REVIEW: ‘Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ Episode 8 — “Tusk, Part 2”

The intensity and complicated nature of the race continue in Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Episode 8, but Johnny (Daman Mills)’s drive hasn’t been diminished. Steel Ball Run Episode 8, “Tusk, Part 2,” doesn’t hold back in the slightest, and it further drives home how much of a Joestar Johnny is. 

Steel Ball Run Episode 8 continues where Episode 7 left off, showing Johnny in what he perceives to be a state of peril. But when he realizes the cute Stand floating around him doesn’t mean him any harm, Johnny draws further conclusions about what’s going on. Johnny is still very new to the world of Stands, which makes his confusion understandable, but even so, he’s still doing his best.

The Saint’s Corpse arm Johnny possesses is what’s bringing danger to both him and Gyro (Kaiji Tang), and something that Johnny is fully coming to understand. Countless people are plotting to kill both him and Gyro as a result. Despite that frightening and downright exhausting understanding, Johnny refuses to give up the arm and let these people win. Including Pork Pie Hat Kid (Greg Vinciguerra), the loud-mouthed enemy Stand user Johnny has been dealing with since Episode 7.

Steel Ball Run Episode 8 goes balls-to-the-wall in its fights.

Just like in Episode 7, “Tusk, Part 1”, your pulse is going to be pounding while you watch Steel Ball Run Episode 8. There are so few moments where Johnny is even allowed to think or even breathe without the threat of Pork Pie Hat Kid’s Stand, Wired, lingering. And when Johnny’s hope is revitalized because he believes that he’ll be able to walk again. It’s not as if Johnny wasn’t embodying the Joestar spirit before now, but Episode 8 shows that even in an alternate universe, Joestar determination runs strong. 

In the first part of Episode 8, Johnny has to survive with all his might because Pork Pie Hat Kid is annoyingly persistent. It’s not unusual for an enemy Stand to be this annoying, persistent, or deranged. But this Stand user is so loud, annoying, and keeps mispronouncing Johnny’s last name in a way that’s even coming up weird through the subtitles. It’ll make you want to wring his scrawny neck for Johnny, but he and Gyro end up handling themselves later on.

Steel Ball Run Episode 8 continues the action-heavy sequences that are expected in any JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure part (or season, whichever terminology floats your boat). David Production continues to deliver exciting visuals for JoJo‘s fans. Bringing manga panels like this to life is no doubt exciting for people who have read this far into Steel Ball Run. Episode 8 has no disappointing animation, and the violence is always so stylized throughout JoJo’s that you’re left mesmerized. 

Pork Pie Hat Kid remains a menace, causing friction wherever he goes.

When Johnny is forced to travel through the desert, he partially buries himself under sand because Pork Pie Hat Kid’s Stand is unable to hook him when he does that. It’s a genius plan, and it shows Johnny’s creativity in terms of survival. He’s not able-bodied, but that doesn’t mean that he’s useless, and it’s nice that Steel Ball Run doesn’t push that type of ableism. Nor does Gyro treat Johnny like he’s not worth anything because of his disability.

It’s not solely Johnny’s determination to walk again that makes him fight hard to get to the point where Gyro is strung up by his hair. What also drives Johnny is that he believes Gyro is a good man and the only one he can trust. Their relationship is a huge part of Steel Ball Run‘s emotional core, creating incredibly tense moments when they’re both in danger. When Pork Pie Hat Kid’s antics cause Johnny to accidentally hurt Gyro, it’s harrowing and heartbreaking for Johnny. 

During the clifftop scene where Pork Pie Hat Kid is trying to ensure their defeat and death, Johnny breaks down because he’s finally found a reason to live again. Therefore, having to give up the corpse arm to save Gyro’s life is extraordinarily difficult. Johnny isn’t angry about choosing to save Gyro; it’s the idea of losing his drive to continue living, especially after he struggled to want to for the longest time. 

Daman Mills’ voice acting delivers key emotional notes for the episode’s climax.

There’s so much emotion packed into the climax that could’ve easily been all about the action. Daman Mills delivers an emotionally heavy performance, and it’s sure to pull at the heartstrings of many fans. Voice performances such as Mills’ in Episode 8 deserve more appreciation than they might get. Combining a stellar vocal performance with striking animation makes for a top-notch episode. 

After Pork Pie Hat Kid forces his hand, Johnny sadly allows him to take the corpse arm so they can survive. Just when Johnny thinks that he’s given up the corpse arm, his Stand Tusk, and any hope he had at walking again, Gyro reveals that he infused the Saint’s Corpse arm and nails with his Spin. And when Pork Pie Hat Kid’s head is blasted, the visuals are gnarly. 

Funny Valentine is ready to enact his plan, promising more chaos ahead.

The remainder of Steel Ball Run Episode 8 consists of Johnny and Gyro discussing what they’re going to do moving forward. They get past the second stage of the race, and of course the chaos isn’t over. Funny Valentine (Jason Marnocha) is updated on what’s going on with Johnny, and he reveals that he has the Saint Heart in his own chest.

He’s yet another JoJo protagonist with grand, extremely sinister ambitions, and he plans to move ahead with his plans. Much chaos, violence, and excitement await our determined duo, and they’re only slightly prepared for it. All in all, Steel Ball Run Episode 8 is an absolute treat, with beautiful visuals, effective voice performances, and the full-steam-ahead energy needed to move forward. You won’t be disappointed once you turn this episode on.

Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Episode 8 is streaming now on Netflix, with new episodes every Friday. 

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