What do you think?
Rate this book
Steel Ball Run #1
スティール・ボール・ラン 1
STEEL BALL RUN
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
310 people are currently reading
2190 people want to read
About the author
Hirohiko Araki
661 books2,179 followersHirohiko Araki ( 荒木飛呂彦) is a Japanese manga artist. He left school before graduation from Miyagi University of Education.
He enjoys the baseball manga Kyojin No Hoshii (Star of the Giants); the video games Mario Kart and Bomberman; and likes Prince and other African-American singers, as well as jazz, rock, and rap.
He is a recipient the Tezuka Award for manga.
He enjoys the baseball manga Kyojin No Hoshii (Star of the Giants); the video games Mario Kart and Bomberman; and likes Prince and other African-American singers, as well as jazz, rock, and rap.
He is a recipient the Tezuka Award for manga.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 580 reviews
January 17, 2020
Italiano / English
La Steel Ball Run, una corsa da San Diego a New York, 6000 chilometri da percorrere, più di tremila partecipanti, 50 milioni di dollari per il vincitore...
Si presenta così la settima serie de "Le Bizzarre Avventure di Jojo". Anzi, più che essere la settima serie, Steel Ball Run rappresenta un universo parallelo di quello che ci ha presentato Hirohiko Araki fino ad ora. Il personaggio di J.Lo Zeppeli è il protagonista assoluto di questo primo numero, seguito a ruota da Johnny Joestar, l'ex fantino dalla volontà di ferro. Inutile dire che mi aspetto molto da questa serie "western". Chissà se quel geniaccio di Araki ci regalerà ancora una volta i colpi di scena ai quali ci ha abituato per anni.
La gara è iniziata, su chi puntate?
Voto: 7
The Steel Ball Run, a race from San Diego to New York, 6000 kilometres to cover, more than three thousand participants, $ 50 million for the winner...
This is how the seventh series of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" starts. In fact, more than being he seventh series, Steel Ball Run represents a parallel universe of what Hirohiko Araki described us so far. The character of J.Lo Zeppeli is the star of this first issue, closely followed by Johnny Joestar, the strong-willed former horse-rider. Needless to say, I expect a lot from this western series. Who knows if the Araki genius will give us once again the twists and turns to which we have become accustomed for years.
The race just started, get your bets in!
Vote: 7
October 10, 2021
Strong 4*
Loved this part. It was unique and refreshing and the art/feel were top notch. It would be a 5 if i didn't feel as though it missed potential in certain areas.
I felt sometimes it rushed or poorly timed with characterization compared to previous parts Ive read
That said the relationship between gyro and johnny really drove this story and I couldn't get enough of their playfulness that we all build when we spend days on days forced to get to know someone.
I found myself getting alittle bored of some of the weirder stand powers but there were some memorable encounters for sure. Looking forward to picking up the next part.
Loved this part. It was unique and refreshing and the art/feel were top notch. It would be a 5 if i didn't feel as though it missed potential in certain areas.
I felt sometimes it rushed or poorly timed with characterization compared to previous parts Ive read
That said the relationship between gyro and johnny really drove this story and I couldn't get enough of their playfulness that we all build when we spend days on days forced to get to know someone.
I found myself getting alittle bored of some of the weirder stand powers but there were some memorable encounters for sure. Looking forward to picking up the next part.
January 2, 2019
I'm so excited to finally be reading JJBA:part 7 Steel Ball Run. I'm having fun watching weekly part 5 anime adaptation and part 6 manga was a fun wild ride and so far SBR is keeping up with its predecessors. I heard that part 7 is considered Araki's magnum opus aka his best work to date, I'm thrilled to get into the story.
SBR is centered around the competition Steel Ball Run which is a race from San Diego to New York with the winning prize of 50 million dollars. The participants can ride on a horse or a camel or go on foot, but they can't change their ride mid-race. The events starts on September 25th 1890.
For now we are following three individual characters: Sandman, Gyro Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar.
Sandman is Native American man who enters the competition to get money to buy his homeland so that white people won't be able to throw them out. Sandman seems like a smart, capable man and it was fun to have him opening up the first chapter.
Gyro Zeppeli is gorgeous. Araki really did us a solid with his design. Gyro also seems like a capable, cunning man. He isn't the type to play fairly, he wants to win and he will do anything to achieve his goal.
Johnny Joestart is former professional horse riders, but he was injured and now he can't walk, he uses wheelchair. Johnny is very determined and his single-minded focus will get him places. Johnny is also participating in the race.
