Let’s be real for a second. If you mention Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Jonathan Joestar in a room full of modern anime fans, you’re probably going to get some eye rolls. People love the mind games of Joseph, the stoic "yare yare" energy of Jotaro, or the fashion-forward chaos of Giorno. Compared to them, Jonathan looks like a relic. He’s the guy who brings a knife to a nuke fight—or rather, a polite bow to a vampire apocalypse.
But honestly? That’s exactly why he’s the most important character Hirohiko Araki ever drew.
He isn't just the "boring" starter character. He’s the literal soul of the entire franchise. Without Jonathan’s weirdly intense Victorian morality, the rest of the series just doesn't work. It’s like trying to build a skyscraper without a foundation; eventually, the whole thing just tips over into a pile of flamboyant poses and confusing Stand abilities.
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The "Boring" Hero Who Changed Everything
Most people describe Jonathan as a "lawful good" paladin. It’s a fair label, but it misses the grit. You’ve got to remember that when Phantom Blood started in the late '80s, the "buff guy punches things" genre was dominated by Fist of the North Star. Kenshiro was cool, but he was a finished product.
Jonathan? He starts as a total loser.
He’s a rich kid who gets his dog burned, his girl harassed, and his dad poisoned. Most shonen heroes get a power-up the second things go south. Jonathan just gets kicked in the teeth for about seven years. Araki has even mentioned that because the manga was weekly, Jonathan’s "growth" actually stayed in the negative for a while. Fans felt like he was just a guy who kept losing.
But that’s the hook. He isn't a hero because he’s strong. He’s a hero because he refuses to stop being a gentleman while the world tries to turn him into a monster. It’s that "explosive power" of the heart that even Dio, the ultimate narcissist, ended up respecting.
Why the Anime Kind of Did Him Dirty
If you've only watched the 2012 anime, you’re missing some of the best Jonathan Joestar moments. The anime is great, don't get me wrong, but it treats Part 1 like a sprint to get to the "good stuff" in Part 3.
In the manga, Jonathan is a bit more of a human being.
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- The Pipe Incident: There’s a panel of 12-year-old Jonathan smoking a pipe. It’s hilarious and weirdly grounded.
- The Roughneck Era: Before he became the mountain of muscle we know, he was a bit of a ruffian. He lacked manners. He was just a kid trying to find his footing.
- The Emotional Weight: The anime glosses over the sheer psychological torture Dio put him through. It wasn't just a rivalry; it was a systematic attempt to destroy a person's sanity.
When you see him finally master Hamon (the Ripple), it feels earned. It’s not a magic "I win" button. It’s a technique that requires breathing and internal balance—a perfect metaphor for a guy who has to keep his cool while his world is literally on fire.
The Duality of Jonathan and Dio
You can't talk about Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Jonathan without talking about Dio Brando. They are two sides of the same coin. Light and shadow. Purity and absolute, unadulterated filth.
Araki designed them as polar opposites. Jonathan represents "the first Joestar," a symbol of dignity. Dio represents the rejection of humanity. But their relationship isn't just "good vs. evil." It’s a "bizarre friendship," as Jonathan calls it at the very end.
Think about that final scene on the boat. Most heroes would be gloating. Jonathan is cradling his enemy's severed head while his own life fades away. He genuinely feels a bond with the man who ruined his life. It’s tragic. It’s also incredibly metal.
That bond is what drives the next five parts of the series. When Dio steals Jonathan’s body, he isn't just taking his muscles. He’s literally tethering himself to the Joestar bloodline. Every Stand, every battle, and every "Joestar secret technique" (running away) stems from that one moment on a burning ship in 1889.
The Blueprint for Every Future JoJo
Every protagonist that followed Jonathan took one piece of his personality and ran with it.
- Joseph took the tenacity and the Hamon talent, but ditched the "gentleman" part for slapstick.
- Jotaro took the stoicism and the hidden "explosive power" but buried it under a layer of edge.
- Josuke took the kindness and the desire to protect his home.
- Giorno is the literal fusion of Jonathan’s soul and Dio’s ambition.
Without the baseline of Jonathan’s "pure good," characters like Johnny Joestar (the protagonist of Part 7) wouldn't feel so revolutionary. Johnny is a cynical, selfish version of Jonathan—an "alternate" take that only works because we know what the original was supposed to be.
Common Misconceptions (Stop Saying He’s Weak)
There’s this weird myth in the fandom that Jonathan is the "weakest" JoJo.
Sure, he doesn't have a Stand like Star Platinum that can stop time. But look at what the guy actually did.
He fought a vampire Dio—who could flash-freeze people and shoot lasers out of his eyes—using nothing but his bare hands and some glowing sunlight energy. He survived being impaled. He climbed a wall with his bare fingers while carrying a full-grown man.
Physically, Jonathan is probably the strongest JoJo in the entire franchise.
While later characters rely on their Stands to do the heavy lifting, Jonathan was the heavy lifter. If you put Jonathan in a room with most Stand users and took away their spirits, he’d probably fold them like laundry.
What You Should Do Now
If you’ve been skipping Part 1 or telling people it’s "just okay," it’s time for a re-evaluation. To truly understand the weirdness of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, you have to respect the foundation.
- Read the Manga: Check out the JoJonium editions. The art is cleaner, and you get Araki’s personal notes on how he struggled to design a "symbol of justice" that didn't feel like a cardboard cutout.
- Watch the Bruford Fight Again: Pay attention to how Jonathan treats his enemies. He doesn't just kill the zombie knight Bruford; he restores his humanity and earns his respect.
- Look for the Star: Notice how the Joestar birthmark (which Jonathan didn't technically have in the original manga run but was added later) becomes the symbol of his legacy.
Jonathan Joestar isn't a boring character. He’s a tragic hero in a world that wasn't ready for a gentleman. He died so his family could live, and in the world of JoJo, there is no higher honor than that. He’s the reason the "bizarre" exists in the first place.
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Go back and watch the first nine episodes of the 2012 anime or pick up the first volume of the manga. Look at the way Jonathan handles loss. Look at the way he carries himself. You'll start to see his shadow in every "ORA ORA" and every tactical retreat. He's not just the first JoJo; he's the best one.
Next Steps for Fans: To get the full picture of Jonathan's influence, compare the ending of Phantom Blood directly with the start of Stardust Crusaders. Notice how Dio's obsession with the Joestar body isn't just about power—it's about his lingering, twisted respect for the only man who ever truly beat him. Dive into the JoJonium interviews to see Araki's own shifting perspective on his first protagonist over the decades.