Why JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Fans Are Anxiously Awaiting the English Release of Steel Ball Run

   Fans of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure are eagerly awaiting an official English translation of Part 7, Steel Ball Run.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Steel Ball Run art

 

   Hirohiko Araki’s excitingly eccentric manga JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the most popular and longest-running series, first hitting the published page in 1987. It follows the multi-generational adventures of the Joestar family in their battle against evil, as told in a collection of eight separate parts. Over the years, the story has taken place throughout a variety of time periods, locations in the world and even more recently, different universes. However, one thing is for certain — the series’ fan base is eagerly awaiting more bizarre adventures for the Joestar family to explore.

   In 2021, the eighth part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, titled JoJolion, came to an end in Japan. However, Western readers are trailing two parts behind due to the lack of an official English translation from Viz Media. Fans are eagerly awaiting the seventh installment translation to see what the fallout will be from the complicated but curious conclusion of the sixth part. Steel Ball Run promises to not only stir up the standard direction of the series but to also open up a whole new world for the characters to experience, and for the readers to experience alongside them. With the rewriting of the universe, anything has become possible.

   JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Explores a Parallel Universe

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Gyro Zeppeli in Part 7 Steel Ball Run

 

   In the game-changing ending of part six, Stone Ocean, Pucci eradicated the known timeline, and it erupted into a series of parallel universes due to the acceleration of time. His failure to achieve his original intention opened the door to a completely fresh continuity for the manga to follow. As such, Steel Ball Run is, within its own right, a new and renewed narrative that jumps back to 1890, even before the time period of the first part, and is no longer held to the constraints of the original timeline. The progression of generations that fans had been used to up to the end of part six is no longer a factor that directs the story. Whilst the inclusion of alternate timelines can sometimes sully an ongoing narrative, Steel Ball Run is able to reflect the past parts and still bring the glorious grandeur of what makes JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure special.

   One major change for the series is the shift of genre from shonen to seinen. This transference allowed for longer chapters and a change of the expected pace that readers knew from previous installments. While seinen titles arguably allow for more mature content within the manga, the staple charm of the series remained strong, giving the fan base all the over-the-top fighting and character depth they were used to. The drives for the primary cast, though reduced somewhat in regard to other parts, is layered with genuine emotional weight, such as the depressive state that the protagonist, Johnny Joestar, is trapped in due to being a paraplegic. His relationship with Gyro Zeppli, while established with the intention of unlocking the secret to his Steel Balls and ability to walk, helps the protagonist grow from a standoffish and rather difficult man into someone worth the great family name of Joestar.

   When Will the Steel Ball Run Manga Get An English Translation?

Steel Ball Run Illustrations By Hirohiko Araki

 

   As well as the increase in chapter length, the publication of the series changed from weekly to monthly, allowing Hirohiko Araki to expertly craft the artwork to standards that some consider the finest in all of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The stylistic perfection of the outlandish character design rekindles the love of the previous part’s costumes whilst also expanding upon their appearance with even greater improvement of Hirohiko Araki’s skill. The flamboyant design of Johnny Joestar is not only stunning but evolves as the story progresses, and the suave introduction of Diego Brando recalls the brilliance of fan favorite Dio Brando. Not only are the characters drawn with a new level of expertise, but the setting is given the same precision. The depth into the American scenery the characters race across for their $50,000,000 grand prize speaks volumes of the dedication to the art.

   The radical change from the regular experience of traversing a JoJo adventure created a fresh journey for readers, but the series kept the charm, flamboyancy, hilarity and depth of the characters internal, involving external conflicts for the diehard fan base to remain firmly supportive of its direction. Steel Ball Run is considered by many to be the greatest of the manga’s part. The hope for an official English translation remains strong, and with everything crossed — including steel balls — it will reach the shelves for the eagerly awaited consumption. However, as of February 2023, no official news on the English translation has been confirmed.

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