I have a pre-manga knowledge that Johnny and Gyro will team up, I can't wait! For now it is very much Every Man For Himself.
Speaking about men. The organizer of the run said that everyone can enter the competition, but for now it is a very men-dominated story.
There is a very confusing thing in the manga. The main event is called Steel Ball Run, named after its sponsor Mr Steel. On the other hand, there are steel balls owned by Gyro. It can't be a coincidence, right?
The race itself was beautiful drawn, you feel the tension, you're invested in the outcome of the race and it's a perfect "sports manga" time.
The art is gorgeous, but it is Araki, so nobody is surprised by it.
Volume 1 is obviously an introductory volume, we get a feeling of the main cast, see the setting and the world. I like that we have a clear goal at the end. I love when the plot is structured.
so yay! I'm happy with how things are developing for now.
P.S. Diego Brando has three panels total in vol. 1 but they are the hottest, he is the hottest, 10/10 I love Diego Brando.
SBR is centered around the competition Steel Ball Run which is a race from San Diego to New York with the winning prize of 50 million dollars. The participants can ride on a horse or a camel or go on foot, but they can't change their ride mid-race. The events starts on September 25th 1890.
For now we are following three individual characters: Sandman, Gyro Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar.
Sandman is Native American man who enters the competition to get money to buy his homeland so that white people won't be able to throw them out. Sandman seems like a smart, capable man and it was fun to have him opening up the first chapter.
Gyro Zeppeli is gorgeous. Araki really did us a solid with his design. Gyro also seems like a capable, cunning man. He isn't the type to play fairly, he wants to win and he will do anything to achieve his goal.
Johnny Joestart is former professional horse riders, but he was injured and now he can't walk, he uses wheelchair. Johnny is very determined and his single-minded focus will get him places. Johnny is also participating in the race.
I have a pre-manga knowledge that Johnny and Gyro will team up, I can't wait! For now it is very much Every Man For Himself.
Speaking about men. The organizer of the run said that everyone can enter the competition, but for now it is a very men-dominated story.
There is a very confusing thing in the manga. The main event is called Steel Ball Run, named after its sponsor Mr Steel. On the other hand, there are steel balls owned by Gyro. It can't be a coincidence, right?
The race itself was beautiful drawn, you feel the tension, you're invested in the outcome of the race and it's a perfect "sports manga" time.
The art is gorgeous, but it is Araki, so nobody is surprised by it.
Volume 1 is obviously an introductory volume, we get a feeling of the main cast, see the setting and the world. I like that we have a clear goal at the end. I love when the plot is structured.
so yay! I'm happy with how things are developing for now.
P.S. Diego Brando has three panels total in vol. 1 but they are the hottest, he is the hottest, 10/10 I love Diego Brando.
December 30, 2025
I am hooked 🤩
June 5, 2022
THIS IS THE COOLEST THING IVE EVER READ. gyros number 1 fan
April 13, 2019
This is going to be a review for the entirety of Steel Ball Run, mainly because I don't want to spam my Goodreads with reviews for all 24 volumes.
The 7th part of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Steel Ball Run, is about a cross-continental horse race across America in 1890. Along the way, a paraplegic ex-jockey and an Italian man must use psychic powers and the infinite rotational energy of pure spinning to stop the president from getting the mummified remains of Jesus Christ. SBR is incredible, with a tense and engaging plot, fantastic antagonists, beautiful art, and a healthy amount of the unique and creative fights that are a staple of Jojo. It also has a man who can step on raindrops mid-air, a man who turns into a dinosaur and can turn other people into more dinosaurs, and a boy who can shoot his spinning fingernails off like bullets.
The 7th part of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Steel Ball Run, is about a cross-continental horse race across America in 1890. Along the way, a paraplegic ex-jockey and an Italian man must use psychic powers and the infinite rotational energy of pure spinning to stop the president from getting the mummified remains of Jesus Christ. SBR is incredible, with a tense and engaging plot, fantastic antagonists, beautiful art, and a healthy amount of the unique and creative fights that are a staple of Jojo. It also has a man who can step on raindrops mid-air, a man who turns into a dinosaur and can turn other people into more dinosaurs, and a boy who can shoot his spinning fingernails off like bullets.
October 17, 2023
خلاصه کوتاه:
پارت هفتم جوجو با مسابقه استیل بال ران شروع میشه که در اون تقریبا سه هزار و ششصد نفر مسابقهای برای بقا رو آغاز میکنن و باید از ساحل سن دیگو در شرق آمریکا، خودشون رو به نیویورک برسونن تا بتونن جایزه پنجاه میلیون دلاری رو به دست بیارن.
