Steel Ball Run (スティール・ボール・ラン Sutīru Bōru Ran) is the seventh part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2004 and in Ultra Jump between 2005 and 2011.
Set in the U.S. in 1890, the story follows Johnny Joestar, a paraplegic ex-jockey and Gyro Zeppeli, master in a mystic art named the Spin, as they compete with a vast number of others in the Steel Ball Run race: A mad-dash across America for a grand prize of 50 million dollars.
Transition
The Steel Ball Run Universe
Steel Ball Run describes a new continuity apart from that detailed in Parts I-VI of the series.
On top of core features to JoJo such as Stands, the story is marked by many references to the original series.
Transition to Ultra Jump
The story originally described as a "standalone alternative universe", after Chapter 23, Steel Ball Run transferred publication from Weekly Shonen Jump to seinen magazine Ultra Jump, upon which it was declared part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure canon.
In the monthly Ultra Jump, chapters are much longer. Perhaps coincidentally, between those chapters included in Volumes 7 – 8, Araki's style takes on greater realism.
Plot Summary
(Introduction)
Press Conference
The Steel Ball Run: Press Conference
For keeping English literature, Sandman is forced to flee his tribe. Momentarily outrunning pursuing horsemen; whilst escaping, another hand is seen separating from his right.
Away, in conversation with his sister, he indicates a multitude of perfectly hemispherical hand-sized depressions in a rock face; evidence of an impossible horseback leap; and the tool with which it is suggested that a white man made them.
He shows his sister a newspaper headline regarding the imminent Steel Ball Run race, with a grand prize of $50,000,000; as Stephen Steel holds a press conference, giving the race's basic rules.
Corroborating several substantial cash prizes; starting September 25th 1890, there, on the Pacific San Diego beach; the race's goal is New York, in a distance of ~6000km, and a projected duration of ~70 days. The rules include that changing horses is not allowed; and though crime is not, weapons may be kept.
Gyro Zeppeli is introduced as he registers his entry. A man reaches and touches a Steel Ball at Gyro's waist before he is somehow forced to the ground, and it is revealed that he had taken $20 from Gyro's entry fee.
Gyro Zeppeli
Pocoloco is introduced as he notices the news of the race.
While he is being arrested, the thief continues to harass Gyro. Gyro offers a duel; and after striking his shoulder with a Steel Ball, when the thief attempts still to shoot him, his arm twists, and he shoots himself dead.
A man in a wheelchair observes that, incredibly, the Steel Ball was spinning throughout the event; and as he reaches and touches the same, still spinning Ball in Gyro's holster, he is raised to his feet.
In narration, the man introduces himself as Johnny Joestar; continuing, "This story is the tale of my beginning to walk"; or his growing into maturity.
Johnny Joestar
Johnny reflects on his reason for coming to the race start line, and on his youth as a new horse-racing talent.
An episode is recounted when he takes a date to see a play, and he cuts to the front of the queue. The man there protests, and after Johnny bribes the doormen to remove him, he reapproaches to shoot Johnny in the back.
Johnny awakens in a dark hospital, and after crying out, an orderly beats him; revealing that his legs are paralyzed, and that no one has visited, as the end of his fame.
In the present; Johnny is amazed as he stands and then falls back into his wheelchair. Gyro leaves, and Johnny desperately pursues, demanding explanation. Gyro tells him that it was a simple reflex; but, reaching out, just before or just as Johnny again touches a Steel Ball, his arm twists, and he is hung at his fingers on a nearby rafter.
Johnny resolves to discover the truth of this "Spin", and to enter the race in Gyro's pursuit.
