Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Episode 1 Review: I Loved It!

Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Episode 1 Review: The 1st episode of Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is here, and I am more than happy with this episode. Let us see how this episode turned out.

Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Overview

Steel Ball Run is the seventh arc of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki, and it takes the story in a bold new direction. Set in 1890s America, the story revolves around a massive cross-country horse race called the Steel Ball Run, with a staggering $50 million prize. At its center are two unlikely allies. One is Johnny Joestar, a former jockey who lost the use of his legs, and another is Gyro.

It starts as a high-stakes competition, and quickly evolves into something far more dangerous. As Johnny and Gyro uncover hidden truths about the race’s organizer, they find themselves caught in a larger conspiracy. It turns the journey into a life-or-death battle.

Steel Ball Run didn’t initially present itself as part of JoJo. It began serialization in 2004 in Weekly Shonen Jump as a standalone work before transitioning to Ultra Jump in 2005. Here, it was officially integrated as Part 7 of the series. This shift also introduced a new continuity, separate from earlier arcs, which continues into later parts like JoJolion and The JoJoLands.

The arc is widely celebrated for its mature storytelling, intricate character development, and Araki’s evolving art style. It has also reached a broader audience with its anime adaptation, called Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, which premiered in 2026.

Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Episode 1 Review

This episode begins with a brief history of the world that we will see this time. The story is set in the US, and we are told the timeline is around the 1890s. Here, we see that there is going to be a massive race that will start from one section of the country to another. We get to meet the important characters like Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, and Diego Brando. Then we also learn the important rules of this race, where almost everything goes.

One can use a horse, but they can also use a locomotive, a camel, and even their legs. On top of that, one can also attack the other, which becomes the base for much of the action in this anime. Here, Gyro uses some mysterious balls to stay ahead in the race, but we have no idea where they came from and what exactly they do. We just know that they spin very fast and draw out immense power from anything they hit. Johnny becomes very interested in these balls because they might be the only thing that can help him stand on his own 2 legs.

The race also brought forth madness. We see much high-octane action, where everyone tries to best the other. And I loved how every character got some moments to be introduced through their backgrounds. Those who did not get an intro here will definitely get one later. The animation is also pretty good, and I like it even though the CGI was very apparent. It did not feel as disturbing as it usually does with other shows.

Verdict

I loved the first episode of Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and I cannot wait for the next one. All the awesome incidents and bizarre characters, along with the gore, are bound to make this series one of the best ever. I have only heard positive things from the Manga readers, and I am expecting the best Jojo season ever.

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