ایده کلی مسابقه استیل بال ران از یک واقعه در سال ۱۹۸۳ در آمریکا الهام گرفته شده و در اون هم دهها هزار نفر برای تصاحب زمین مسابقهای رو آغاز میکنن که هر کس زودتر به زمینهای مشخص شده برسه میتونه صاحب اون بشه.
اما یکم از خود جوجو بگم.
جوجو یه مانگای اکشن شونن-سینن به قلم جناب آراکی هست که از سال ۱۹۸۷ تا همین الان داره منتشر میشه و جزو آثار قدیمی و بسیار طولانی مدیوم مانگاعه.
منتها چیزی که باعث تفاوت جوجو با بقیه آثار طولانی میشه اینه که همه این ولیومها و داستانها منسجم و پیوسته نیستن.
جوجو تا الان شامل ۹ پارت بوده که ۸ تاش تموم شده و پارت نهم چند ماهیه که تازه شروع شده. از بین پارتهای تمومشده هم ۶ پارت انیمه شده.
ما توی هر پارت، داستان و ماجراهای یه نفر از خاندان جوستار رو دنبال میکنیم.
جوجو به طور کلی ماجراجویی بسیار عجیب و غریبیه. از نوع مبارزات و مجیکسیستم گرفته تا استایل خاص طراحی مانگا و خب چیزی نیست که شخصا به کسی توصیه کنم چون بسیار سلیقهای هست و اگه زیاد اهل فانتزیهای عجیب نیستید ممکنه زده بشید.
با این حال جناب آراکی همیشه توی جوجو ضعفهای خودش رو داشته و سعی کرده بهتر بشه و توی خیلی از مسائل و عناصر داستان میشه پیشرفت رو دید.
اینو گفتم که اگه شروع کردید و براتون ضعیف بود، بدونید که تو یه سری چیزا بهتر میشه.
اما برسیم سراغ پارت هفتم که مورد بحث ماست.
اول از همه راجع نکات مثبت بگم.
ایده و ماجراجوییهای این پارت به شدت لذتبخش، جذاب و درگیرکنندهس.
مانگا تقریبا پیسینگ خوبی داره و زیاد درگیر کش دادن نمیشه و برخلاف پارتهای قبلی آنچنان به تکرار نمیافته.
این پارت یه شخصیت به شدت ماندگار به نام "جایرو زپلی" و یه ویلن بسیار خوب به اسم "فانی ولنتاین" داره که هر دو جزو بهترینهای جوجو هستن.
نکته برجسته دیگه آرت و طراحیهای استادانه جناب آراکی هست تقریبا از وسطای مانگا وارد سطح ملکوتی خاصی میشه. اگه بخونید یا سرچ کنید میتونید چند نمونه خوبش رو ببیند هر چند، یه تعدادی رو توی کانال تلگرامم(https://t.me/Unforgiven_Man) میگذارم و اونجا هم میتونید ببینید.
اما برسیم به نقاط ضعف. این نقاط ضعف صرفا مربوط به این پارت نیست و اکثرا توی پارتهای قبلی هم تکرار شده.
برای مثال جمعبندی هولهولکی بعضی از فایتها و بیتوجهی به شخصیتهای فرعی یا حذف الکیه. خیلی وقتا اینطوری بودم که تو که انقدر خلاقیت داری و چنین ایدهای رو توی داستانت آوردی چرا اینطوری خرابش میکنی یا ازش استفاده نکردی!
بیشتر از این نمیشه نوشت چون خواهی نخواهی وارد اسپویل میشه و دوست ندارم ریویو اسپویلدار بنویسم.
راستی این مانگا رتبه دوم سایت انیمهلیست رو داره و با اینکه این سایت کلا بر مبنای نظر و رای مردمه ولی سر همین رتبه بسیار بالا، خیلی هایپ میشه که به عنوان کسی که خونده باید بگم لایق این رتبه نیست و مانگاهای بهتری میتونستن این رتبه رو بگیرن ولی خب نظر مردمه دیگه🤷♂ دوشواری نداریم🚶♂
با تموم اینها، این پارت، بهترین پارت جوجو بود و از لحاظ لذت شخصی تجربه خوبی برام بود و واقعا سرگرمم کرد.
پارت هفتم جوجو با مسابقه استیل بال ران شروع میشه که در اون تقریبا سه هزار و ششصد نفر مسابقهای برای بقا رو آغاز میکنن و باید از ساحل سن دیگو در شرق آمریکا، خودشون رو به نیویورک برسونن تا بتونن جایزه پنجاه میلیون دلاری رو به دست بیارن.
