So you want to start the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga from the very beginning? Good call. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a long-running Japanese horror and action manga series that follows a family — the Joestars — across multiple generations, each facing supernatural threats. The series is divided into numbered parts, each with its own subtitle and protagonist. Phantom Blood is Part 1, where it all starts: the Joestar family, the supernatural horror, and one of manga’s most iconic villains. The reading order is straightforward, and getting it right means you’ll have the foundation for everything that comes after.
The Quick Answer: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 1 Phantom Blood Reading Order — 3 VIZ Hardcover Volumes
Here’s the short version: pick up the VIZ Media hardcover edition, Volumes 1 through 3, and read them in order. That’s it. That’s the complete Part 1 Phantom Blood manga reading order.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 1–Phantom Blood is a completed story created by Hirohiko Araki (story and art). Araki is the sole creator of the entire JoJo franchise — he writes and draws every page. VIZ Media publishes the official English edition in three hardcover volumes. They’re also available digitally. The series carries a Teen Plus rating from VIZ, so expect some intense content — this is horror-flavored manga through and through.
Part 1 tells a self-contained story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. You don’t need anything else to enjoy it, but it also sets up everything that follows in the larger JoJo saga.
Complete Phantom Blood Volume List
All three VIZ hardcover volumes are listed below. Since per-volume chapter breakdowns aren’t available from verified sources, here’s what to expect from each volume at the story level:
VIZ Hardcover Vol. 1 — This is where you meet Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando, two young men whose fates become violently intertwined. The Stone Mask — an ancient artifact with terrifying supernatural powers — appears early, and the horror atmosphere is established from the very first pages. The story is set in Victorian England (late 1800s Britain), mixing aristocratic family drama with something ancient and monstrous lurking beneath the surface. If you’re familiar with classic horror settings like Dracula or Frankenstein, you’ll recognize the mood Araki is building.
VIZ Hardcover Vol. 2 — The conflict between Jonathan and Dio escalates dramatically. Vampire horror takes center stage, and Jonathan begins learning Hamon — a supernatural fighting technique powered by controlled breathing that channels energy through the body, used specifically to combat the undead. The battles become more intense and more bizarre — in the best way. Disturbing physical transformations and supernatural action blend together as the stakes keep climbing.
VIZ Hardcover Vol. 3 — The climax and conclusion of Phantom Blood. Everything the first two volumes built toward pays off here, and the ending has a weight to it that resonates through the rest of the franchise.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 1–Phantom Blood, Vol. 3 (final volume)
One important note: the Japanese original was published across 5 Jump Comics volumes (Jump Comics is a manga imprint in Japan). The English hardcover condenses this into 3 volumes. These are not one-to-one equivalents — the page distribution is different between editions. If you ever see someone referencing “Volume 4” or “Volume 5” of Phantom Blood, they’re talking about the Japanese edition, not the English one.
Three Ways to Read Phantom Blood
Whether you’re ready to commit or just testing the waters, here’s how each approach works. All three paths use the same 3-volume set — the difference is just how you pace yourself.
The Completionist Path
Read all 3 VIZ hardcover volumes cover to cover, taking your time with the artwork. Araki’s horror imagery is dense and rewarding — the vampire mythology, the disturbing physical transformations, the ornate character designs. These visual elements set the tone for the entire JoJo franchise, and Part 1 is where Araki first establishes his signature approach of blending beauty with grotesque horror.
If you want a full-color reading experience, a Japanese-language digital color edition exists (digital only, not available in English). It’s worth knowing about for collectors who want every version, though it’s a separate product from the standard English release and requires Japanese reading ability.
The Story-Only Path
Here’s the thing about Phantom Blood: there’s nothing to skip. All 3 volumes are essential. Part 1 is already one of the shortest parts in the JoJo series — it’s compact by design. Every volume moves the story forward, introduces critical characters, or establishes the fictional history and rules (the mythology of masks, vampires, and the Joestar family legacy) that the franchise builds on for decades. If you’re someone who likes to read only what matters, Phantom Blood is already lean. Just read all three.
The Sampler Path
Not sure if JoJo is for you? Start with Vol. 1 and see how you feel about the dark Victorian horror setting and Araki’s art style. The first volume gives you a strong taste of everything Part 1 has to offer — dramatic character dynamics, horror imagery, and Araki’s distinctive visual storytelling. Manga, for those newer to the format, is read right-to-left — the VIZ volumes include a note on this, so don’t worry about getting lost.
