotaro's "ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA" and Joseph's english "HOLY SHIIIIIITTT!!!" outbursts. As with any great voice work, these voices have now become inseparable from the characters. You can tell the voice actors are having a ton of fun voicing fun material, and their joy is evident in the energy flowing through the entire sound production of this show.


CHARACTER: 8.5/10

While the characters are definitely enjoyable, I feel they have yet to spread their wings. There is character development, but it is slow, as it takes a backseat to the fight scenes and other aspects the show has to offer. Jotaro, for better or for worse, is a stoic straight-man who is self-aware of his own coolness. Like many other teens he consciously attempts to be cool, and largely succeeds due to his Stand allowing him to beat the crap out of people while keeping his hands in his pockets. Kakyoin is quirky but hasn't received too much attention in terms of development, and Avdol is missing for half the season. Polnareff is definitely the standout amongst the new characters, and his demeanor and carefree ways are a delight to watch.

Joseph Joestar has changed considerably from the previous season. Being saddled with the weakest Stand, he is a great deal less useful in fights. While this is understandable as the focus shifts from Joseph to Jotaro, the difference in Joseph's personality can be felt for people who loved young Joseph in the previous season.

There's not much to Dio yet, as he's received a maximum of 15 minutes of screen time all season, and his goons are usually one-note cannon fodder for the heroes to chew through. Almost all of the villains are annoying and irredeemable scumbags, for better or for worse. The show adheres to a classic good vs. evil narrative, without spending time dealing with the grays.

What has not changed from the first season is the sheer delight in the dialogue. Araki has really found a way to make even the most mundane of conversations into something interesting, infusing quirk and wit into every interaction. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is one of those rare shows that can be enjoyable if you removed all the action and plot and just let these funny characters hang out in a room together.


ENJOYMENT: 10/10

Do you enjoy watching magical powers the likes of which you've never seen go up against each other?

Do you like creepy dolls try to murder a 7 foot tall jacked Frenchman with a towering hairdo?

Do you enjoy cherries being rolled around in overly athletic tongues?

Do you like watching heaps of people be murdered in the strangest ways possible?

Do you love watching manly men do manly things?

Do you want to watch the scum of the earth receive justice by a million punches?

Do you like a journey that spans multiple countries, and gives you travel advice?

Do you enjoy being consistently surprised every single week by a situation you've literally never seen in any fiction before?

I've never been so entertained.


I do a lot of criticizing because I LOVE this show so much. It is my wish that the next season includes more engaging multi-episode fights with consequence (rather than lame single-episode filler fights), as well as a bit more character development. The slower pace is regrettable, since I had enjoyed the relatively speedy pace of the first season. However, it is not so slow as to detract too much from the overall experience.

In conclusion, Stardust Crusaders is a ride to remember and the most fabulous anime to ever grace the screen. It is a unique prismatic gem amongst a sea of dull rocks.

OVERALL: 8.8/10

Gankutsuou is a rare hybrid that is ambitious in what it is trying to accomplish. What is even more rare is that Gankutsuou perfectly executes what it seeks to be.

Story: 10/10

Gankutsuou is based upon the Count of Monte Cristo, the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. The classic French novel has the story told from the perspective of The Count, but the anime shifts the perspective to Albert de Morcerf. This fundamental change shifts the tone of the story as a whole. It grants The Count and air of mystery, since instead of the narrative following him, it now follows a third party who views him ... from afar. Morcerf serves as a viewer surrogate, and through him we relate to his naivety and adoration for The Count. In the aspect of story it can be said to perhaps even surpass the original source material, turning a cold hearted story of vengeance into something with a lot more heart.

Art: 9.5/10

While it is debatable whether the story benefits from the shift in perspective, it is not debatable that Gankutsuou takes full advantage of the medium of animation. This is one of the most beautiful anime TV series to have ever been created. Some of the motion can be rough, and the CGI is clearly dated (a hallmark of mid-2000s Gonzo productions), but the art direction is both gorgeous and fitting. The colors and designs on clothing evoke the flamboyance and fabulous wealth of early 19th century France. The inclusion of science fiction elements weave seamlessly into the overall tone of the setting to create a feeling of grandeur and awe that is evoked by a Paris of old that has long since passed. Gankutsuou has clothing designs that are the height of fashion, and some outfits dazzle the eyes with their intricacy and detail. Yet nothing is ever over-designed. Every character is unique and memorable, and you will never find yourself asking, "who was that guy again?" as you do with many other shows of lower caliber.

Sound: 9.5/10

Complementing the art direction is the music choice. The synthesis of 19th century romantic pieces, operatic overtones, electronic dance music, and French pop songs is both fresh and unique to this particular show. The classical pieces ground the show's setting in the original novel, lending believability to the setting involving aristocrats, noblemen, and old-school gentlemen's duels. While the electronic music emphasizes the sci-fi nature of the show, evoking strong connections to Cyberpunk, a genre known for its depiction of dystopian societies and systemic corruption, themes that find their home within the heart of Gankutsuou.

Character: 9/10

The strength of the characters largely owes itself to the original Alexandre Dumas novel. With such a huge cast it was a daunting task to flesh them all out with an interesting story and memorable aesthetics. This show does it all. A special kudos to the character design department for their depiction of The Count of Monte Cristo. The choice to give him such an endearing yet alien visage was perfect for his character. He looked both sinister and respectable: a smile that you could trust and yet an air about him that exudes menace.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Mech duels, vengeance, gorgeous backdrops, gorgeous clothes, murder, betrayal, deceit, secrets, action, drama. Saying any more would spoil too much.

Overall: 9.8/10

One of my favorite anime of all time, and I only hope this review helps convince at least one other person to watch this legendary show.