ایده کلی مسابقه استیل بال ران از یک واقعه در سال ۱۹۸۳ در آمریکا الهام گرفته شده و در اون هم دهها هزار نفر برای تصاحب زمین مسابقهای رو آغاز میکنن که هر کس زودتر به زمینهای مشخص شده برسه میتونه صاحب اون بشه.
اما یکم از خود جوجو بگم.
جوجو یه مانگای اکشن شونن-سینن به قلم جناب آراکی هست که از سال ۱۹۸۷ تا همین الان داره منتشر میشه و جزو آثار قدیمی و بسیار طولانی مدیوم مانگاعه.
منتها چیزی که باعث تفاوت جوجو با بقیه آثار طولانی میشه اینه که همه این ولیومها و داستانها منسجم و پیوسته نیستن.
جوجو تا الان شامل ۹ پارت بوده که ۸ تاش تموم شده و پارت نهم چند ماهیه که تازه شروع شده. از بین پارتهای تمومشده هم ۶ پارت انیمه شده.
ما توی هر پارت، داستان و ماجراهای یه نفر از خاندان جوستار رو دنبال میکنیم.
جوجو به طور کلی ماجراجویی بسیار عجیب و غریبیه. از نوع مبارزات و مجیکسیستم گرفته تا استایل خاص طراحی مانگا و خب چیزی نیست که شخصا به کسی توصیه کنم چون بسیار سلیقهای هست و اگه زیاد اهل فانتزیهای عجیب نیستید ممکنه زده بشید.
با این حال جناب آراکی همیشه توی جوجو ضعفهای خودش رو داشته و سعی کرده بهتر بشه و توی خیلی از مسائل و عناصر داستان میشه پیشرفت رو دید.
اینو گفتم که اگه شروع کردید و براتون ضعیف بود، بدونید که تو یه سری چیزا بهتر میشه.
اما برسیم سراغ پارت هفتم که مورد بحث ماست.
اول از همه راجع نکات مثبت بگم.
ایده و ماجراجوییهای این پارت به شدت لذتبخش، جذاب و درگیرکنندهس.
مانگا تقریبا پیسینگ خوبی داره و زیاد درگیر کش دادن نمیشه و برخلاف پارتهای قبلی آنچنان به تکرار نمیافته.
این پارت یه شخصیت به شدت ماندگار به نام "جایرو زپلی" و یه ویلن بسیار خوب به اسم "فانی ولنتاین" داره که هر دو جزو بهترینهای جوجو هستن.
نکته برجسته دیگه آرت و طراحیهای استادانه جناب آراکی هست تقریبا از وسطای مانگا وارد سطح ملکوتی خاصی میشه. اگه بخونید یا سرچ کنید میتونید چند نمونه خوبش رو ببیند هر چند، یه تعدادی رو توی کانال تلگرامم(https://t.me/Unforgiven_Man) میگذارم و اونجا هم میتونید ببینید.
اما برسیم به نقاط ضعف. این نقاط ضعف صرفا مربوط به این پارت نیست و اکثرا توی پارتهای قبلی هم تکرار شده.
برای مثال جمعبندی هولهولکی بعضی از فایتها و بیتوجهی به شخصیتهای فرعی یا حذف الکیه. خیلی وقتا اینطوری بودم که تو که انقدر خلاقیت داری و چنین ایدهای رو توی داستانت آوردی چرا اینطوری خرابش میکنی یا ازش استفاده نکردی!
بیشتر از این نمیشه نوشت چون خواهی نخواهی وارد اسپویل میشه و دوست ندارم ریویو اسپویلدار بنویسم.
راستی این مانگا رتبه دوم سایت انیمهلیست رو داره و با اینکه این سایت کلا بر مبنای نظر و رای مردمه ولی سر همین رتبه بسیار بالا، خیلی هایپ میشه که به عنوان کسی که خونده باید بگم لایق این رتبه نیست و مانگاهای بهتری میتونستن این رتبه رو بگیرن ولی خب نظر مردمه دیگه🤷♂ دوشواری نداریم🚶♂
با تموم اینها، این پارت، بهترین پارت جوجو بود و از لحاظ لذت شخصی تجربه خوبی برام بود و واقعا سرگرمم کرد.
Currently Reading
April 8, 2022Its about a 15 year old who can spin his nails vs the 23rd president of the united states and they are trying to find jesus christ corpse parts.
