If you’re looking for the Diamond is Unbreakable manga reading order, here’s the quick version: read the VIZ Media hardcover edition, Volumes 1 through 9, in sequence. That’s the complete Part 4 story. All nine books are in print, and the series is finished — no waiting around.
Now, if you want to know whether you need earlier JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure parts first, what each volume covers, and where to actually buy the books, keep reading. Part 4 is where the franchise — a long-running manga series divided into numbered, semi-independent stories each following a different main character — takes a hard turn into horror. Forget globe-trotting adventures. Diamond is Unbreakable drops you into the quiet Japanese town of Morioh, where something is very, very wrong. A serial killer with a supernatural ability is hiding among the residents, and a high schooler named Josuke Higashikata is the only one who can stop him.
Diamond Is Unbreakable Manga Reading Order: The Short Answer
Read the VIZ Media hardcover edition, Volumes 1 through 9, in order. That covers the entire Part 4 story from start to finish.
Part 4 is a self-contained supernatural horror-mystery. While it exists within the larger JoJo series, its plot is built around one town, one cast, and one escalating mystery. Sequential reading rewards you the most because author Hirohiko Araki layers clues and character relationships across the full run.
Do you need to read earlier parts first? Reading Part 3: Stardust Crusaders beforehand is recommended. Part 3 is where Araki introduces Stands — supernatural powers that manifest as spirit-like figures fighting on behalf of their users. One of Part 3’s main characters, Jotaro Kujo, plays a significant supporting role in Part 4, and the Stand system carries over as the foundation for every battle. That said, Part 4’s story stands on its own well enough that jumping in here won’t leave you lost — you’ll just miss some character context. Part 3’s English VIZ hardcover edition runs 10 volumes, so it’s a meaningful commitment if you choose to start there.
The good news: all 9 VIZ hardcover volumes of Part 4 are currently in print and available in both physical hardcover and digital formats. There’s no out-of-print gap to worry about.
Complete Diamond is Unbreakable Volume List
The English edition published by VIZ Media — the North American company that licenses, translates, and publishes the official English version of JoJo — collects the complete Part 4 story across 9 hardcover volumes. Here’s the full list with approximate story coverage:
| EN Volume | Title | What’s Inside |
|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 1 | Josuke’s introduction, Jotaro arrives in Morioh, early Stand encounters |
| Vol. 2 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 2 | New Stand users emerge around town, Morioh’s cast expands |
| Vol. 3 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 3 | More Stand battles, deeper exploration of Morioh’s community |
| Vol. 4 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 4 | Tensions escalate, darker threats surface |
| Vol. 5 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 5 | The serial-killer mystery begins to take shape |
| Vol. 6 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 6 | Horror-thriller tone intensifies, the villain’s presence grows |
| Vol. 7 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 7 | Full serial-killer thriller territory, rising tension |
| Vol. 8 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 8 | The hunt narrows, Araki at his most unsettling |
| Vol. 9 | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 9 | Climactic confrontation and resolution |
A note on numbering — this trips up new readers constantly. The Japanese edition of Part 4 spans 19 volumes (corresponding to the overall JoJo series volumes 29–47 in the original Japanese publisher’s numbering). The English hardcovers use their own numbering starting at Volume 1, and each English book collects roughly two Japanese volumes’ worth of content. If you see someone online reference “Volume 35” of JoJo, they’re using the original Japanese system — don’t go hunting for an English Volume 35 of Part 4. It doesn’t exist. When buying in English, your numbers are 1 through 9, period.
What the Volumes Cover (Story Flow)
Without spoiling specifics, here’s how the story progresses:
- Volumes 1–3 introduce Josuke Higashikata, his Stand ability called Crazy Diamond (a Stand is a supernatural power that takes a visible spirit-like form and fights for its user), and the town of Morioh. Jotaro Kujo arrives to investigate something connected to the Joestar family — a bloodline that runs through each part of JoJo, with each story following a different descendant. A parade of Stand users starts causing trouble around town. These volumes have a “new opponent each chapter” structure that builds out the cast and establishes Morioh as a living, breathing place.
