Interest Stacks

The beginning of the series, set in 1880.

Chapters 1-44 and Episodes 1-9 of Season 1. Collected in 3 hardcover volumes by VIZ Media in English.

Protagonist: Jonathan Joestar
Antagonist: Dio Brando

Adapted into a PS2 game in 2006.

Adapted into a film in 2007* (*lost media)

Adapted into a musical in 2024.

Prequel to Part 2; 16 chapters. Odd numbered chapters focus on George Joestar II, Joseph's father, growing up on the Canary Islands and England with Lisa Lisa in the early 1900s.

Protagonist: George Joestar II / Joji Joestar
Antagonist: Antonio Torres

Special Notes:
* Even numbered chapters might as well be non-canon. Not including them in this read order.

The second part, set 50 years after Part 1 in 1939.

Chapters 45-113 and Episodes 10-26 of Season 1. Collected in 4 hardcover volumes by VIZ Media in English.

Protagonist: Joseph Joestar
Antagonist: Kars

Sequel to Part 2, set from 1973 to 1986. Bridges the gap between Hamon and Stands and tells Lisa Lisa's story post-Part 2 up until her ultimate fate pre-Part 3.

20 chapters, released in 3 arcs over two years.

Protagonist: Lisa Lisa
Antagonist: Fernando Alhorn

Special Notes:
* Formerly known as "Rey Infinito"

Prequel to Part 3 detailing the first encounter of Avdol and Iggy, set the year before Part 3 begins.

Protagonist: Avdol
Antagonist: Iggy

The third part, set 50 years after Part 2 in 1989.

Chapters 114-265 and Episodes 1-48 of Season 2. Collected in 10 hardcover volumes by VIZ Media in English.

Protagonist: Jotaro Kujo
Antagonist: DIO

Adapted into an OVA series (13 episodes) in 1999.

Adapted into two video games (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Superfamicon, 1993 & Heritage for the Future, various, 1998.)

Adapted into a CD Drama in 1992.

Special Notes:
* Pause at Chapter 188 (Ep. 26) and read Genesis of the Universe, then return.
* Originally released in softcover in English from 2005 - 2010 in 16 volumes.

Also known as "Genesis of the Universe", set right after the "The Fool" Iggy and "Geb" N'Doul Arc.
2 chapters.

Protagonist: Jotaro Kujo
Antagonists: Absolom, Michal, Ani

Transcript of the Book of Tohth God's predictions featured in Part 3.
Adapted from "Khnum" Oingo and "Tohth" Boingo Arc (Ch. 189-192; Ep. 52-53) and Hol Horse and Boing Arc (Ch. 217-221; Ep. 62-63)

Special Note:
* Not a required reading.

Prequel to Part 4 set the month before. Tells the story of Hol Horse entering Morioh in search of a parrot once operating under DIO's command.

Chapters 1-16. Collected in 3 softcover volumes in English released by VIZ Media starting in December 2024.

Protagonists: Josuke & Hol Horse
Antagonist: Kazuki Karaiya

Adaptation of the novel "Crazy Heartbreakers", that tells more of the story/

Special Note:
* Major contradictions to canon, but ambiguously canon.

The fourth part, set 10 years after Part 3 in 1999 in Japan.

Chapters 266-439 and Episodes 1-39 of Season 3. Collected in 9 hardcover volumes in English by VIZ Media.

Protagonist: Josuke Higashikata
Antagonist: Yoshikage Kira

Adapted into a live-action film in 2017. The film received a novelization in the same year.

Set one month after Part 4. Told from the perspective of three characters, Koichi Hirose, Takuma Hasumi, and Chiho Futaba.
6 chapters.

Protagonist: Koichi Hirose
Antagonist: Takuma Hasumi

"Under Execution, Under Jailbreak", a volume collecting several one-shots written by Hirohiko Araki. Included is "Deadman's Questions," a sequel to Part 4 about a wandering spirit in Morioh. 2 chapters long.

Protagonist: Yoshikage Kira

Series of one-shots set around the JJBA timeline.

Currently 12 chapters and adapted into 4 OVA Episodes. Chapters are able to be read in any order. Collected in 2 hardcover volumes in English by VIZ Media.

Protagonist: Rohan Kishibe

Adapted into a live-action drama that makes up 10 episodes and 4 seasons with 1 movie.

Special Note:
* Chapters are numbered out of order. Chronologically the first chapter to release is "Episode 16: At a Confessional".

