Woke up thinking about how Araki makes manga that hooks you for decades. Wanted to crack his secrets so bad my coffee got cold. Grabbed my notebook before the caffeine even kicked in.
Step 1: Staring Like a Maniac at JoJo Panels
First thing? Dumped every JoJo volume I own on the floor. Started comparing Part 1 to Part 8 pages side-by-side. Saw how his panel layouts evolved from boxy to wild shapes. Traced action lines with my finger trying to feel the rhythm – like he’s conducting chaos with ink.
Step 2: Copying the Bizarre Logic
Couldn’t figure out how he makes vampires fighting with sun-powered karate feel normal. So I tried writing my own scene:
- Made a character who sweats glitter when nervous
- Gave him a stand called “Disco Inferno” that warps reality near dance floors
- Forced him to fight sentient vending machine that eats quarters
Surprised myself when the nonsense started making emotional sense halfway through. Felt like Araki whispers “just commit to the weird” in your ear.
Step 3: Stealing His Time Tricks
Watched documentary clips where he draws. Mimicked his 8-hour sprints:
- Set kitchen timer for 55-minute chunks
- No phone – threw it under the couch
- Switched between scriptwriting and doodling when stuck
My drawings sucked but the momentum felt electric. Realized why Araki never burns out – he treats creating like breathing. Not precious, just persistent.
Epiphany in the Shower (Obviously)
Finally understood it while shampooing. Araki’s magic comes from treating insanity like journalism. He observes:
- How sunlight hits broken glass
- The way pigeons fight over fries
- That tense pause before subway doors close
Then weaponizes ordinary moments to ground the madness. I tried noting 27 “boring” details walking to the mailbox later. Felt like reality glitched – saw stand potential everywhere.
What Actually Stuck
- Weird is truth turned sideways (my glitter sweat guy got real pathos eventually)
- Movement over perfection (draft ugly fast then fix)
- Borrow eyes from strangers (stole Araki’s habit of people-watching at cafes)
Still can’t draw muscles like him though. Practicing biceps while staring at classical sculptures. Might need another coffee.
