If you’re searching for information on the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 1 Phantom Blood manga volumes, here’s the short answer: there are 3 hardcover volumes published in English by Viz Media, and they contain the complete Phantom Blood story. You can read the entire arc from beginning to end without needing to continue into Part 2 or beyond (though you’ll probably want to).
Created by Hirohiko Araki, Phantom Blood is a gothic horror story — meaning it’s built around dark, atmospheric settings, supernatural dread, and themes of decay and corruption — set in Victorian England. It follows Jonathan Joestar, the noble, kind-hearted son of a wealthy family, as his life is upended by the arrival of Dio Brando, an ambitious and ruthless young man who eventually becomes one of manga’s most iconic villains. When an ancient Stone Mask unlocks terrifying vampiric powers, the story spirals into supernatural martial arts, body horror (disturbing imagery involving transformation and mutilation of the human body), and a battle between good and evil that sets the tone for every JoJo story that follows.
Below, you’ll find exactly what each of the 3 Phantom Blood manga volumes contains, how dark the content gets, which edition is the best fit for you, and where to buy.
How Many Phantom Blood Manga Volumes Are There?
Phantom Blood is fully finished and completely self-contained. The English edition from Viz Media (the company that publishes JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure in English) collects the entire story across 3 hardcover volumes. Compared to later JoJo stories — some of which stretch past a dozen volumes — Phantom Blood is compact.
For newcomers, a quick note on how the series is structured: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is divided into separate, self-contained stories called “Parts,” each following a different main character from a different generation of the Joestar family. Phantom Blood is Part 1 — the very beginning of that multi-generational saga.
The original Japanese chapters were first published one at a time in Weekly Shōnen Jump, a Japanese manga anthology magazine, starting in 1987. This chapter-by-chapter publishing process (called “serialization”) is how most manga reaches readers in Japan before the chapters are later collected into book-format volumes. The chapters that make up Part 1 were gathered into the early collected volumes of the larger JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series in Japan, and Viz Media later repackaged them as 3 dedicated Phantom Blood hardcovers for English readers.
Here’s what makes Phantom Blood such a strong starting point:
- It’s a complete narrative arc. An “arc” is a self-contained story section within a longer series — and Jonathan’s story has a definitive beginning, middle, and ending. No cliffhangers that require you to buy Part 2 immediately.
- It establishes the core JoJo identity. The themes of inherited fate, supernatural combat, dramatic posing, and over-the-top villains all start here.
- It’s dark fantasy through and through. Vampires, a cursed artifact, gothic body horror, and a supernatural fighting technique called Hamon (also known as “Ripple”) — this isn’t your typical action manga aimed at younger readers.
- The financial commitment is small. With only 3 volumes, you’re not staring down a shelf of thirty books before you even know if you like the series. The complete Phantom Blood story runs roughly 1,000 pages across those 3 volumes — still a manageable commitment you could finish in a few dedicated reading sessions.
Every Phantom Blood Manga Volume at a Glance
Here’s what you’ll find in each of the 3 Phantom Blood hardcover volumes from Viz Media.
Volume 1
The story opens in Victorian England. Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando grow up together after Dio is adopted into the Joestar household. What seems like a story about class and rivalry quickly turns sinister — Dio’s cruelty isn’t just teenage jealousy. He has plans, and they involve the mysterious Stone Mask hanging on the Joestar family’s wall. Volume 1 establishes the emotional stakes beautifully. You understand exactly why Jonathan and Dio are on a collision course, and the Stone Mask’s true nature begins to emerge.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 1: Phantom Blood Vol. 1 (hardcover)
Volume 2
This is where Phantom Blood shifts from gothic drama into full supernatural horror. The Stone Mask activates, vampiric transformations occur, and the story takes a sharp turn into body horror and violence. Jonathan begins training in Hamon (also called “Ripple”) — a breathing-based martial art that channels sunlight energy through the body to fight vampires and the undead. His teacher, the eccentric Baron Zeppeli, becomes a key figure. The tone here is darker and more intense than what many readers expect from an action manga.
Volume 3
The climax brings Jonathan and Dio into direct confrontation. Without spoiling the specifics, the ending of Phantom Blood is one of the most emotionally impactful conclusions in early JoJo history. It’s tragic, it’s dramatic, and it sets the stage for everything that comes after in the broader JoJo timeline. The final chapters deliver on the gothic horror promise of the story — expect sacrifice, fate, and consequences that echo across generations.
| Volume | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Volume 1 | Jonathan and Dio’s childhood rivalry; the Stone Mask is introduced; Dio’s true ambitions begin to surface |
| Volume 2 | The Stone Mask’s vampiric power awakens; Jonathan learns the Hamon/Ripple technique under Baron Zeppeli; vampiric enemies and body horror escalate |
| Volume 3 | Final battle between Jonathan and Dio; a bittersweet ending that closes Jonathan’s story and seeds the future of JoJo |
The pacing is tight. Araki doesn’t waste chapters on unnecessary detours — every volume pushes the story forward. For readers used to modern manga that can take dozens of chapters to find their footing, Phantom Blood’s economy is refreshing.
How Dark Does Phantom Blood Get — Tone and Content Notes
Let’s talk about the darkness, because Phantom Blood earns its place on a site called Dark Fantasy Manga.
Victorian Gothic Horror Atmosphere
The setting does a lot of heavy lifting. Victorian England, old money estates, candlelit corridors, and an ancient stone artifact with mysterious powers — Araki builds a world that feels like it could exist alongside Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The Stone Mask isn’t just a plot device. It’s a symbol of humanity’s relationship with forbidden power, and its effects on the human body are genuinely disturbing.