3 Hours to Start
September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start
(First race)
First Stage: 15,000 Meters
The Dried-Up River; Diego Brando
Pocoloco and the Sandman
Crossing the Forest
Long, Long Downhill
Final Straight
Final Straight 2,000 Meters Left
The Final Stretch
The Final Stretch 1,000 Meters Left
(Interim)
(Bonus) How the Race Got Started
~How the Steel Ball Run Race Got Started~
Disqualified from Victory
First Stage: Disqualified from Victory
Sheriff's Request to Mountain Tim
The Sheriff's Request to Mountain Tim
Across the Arizona Desert
Across the Arizona Desert: Continuing Along the Shortest Route
The Desert Born Outlaws
The Devil's Palm
Gyro Zeppeli's Mission
The Terrorist From A Far Country
Interlude
Tusk
Scary Monsters
(Bonus) The Story of F. Valentine
Third Stage: Cannon City
A Man's World
The Green Tomb
Catch The Rainbow
Catch The Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...)
Silent Way
(Bonus) Untitled Stand Chapter
Sugar Mountain
The Land of Promises: Sugar Mountain
Tubular Bells
Wrecking Ball
The Victor's Rights
Civil War
A Dream of Gettysburg
Both Sides Now
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Seven Days in a Week
Chocolate Disco
D4C (Part 1)
Ticket to Ride
D4C (Part 2)
D4C -Love Train-
Ball Breaker
Break My Heart, Break Your Heart
High Voltage
World of the Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes - Outro
After being disqualified from the Steel Ball Run following his fight with Dio From Another Universe, Johnny Joestar boards a boat where he meets his future wife Rina Higashikata
Characters & Stands
Minor Characters
- See also Minor Characters § Part VII: Steel Ball Run and Unnamed Characters § Part VII: Steel Ball Run
Character Name | Role |
---|---|
Dot Han | Neutral |
Gaucho | Neutral |
Nicholas Joestar | Ally |
Jesus | Neutral |
Major Battles
Chapters
Steel Ball Run consists of 95 chapters, compiled into Volumes 1 to 24 of the Jump Comics collected editions. The left column consists of the titles from the volumes. The right column consists of the titles from the Weekly Shonen Jump release of Part VII until Chapter 24, when it switches over to Ultra Jump.[2]
SBR Volume 1 (81): [[SBR Volume 1 (81)|September 25, 1890 San Diego Beach]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (1890年9月25日 サンディエゴビーチ Issen Happyaku Kyūjū Nen Kugatsu Nijūgonichi San Diego Bīchi) |
May 20, 2004[3] |
ISBN 4-08-873601-X |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 2 (82): [[SBR Volume 2 (82)|First Stage: 15,000 Meters]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (1st. STAGE 15,000メートル Fāsuto Sutēji J'ūgosen Mētoru) |
May 20, 2004[4] |
ISBN 4-08-873613-3 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 3 (83): [[SBR Volume 3 (83)|Second Stage: Arizona Desert Crossing]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (2nd. STAGE アリゾナ砂漠越え Sekondo Sutēji Arizona Sabaku Goe) |
November 4, 2004[5] |
ISBN 4-08-873673-7 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 4 (84): [[SBR Volume 4 (84)|Gyro Zeppeli's Mission]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (ジャイロ・ツェペリの宿命 Jairo Tseperi no Shukumei) |
November 4, 2004[6] |
ISBN 4-08-873689-3 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 5 (85): [[SBR Volume 5 (85)|The President's Conspiracy]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (大統領の陰謀 Daitōryō no Inbō) |
August 4, 2005[7] |
ISBN 4-08-873845-4 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SBR Volume 6 (86): [[SBR Volume 6 (86)|Scary Monsters]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (スケアリー モンスターズ Sukearī Monsutāzu) |
November 4, 2005[8] |
ISBN 4-08-873890-X |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 7 (87): [[SBR Volume 7 (87)|A Little Grave on the Wide, Wide Prairie]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (広い広い大草原の小さな墓標 Hiroi Hiroi Daisōgen no Chiisana Bohyō) |
March 3, 2006[9] |
ISBN 4-08-874117-X |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 8 (88): [[SBR Volume 8 (88)|To a Man's World]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (男の世界へ Otoko no Sekai e) |
May 2, 2006[10] |
ISBN 4-08-874119-6 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 9 (89): [[SBR Volume 9 (89)|A Stormy Night Is Coming]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (嵐の夜がやってくる Arashi no Yoru ga Yatte Kuru) |
September 4, 2006[11] |