- Volumes 4–6 escalate the mystery. Strange disappearances in Morioh start pointing toward something darker than random Stand encounters. Araki introduces one of manga’s most memorable villains during this stretch, and the tone shifts from quirky supernatural action — meaning battles that are strange and inventive rather than grim — toward genuine horror-thriller territory, where dread and suspense replace spectacle.
- Volumes 7–8 are full-on serial-killer thriller. The identity and abilities of the antagonist are known to the reader, creating unbearable tension as the heroes race to find him. The horror atmosphere in these volumes is Araki at his most unsettling — this is the stretch that earns Part 4 its reputation as the most horror-forward part of classic JoJo.
- Volume 9 delivers the climactic confrontation. It’s a payoff that works precisely because Araki spent so many volumes building up Morioh and making you care about its residents.
Three Ways to Read Part 4 Based on Your Goal
Not everyone approaches JoJo the same way. Here are three reading paths depending on what you’re after.
The Completionist — Full JoJo Franchise Order
If you want maximum payoff, read the earlier parts first:
- Part 1: Phantom Blood — the 1800s-set origin of the Joestar family and their supernatural conflict
- Part 2: Battle Tendency — follows the next Joestar heir; still pre-Stand combat
- Part 3: Stardust Crusaders — introduces the Stand power system and Jotaro Kujo, who carries over into Part 4
- Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable — Volumes 1 through 9
- Continue to Part 5: Golden Wind and beyond
This path gives you the full weight of every reference and character return in Part 4. When Jotaro shows up in Morioh, you’ll know exactly who he is and what he’s been through. Certain plot points hit harder with that context.
The Story-Only Reader — Jump Straight Into Part 4
Part 4 has a mostly self-contained plot. Everything you truly need to know going in fits in two sentences: supernatural abilities called Stands exist in this world — they’re spirit-like powers that manifest as visible figures and fight on behalf of their users. Jotaro Kujo is a powerful Stand user from the previous generation of the Joestar family. That’s it.
From there, read Volumes 1 through 9 in order. Don’t skip around — the serial-killer mystery builds cumulatively. Characters introduced in what seem like standalone early chapters become critical to the horror plot later. Araki rewards patience here.
This is a perfectly valid way to experience Part 4, especially if the horror-mystery premise appeals to you more than the action-adventure tone of earlier parts.
The Sampler — Testing Whether Part 4 Is for You
Not sure if JoJo is your thing? Start with Volume 1.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 4-Diamond Is Unbreakable, Vol. 1
Volume 1 introduces Josuke, establishes the supernatural small-town setting of Morioh, and showcases Araki’s distinctive art and humor. You’ll know quickly whether the combination of bizarre Stand powers, horror undertones, and oddball comedy works for you.
If it clicks, keep going sequentially. The horror identity of Part 4 sharpens considerably once the villain’s storyline — sometimes called the Kira storyline by fans, referring to a major story segment focused on a single antagonist — begins in the middle stretch. That’s where the serial-killer thriller structure kicks into gear and doesn’t let up. But the early volumes are essential setup. Morioh needs to feel like a real, lived-in place for the horror to land.
Budget note: Each VIZ hardcover carries a list price in the mid-to-upper teens range. The full 9-volume set represents a real investment, so starting with Volume 1 to test the waters is a practical move before committing to the complete run.
How Part 4 Connects to the Rest of JoJo
Part 4 sits in a fascinating position within the JoJo series. Here’s how it links to the broader story:
Before Part 4: Part 3: Stardust Crusaders ends with Jotaro Kujo’s victory over a powerful vampire named DIO — the long-running supernatural enemy of the Joestar family. Several years later in the story’s timeline, Jotaro travels to Morioh to find Josuke — and discovers the town has a Stand-user problem that goes deeper than anyone expected.
After Part 4: Part 5: Golden Wind follows next in the series. It shares the Stand power system but shifts to an entirely different setting and cast. You don’t need to finish Part 5 before appreciating Part 4, and vice versa — each part tells its own complete story.
