This is probably coming super late, but volume 66 of Jojo is where it really hit home how much of a fever dream this series is. Maybe it has something to do with other people seeing parts of this volume over my shoulder. And it occurred to me that if they asked what the hell I'm reading, I would have zero chance of giving them a coherent answer.
Anyway, I have to give credit to Araki for another brave choice. While he's never done much for me, Jotaro means a lot to tons of people. He's that Kenshiro style power fantasy that so many young men and boys buy into. He's guy that comes to mind when most people think of Jojo. For better or worse, he is the face of the series. So, to make him the damsel in distress for a female protagonist in a shonen magazine published in 2000... Hell yeah dude. Jolyne's beatdown of Johngalli was fantastic. And then she deliberately dives back into the belly of the beast for the sake of saving her deadbeat dad.
I really like the way Jotaro and Jolyne's relationship is handled. Jotaro is exactly the kind of father you would expect him to be. And that, understandably, causes some paternal angst. And the mix of emotions that come up when he shows up to help Jolyne after abandoning her for so long- I felt that. Full disclosure: I liked the story of Final Fantasy X, particularly the father-child angst. That's an easy in with me. If that's not a deal breaker, hit me up. We can go see a movie and talk about how the church of Yevon is a metaphor for American militarism.
Other miscellaneous highlights include the Florida setting. We get some nice coastal scenery, as well as gratuitous Orange Juice and Alligators. Speaking of Alligators, I love Charlotte. She's an adorable little asshole. Also, I'm curious as to which came first. The "Like a Virgin" bracelets, or Suicide Squad. Because somebody done stole an idea. I just don't know who.
So what's not to like with the way Stone Ocean is going? Well, I wasn't the biggest fan of the Hermes Sticker arc. Araki tends to pose Jolyne and Hermes provocatively when it's not really situationally appropriate. But that arc was where this tendency has reached its worst yet. The same is true of the male protagonists in other parts as well, so maybe I'm overthinking it. But I think not. There have been more panty shots and ladies posing provocatively in these past 30 chapters than there were been in the prior 600. And while I'm at it, can't the translators stop having characters streeeetch oooout theirrrr woooords wheeeennn theeeeey yellll?
Highway to Hell and Burning Down the House don't do much for me either. Stand powers have always been off the wall, but these feel needlessly specific. I would add Kiss to that list, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. Especially since the way it was used to beat Lightening Mcqueen was pretty cool.