JoJoLands chapter 21: Howler hires new Stand users as Jodio's team begins their preparations

Following Jodio Joestar and co’s victory over Agent Bobby Jean and Lulu, fans expected JoJoLands chapter 21 to focus on Jodio’s team as they returned to Meryl Mei Qi. Officially released on Thursday, December 19, 2024, in Japan, the issue did indeed see Jodio’s team plan their next move, but they were far from the only ones doing so.

The other main focus of JoJoLands chapter 21 proved this definitively, introducing some new Stand users who are now employed by Acca Howler with the task of finding Jodio’s group. While Jodio and co’s clean getaway from the hospital suggests this to be a difficult task, Howler’s lackeys have a key piece of evidence that can help them locate their enemies.

JoJoLands chapter 21 sets up Paco Lovelantes’ backstory, teasing Jodio and co’s next conflict resultantly

Brief chapter recap

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JoJoLands chapter 21, titled Howler Co. Impropriety Suspicions, begins with Mack Yokohama of Dolphin Bank in his office, putting on a portable green and eating and drinking. His wife then gives him a video call, where she complains about him skipping out on family plans they had for work-related reasons. She promises to forgive him if he says the magic words, but Mack can’t remember them for some reason.

Cracks in his skin begin forming as he ponders what the words could be, revealing him to truly be Charmingman disguised as Mack. He’s able to get off the phone with his wife without arousing suspicion, thanks to Mack’s receptionist telling him there’s a guest for him. They speak briefly about the hospital shooting as they head out to the lobby, where Jodio, Dragona Joestar, and Usagi Aloha’oe are waiting for Charmingman, still disguised as Mack.

JoJoLands chapter 21 sees them walk around the building, discussing the orders Mack received from Dolphin Bank executives and that he changed a security passcode for their use. It’s revealed that whatever Charmingman did set up Howler’s assets being deposited into a bank account they now control. The focus then returned to Honolulu, where Jodio and co plus Lulu were meeting with their leader, Meryl Mei Qi.

Meryl Mei Qi details her team's next moves in JoJoLands chapter 21 (Image via Shueisha)

Meryl gestures for Lulu to sit by her, but she doesn’t move, prompting Usagi to threaten her with violence if she doesn’t listen to Meryl. Jodio is the one who eventually convinces her to do so by taking a more gentle approach. They then discuss how Lulu’s presence is putting financial and mental stress on both Meryl herself and her business. Also discussed here is the fact that the real Mack Yokohama is in the back of the shop with medical equipment and medications.

JoJoLands chapter 21 sees Meryl reveal she has a husband whom she’s worried about being divorced if these secrets are discovered. She then adds that Lulu can leave eventually, adding that if she wants that time to come as quickly as possible she needs to answer her questions. Understandably, her first question for Lulu is regarding whether or not Acca Howler knows the names, faces, or any other identifying information on her team.

Lulu’s response confirms this not to be the case, and that the situation changing is unlikely. She attributes this to Agent Bobby Jean’s death and his smartphone being there with them. Meryl then asks if Howler’s goal for her was to retrieve the Lava Rock. She explains that he didn’t mention it at first since their mission was about the land deeds being browsed, but she later got a call from him telling her to retrieve it from Jodio’s team.

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After digesting all of this, JoJoLands chapter 21 sees Meryl claim that the Lava Rock is certainly their ally and will bring the 50 billion dollars worth of Hawaiian land to them no matter what. However, she adds that Howler knowing about the Lava Rock and his fortune being sought after is a problem since he’s trying to identify them. She then claims that as a rich person, Howler will likely “use violence as a currency” since they now have him effectively cornered.

She ends by saying that the most important thing is to keep their identities secret and wait for Howler’s body and mind to become powerless after he’s stripped of everything. She adds that they’ll collect the Hualalai north slope land within seven days before sending them on their way. Lulu stays behind, wondering who they all are and how they can make such bold claims as the focus shifts to Acca Howler himself.

JoJoLands chapter 21 sees him drinking Dashi in a limo while complaining about road conditions, trying to buy the road as he’s on it. However, it’s revealed that traffic isn’t the issue but a swarm of angry protestors attacking Howler’s car. Reporters in the area are discussing the Howler Company’s origins, as well as their current problems while the general public is ridiculing Howler for one thing or another.

JoJoLands chapter 21 introduces new enemy Stand users who seem personally motivated by Agent Bobby Jean's death (Image via Shueisha)

Howler steps out of the car to dispute these claims before trying to escape, but the general public keeps getting in his way. A lawyer he hired then shields him from the public while he enters the company’s corporate headquarters, lamenting the situation as he heads inside. The lawyer and two other individuals then follow him, discussing how they care not about his family history but only about Howler Co. maintaining its value and cash flow.

JoJoLands chapter 21 then sees the lawyer introduce herself as Key West and the others as police officer Laem Chabang and firefighter Ningbo. They introduce themselves as friends of Bobby Jean, discussing the scene of his death and how minimal clues were left behind. However, they’re certain the culprits were Stand users, asking Howler who he was pursuing so they can get more clues.

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Addressing West directly, Howler tells her that they don’t need to know what Lulu and Bobby were doing in the hospital in order to protect Howler’s interests and find the culprits. Chabang’s glasses then suddenly have nematodes crawling all over them, forming a halfway-like shape with one person in the center. West explains that Chabang’s nematodes sniff out the scent of stress in living creatures, making a map of “those that are afraid” likewise.

JoJoLands chapter 21 sees her add that those who are afraid lose, imploring Howler to not fear or cower and be broad-minded and imposing as “the final boss” should be. She grins after saying this before clarifying their intent to protect him and is about to depart before remembering something. The issue ends with West revealing that before he died, Bobby searched Paco Lovelantes’ name in the Armed Forces’ military records, giving them a clue.

In summation

Like Charmingman, Lulu is seemingly being set up to join Jodio and co in JoJoLands chapter 21 (Image via Shueisha)

Chapter 21 is an excellent issue that makes several key accomplishments. Firstly, it answers questions relating to the fallout of the hospital battle, seeing Jodio’s team account for virtually everything they reasonably could. In the same breath, it also ensures narrative development by introducing new enemy Stand users and giving them a clue to find Jodio and co.