Chocolove McDonell, also known as Joco, is an African American shaman who first appears as a competitor in the Shaman Fight, the tournament to determine the Shaman King. His stated goal is not just to win the tournament, but to become the world's greatest comedian, believing that laughter is a powerful force capable of saving the world. This dream, often met with groans from his allies due to his consistently terrible puns, is the core of his personality and a hard-won philosophy born from a violent past.

Chocolove grew up on the streets of New York City after his parents were murdered on Christmas Day, an event that filled him with a deep-seated hatred for humanity and the holiday. Orphaned and alone, he eventually became the leader of a street gang called Shaft. During this time, he was cold-hearted and did not hesitate to kill. On another Christmas, he shot and killed a man named Camel Muntzer with his gang, an act that left him wandering the streets reflecting on his rage. It was on that night that his life changed direction. He encountered an old shaman named Orona, who used his spirit, Mic the Jaguar, to dodge Chocolove's gunfire and knock him down with a single punch. Orona spoke of using laughter to bring peace, and Chocolove, for the first time, laughed genuinely. He abandoned his gang life to become Orona's student, inheriting Mic the Jaguar upon his mentor's death at the hands of Chocolove's former gang members.

Chocolove’s role in the story begins in earnest when he joins the Shaman Fight in Tokyo, quickly allying himself with Yoh Asakura’s group. He becomes a member of Team "The Ren" alongside Tao Ren and Horohoro. His primary function on the team is often that of a scout and information gatherer, using his enhanced senses to track opponents and gather intelligence. However, he is also a formidable fighter whose unique combat style revolves around his comedic aspirations. His signature ability involves creating an oversoul, Ayers Rock, whose "punchline" forces enemy spirits to laugh uncontrollably, leaving them vulnerable to attack. This technique is a direct application of Orona's lesson: that laughter can disarm even the most hostile forces.

Chocolove's past continues to haunt him. The man he killed on Christmas, Camel Muntzer, was the father of two young shamans, Redseb and Seyram. Seeking revenge for their father’s death, the siblings track down and kill Chocolove, sending his soul to Hell. In this afterlife realm, he undergoes intense training and gains a second, immensely powerful spirit ally: Pascal Avaf, a thousand-year-old Olmec warrior who had fought in a previous Shaman Fight. With Pascal Avaf, Chocolove evolves his abilities significantly, creating the armor-type oversoul Jaguarman, which grants him incredible speed and power. Upon returning to life, Chocolove chooses to blind himself as an act of atonement for the murder he committed. This blindness does not hinder him, as his spiritual perception becomes so sharp that he can "see" more clearly than ever before.

Through this journey, Chocolove develops from a vengeful killer into a man of great compassion and resolve. His relationships with his teammates are a constant source of friction and camaraderie; Ren and Horohoro are endlessly annoyed by his jokes but come to deeply respect his strength and conviction. Yoh, ever empathetic, accepts Chocolove completely. His personal development culminates when he is chosen as one of the Five Elemental Warriors, receiving the Spirit of Wind. In this role, his power becomes nearly unparalleled among his peers. He is able to create an oversoul using the air itself as a medium, capable of disintegrating matter on a massive scale, a power he uses to defeat the Patch Officiant Thalim. By the final battle against Hao, Chocolove has fully realized his mentor's dream, transforming the power of laughter into a force that helps save the world.