Starting today (25th), Netflix will release episodes from the 2nd STAGE and 3rd STAGE of ‘Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ every Friday.
‘Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ is the adaptation of Part 7 of Hirohiko Araki’s long-running manga series ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.’ It tells the story of protagonist Johnny Joestar, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a tragic accident, as he meets Gyro Zeppeli—an eccentric man who uses a mysterious Spin technique—and enters the cross-continental Steel Ball Run race across America to uncover its secret. Following the advance premiere of the 1st STAGE on March 19, the adaptation earned high praise for faithfully recreating the original manga’s artistic flair, intense racing scenes, and dynamic depiction of Zeppeli’s Spin. In addition, the anime officially supported a Korean dub, creating buzz across online communities as fans enjoyed iconic lines delivered with expressive performances by Korean voice actors.
The newly released episodes cover the 2nd STAGE, set in the Arizona desert, and the 3rd STAGE, set around the Rocky Mountains. As competitors are murdered one after another during the race, Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli enter an area feared by local indigenous communities as the ‘Devil’s Palm,’ where sinister forces begin targeting them. Amidst these perils, a combination of Gyro’s advice and circumstance leads Johnny Joestar to awaken his ‘Stand.’ Because this section of the manga received critical acclaim for blending the franchise’s signature Stand battles with high-stakes racing, fan expectations are high for how these events unfold in animated form.
Meanwhile, ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ is a legendary manga series authored by Hirohiko Araki since 1986. It follows successive generations of the ‘JoJo’ family who fight on the side of justice across different eras, each with distinct personalities and circumstances. Widely regarded as a pioneering force in the superpower battle genre, the franchise continues to draw praise for its striking art style and iconic dialogue. Currently, Part 9, ‘The JOJOLands,’ is serialized in Ultra Jump, and the franchise has been adapted into numerous video games alongside its anime adaptations. In 2022, Bandai Namco released the fighting game ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R,’ featuring characters spanning through Part 8.
‘Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ 2nd STAGE & 3rd STAGE will stream every Friday for 11 weeks starting today (September 25). Information on subsequent stages will be announced later through Netflix’s official YouTube channels.
