Quite honestly, I couldn't finish this one! The plot just didn't really trip me the way other Araki work has done. As always, the art is glorious and unmistakably genius, but perhaps the story was just not for me. Sad to say, but I would definitely not say it wasn't good.

Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe, Vol. 1 by Hirohiko Araki was a very interesting read. Although it's a standalone, and can be read without knowing much about Araki's other work, readers would definitely benefit by reading some of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. The story was a bit chaotic for me, but I can definitely see its appeal.

This wasn't quite what I was expecting in all honesty, I can't say I was a massive fan of the art style, but I eagerly dove in to end up struggling to make it through this volume. I wasn't a fan of the narrative style or the way it was all laid out, as it were. Perhaps it's because I'm not that into JoJo and if I had been a bigger fan of it maybe I'd have loved this more but I just couldn't finish it.

I've only read a few volumes of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, so maybe I'm just not into this character because I don't have a built-up love for him. I tried reading this on several occasions and only made it about halfway through every time. It's outlandish, over the top as Jojo's is, but without that prerequisite knowledge, Rohan is just kind of eccentric and does a lot of things for no reason.

Okay. So. I know of Jojo's Bizarre Adventures. I have not read the manga nor seen the anime because there's just so much of it that it's intimidating to start reading or collecting it.

Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe is incredibly accessible in comparison. And as someone who doesn't know anything about Jojo except "But it was me! DIO!" I can say with confidence that this spinoff is successfully self-reliant. You can read this first and not need to know anything about the Stands. I mean, it would probably be helpful to know what Stands are and why people have them, but you don't need it for this manga.

This volume at least is a collection of short stories from Rohan's life as a mangaka. He does a lot of Jojo-typical outlandish things for research, like buying six whole mountains and going dead broke from it just to preserve the spirit of a yokai rumored to live there. So he could research it for a story.

I like Rohan! And this spinoff series could generate a lot of new interest in the original series!

Starts out as a biography like read. Then turns into a bunch of tales that do not make sense, these tales are retold from what he remember from other people telling him. it is hearsay and very confusing

While familiarity with Araki's <i>Jojo's Bizarre Adventure</i> is helpful here, the stories do speak for themselves. Each of the four is a vaguely folkloric mystery, with at least two playing directly into themes familiar from fairy tales, such as the person who never quite learns his lesson and the old saw about being careful what you wish for. Araki's art is as outrageous as always, but the pulpy nature of both text and image really work, giving this the feel of old 1970s post-Code American horror comics in their plots and execution. It's a good time all around, and very much recommended, whether you're a <i>Jojo's</i> fan or not.

When I requested this manga I was not expecting it to be the exact same stories as the Netflix show, but that's fine.

I think Rohan is such an interesting character, especially with him being a moraly grey character verging on the bad side.

The stories were interesting and fun and mysterious. I liked how weird they were while still always making sense. Some of the side characters were a bit simple but that's fine, not everyone can be a star.

As always, the author's drawings are just fantastic. I am truly impressed every time.

Tales from the Mangaka
Aka a review of Thus Spoke Rohan Kibishi

Art Araki Hirohiko
Rohan Kishibi is an uncommon figure for a standard hero all on his own. He’s openly egotistical, abrasive and will for absolutely sure say what he actually thinks. He is genuinely who he is and even if he can be a superior prick at times he does have a good and heroic heart after a fashion. He does care about those around him, human or spirit, and he will put his life on the line for them, sometimes. He loves a good Macabre mystery and as these stories highlight he will put himself in tight spots to investigate and preserve the weird around him.
It’s easy to assume that Rohan is a stand in for Hirohiko Araki himself in his manga but he’s denied that in interviews. Rohan though is a great narrator for the kinds of shock horror stories that Araki has written for this collection. As a magaka (manga creator) for horror stories apparently syndicated in Jojo’s worlds version of Shonen Jump it’s easy to see him as the host for his own “Tales from the Crypt” kind of anthology or a manga version of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Certainly the opening story where Araki has Rohan break the fourth wall and speak directly to us, his devoted readers, really fits the bill.
“The Confession” uses that clever contrivance to introduce us to our narrator. Rohan talks about a story he “accidentally” heard while traveling in Venice while doing story research, something we know that Araki did himself for a story arcs of Jojo. It’s a solid opening story that fits well into the body horror heavy world of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure without being connected to Dio or Stands or anything like that. It stands well to introduce us to the type of book this is and actually makes a good entry point for new readers. All of these stories are good old fashioned yarns with a distinct twist horror story told by someone with real charisma. They are interesting views into Rohan outside of what we saw in “Diamond is Unbreakable” and his life as a mangaka. Stories two and three introduces his editors for a couple of manga one shot stories. The second tale particularly establishes his respect for ghost stories as he bankrupted himself to “research” and protect a yokai and its story from the encroachment of the modern world. The third story involves a manga editor and her interest in a secluded wealthy village and the secrets of its residents success. . The last story, “The Poaching Tale” brings back one of the stranger characters of the fourth Jojo arc, the Italian chef Tonio Trendy and a quest for some rare expensive seafood.

Art Hirohiko Araki
If you have never read Jojo this might be a great exposure to Araki’s work. He goes to no lengths to explain the Stand ability Heavens Gate that Rohan possess but it’s pretty clear how this strange power works from the art itself. Rohan through Araki is an excellent horror host and hero both.
These stories are a rare chance to see the progression of one artist across a decade and a half of storytelling. They span the time from 1997 with “The Confessional” until 2013 with the “Poaching Seashore,” Taking us from from the middle of the Golden Wind, or fifth story arc, until just after the beginning of Jojolion, the ninth and most recent arc. His personal style really came to be during the fourth story arcs. His bodies had became less muscularly exaggerated, and more dramatic, if that’s possible then they had been in its initial three arcs. Over the years there is a softness that has entered his style that is really appealing. His backgrounds are always beautifully realistic but he let the characters stand out more as time goes on. Araki, who has been invited to do art for multiple fashion magazines, he has always had a flare for creative is impractical fashion and it’s always fun to see what strange new thing he’s created.
His artistic flare for design and command of both facial and bodily expression And of his style but you can see how he had changed his approach to live weight, shading and screen tones over time. I’m sure some may like or dislike aspects of his artwork but it’s interesting to see it all in I’ve volume and how there is a continuous flow to it even across this much time.
To each of the stories Araki adds notes on the story itself. The confessional story written in 1997 initially saw print without the Rohan narration but as he says in the afterward the story is so much better with Rohan in it. Had the editors at Shonen Jump not asked for a one show that was not a spin off he may never had started doing these Kibishi one shot stories, the manga world would be a duller place without them. His notes add to the stories and are mainly just there for fun but they also show a bit of how charismatic Araki himself might be. It’s probably pretty clear but I loved this book and will likely purchase a copy eventhought I have the original collection in Japanese. I got the e-Arc from Netgally for this review

This was a fun one! It was neat to see Araki play around in his Jojo's Bizarre Adventure world in a different way that has little to do with stands or DIO. These stories are stand alone affairs, with only the last one connecting to anything from the Jojo arcs. Araki has a knack for weird horror, with his over the top antics and designs. All of that is showcased here in a fun, pulpy way, This is a It's newcomer friendly volume to try if you've ever been curious about his work, Jojo or not.

This was a very fun read. Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe, Vol 1. follows the standalone series for Rohan Kishibe, who's a beloved character of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Rohan, who freed himself from Josuke Higashikata, is going to embark on a series of bizarre adventures now that the supernatural has come for him.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the opportunity to read this!