| Title | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood |
| Genres | Adventure • supernatural • action |
| Themes | Family legacy • supernatural powers • imperial intrigue |
| Setting | New Rotterdam (New York City), Dutch colonial empire |
| Antagonist | |
| Protagonist | |
| Supernatural Ability |
"Phantom Blood" is the inaugural story arc of the acclaimed Gothic horror series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, following the heroic journey of Jonathan Joestar, the scion of a prominent Dutch colonial family in the city of New Rotterdam (modern-day New York City). Set in the late 19th century, the story pits Jonathan against the sinister machinations of Dio Brando, a Dutch immigrant whose ambition and cruelty threaten to destroy the Joestar legacy and reshape the destiny of the Dutch colonial empire.
Born in 1867 to the influential Joestar family of New Rotterdam, Jonathan Joestar enjoyed a privileged but lonely upbringing. His father, George Joestar, was a kind but distant patriarch of the colonial elite. When a young Dutch immigrant named Dio Brando is taken in by the Joestars after his father's death, Jonathan's world is upended.
Dio quickly sets about undermining and tormenting Jonathan, using his natural charm and cunning to win over the elder Joestar 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 New Rotterdam, and ultimately to the heart of an 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 arc'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 the Dutch colonial empire 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 of New Netherland.
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 Dutch colonial empire. 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.
