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Fans ofJojo’s Bizarre Adventuremay have missed one of the most intriguing stories, which manages to tie disparate parts ofJojolore together into a satisfying tale that bridges the gap betweenStardust Crusaders(part 3) andDiamond is Unbreakable(part 4). The spinoff series, written by Kohei Kadono (who also wrote the Part 5 spinoff novelPurple Haze Feedback) and illustrated by Tasuku Karasuma, is entitledCrazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak, and it’s a near-perfect addition to theJojoseries.
The spinoff stars fan-favorite villain of part 3, Hol Horse, alongside part 4’s Josuke Higashikata, and is set just before the beginning of Part 4. The story revolves around Hol Horse being sent on a mission to retrieve Dio’s Stand-wielding Parrot, which had gone missing in Egypt under mysterious circumstances, and winds up in Morioh. Also featured isNoriaki Kakyoin’s cousin, Ryoko, who is on her own investigation to find out how her cousin died in Egypt in 1989.
Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak Is A Spinoff More Than Worthy Of Being Official Canon
Jojo’s Best Spinoff is Short and Sweet
Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakis fairly short, at just 16 chapters, making it quite an easy read now that it’s completed. It ran inUltra Jumpduring the period between the end of Part 8,Jojolion, and the beginning of Part 9,The JojoLands, as a means of tidingJojofans over while series creator Hirohiko Araki prepared to begin the next major installment. One can almost tell the intent just by reading it, as it features many fan-favorite characters and elements in its brief story, bringing them together in new and interesting ways.
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Despite its fan service,Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreaktells a compelling story using these elements, one which digs deep into the psyche of characters like Hol Horse and makes use of Stand powers in interesting new ways. It’s highly respectful towardsJojocanon, careful not to step on the toes of established lore, even when that lore is sometimes self-contradictory.Casting Hol Horse as a hero, for example, was something Araki had intended to do back in part 3, but eventually decided against;Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakfinally cashes in on that idea in a novel way by making him the primary viewpoint character.
While its status as a spinoff makes it of dubious canonicity, there’s no real reason thatCrazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakcouldn’t be canon. The story is of a quality that puts it on par with otherJojoinstallments, and as stated above, it’s careful not to contradict anything that comes afterward chronologically. It also represented the first revisit to the originalJojo’s Bizarre Adventureuniverse seen in parts 1-6 in years, something certain fans have yearned for nearly that entire time period.
Crazy Diamond’s Demonic HeartbreakReveals the Fates of Many Characters
One of the most interesting elements ofCrazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakis how it uses formerly villainous characters, examining what life is like for them after the fall of Dio. Many of them weren’t working for him willingly, or were being intimidated or controlled in some way, including Hol Horse himself. The story reveals what happened to several villains from Part 3 whose fates were ambiguous, including Mariah, Kenny G, Boingo, and Daniel D’Arby.Dio’s shadow looms large over his former minions, even long after his death, and they struggle to live on.
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Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakeven manages to turn continuity errors from the originalStardust Crusadersinto plot points; for example, in one chapter,Dio is shown with a pet parrot, what was clearly an early version of what would later be his falcon, Pet Shop. However,Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakestablishes that this parrot was indeed a separate bird, named Pet Sounds, and that it too possesses a Stand ability, as it was raised alongside Pet Shop. The story even digs up old elements like the Stone Mask, which hasn’t been so much as mentioned inJojocanon in years, giving them new relevance.
It’s also interesting to see Josuke prior to his role in Part 4. Josuke is introduced in Part 4 as already being somewhat competent with using his Stand, andCrazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakshows just how Josuke got so acquainted with Crazy Diamond’s power. It reveals how the truth of the death of Kakyoin was concealed from his family, and how the unanswered questions have driven his cousin to find out just what happened in Egypt all those years ago.
Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak Adds Depth To Some Of Part 3’s Best Characters
The Story Makes Excellent Use of Existing Characters in a Way That Enhances Part 3
The deep exploration of the psyche of Hol Horse, and how he was affected by Dio even long after his death, adds a lot of depth to his character, and makes it much easier to see how he would’ve functioned had he become a good guy in part 3. The parrot Pet Sounds' Stand has the ability to make people relive experiences it witnessed, and that includes a great number of Dio’s most evil moments, forcing not only Hol Horse, buteven Josuke to confront the specter of Dio.
Despite being dead, Dio’s influence is all overCrazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak, and it goes to show that just because a villain has been defeated doesn’t mean that all the evil he did was wiped from the world. Hol Horse has legitimate PTSD from the experience, and he’s far from the only former minion of Dio to suffer in such a way. Hol Horse’s ability to keep moving and work past this gives him appropriately heroic qualities, making him a fitting protagonist for this story.
Going back toStardust Crusadersafter readingCrazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakgives a new appreciation for characters like Hol Horse and Boingo, and only further cements just how evil Dio truly was. While the story is less impactful on Josuke, it still enhances his character a bit going intoDiamond is Unbreakableas well. All in all, with its deep focus on characters and dives into the forgotten lore of the series,Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakis everything aJojo’s Bizarre Adventurefan could ask for out of a spinoff, and should be considered essential reading for any diehard fan of the series.
Crazy Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreakis set to receive an official English release, published by Viz, beginning with volume 1 on June 07, 2025.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Hirohiko Araki. It follows the adventures of the Joestar family, spanning generations, each with unique abilities and battling supernatural enemies. Known for its eccentric characters, distinctive art style, and creative battles, it includes manga, anime, games, and merchandise.