If Vol. 1 hooks you, the remaining 2 volumes are a fast read. Many people finish all of Phantom Blood in a single weekend. It’s a surprisingly quick commitment for the entry point of such a massive franchise.
Where to Buy Phantom Blood in English
VIZ Media publishes the official English edition of Phantom Blood. Here’s what’s available:
- Format: Hardcover and digital
- Volumes: 3 (the complete Part 1 story)
- Status: All 3 volumes are in print — no hunting for out-of-print copies needed
- Rating: Teen Plus
The hardcover editions are beautiful physical books. Manga hardcovers are relatively uncommon, so these stand out on a shelf. They’re available at major book retailers and digital manga platforms. As a rough sense of cost, manga hardcovers typically carry a higher list price than standard paperback manga volumes — checking current retail listings will give you the exact number, but budget for a premium format price across the 3-volume set.
For digital readers, VIZ and other major digital manga retailers carry the digital editions. Digital is a solid option if you want to start reading immediately or prefer reading on a tablet.
How Phantom Blood Connects to the Rest of JoJo
Phantom Blood isn’t just Part 1 in name — it’s the foundation the entire JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise is built on. The villain introduced here, the supernatural elements, and the Joestar family theme all carry forward through every subsequent part.
A few things worth knowing about how the Part 1 reading order fits into the bigger picture:
- The Japanese Vol. 5 of the original edition actually contains both the Part 1 conclusion and the transition into Part 2: Battle Tendency (the next chapter in the Joestar family story, set in a different era with a new protagonist). The English hardcover handles the Part 1 content across its own 3-volume structure.
- The anime adaptation (anime being the Japanese animated TV version) covers Part 1 and Part 2: Battle Tendency together in one shared first season. So if you’ve watched the anime and are now coming to the manga, know that what the anime covered in its first season spans two distinct manga parts.
- After finishing Part 1’s manga, proceed directly to Part 2: Battle Tendency. The story picks up naturally from where Phantom Blood ends.
- Each JoJo part introduces a new protagonist from the Joestar family, but the horror and supernatural mythology established in Phantom Blood echoes through all of them. Characters, artifacts, and plot threads from Part 1 resurface in surprising ways throughout the franchise. Reading Phantom Blood first means those references back to earlier events will land the way Araki intended.
Common Reading Order Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t skip Part 1 to start at a later JoJo part. This is probably the most common mistake new readers make. Later parts like Stardust Crusaders (Part 3) or Diamond Is Unbreakable (Part 4) — each following a different Joestar descendant in a different setting — are hugely popular, and it’s tempting to jump straight to them. But Phantom Blood establishes the core villain and the supernatural mythology that the entire franchise builds on. Skipping it means missing context that makes later parts hit harder.
Don’t confuse Japanese and English volume numbering. The Japanese edition has 5 volumes. The English hardcover has 3. These are different editions with different page distributions. If you’re looking at reading guides or discussions online, pay attention to which edition people are referencing. Buying “JoJo Part 1 Vol. 4” in English doesn’t exist — that’s the Japanese numbering.
Don’t expect Part 1’s horror tone to match later parts exactly. Phantom Blood is steeped in vampire horror with a dark, old-world atmosphere — think Victorian settings, ancient curses, and monstrous transformations. Later JoJo parts evolve into different horror flavors and genre blends. If you love the horror here, great. If it’s not quite your thing but you’re intrigued by the storytelling, keep going — the franchise shifts dramatically in tone and style with each new part.
Don’t assume the anime replaces the manga. The anime adaptation is well-regarded, but Araki’s detailed horror artwork and the pacing of the manga — each page laid out in individual drawn panels that you read sequentially — are a distinct experience. Reading the manga after watching the anime (or vice versa) isn’t redundant — they complement each other. Araki’s art on the page has a texture and intensity that animation captures differently.
Start Reading Phantom Blood
Phantom Blood is a quick, punchy read that rewards you with the full foundation of one of manga’s longest-running and most creative franchises. Three volumes, one unforgettable rivalry, and a whole lot of bizarre horror. Grab Vol. 1 and see where the Joestar family story takes you.