| Name | Jonathan Joestar |
| Role | Protagonist |
| Goals | Save himself • Save the world • Uncover his family's mysterious legacy |
| Novel | |
| Family | Joestar family |
| Series | |
| Themes | Gothic horror • Metaphysical exploration • Struggle against the unknown |
| Conflict | Confronting his adopted brother Dio Brando and his occult powers |
Jonathan Joestar is the central protagonist of the inaugural novel in the acclaimed Gothic horror series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, titled "Phantom Blood". As the heroic scion of the wealthy and influential Joestar family, Jonathan finds himself thrust into a dark supernatural conflict that will test the limits of his courage, fortitude, and humanity.
Born in 1867 to the aristocratic Joestar family, Jonathan had a privileged but lonely upbringing. His father George Joestar was a kind but distant man, while his mother Elizabeth died when Jonathan was just a young boy. Jonathan's world is upended when his father takes in the cunning and manipulative Dio Brando as his ward, unaware of the boy's true sinister nature.
Dio quickly sets about undermining and tormenting Jonathan, using his natural charm and cunning to win over the Joestar patriarch while sowing seeds of darkness. As the two boys grow into men, their rivalry intensifies into an all-consuming supernatural conflict, with Dio wielding occult powers that Jonathan can scarcely comprehend.
Through the course of his struggle against Dio's machinations, Jonathan discovers that he himself possesses an uncanny supernatural ability - a manifestation of his very soul known as a "Stand". This spectral entity, which Jonathan names "Hermit Purple", grants him powerful psychic and occult abilities that he must learn to harness in order to combat the evil threatening his family.
As Jonathan delves into the arcane history and metaphysical nature of the Stands, he uncovers ancient secrets about his own lineage and the Joestar family's mysterious legacy. These revelations force him to confront profound existential questions about the nature of the human soul, the boundaries between the physical and spiritual realms, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
With his newfound powers, Jonathan mounts a desperate campaign to stop Dio's ever-expanding reach of darkness. Their conflict takes them from the Joestar manor to the streets of London, and ultimately to the heart of a ancient evil buried beneath the city. Jonathan must push himself to the limits of human endurance, both physical and mental, as he battles not just Dio, but the very forces of the occult that seek to unmake the world.
In the novel's climactic confrontation, Jonathan's nobility, courage and sheer force of will are put to the ultimate test as he strives to save not just his family, but all of humanity from Dio's apocalyptic designs. The epic struggle between the two sworn rivals becomes a metaphysical clash that echoes through the ages, establishing the Joestar bloodline's role as the defenders of the natural order against the encroaching darkness.
Though he does not live to see the full continuation of his family's bizarre legacy, Jonathan Joestar's heroic journey in "Phantom Blood" lays the foundation for the sprawling supernatural saga that unfolds across the subsequent JoJo novels. His unflinching determination in the face of unspeakable evil, as well as his profound understanding of the occult forces at work, make him a legendary and beloved figure in the Gothic horror pantheon.
Jonathan's influence and spirit live on through the generations of Joestars who follow, as each champion in their own way the battle against the darkness that threatens to consume the world. His story has inspired readers for over a century, standing as a timeless tale of heroism, sacrifice, and the power of the human spirit to overcome even the most daunting of supernatural obstacles.