Part 4’s horror identity: Among the JoJo parts, Diamond is Unbreakable is the most horror-forward. The earlier parts lean toward adventure and battle manga; Part 4’s serial-killer thriller structure and supernatural mystery tone set it apart. If you’re coming to JoJo specifically because you love horror manga, Part 4 is where the series most directly speaks to that interest.
Spin-off connection: Rohan Kishibe, a manga artist and Stand user introduced in Part 4, later became the star of his own separate series, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe — a collection of standalone supernatural stories featuring the character. If you fall in love with Rohan after finishing Diamond is Unbreakable (and many readers do — he’s wonderfully arrogant), that series is worth seeking out from VIZ Media as well.
Where to Buy Diamond is Unbreakable in English
Publisher: VIZ Media — the official English-language publisher for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure in North America.
Formats available:
- Hardcover — The physical VIZ hardcover editions are chunky, attractive books with quality paper stock. Each volume collects a substantial chunk of the story.
- Digital — Available through digital manga platforms for immediate reading.
Content rating: VIZ rates this series Teen Plus, which is their content rating (similar to a movie rating) indicating material suited for older teens and adults. In practice for Part 4, that means intense supernatural violence, disturbing serial-killer imagery, some mature themes, and Araki’s characteristically unsettling horror visuals. If you’re considering this for a younger reader, the later volumes in particular contain scenes that are genuinely creepy and occasionally gruesome — this is a horror story, and Araki doesn’t pull punches.
Where to find them: The VIZ hardcovers are available through major book retailers and digital manga storefronts. All 9 volumes are in print, so you shouldn’t have trouble tracking down any individual book.
Common Reading Order Mistakes to Avoid
A few pitfalls trip up new readers regularly. Here’s what to watch out for:
Skipping early volumes to “get to the good part.” The temptation is understandable — people talk about the Kira storyline so much that you might want to jump straight there. Don’t. The new-opponent-each-chapter structure in the early volumes isn’t throwaway material. It builds up Morioh’s cast and community so that when the serial killer starts threatening everything, the stakes feel personal. Araki deliberately constructs a town full of people you like before putting them in danger. Skipping ahead undercuts the horror.
Skipping Parts 2 and 3 entirely. While Part 4 works as a mostly standalone story, reading it after only Part 1 (or no earlier parts at all) means you’ll miss context about Stands and Jotaro. Part 1 doesn’t introduce the Stand system — that happens in Part 3. If you’re going to read any earlier part before starting Diamond is Unbreakable, make it Part 3: Stardust Crusaders.
Assuming the anime fully replaces the manga. Part 4 received a TV anime adaptation — an animated screen version produced from the source manga — and it’s a solid one. But Araki’s manga art delivers a horror atmosphere that the anime, with its different visual style and pacing, handles differently. The manga’s page layouts, detailed linework, and pacing — especially in the tenser sequences — create a reading experience distinct from the animated version. If you’ve watched the anime and think you’ve “already experienced” Part 4, the manga still has something to offer. They complement each other rather than one replacing the other.
Buying the wrong edition. Make sure you’re purchasing the VIZ Media hardcover edition (or the VIZ digital version) with “Part 4” clearly labeled. JoJo has multiple parts, multiple editions, and multiple publishers across its history. Look for “Part 4—Diamond is Unbreakable” on the cover and VIZ Media as the publisher. The covers feature Araki’s distinctive color art and are hard to mistake once you know what to look for.
Confusing Japanese and English volume numbers. The Japanese numbering for Part 4 runs from approximately Volume 29 to Volume 47 in the overall JoJo series count. The English VIZ hardcovers number Volumes 1 through 9. These are completely separate numbering systems. If you search online and see references to “JoJo Volume 33,” that’s the Japanese system — don’t go hunting for an English Volume 33 of Part 4. When buying in English, your numbers are 1 through 9.
That covers everything for getting into Diamond is Unbreakable. Nine volumes, one unforgettable town, and one of manga’s greatest villains waiting for you. If you’re ready to start, grab Volume 1 and see what Morioh is all about.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 4-Diamond Is Unbreakable, Vol. 1