If you’re thinking I wouldn’t talk about ‘Jojo’ in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, allow me to prove you wrong. The main character, the main ‘Jojo,’ of each part in JJBA is made engaging through unconventional methods by being round-static characters, being in unique environments, and cycling in a new ‘Jojo’ for each part.
While some undergo the Hero’s Journey, most ‘Jojos’ remain static characters.
Jonathan (left) and Johnny (right) are the exceptions that go through the typical Hero’s Journey.
Typically, the main characters are dynamic since “audiences become invested in a character’s journey,” but JJBA, untraditionally, makes each ‘Jojo’ engaging by making them “well-rounded… fleshed out with a backstory, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.” With each part lasting 2-4 years of serialization, dynamic development is difficult to implement. Being well-rounded and static allows the eccentric personality of each ‘Jojo’ to be at the forefront, drawing readers in immediately, without having to go through long development. Take Josuke, the ‘Jojo’ of part 4.
His hot-headed attitude gets quickly characterized through his backstory of a stranger, with a wicked pompadour, saving his life.
The pompadour stranger getting the tire unstuck from the snow
that halted near-death Josuke’s journey to the hospital
Josuke adopts his stranger’s hairstyle and goes bat-shit insane anytime it’s insulted. Given a well-rounded personality, what prevents him from being dynamic is that he never grows from his aggression. His sudden rage is never a downfall and, in fact, is advantageous to him in one encounter. While leaving little for development, ridiculous yet rounded characterizations helps keep a ‘Jojo’ engaging.
Josuke losing his cool after his hair is insulted
Personality alone will only get a ‘Jojo’ so far. With static characters, “their environment may change, but they will retain their personality.” Encounters a ‘Jojo’ will face start and end in a matter of a few chapters. The environment they’re placed in each encounter needs to briefly highlight their characterization. Going back to Josuke’s advantageous encounter, his aggression shines in his battle with Rohan. Rohan, who’s Stand ability turns people immovable by showing his manga manuscript, figures out he can trigger Josuke’s anger by insulting his hair. Believing he has the advantage, Josuke instead goes into a blind rage and thrashes Rohan.
Rohan getting decked by Josuke’s Stand after insulting his hair
Using setting to play into a character’s personality increases engagement with them.
With each new part comes a new ‘Jojo.’ It’s an unconventional method of swapping out the main character that I’ve only seen before in another series: Doctor Who.
Showcase of all iterations of ‘The Doctor’
Much like JJBA, it swaps out the main character, ‘The Doctor,’ for a different incarnation of the character so that “it would continue to feel fresh and new simply by allowing new faces to take over.” Cycling out the main characters keeps these long series interesting. In fact, Doctor Who’s run time outweighs JJBA by about 20 years with the pilot airing on November 23rd, 1963.
Doctor Who’s beginning, “An Unearthly Child, before technicolor television
This strategy also encourages heavy discussion among fans when it comes to their favorite ‘Jojo’ or ‘Doctor.’ For fans of Doctor Who, sometimes “it’s a gut feeling, rooted in simple nostalgia… others arrive at a careful decision.” The diversity present with these series promotes debate that further boosts interest with the series.
Showcase of all the different ‘Jojos’
Getting fans to actively engage with the series when they’re not watching or reading it shows that it keeps them constantly hooked. Both series, as a result of an untraditional, drastic change to the main character, continues to make their respective series engaging.
Sources
“Dynamic Characters vs. Static Character: How are They Different?” reedsyblog. 15 July, 2019. https://blog.reedsy.com/dynamic-character/. Accessed 4 November 2019.
“Dynamic Characters vs. Static Characters: Definition, Examples, and Differences in Character Types.” MasterClass. 1 Aug. 2019. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dynamic-characters-vs-static-characters#what-is-a-dynamic-character. Accessed 4 November 2019.
Patrick, Seb. “Best of ‘Doctor Who’ 50th Anniversary Poll: Top 5 Doctors.” BBCAmerica. 2012. http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/11/best-doctor-50th-anniversary-poll-top-5-doctors. Accessed 8 November 2019.
Quinton Reviews. “Learning to Accept Change Within ‘Doctor Who.’” Youtube. 29 July, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta0wKLP71to. Accessed 8 November 2019.
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