According to the Aztecs, whoever owns the stone mask acquires eternal life and becomes a world conqueror. So when Jonathan "JoJo" Joestar and Dio Brand discover the mythical mask in the late 19th century, they begin a tale of adventure that spans generations. In the first season, Dio is taken in by JoJo and his family after Dio's father pretends to have saved their lives. But malevolent Dio vows to take over the Joestar family. After he finds a mysterious stone mask, he gains magical abilities and amasses an army of the undead. Meanwhile, JoJo learns the Ripple technique, which uses the body's energy to allow impressive feats of strength. Eventually, JoJo is killed, but not before keeping his family line alive and destroying Dio. JoJo's grandson, also named JoJo, continues the adventure in 1938, uniting with the descendants of other heroes and fighting enemies from across the years, including the Pillar Men, who were a fourth race of humanity that lived underground prior to the creation of the stone mask. Finally, in 1987, a casket engraved with the name Dio is found at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, and 67-year-old JoJo's battles begin anew.