| Type | Gothic supernatural horror novels |
| Title | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure |
| Influence | Seminal work that has profoundly influenced the supernatural and horror fiction genres |
| Main Themes | Gothic • Supernatural • Philosophical |
| Protagonists | Members of the Joestar family bloodline |
| Original Publication | 1920s |
| Supernatural Elements | Arcane 'Stands' • Poltergeists • Demons |
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a critically acclaimed series of Gothic supernatural horror novels that have captivated readers since their debut in the 1920s. Created by the renowned author Bram Stoker and set in a world where the supernatural is all too real, the stories follow the members of the Joestar family bloodline as they confront unspeakable occult forces over the course of multiple centuries.
Unlike the popular manga series of the same name in our timeline, this version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure was conceived and published solely as a series of novels, beginning with the 1925 release of the first installment, ''Phantom Blood''. Set in Victorian-era England, the story introduces the Joestar family and their mysterious, cursed legacy, as young Jonathan Joestar battles against the sinister Dio Brando and his dark supernatural powers.
Rather than the shonen action-adventure tropes of the manga, Stoker's JoJo novels delve deeply into Gothic horror, occult mysticism, and philosophical themes. The stories are characterized by an atmosphere of dread, decay, and the encroachment of the unknown, with the protagonists wielding arcane "Stands" - powerful spectral entities akin to demons or poltergeists that are manifestations of the user's very soul.
Over the decades, Stoker and later authors expanded the JoJo mythos, exploring the Joestar family's ongoing struggles against supernatural threats across multiple historical eras. Subsequent story arcs included:
While each story is set in a different time period, they are united by the Joestar bloodline and the hereditary Stands passed down through the generations. The novels delve into the esoteric origins of these supernatural powers, which are rooted in occult and metaphysical ideas rather than the scientific explanations of the manga.
Although never achieving the mass-market popularity of other horror franchises, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has earned critical acclaim and a devoted cult following over the past century. Stoker's innovative blending of Gothic tropes, philosophical speculation, and supernatural horror has had a profound influence on subsequent works in the genre.
The series' striking visual style, complex mythology, and grotesque yet compelling antagonists have inspired countless authors, filmmakers, and game designers. JoJo is considered a seminal work that helped push the boundaries of supernatural and horror fiction, paving the way for later works that combined the arcane and the transgressive.
Adaptations of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure to other media, including radio dramas, stage plays, and animated films, have introduced the series to new generations of fans. While never achieving the mass-market popularity of franchises like Dracula or Frankenstein, the novels' influence on the development of 20th century Gothic and supernatural fiction is undeniable. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure remains a cult classic, beloved by devoted readers around the world for its uncompromising vision of the dark, the bizarre, and the unexplained.
