Now that we’re waiting for Steel Ball Run’s western debut, it’s great that we’re getting the spinoff JoJo material. This volume wraps up the story of Hol Horse and Josuke’s bizarre collaboration with an heartwarming end.

With Kazuki Karaiya, the true villain of this story, revealed, Josuke Higashikata tries to defeat Petsounds as well as apprehend the corrupt cop. Meanwhile, Hol Horse tries to find Ryoko Kakyoin to get Boingo’s book back, but needs to save her after she gets hit with Petsounds’ ability. With DIO coming back in a flashback, can Josuke and Hol Horse work together to save the day?

I like how this story sheds light about DIO’s former accomplices. We get more backstory in a flashback of chronic gambler Daniel J. D’Arby and his subsequent mental breakdown with DIO. I think these scenes are excellent as they provide more context to what the Stardust Crusaders gang was up against. We also get some closure with Ryoko’s past and guilt of losing her cousin, which finishes her arc nicely.

However, I feel like the team-up between Hol Horse and Josuke (arguably the main part of this manga) feels squandered. They don’t do much together here since they split up early on in the final battle. Not only that, Kazuki Karaiya as a villain feels generic and unnecessary. He gets dispatched quickly and doesn’t feel as menacing as he was brought up in his last volume introduction. The fact that an incorporeal villain in a flashback is more diabolical than you says something.

Shining Diamond’s Demonic Heartbreak is still a nice spinoff story for JoJo fans, but I just can’t wait to get back to the mainline releases soon.