ISBN 4-08-874147-1 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 10 (90): [[SBR Volume 10 (90)|Illinois Skyline, Michigan Lakeline]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (イリノイ・スカイライン ミシガン・レイクライン Irinoi Sukairain Mishigan Reikurain) |
November 2, 2006[12] |
ISBN 4-08-874285-0 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 11 (91): [[SBR Volume 11 (91)|Make the Golden Rectangle!]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (黄金長方形をつくれ! Ōgon Chōhōkei o Tsukure!) |
March 2, 2007[13] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874336-3 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 12 (92): [[SBR Volume 12 (92)|Conditions for the Body, Conditions for Friendship]] |
Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (遺体への条件 友情への条件 Itai e no Jōken Yūjō e no Jōken) |
May 2, 2007[14] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874362-2 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 13 (93): [[SBR Volume 13 (93)|Wrecking Ball]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (壊れゆく鉄球 Koware Yuku Tekkyū) |
September 4, 2007[15] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874420-9 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 14 (94): [[SBR Volume 14 (94)|The Victor's Rights]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (勝利者への資格 Shōrisha e no Shikaku) |
December 4, 2007[16] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874438-4 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 15 (95): [[SBR Volume 15 (95)|A Dream of Gettysburg]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (ゲティスバーグの夢 Getisubāgu no Yume) |
May 2, 2008[17] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874518-3 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 16 (96): [[SBR Volume 16 (96)|Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (いともたやすく行われる えげつない行為 Itomo Tayasuku Okonawareru Egutsunai Kōi) |
September 4, 2008[18] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874574-9 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 17 (97): [[SBR Volume 17 (97)|D4C]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) ( |
March 4, 2009[19] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874648-7 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 18 (98): [[SBR Volume 18 (98)|Ticket to Ride]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) ( |
July 3, 2009[20] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874725-5 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 19 (99): [[SBR Volume 19 (99)|You Can't Get Rich]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (お金持ちにはなれない Okanemochi ni wa Narenai) |
November 4, 2009[21] |
ISBN 978-4-08-874769-9 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SBR Volume 20 (100): [[SBR Volume 20 (100)|Love Train - The World Is One]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (ラブトレイン-世界はひとつ Rabu Torein - Sekai wa Hitotsu) |
March 9, 2010[22] |
ISBN 978-4-08-870060-1 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 21 (101): [[SBR Volume 21 (101)|Ball Breaker]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (ボール・ブレイカー Bōru Bureikā) |
July 2, 2010[23] |
ISBN 978-4-08-870099-1 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 22 (102): [[SBR Volume 22 (102)|Break My Heart, Break Your Heart]] |
Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (ブレイク・マイ・ハート ブレイク・ユア・ハート Bureiku mai hāto Bureiku yua hāto) |
November 4, 2010[24] |
ISBN 978-4-08-870160-8 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 23 (103): [[SBR Volume 23 (103)|High Voltage]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (ハイ・ヴォルテージ Hai Vorutēji) |
May 19, 2011[25] |
ISBN 978-4-08-870206-3 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SBR Volume 24 (104): [[SBR Volume 24 (104)|The Stars and Stripes Forever]] | Release Date: | ISBN: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
({{{JP Kanji}}} {{{JP Romaji}}}) (星条旗よ 永遠なれ Seijōki Yo Eien Nare) |
June 3, 2011[26] |
ISBN 978-4-08-870253-7 |
TankōbonW Titles | {{{Title}}} Titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Gallery
Trivia
- Part VII marks the first time since Part II: Battle Tendency that a Zeppeli is featured, and the first in which a character besides a JoJo is purported to be the main protagonist.
- This arrangement changes when Part VII is revealed to stand within the JoJo continuity and Johnny Joestar's role expands.
- Steel Ball Run (and its eponymous race) appears to be named after the film The Cannonball Run; also characterized by an American cross-country race populated by eccentrics.