JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a long-running manga and anime series created by Hirohiko Araki. First published in 1987, it follows the story of the Joestar bloodline battling against each generation’s fated enemies. While this is a typical shonen manga, Araki’s unique artstyle and fashion choices set it apart from other series. The seventh animated part of JJBA, titled Steel Ball Run, is now available on Netflix.

This series features “stands”, which are embodiments of energy catered to each character. As someone who loves pop culture, Araki borrowed names from famous tracks and bands from the 1960’s to the 1990’s, to bring a fun essence to his stories.

For example, Yoshikage Kira’s stand, Killer Queen, is a direct reference to the Queen song of the same name. Others include Rohan Kishibe’s Heaven’s Door (a reference to “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan), Jolyne Cujoh’s Stone Ocean (calling back to “Stone Free” by Jimi Hendrix) and Josuke Higashikata’s Crazy Diamond (a callback to  “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” by Pink Floyd).

I personally consider JJBA to be one of the most entertaining animated series and manga of all time. As someone who’s constantly immersing herself in traditional art and cultural media, I respect the journey of Araki’s art style and musical taste.

This mangaka draws a lot of inspiration from highly-praised fashion magazines, such as Vogue, and it incorporates these styles into the art and design to make it more interesting. Araki’s work was even featured in Bvlgari, an Italian luxury brand, and he has also made illustrations for Gucci.

In 2011, Araki collaborated with the Gucci store and Spur Magazine in Shinjuku City, Japan. The collaboration featured colored one-shots of “Rohan Kishibe Goes to Gucci”, and later featured Jolyne Cujoh in a magazine cover for Spur. Fans all over the world were excited to see their favorite characters decked out in luxurious attire.

The illustration of JoJo is also an eye-catching element of the series. It features bold brush strokes and striking color palettes that reflect the personalities of each character. Araki’s influential artwork was also displayed in the Louvre as part of an exhibit that invited comic artists to mix modern art in museums.

Hirohiko Araki continues to be one of the most praised manga artists all over the world, due in part to the global success of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The story is still ongoing, with nine parts in total, and it is definitely not a story that you want to miss! So I would recommend starting the anime or reading the manga to appreciate this flashy style.