Matthew Ramos of The Phoenix writes, “Steel Ball Run is a perfect Wild West manga with a great story, characters, and fights between each character.”
Steel Ball Run is the seventh part of Hirohiko Araki’s famous manga series, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The series has been written and illustrated entirely by Araki since 1987, and as of summer 2025, the official English translation of the first few volumes of Steel Ball Run has finally been released to the public. Fans are excited not only about this long-awaited release, but also about an anime adaptation planned to premiere on March 19, 2026. Before it hits streaming platforms, readers should make sure to experience the manga first—not only to gain a deeper understanding of Araki’s vision, but also to appreciate the remarkable quality of his artwork.
Christopher Patterson of Comic Watch writes, “Its world was its opus, and everyone who lived in it.”
One factor that makes Steel Ball Run unique within JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is its shift to an alternate universe. Rather than continuing directly from earlier parts, the story reimagines the world with a vision that revolves entirely around its own events. Because of this clean slate, readers do not need prior knowledge of the series to enjoy it. The central event of the story is the 1890 Steel Ball Run race, in which thousands of contestants compete across the American continent. From the deserts of Arizona to the frozen peaks of Wisconsin, the landscape plays a major role in shaping the characters’ identities as they face extreme challenges. Among the most notable characters are Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, and Diego Brando.
William Schwartz of Book and Film Globe writes, “Araki is doggedly sincere with every individual character, stylistically tying together even the most grotesquely villainous ones. Characters aren’t evil so much as they just take things.”
Without spoiling too much, a central theme of Steel Ball Run is a character’s sense of self—particularly the ability to recognize beauty even during hardship. The protagonist learns this through friendship, moments of triumph, and exposure to those who have less. In contrast, the antagonist fails to value the preciousness of life, abusing it in pursuit of personal desires. This mindset leads to manipulation and violence against people from many different backgrounds. The diversity of the race itself is significant, as it reflects America as a cultural melting pot and highlights how generational trauma, cultural expectations, and self-fulfilling prophecy can be used to manipulate the public.
“You can be sure that the one who obtains the ‘corpse’ would also attain ‘happiness.’” —Hirohiko Araki
Steel Ball Run resonates so strongly with readers because of its grand scale and deeply human characters. There are no perfectly victorious heroes who achieve every expected goal. Instead, the story focuses on people who find fulfillment in unexpected ways by the end of their journey. Slice-of-life moments are sprinkled throughout the series, offering deeper insight into each character. Ultimately, nothing in Steel Ball Run can be taken for granted—not even the main villain. Readers should dive in to experience a truly bizarre adventure.