February 18, 2020
Wow, I feel really drawn into Steel Ball Run. From the start, there's a lot to like. Charming callbacks to older characters, appealing characters, a fun setup. It'll be interesting to see how a Japanese take on cow boys will play out. There's a lot of potential here, with some real weight behind the names Joestar, Zeppeli, and Brando. The broad strokes are similar, but if the details are totally different. Gyro is a self-interested showoff. Johnny is a wash up celebrity. Diego, so far, doesn't seem embittered at all. Johnny has to convince Gyro to help him, which is a far cry from their part 1 counterparts. Things are totally different.
Even outside of the big 3, it looks like we're getting set up with some more compelling supporting characters, like Sandman, Pocoloco,and the frontrunners for the race. I'm disappointed that Avdol is out again, but it's fitting considering how early he "dies" in part 3.
The Spin has caught my interest more than Hamon ever did, for a number of reasons. First of all, it's presented as much more mysterious and intriguing. William Zeppeli came up to the reader and politely asked them to be interested in his exposition dump. Gyro, on the other hand, does some cool shit and the reader is essentially begging him for more info. The reader is chomping at the bit for more info, rather than the story trying to convince the reader to be interested. Spin in and of itself is also a much more interesting concept than Hamon. Hamon is basically life energy with more steps added. Sure, Joseph came up with some clever uses for it, but it rarely felt particularly intuitive. But spin, so far, has a unique twist. What does it do? It spins things. You can think of all sorts of uses for that if you're creative enough. It makes much more intuitive sense than, say, Joseph tying knots in the string from his hat after it's coated in vegetable oil. Just like Johnny, the reader is drawn in and wants to learn more, both about spin, and about the compelling charismatic Gyro.
Altogether, this is a very strong start and I can't wait to see what comes next. Immediately, I feel drawn into this story. I can't wait to see what happens with just about every major character. Araki has a good track record with race-type setups (Highway Star and White Album come to mind), so everything is looking up for Steel Ball Run.
Even outside of the big 3, it looks like we're getting set up with some more compelling supporting characters, like Sandman, Pocoloco,and the frontrunners for the race. I'm disappointed that Avdol is out again, but it's fitting considering how early he "dies" in part 3.
The Spin has caught my interest more than Hamon ever did, for a number of reasons. First of all, it's presented as much more mysterious and intriguing. William Zeppeli came up to the reader and politely asked them to be interested in his exposition dump. Gyro, on the other hand, does some cool shit and the reader is essentially begging him for more info. The reader is chomping at the bit for more info, rather than the story trying to convince the reader to be interested. Spin in and of itself is also a much more interesting concept than Hamon. Hamon is basically life energy with more steps added. Sure, Joseph came up with some clever uses for it, but it rarely felt particularly intuitive. But spin, so far, has a unique twist. What does it do? It spins things. You can think of all sorts of uses for that if you're creative enough. It makes much more intuitive sense than, say, Joseph tying knots in the string from his hat after it's coated in vegetable oil. Just like Johnny, the reader is drawn in and wants to learn more, both about spin, and about the compelling charismatic Gyro.
Altogether, this is a very strong start and I can't wait to see what comes next. Immediately, I feel drawn into this story. I can't wait to see what happens with just about every major character. Araki has a good track record with race-type setups (Highway Star and White Album come to mind), so everything is looking up for Steel Ball Run.
January 1, 2021
Y'know the first time I've read Steel Ball Run, I was honestly peed off at Araki for not continuing Part 7 as a sequel after Stone Ocean, completely dropped it at 3 chapters last month. Then I suddenly realised this month I made a mistake and boy, I wasn't ready for all the shenanigans that were going to make me become addicted to reading the long whole 95 chapters in 1 day!
I tell ya, Gyro and Johnny were one of the best duo in the Jojo series. I laughed me ass with Gyro coming up with silly sayings like "Did you say something? Were you talking into my ass...? Because I can't hear anything with my ass! " including the cheese song he made up with Johnny. It makes me sad also but I ain't telling you what happened to him unless you read this manga. Gyro may be acting as a tough guy, but he has the best humour in terms of being unpredictable with his words.
I felt so sorry for Johnny though, like the poor fella, his father wasn't even proud of him being a jockey and kicked him out of the family home after falling out with him after the tragic death of his brother. It breaks your heart man like Johnny is actually such a nice bloke if you get to know him more through out the manga! It's even good that Araki created a character with a physical disability because it really shows whatever life throws at them, they can be super heros also equally as someone who doesn't have a physical disability!