Violence and Body Horror
Phantom Blood is significantly more violent than what many readers associate with action manga aimed at teenagers. The vampiric transformations are grotesque and detailed. Characters are impaled, decapitated, and mutilated. Dio’s powers allow him to freeze living tissue on contact, and Araki doesn’t shy away from showing the results. The undead enemies Jonathan faces aren’t clean movie zombies — they’re twisted, mutated, and horrifying.
This isn’t violence for shock value, though. It serves the story’s themes about the corruption of the human body and spirit. The horror escalates in a way that makes each new threat feel genuinely dangerous.
Emotional Weight
Beyond the physical violence, Phantom Blood carries real emotional darkness. Themes of sacrifice, inherited destiny, and tragic loss run throughout the story. Characters you care about don’t always survive, and the ending — while satisfying — is far from a straightforward happy resolution. Jonathan Joestar is one of the purest-hearted protagonists in manga, which makes the suffering he endures hit even harder.
Who Is This For?
Phantom Blood is suitable for mature teens and up. If you’re comfortable with horror manga, gothic fiction, or action series that don’t pull their punches with violence, you’ll be fine. It’s darker than lighthearted, mainstream action manga — the violence is graphic and the body horror is genuinely unsettling — but it’s not as relentlessly bleak as the most extreme dark fantasy manga out there. Think of it as intense, dramatic, and occasionally gruesome, but always in service of a compelling good-vs-evil story.
Which Edition Should You Buy — Hardcovers, Paperbacks, or Digital
Viz Media has released Phantom Blood in English across several formats over the years. Here’s what you should know when deciding how to pick up the series.
The Viz Hardcover Edition (3 Volumes)
This is the version you’ll find most easily in bookstores and online retailers right now, and it’s the recommended edition for most readers. The 3 hardcover volumes are oversized compared to standard manga, giving Araki’s detailed artwork more room to breathe. The paper quality is solid, the spines look great on a shelf, and the larger format really showcases the intricate gothic horror imagery and Araki’s dramatic character poses.
For a first-time reader, these hardcovers are a fantastic way to experience Phantom Blood. You’re getting the complete story in a premium physical package across 3 volumes.
A Note on Editions
The 3-volume hardcover released in 2015 is the first and only English-language print edition of Phantom Blood. Unlike some later JoJo Parts that Viz previously published in standard-size paperback format, Part 1 went directly to the deluxe hardcover format and has never been released in paperback. There are no older print editions of Phantom Blood to search for in used bookstores — the hardcover line is the complete picture for physical copies.
Physical Size and Art Presentation
One of the biggest advantages of the hardcover format is how much better Araki’s art looks at scale. His style during the Phantom Blood era is heavily muscular and detailed — characters look like classical sculptures, backgrounds drip with gothic atmosphere, and the action sequences are dense with motion lines and dramatic angles. In a standard-size paperback, some of that detail can feel cramped. The hardcover format gives each page the space it deserves.
For First-Time Readers vs. Collectors
If you’re a first-time reader who just wants to experience the story, the 3 hardcover volumes are the most straightforward choice. They’re widely available, they’re quality products, and they give you the complete Phantom Blood story.
If you’re a collector who wants every JoJo Part on their shelf in a matching format, the hardcover line is also your best bet — Viz has been releasing subsequent JoJo Parts in the same hardcover format, so your collection will look consistent as you continue through the series.
A Note on Translation
The Viz translation reads well in English and preserves the dramatic, over-the-top tone that makes JoJo so distinctive. Araki’s dialogue is theatrical by design — characters announce their attacks, deliver monologues, and speak in ways that are intentionally larger-than-life. The English translation captures that energy without feeling stilted.
Where to Buy Phantom Blood Manga Volumes in English
Print Copies
The 3 Phantom Blood hardcover volumes are widely available through major book retailers:
- Amazon — Typically has the full selection of Phantom Blood volumes in stock. Shipping is straightforward, and you can often bundle with other JoJo Parts if you’re planning to continue the series.
- Barnes & Noble — Available both in-store and online. Worth checking your local store if you prefer to see the hardcover format in person before buying.
- Local comic and manga shops — Independent bookstores and comic shops often stock JoJo volumes. Buying local supports your community and lets you browse other dark fantasy manga while you’re there.
- Anime and manga specialty retailers — Stores that focus specifically on anime and manga merchandise sometimes carry editions that mainstream retailers don’t keep in consistent stock.
Digital Reading Options
If you prefer reading on a screen or want instant access, digital editions are generally available at a lower list price than the hardcovers:
- Viz Media’s digital platform — Viz offers digital versions of their JoJo releases through their app and website. If you already use Viz for other manga, this keeps your library in one place.
- Kindle / Comixology — Digital versions are available through Amazon’s e-reading platforms for tablet and e-reader use. The larger screen of a tablet really helps with Araki’s detailed artwork.
- Other digital storefronts — Apple Books and Google Play Books also carry digital manga from Viz Media.
Current Availability
Phantom Blood has been in print for a while now, and as one of the most popular manga franchises globally, JoJo volumes tend to stay in stock. That said, manga reprints can occasionally lag behind demand — if you see the volume you want available, it’s generally a good idea to grab it rather than waiting.
The 3 hardcover volumes are the current standard format from Viz, so they’re the easiest to find.
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Phantom Blood is where it all begins. A gothic horror story about two young men, a cursed mask, and a battle between light and darkness that spans generations. At only 3 volumes, it’s short, it’s intense, it’s beautifully drawn, and it sets the foundation for one of the most creative and unpredictable manga series ever created. Grab Volume 1 and see for yourself — Phantom Blood is a complete, self-contained story that works on its own, and if you want more JoJo afterward, the rest of the saga is waiting.