The Dandadan anime is set to premiere this October (as of 2024), but the first three episodes are being shown in select theaters a month early. So, I thought now would be a good time to review the manga (if it’s not already too late). If you’re wondering what “Dandadan” means in Japanese, the answer is… we don’t know. I’m from Japan, and even I don’t know! If you search for Dandadan in Japanese, you’ll find results for this manga and, oddly enough, a meat dumpling restaurant. However, there seems to be a hint that the title might be explained in later chapters. Maybe?
Dandadan is a horror-action-comedy manga, though it leans more towards action and comedy than horror. Normally, I’m too scared to read horror, but in this case, the scary characters are more funny than frightening. Oh, and did I mention there’s romance, too? Yes, the manga is packed with so many elements that it’s hard to categorize into just one genre, but instead of being chaotic, it’s all tied together seamlessly.
The story revolves around two high school students, Momo Ayase and Okarun. It all begins when Momo steps in to defend Okarun from bullies. Okarun mistakenly believes that Momo helped him because she shares his love for the occult (he was reading an occult magazine when the bullying happened). However, Momo reveals that she doesn’t believe in aliens or UFOs, which makes Okarun laugh, as he finds the idea of believing in ghosts—like Momo does—ridiculous. They argue about their differing beliefs, and eventually, they each decide to visit locations rumored to have ghosts and aliens to “prove they don’t exist.”
Dandadan, Episode 1. Momo: “That is why I believe in ghosts.” “Why do you believe in aliens, then?” Okarun: “Huh?” (They each decide to visit locations rumored to have ghosts and aliens)
Momo is tough, confident, and has a strong sense of justice. Okarun is an otaku who loves aliens and cryptids and is initially shy and timid. Although the story involves battles with supernatural beings, making it seem far removed from everyday life, readers still find Momo and Okarun’s experiences relatable. For example, Momo regrets rebelling against her grandmother, who raised her, while Okarun hopes to make friends with aliens since he struggles to connect with people. Their personal struggles and emotions are likely to strike a chord with many readers.
By the way, speaking of the characters, the most mysterious character in Volume 1 for me isn’t an alien or a ghost—it’s Momo’s grandmother. I mean, how old is she supposed to be? Is she really Momo’s grandmother??
The artwork in Dandadan is top-notch. The ghosts and aliens are drawn with incredible detail and skill, making the battle and chase scenes particularly intense and dynamic. The pacing is fantastic, making it a real page-turner. From the first chapter, the story feels dense and full of energy. I’m not talking about the first volume, but literally the first chapter—it’s packed with content. And then, an even bigger event kicks off in chapter two. The manga has a high-energy, non-stop tempo that keeps you hooked.
Yukinobu Tatsu, the author of Dandadan, is no stranger to serialized manga. His first series, Seigi no Rokugou, was published in 2010 but unfortunately got canceled in April 2011. To my knowledge, there’s no official English version of it. In 2013, he began another series called Fire Ball!, a high school baseball story, but that too ended in 2014. Later, Tatsu became the main assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch. Fujimoto has praised Tatsu’s drawing skills as top-class. In fact, there is a rumor suggesting that the art quality of Chainsaw Man declined after Tatsu left. However, the truth behind this rumor is unclear, and it might simply be speculation.
Unfortunately, none of the theaters near me are showing the three episodes of Dandadan. But I’m looking forward to watching the anime adaptation when it airs in October!
