Fans of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure might have missed out on one of the most compelling stories, this one that ties the various parts of Jojo lore together into a satisfying tale, bridging the gap between Stardust Crusaders (part 3) and Diamond is Unbreakable (part 4). The spin-off series, written by Kohei Kadono (who also wrote Part 5's Purple Haze Feedback side story) and illustrated by Tasuku Karasuma, is titled Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak, and it's a near-perfect addition to the Jojo series.
The spin-off features fan-favorite villain Hol Horse from season 3, along with Josuke Higashikata from season 4, and takes place just before the start of season 4. The story revolves around Hol Horse being tasked with retrieving Dio's Stand-wielding Parrot, which went missing in Egypt under mysterious circumstances, and ends up in Morioh. It also features Ryoko, Noriaki Kakyoin's cousin, who is investigating on her own to find out why her cousin died in Egypt in 1989.
Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak is a side-story worthy of canon status
Jojo's Best Spinoff Short and Sweet
Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak is quite short, at only 16 chapters, making it a fairly easy read once finished. It was released on Ultra Jump in the time between part 8, Jojolion, and part 9, The JojoLands, as a means to tide Jojo fans over while series creator Hirohiko Araki prepared to start the next installment. One can almost tell the intention just by reading it, as it takes many of the fan-favorite characters and elements from its short story, bringing them together in new and interesting ways.
Despite its fan service, Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak still tells a compelling story using these elements, one that delves into the psychology of characters like Hol Horse and uses Stand powers in interesting new ways.. It's very respectful of the Jojo canon, being careful not to step on established lore, even if that lore sometimes contradicts itself. For example, making Hol Horse the hero was something Araki intended to do in Part 3, but ultimately decided against; Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak eventually takes advantage of that idea in a novel way by making him the main viewpoint character.
While its status as a spin-off makes it questionable in terms of canon, there's no real reason why Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak couldn't be canon. The story is on par with the other Jojo's installments, and as stated above, it's careful not to contradict anything that comes after it chronologically. It also represents the first return to the original Jojo's Bizarre Adventure universe seen in parts 1-6 in years, something some fans have been craving for almost that entire time period.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3 Spinoff Answers Questions Fans Have Wondered For Decades
Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak Reveals the Fates of Multiple Characters
One of the most interesting elements of Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak is how it uses the former villains, looking at what their lives were like after Dio's downfall. Many of them weren't working for him willingly, or were being threatened or controlled in some way, including Hol Horse himself. The story reveals what happened to a number of villains from Season 3 whose fates are unclear, including Mariah, Kenny G, Boingo, and Daniel D'Arby. Dio's shadow still looms over his former subordinates, even long after his death, and they struggle to live on.
Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak even manages to turn continuity errors from the original Stardust Crusaders into plot points; for example, in one chapter, Dio is shown with a pet parrot, which is clearly an early version of his later falcon, Pet Shop. However, Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak establishes that this parrot is actually a separate bird, named Pet Sounds, and that it also possesses Stand abilities, as it was raised with Pet Shop. The story even delves into old elements like Stone Mask, which hasn't been mentioned much in the main Jojo series for years, giving them new relevance.
It's also interesting to see Josuke before his role in Part 4. Josuke was introduced in Part 4 as already being able to use his Stand, and Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak shows how Josuke has become accustomed to Crazy Diamond's power. It reveals how the truth about Kakyoin's death was kept from his family, and the unanswered questions that drove his cousin to find out what happened in Egypt all those years ago.
Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak Adds Depth to Some of Season 3's Best Characters
The story makes great use of existing characters in a way that adds value to Season 3
The in-depth exploration of Hol Horse's psyche and how he was affected by Dio even long after Dio's death added depth to his character, and made it easy to imagine how he would operate if he became a good person in season 3. The parrot Pet Sounds' Stand has the ability to make people relive the experiences it witnessed, including many of Dio's most evil moments, forcing not only Hol Horse but even Josuke to face Dio's ghost.
Despite his death, Dio's influence lives on in Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak, and it shows that just because a villain is defeated doesn't mean all the evil he caused is erased from the world.. Hol Horse suffers from real PTSD from this experience, and he is not the only former Dio henchman to suffer in this way. Hol Horse's ability to move on and overcome this gives him the right heroic qualities, making him a suitable protagonist for this story.
Returning to Stardust Crusaders after reading Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak brings a new appreciation for characters like Hol Horse and Boingo, and only solidifies Dio's true evilness. While the story has little impact on Josuke, it still enhances his character a bit going into Diamond is Unbreakable. Overall, with its deep focus on characters and deep dive into the series' forgotten lore, Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak is everything Jojo's Bizarre Adventure fans may require a side work, and should be considered essential reading for any loyal fan of the series.
Crazy Diamond's Devilish Heart is scheduled to have an official English release, published by Viz, starting with volume 1 on December 3, 2024.