by New advance stills from Episode 2 of STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure have been released, giving fans a closer look at the next chapter of the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Part 7 of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga.
The second episode is officially titled “The Sheriff’s Request to Mountain Tim” and introduces the legendary cowboy Mountain Tim, who becomes involved in a mysterious murder case unfolding behind the scenes of the Steel Ball Run race. The newly released images feature Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, Mountain Tim, and several other characters as the dangerous second stage of the race begins.
Episode 2 began streaming worldwide on Netflix on September 25, 2026, marking the return of the Steel Ball Run anime after the first stage premiered earlier this year. The second and third stages will consist of 11 episodes in total, with a new episode scheduled to arrive every Friday.
With the race moving into a vast desert landscape and a strange series of deaths creating an increasingly ominous atmosphere, the latest episode makes it clear that the Steel Ball Run is about much more than simply reaching the finish line.
Episode 2: A New Mystery Behind the Steel Ball Run Race
The first episode introduced viewers to the enormous Steel Ball Run, a transcontinental horseback race across the United States in 1890.
After the conclusion of the first stage, Gyro Zeppeli emerges as the winner, but his victory comes with an important complication. He is penalized for using a weapon to interfere with another racer, affecting his position in the overall standings.
Rather than allowing the setback to discourage him, Gyro begins preparing for the next stage.
He also proposes an alliance with Johnny Joestar, the former jockey prodigy whose life changed dramatically after an accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Johnny’s decision to participate in the Steel Ball Run is closely connected to his desire to understand Gyro’s mysterious Spin technique. Their relationship has already begun developing from an uneasy rivalry into something closer to a partnership.
Episode 2 continues this relationship as the two prepare to face the challenges ahead.
However, the second stage introduces a completely different problem.
A series of bizarre murders is taking place outside the normal competition, creating fear and suspicion among the racers. The incidents suggest that someone—or something—is operating in the shadows of the race.
This is where Mountain Tim enters the story.
Who Is Mountain Tim?
Mountain Tim is one of the new characters introduced during the second stage of the anime.
A legendary cowboy and competitor in the Steel Ball Run, Mountain Tim is drawn into the investigation surrounding the mysterious murders.
Unlike Johnny and Gyro, who are primarily focused on surviving the race and advancing through the stages, Mountain Tim becomes involved in uncovering what is happening behind the competition.
His introduction adds a detective-like element to the story.
The Steel Ball Run may appear to be a simple cross-country horse race, but the events surrounding it are becoming increasingly suspicious. The mysterious deaths suggest that some competitors may have motives that extend far beyond winning the prize.
Netflix’s official description similarly teases a cowboy pursuing the culprit behind a sudden mysterious murder as the second stage introduces several important new characters.
The Second Stage Takes Johnny and Gyro Into the Desert
The second stage significantly changes the atmosphere of the race.
Instead of simply focusing on speed and competition, Johnny and Gyro must cross a huge desert region while dealing with new dangers.
The official Netflix description states that the second stage involves a desert crossing of roughly 750 miles, with the racers entering an area associated with the ominous “Devil’s Palm.”
The harsh environment itself becomes an obstacle.
The competitors must deal with:
- Extreme desert conditions
- Dangerous terrain
- Other racers
- Mysterious incidents
- Supernatural abilities
- Hidden motives
- The threat of murder
As a result, the race becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish from a survival battle.
Johnny and Gyro cannot simply concentrate on riding faster than everyone else. They must also remain alert to the people around them.
Johnny and Gyro’s Alliance Becomes More Important
One of the most interesting aspects of the second stage is the changing relationship between Johnny and Gyro.
When they first meet, the two are competitors with very different personalities and goals.
Johnny is trying to understand Gyro’s extraordinary abilities, while Gyro has his own reasons for entering the Steel Ball Run.
Their circumstances gradually force them to cooperate.
The alliance proposed by Gyro in Episode 2 gives the two characters an opportunity to learn more about one another while facing the dangers of the race together.
For Johnny, Gyro is more than just another competitor.
Gyro represents a connection to the mysterious power of the Spin, something Johnny believes may help him regain control over his life.
At the same time, Johnny’s determination and unusual abilities make him an important partner for Gyro.
Their partnership is therefore an important part of the story moving forward.
The Steel Ball Run Is More Than a Horse Race
At first glance, the central concept of Steel Ball Run is straightforward: competitors ride horses across North America in one of the most demanding races imaginable.
But the story quickly reveals that the race has much deeper layers.
The competitors have different reasons for participating.
Some want the enormous prize.
Others are pursuing personal goals.
Some are connected to hidden political or supernatural interests.
And some may be willing to eliminate their opponents rather than simply defeat them in a race.
That makes the Steel Ball Run itself a constantly changing battlefield.
The official Netflix synopsis emphasizes that Johnny and Gyro are entering a race filled with hidden motives and that the second stage is far more dangerous than a conventional competition.
What the New Episode Stills Reveal
The newly released advance stills provide a glimpse of several important characters and locations.
Johnny and Gyro appear together as they continue their journey through the race.
Mountain Tim is also prominently featured, highlighting his role in the new mystery.
The images suggest that Episode 2 will balance the traditional racing elements of Steel Ball Run with a darker investigation surrounding the unexplained deaths.
For fans of the manga, Mountain Tim’s arrival is particularly significant because he becomes one of the memorable figures introduced during this portion of the story.