I really wish they made Poco Loco join the team because I found he wouldve been the potential candidate to be a good team member alongside with Gyro and Johnny. Unfortunately we can't always get what we wish for in some mangas but yeah this was a very good reading experience. I just loved the horse racing scenes, including the pair bois going across the desert!
Yeah lads definitely advice you to read the whole story of this manga if Part 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 have impressed you enough!
I tell ya, Gyro and Johnny were one of the best duo in the Jojo series. I laughed me ass with Gyro coming up with silly sayings like "Did you say something? Were you talking into my ass...? Because I can't hear anything with my ass! " including the cheese song he made up with Johnny. It makes me sad also but I ain't telling you what happened to him unless you read this manga. Gyro may be acting as a tough guy, but he has the best humour in terms of being unpredictable with his words.
I felt so sorry for Johnny though, like the poor fella, his father wasn't even proud of him being a jockey and kicked him out of the family home after falling out with him after the tragic death of his brother. It breaks your heart man like Johnny is actually such a nice bloke if you get to know him more through out the manga! It's even good that Araki created a character with a physical disability because it really shows whatever life throws at them, they can be super heros also equally as someone who doesn't have a physical disability!
I really wish they made Poco Loco join the team because I found he wouldve been the potential candidate to be a good team member alongside with Gyro and Johnny. Unfortunately we can't always get what we wish for in some mangas but yeah this was a very good reading experience. I just loved the horse racing scenes, including the pair bois going across the desert!
Yeah lads definitely advice you to read the whole story of this manga if Part 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 have impressed you enough!
November 13, 2024
Best not quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure that out of all the JoJo openings, Steel Ball Run draws the very least focus to its purported protagonist. He's just some guy in a wheelchair, showing up only at the second chapter - even then only towards the end - and not getting to do anything particularly cool or interesting. He's not the classical hero type that immediately leaves a deep impression with badassery and honor - he's more like a weedy fan boy, Kikuchiyo (Chico) fawning over the Kanbei (Chris) that here is taken up by Gyro Zeppeli, the actual hero. Look how effortlessly he beat up a pickpocket! Look how cool he is! Better follow him around for a piece of the action!
And it's not just them, either. There's other folks here that the narrative pays just as much attention to, and some of them get to do cool stuff. There's the Native American wishing to buy a piece of land to keep his people safe from the invaders. The son of a slave just lazying around and deciding to join up on a whim. Even a little bit given to the organizer of this race and, of course, DIO. Different Dio, but still. Sure, Johnny is the only one that's so far gotten a flashback and some backstory, but it feels like the others are just biding their time on that front. It's more an ensemble arrangement than ever before in the story.
This is a different kind of story, after all. There are no ancient demonic beings threatening the world, no sordid family history to unearth, no serial killers or mobsters, no prisons to escape from, not even evil adopted siblings to deal with for anyone. At least not at the beginning. It's a race for money and glory and adventure and everyone is invited and Johnny Joestar is just one of the many.
He's still got stuff to deal with - but he can't make it better just by punching someone. The walls he must escape are all on the inside. He's got a bit of a clue on where to start, but the path otherwise is unclear.
Steel Ball Run often comes up as the best JoJo, or at least in the top three. Certainly so for me.
And it's not just them, either. There's other folks here that the narrative pays just as much attention to, and some of them get to do cool stuff. There's the Native American wishing to buy a piece of land to keep his people safe from the invaders. The son of a slave just lazying around and deciding to join up on a whim. Even a little bit given to the organizer of this race and, of course, DIO. Different Dio, but still. Sure, Johnny is the only one that's so far gotten a flashback and some backstory, but it feels like the others are just biding their time on that front. It's more an ensemble arrangement than ever before in the story.
This is a different kind of story, after all. There are no ancient demonic beings threatening the world, no sordid family history to unearth, no serial killers or mobsters, no prisons to escape from, not even evil adopted siblings to deal with for anyone. At least not at the beginning. It's a race for money and glory and adventure and everyone is invited and Johnny Joestar is just one of the many.
He's still got stuff to deal with - but he can't make it better just by punching someone. The walls he must escape are all on the inside. He's got a bit of a clue on where to start, but the path otherwise is unclear.
Steel Ball Run often comes up as the best JoJo, or at least in the top three. Certainly so for me.
