JoJoLands chapter 16: Jodio and co fight the enemy Stand as the Lava Rock's powers work a miracle

JoJoLands chapter 16 was expected to begin shedding some light on the enemy Stand, which is attacking Jodio Joestar and co, as well as reveal who their user was and what their goals were. Excitingly, the issue did elaborate on these two points, giving readers a clear idea of who Jodio and co’s enemy is and what their goals are.

JoJoLands chapter 16 also sees the Lava Rock’s powers come into play yet again, delivering Jodio and co what’s likely the group’s most significant windfall yet. While the group still needs to save themselves by eliminating the enemy Stand or its user, they’re now set up to do everything they set out to achieve if they're able to survive.

JoJoLands chapter 16 sees Jodio emerge as a team leader in the chaos of an invisible attack

Brief chapter recap

Jodio and co are out of time to think in JoJoLands chapter 16 (Image via Shueisha)

JoJoLands chapter 16 began with Jodio Joestar and co agreeing that there was no way their location could’ve been leaked. Likewise, they asserted that the Stand was laid as a trap within the Howler land deeds, asserting that whoever laid the trap will begin investigating them soon to find out their true identities.

The focus then shifted to Charmingman, who told Usagi Aloha’oe that he had to stop pursuing the Stand inside his body due to his own health deteriorating. Charmingman reported that the stand moved slowly and wasn’t powerful, but just being touched by it proved fatal. Usagi’s eye then began bleeding, while Paco Lovelantes realized Jodio was doing something with Dragona Joestar.

JoJoLands chapter 16 then saw Jodio reveal that Dragona wasn’t breathing at all now. Jodio then came up with a plan, realizing that since it was an automatic Stand, it must follow a set of rules for traveling a target’s body. Jodio then called out to Dragona and explained this, begging him to use his Smooth Operators Stand to find the enemy Stand and drag it out of his lungs.

Dragona's life is seemingly forfeit in JoJoLands chapter 16's opening pages (Image via Shueisha)

Dragona didn’t answer, but quickly gave Jodio the sign that she did it. The latter then used his November Rain Stand to send a single raindrop down Dragona’s esophagus, where it eventually hit and killed the Stand inside of Dragona. He then sat up and began coughing and breathing, while Charmingman explained that Usagi’s attacking Stand was probably somewhere near his brain by now.

JoJoLands chapter 16 saw Jodio and Paco discuss how they’d be pursued now, deciding to head to a hospital so they could use an MRI machine to find the Stand in Usagi’s brain. While the MRI wouldn’t show the stand itself, the damaged areas of Usagi’s brain would help tell them where to search with Dragona’s Smooth Operators.

The group then arrived at the hospital, convincing Usagi to use his Matte Kudasai Stand to fabricate surveillance video of themselves at the hospital. As this happened, the focus returned to the land registry building, where someone was asking about the edited surveillance footage of Usagi, Dragona, and Charmingman entering the building.

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JoJoLands chapter 16 saw the man, revealed to be named Bobby Jean, discuss the recent accusations against Howler and their money laundering with a security guard briefly before focusing back in on the trio. A young girl nearby then became obsessed with a figurine in the security office, calling over the man and begging him to buy one for her. However, the security guard said they weren’t sold anymore due to not being popular.

This led the man to try and bribe the guard to let him take it since the girl wanted it so badly, which he eventually accepted as the girl got a nosebleed. The man then returned to the footage, realizing the three were never actually seen leaving. However, footage of the ambulance’s arrival showed Charmingman and Dragona carrying a sickly Usagi into their van.

JoJoLands chapter 16 saw the security guard say that he was sure they were in the building since he recognized Usagi as the one who spilled ramen in the lobby. Bobby Jean and the girl with him then deduced that one of the two groups of people and their vehicle was fake, as the girl revealed that her Stand Bags’ Groove was what was attacking Jodio and co. She also confirmed her nosebleed came from Jodio destroying one of her Stands.

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The focus then shifted to Jodio and co in the hospital, who accidentally went to the ICU instead of the MRI department. There, they saw the receptionist who helped them in a hospital bed and her congressman father sobbing on a nearby bench. Through discussion with his advisor, it was revealed the congressman had been investigating Howler and wanted to sign off on an investigation into them due to being convinced they poisoned his daughter.

JoJoLands chapter 16 saw the aid continually advise against this, saying they didn’t have enough evidence and it would be a liability for him to order the investigation. However, his daughter began flatlining, causing him and the aid to run over while leaving behind the tablet he was holding.

Jodio and co realized that this tablet, on which the congressman already signed his name, was to order an investigation into Howler. Recognizing this to be the Lava Rock's powers at work again, Dragona used Smooth Operators to drag the congressman’s fingerprint onto the authenticator on the touch screen. The issue ended with the investigation order being sent out, setting up Jodio and co to own Howler’s land for themselves later on.

In review

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One of the most subtle and well done aspects of JoJoLands chapter 16 is how it sets up the full context of the Howler plotline and why the land deeds were rigged with a Stand trap. This explanation of money laundering and land impropriety also sets up later conflicts for Jodio and co to deal with after taking possession of the land from Howler. While it may seem insignificant, the series is subtly setting up its long-term narrative through these hidden details.

The issue also does a great job of emphasizing how the Lava Rock’s abilities don’t just stop with what it actually comes into contact with. Likewise, this also subtly builds up the full powers and abilities of the Lava Rock, as well as what it’s able to do in a conceptual sense and a literal sense. It even seems to be able to “control fate” for lack of a better term, as it apparently gave Jodio and co the perfect opportunity to send out the congressman’s investigation order.

In summation

With JoJoLands chapter 16 having formally introduced the enemy Stand user(s), the upcoming issue should see the two groups cross paths. Fans can expect Paco and Jodio to handle the two enemies, while Dragona and Charmingman use their Stands to heal Usagi.