One-shot spin-off of Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan. Questionably canon.

Adapted into a live-action film, in the same continuity as the Thus Spoke Kishibe live-action drama in May 2023.

Special note:
* Note a required reading.
* Received an official English translation in 2012

3 volumes. Collection of an anthology of short stories written by various authors set in the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan series.

14 chapters. Can be read in any order.

The fifth part, set 2 years after Part 4 in 2001 in Italy.

Chapters 440-594 and Episodes 1-39 of Season 4. Collected in 9 hardcover volumes in English by VIZ Media.

Protagonist: Giorno Giovanna
Antagonist: Diavolo

Adapted into a PS2 game in 2002.

Special Notes:
* Alternatively referred to as Golden Wind
* Pause at Chapter 523 (Ep. 21) to read "Golden Heart, Golden Ring" then return.

Light novel set right after the Mystery of King Crimson Arc.
7 chapters.

Protagonist: Giorno Giovanna
Antagonist: Sogliola Lopez

Special Notes:
* Contradicts the events of "Purple Haze Feedback"

Light novel set six months after the end of Part 5. Tells the story of Fugo gaining back the trust of Passione by taking out its drug distributing group.
9 chapters.

Protagonist: Pannacotta Fugo
Antagonist: Massimo Volpe

Special Notes:
* Contradicts the events of "Golden Heart, Golden Ring"
* Fugo's backstory in this novel contradicts the one provided by Araki for the Golden Wind Anime (Season 4)

One-shot set some time before Part 6. Takes place inside a dream Jolyne has;
a special collaboration between Hirohiko Araki and Gucci.

Special Notes:
* Not a required reading. Contradicts the events of Part 6. Most likely non-canon.
* Received an official English translation in 2013. Digital only.

The sixth part set 10 years after Part 5 in 2011, America.

Chapters 1-158 and Episodes 1-38 of Season 5. Collected in 9 hardcover volumes in English by VIZ Media* (*5 released) Also releasing digitally weekly on the Shonen Jump App.

Protagonist: Jolyne Cujoh
Antagonist: Enrico Pucci

Special Notes:
* Chapter count reset in this part. Makes up Chapters 595-752 overall.
* Pause at Chapter 50 (Ep. 12) to read "Whitesnake's Miscalculation" then return.
* The final main series part to take place in the original continuity. Part 7 onward begins a new story set in a parallel world, unconnected from the first six parts.

One-shot set right. after the Torrential Downpour Warning Arc. Shows the encounter between Jolyne and Fujiko Fujiyama and her Stand Bad Romance.

Protagonist: Jolyne Cujoh
Antagonist: Fujiko Fujiyama

Transcript of DIO's Diary, featured in Part 6. Gives DIO's inner thoughts on things not revealed in the main series, such as his relationship with his mother and his side of the story during the events of Part 3.
80 chapters.

Special Notes:
* Contradicts canon in several places. Notably, the author attempts to solve the problem of DIO's coffin from the beginning of Part 3 but neglects to remember the second compartment DIO was hiding inside of.

The seventh part, set in 1890 America.

Chapters 1-95. 24 Tankoban volumes released in Japan.

Protagonist: Johnny Joestar
Antagonist: Funny Valentine

Adapted into a VOMIC (voiceover comic) in 2007 giving official dubs to the first seven chapters.

Special notes:
* The beginning of the story set in the second continuity. It exists separate and uninfluenced from the first six parts. (Think of it as a series reboot.)
* Chapters starting in Chapter 25 double in length as the series switched from Weekly Shonen Jump to monthly Ultra Jump in 2005.
* Names of characters and concepts carry over from the original continuity (Joestars, Stands, etc,) but are little more than callbacks and references.

The eighth part set 121 years after Part 7 in 2011, Morioh Japan.

Chapters 1-110. 27 tankoban volumes released in Japan.

Protagonist: Josuke Higashikata
Antagonist: Toru

Special Notes:
* Like the previous part, characters and concepts using similar names are carried over from the previous continuity (Such as the protagonist sharing a name with the hero of Part 4) but are not linked in any way.

The ninth part set 12 years after Part 8 in 2023, Hawaii.

Currently ongoing. Monthly chapters have been releasing since February 2023.
Chapters 1-17+. 4 tankoban volumes currently released in Japan.

Protagonist: Jodio Joestar
Antagonist: Unknown