For anime-only viewers, however, his role remains something to discover as the mystery develops.
Episode 2 Release Date and Streaming Information
Episode 2 of STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure began streaming worldwide on Netflix on September 25, 2026.
Netflix has confirmed that the 2nd & 3rd STAGES will contain 11 episodes, with new episodes released weekly on Fridays.
The first stage originally premiered as a single episode on March 19, 2026.
The new weekly release schedule therefore represents the next major phase of the adaptation.
For viewers in India, Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is also available through Netflix, with current streaming listings showing the series on the service.
Current Release Structure
- 1st STAGE: 1 episode — released March 19, 2026
- 2nd & 3rd STAGES: 11 episodes
- Weekly release: Every Friday
- Start date: September 25, 2026
- Platform: Netflix
- Episode 2: “The Sheriff’s Request to Mountain Tim”
Netflix’s official announcement confirms the 11-episode weekly rollout.
What Is Steel Ball Run About?
Steel Ball Run is the seventh major part of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga.
Unlike the earlier parts of the franchise, Steel Ball Run takes place in 1890s America and centers on a massive horseback race across the continent.
The protagonist is Johnny Joestar, a former jockey prodigy whose career is destroyed after an accident leaves him unable to walk.
Johnny encounters Gyro Zeppeli, an unusual competitor carrying mysterious steel balls and possessing an extraordinary technique known as the Spin.
Fascinated by Gyro’s abilities, Johnny enters the Steel Ball Run.
What begins as a race soon develops into a much larger adventure involving supernatural powers, dangerous opponents, hidden objectives, and mysteries surrounding the race itself.
The Unique World of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1986 and has since become one of Japan’s most recognizable manga franchises.
Created by Hirohiko Araki, the series is known for its distinctive character designs, unusual poses, memorable dialogue, creative battles, supernatural abilities, and dramatic storytelling.
One of its defining characteristics is that each major part focuses on a different generation or character connected to the Joestar bloodline.
This allows each part to introduce a new setting, cast, visual style, and central conflict while maintaining connections to the broader JoJo universe.
Steel Ball Run is particularly distinctive because it moves the franchise into a historical American setting and replaces the conventional road-trip structure with a massive horse race.
Previous JoJo Anime Adaptations
The television anime adaptation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure began in 2012.
The major animated parts released before Steel Ball Run include:
- Phantom Blood & Battle Tendency — 2012–2013
- Stardust Crusaders — 2014–2015
- Diamond Is Unbreakable — 2016
- Golden Wind — 2018–2019
- Stone Ocean — 2022–2023
- Steel Ball Run — began in 2026
The Steel Ball Run adaptation therefore continues a long-running anime project that has introduced multiple generations of Joestar characters to television and streaming audiences.
New Characters Are Expanding the Cast
The second and third stages introduce several important new characters.
Among them are Mountain Tim, Hot Pants, and Funny Valentine.
Netflix announced the new characters during its 2026 Anime Expo presentation. The announcement also confirmed 11 episodes for the second and third stages.
The voice cast includes:
- Tomoaki Maeno as Mountain Tim
- Yoko Hikasa as Hot Pants
- Tomokazu Sugita as Funny Valentine
Their arrival expands the story beyond Johnny and Gyro and introduces new personalities, abilities, and motivations into the race.
A Different Kind of JoJo Story
One of the biggest reasons Steel Ball Run stands apart from earlier JoJo installments is its setting.
The story combines:
- Historical America
- Western and cowboy imagery
- Horse racing
- Supernatural battles
- Mystery
- Adventure
- Character drama
- The distinctive visual style of JoJo
This combination creates a world that feels different from the settings of previous parts while still retaining the dramatic and eccentric qualities associated with the franchise.
The desert setting introduced in the second stage strengthens this Western atmosphere even further.
What to Expect From Episode 2
Without revealing major spoilers, Episode 2 shifts the focus from simply completing the race to understanding the strange events occurring around it.
Johnny and Gyro must continue their journey while dealing with an increasingly dangerous environment.
At the same time, Mountain Tim becomes involved in investigating the mysterious deaths.
The result is a story that combines racing, mystery, action, and supernatural tension.
The episode also establishes the tone for the next part of the anime, where the Steel Ball Run becomes increasingly difficult, and the motivations of the racers become more complicated.
The release of the new Episode 2 stills for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure offers fans a preview of one of the most important developments in the anime’s second stage: the arrival of Mountain Tim and the mysterious murder investigation.
After the first stage introduced Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, and the basic concept of the Steel Ball Run, the second stage expands the story into a much larger mystery.
The 750-mile desert crossing, the dangerous Devil’s Palm, the unexplained murders, and the arrival of new characters all suggest that the race is becoming increasingly dangerous.
For longtime JoJo fans, the adaptation is also significant because Steel Ball Run has long been regarded as a major turning point in Hirohiko Araki’s manga.
For newcomers, the anime provides an opportunity to enter the world of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure through a completely different setting, with a new protagonist, a new historical period, and a story built around an extraordinary cross-country race.
With 11 weekly episodes planned for the 2nd and 3rd STAGES, Johnny and Gyro’s journey is only beginning.
As the Steel Ball Run continues, the biggest question is no longer simply who will win the race. The mysterious events surrounding the competitors suggest that something much larger is taking place—and Mountain Tim’s investigation may be the first clue to uncovering it.