November 21, 2023
WHAT THE FUCK IS A KILOMETER!!!!!! 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
December 31, 2025
Man that guy can really draw a horse
August 4, 2022
This series is so amazing, best part yet
December 10, 2019
I am a long time fan of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, and every time I come back to part 7 Steel Ball Run it blows my mind, it's amazing. It could fit into the genres of sci-fi/fantasy or manga. The basic premise of Steel Ball Run is a horse race across America during the late 1800s, which follows the two main characters Gyro Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar as they face off against strange foes including a famous British jockey with the ability to turn himself and others around him into dinosaurs, a man who can rewind time six seconds at a time, the president of America who has the confusing ability to enter other dimensions, and many more. The art style is especially good in this part, most notably the way the horses are drawn, and are very anatomically drawn with great detail. The colors also set the tone very well and makes the western setting very immersive.
Something that has always stood out to me about this part over the whole Jojo series is the characters - the main characters of Steel Ball Run are by far some of the most memorable characters Araki has ever written. Johnny Joestar is an incredibly dynamic character; he starts the story as selfish and self-entitled, and can barely even be considered a "good guy." His main motivations at the start are only to help himself. Upon his first meeting with Gyro, he discovers that he has an ability that may be able to regain the use of his legs, which he lost in a circumstance where he acted like a little brat to the wrong person. He spends the rest of the story travelling with Gyro to try to the learn the sort of ability Gyro has, and as the story progresses, he starts to care about more things other than himself, and makes many sacrifices for Gyro.
Overall I could talk about Steel Ball Run for hours. It's one of my favorite stories I've read to date, and makes me cry every time. I would highly recommend it anyone. While many Jojo fans hate when people skip parts, this part really could be its own stand-alone thing. Really really really good stuff.
Something that has always stood out to me about this part over the whole Jojo series is the characters - the main characters of Steel Ball Run are by far some of the most memorable characters Araki has ever written. Johnny Joestar is an incredibly dynamic character; he starts the story as selfish and self-entitled, and can barely even be considered a "good guy." His main motivations at the start are only to help himself. Upon his first meeting with Gyro, he discovers that he has an ability that may be able to regain the use of his legs, which he lost in a circumstance where he acted like a little brat to the wrong person. He spends the rest of the story travelling with Gyro to try to the learn the sort of ability Gyro has, and as the story progresses, he starts to care about more things other than himself, and makes many sacrifices for Gyro.
Overall I could talk about Steel Ball Run for hours. It's one of my favorite stories I've read to date, and makes me cry every time. I would highly recommend it anyone. While many Jojo fans hate when people skip parts, this part really could be its own stand-alone thing. Really really really good stuff.
March 26, 2013
Araki lo logró otra vez: en poco más de 200 páginas reimagina el universo de modo tal que los escenarios, la gente, los elementos, el tiempo y el espacio y hasta el sistema métrico y la inflación se ajusten a los parámetros de lo que él quiere contar. Con sólo cinco capítulos ya hizo que me interese por Gyro (o Jairo), Johnny (O Jonny), Diego/Dio, etc. Y me quedan no se cuántos miles de kilómetro para seguir enamorándome de los dibujos de Araki y queriendo a los personajes. Lamentablemente ya me espoileé alguna que otra muerte, pero voy a hacer lo posible por ignorar ese tremendo desenlace y dejarme sorprender hasta el último de los 24 tomos de Steel Ball Run.
January 20, 2019
A reboot of an amazing series comes back with fresh new ideas. It's a must read especially with an evolved art direction. It has an amazing cast of characters, memorable moments, and good callbacks from the older arcs.
October 11, 2023
gyro zeppeli the man that you are ......
(please marry me)
(please marry me)
October 15, 2024
Oho ! Homosexuel men !!
January 6, 2026
Kinda went too crazy on the race part but that’s pretty much expected I hope to see more stand stuff soon!!!
