| Joseph Joestar | |
|---|---|
| JoJo's Bizarre Adventure character | |
 Joseph as he appears in Battle Tendency | |
| First appearance | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure chapter 45: "New York's JoJo" (1987) |
| Last appearance | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure chapter 439: "Goodbye, Morioh - The Golden Heart" (1995) |
| Created by | Hirohiko Araki |
| Voiced by |
|
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Joseph Joestar |
| Nickname | JoJo |
| Occupation | Real estate agent |
| Family |
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| Spouse | Suzi Q |
| Significant other | Tomoko Higashikata (extramarital affair) |
| Children | Holly Kujo (daughter) Josuke Higashikata (son) Shizuka Joestar (adoptive daughter) |
| Relatives | Jotaro Kujo (grandson) |
| Nationality | British-American |
| Stand | Hermit Purple |
Joseph "JoJo" Joestar (Japanese: ジョセフ・ジョースター, Hepburn: Josefu Jōsutā) is a fictional character in the Japanese manga series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. Joseph is the main protagonist of the series' second story arc, Battle Tendency, and the grandson of the first arc's protagonist, Jonathan Joestar. Having been brought up by his grandmother Erina and family friend Speedwagon, he developed a coarser and more rebellious attitude than that of his gentlemanly grandfather, but the character still has a noble heart. While able to use the supernatural power Hamon like his grandfather, Joseph is not initially as skilled in its use until he trains under Lisa Lisa. He initially uses a pair of Hamon-empowered clackers in battle, but relies more on mind games rather than brute strength in fights, employing his uncanny ability to predict his opponent's actions down to what they say.
He returns as a main character in Stardust Crusaders, set 50 years later, in which he has acquired the vine-like spiritual power (a "Stand") Hermit Purple (隠者の紫, Hāmitto Pāpuru). Like many other Stands in Stardust Crusaders, it is named after a tarot card, in this case, The Hermit. He uses this stand to fight or perform predictions using electronic equipment such as cameras and television sets. Joseph leads the team of men to confront Dio in Egypt to save his daughter, Holly. He returns again as a supporting character in Diamond Is Unbreakable, where he meets his illegitimate son Josuke Higashikata and is shown to be physically and mentally weaker now due to old age. In the alternate universe of the series' eighth part, JoJolion, a character named Joseph “Josefumi” Joestar bears resemblance to Joseph and appears as a flashback character.
Araki based Joseph on Jonathan visually in order to have some continuity, because it was unheard of to kill the main character in a Weekly Shōnen Jump manga at the time. His personality, however, was made to contrast with that of his predecessor, with Joseph being cockier. Critical response to Joseph's characterization and actions in the narratives of both Battle Tendency and Stardust Crusaders were mostly positive, with game designer Hiroshi Matsuyama regarding him as the best shōnen manga hero he has ever seen.