February 7, 2026
Johnny Joestar’s dump truck is ABSURD
April 6, 2026
My anger towards Netflix has lessened now that they’ve said it’ll be weekly. They still suck at communicating
(Review for entire part)
I get why people consider this to be Araki at his peak. Everything is finally locked in together and flows so well. The art is incredible. Constantly while reading I’d stop just to look at panels cause it looks like shit you���d see in a museum. The story telling flows the best of any part I’ve experienced. Especially the ending fight. Araki finally leaves enough time for it. It didn’t feel like something rushed thrown in at the end and it really surprised me at times how the fight progressed. The stand abilities just kept getting more bizarre. Johnny and Gyro were great jobros though I think their originals Joseph and Caesar I still enjoy more. How Dio was written was really interesting. I guess I was so used to the original one that it threw me off but especially at the end I was actually rooting for Dio at times which was nuts. Something that took me a long time to get used to was accepting this is a totally different universe from the original story and because of that how stands are obtained is different. I was really confused at the beginning like where’s the stands, how the devil palm and the corpse parts work. Tbh I’m still confused how the next two parts are going to work with stands but I’m intrigued also. It did enjoy the rotation technique and it being a different version of Hamon. It’s like Araki wasn’t to bring back something from parts 1 and 2 it sort of shows what could have been in stands hadn’t taken off and just become jojo. Sort of like a merger of the two by the end. Is this my favorite jojo part. WELL IF WE ACTUALLY GOT THE ANIME ADAPTATION IDK MAYBE BUT NETFLIX IS A CUNT. Part 5 has been my favorite for a while mainly because I love the found family of Passione. It would have been hard for sure to have a large group doing this race so I get why Araki shrunk back down the group to just two but I did sort of feel like i didn’t get as close to the other characters because of it. Sure hot pants was cool and there’s Lucy steel but they were really there with gyro and Johnny the entire time. Is Johnny my favorite jojo? Again I think I still like Joseph more but I’ve have these opinions for a long time so they’re hard to change. Overall I enjoyed this part a lot. It was nice getting to see Araki really work with something fresh and create a whole new world. Though I’m a little sad realizing how detached this one does feel from the main universe in some ways but it is for the best. The original jojos stories have been told. Can’t wait to see how part 8 jojo is related to Johnny?? I know there’s a bit of a time skip. Also how do people get stands now since Jesus was giving them out instead of arrows. Guess I’ll have to read to continue cause Netflix won’t fucking deliver.
(Review for entire part)
I get why people consider this to be Araki at his peak. Everything is finally locked in together and flows so well. The art is incredible. Constantly while reading I’d stop just to look at panels cause it looks like shit you���d see in a museum. The story telling flows the best of any part I’ve experienced. Especially the ending fight. Araki finally leaves enough time for it. It didn’t feel like something rushed thrown in at the end and it really surprised me at times how the fight progressed. The stand abilities just kept getting more bizarre. Johnny and Gyro were great jobros though I think their originals Joseph and Caesar I still enjoy more. How Dio was written was really interesting. I guess I was so used to the original one that it threw me off but especially at the end I was actually rooting for Dio at times which was nuts. Something that took me a long time to get used to was accepting this is a totally different universe from the original story and because of that how stands are obtained is different. I was really confused at the beginning like where’s the stands, how the devil palm and the corpse parts work. Tbh I’m still confused how the next two parts are going to work with stands but I’m intrigued also. It did enjoy the rotation technique and it being a different version of Hamon. It’s like Araki wasn’t to bring back something from parts 1 and 2 it sort of shows what could have been in stands hadn’t taken off and just become jojo. Sort of like a merger of the two by the end. Is this my favorite jojo part. WELL IF WE ACTUALLY GOT THE ANIME ADAPTATION IDK MAYBE BUT NETFLIX IS A CUNT. Part 5 has been my favorite for a while mainly because I love the found family of Passione. It would have been hard for sure to have a large group doing this race so I get why Araki shrunk back down the group to just two but I did sort of feel like i didn’t get as close to the other characters because of it. Sure hot pants was cool and there’s Lucy steel but they were really there with gyro and Johnny the entire time. Is Johnny my favorite jojo? Again I think I still like Joseph more but I’ve have these opinions for a long time so they’re hard to change. Overall I enjoyed this part a lot. It was nice getting to see Araki really work with something fresh and create a whole new world. Though I’m a little sad realizing how detached this one does feel from the main universe in some ways but it is for the best. The original jojos stories have been told. Can’t wait to see how part 8 jojo is related to Johnny?? I know there’s a bit of a time skip. Also how do people get stands now since Jesus was giving them out instead of arrows. Guess I’ll have to read to continue cause Netflix won’t fucking deliver.
December 17, 2024
This was a fun setup! The concept of this race is so interesting, I’m excited to continue and see where this goes. The designs, like in every Jojo part, are really bizarre and cool, especially Gyro. He looks so rad, loving his vibes so far.
Gonna continue this series but I won’t be updating on here for every volume I finish.
Gonna continue this series but I won’t be updating on here for every volume I finish.
July 20, 2022
La masterclass.
On espère que ça continue.
On espère que ça continue.
December 13, 2024
I’m reading the French version
April 20, 2026
i love gyro he’s so sillay
October 11, 2020
Araki è Araki non c'è niente da fare
Read
September 19, 2022Stalowe jaja wyścig czas zacząć
April 16, 2023
Posiblemente la mejor parte de jojo's
Displaying 1 - 30 of 580 reviews