If you’ve been scouring manga shelves for something genuinely fresh and unpredictable, look no further than Dandadan. This relatively new series has quietly become one of the most exciting titles in contemporary manga, building a devoted following through pure word-of-mouth enthusiasm. Why? Because there’s simply nothing else quite like it.
Created by Yukinobu Tatsu (a former assistant to Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto), Dandadan began serialization in Shueisha’s digital publication Shōnen Jump+ in 2021. The series defies easy categorization, blending supernatural horror, sci-fi adventures, teenage romance, and laugh-out-loud comedy into something wholly unique.
This Dandadan manga review will explore why this series has captivated readers worldwide and why it deserves a spot on your reading list. Whether you’re tired of formulaic shonen tropes or simply looking for your next manga obsession, Dandadan offers a reading experience that’s equal parts heartfelt, terrifying, and absolutely bonkers.
What is Dandadan? A Spoiler-Free Overview
At its core, Dandadan follows two high school students: Momo Ayase, a girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and Ken Takakura (nicknamed “Okarun”), a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts. Their opposing supernatural beliefs lead to a fateful bet that sends them to locations where they might encounter their respective skepticisms.
What happens next sets the stage for the entire series: Momo encounters aliens, and Okarun meets a ghost—specifically, a terrifying entity known as “Turbo Granny.” These encounters don’t just prove both supernatural phenomena exist; they irrevocably change our protagonists’ lives as they become entangled with otherworldly powers.
What makes Dandadan stand out in this Dandadan manga review is how it fearlessly combines elements that shouldn’t work together. One moment you’re witnessing heart-wrenching emotional revelations, and the next you’re laughing at absurdist toilet humor or marveling at a surreal alien battle. The tonal whiplash shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does, creating a reading experience that keeps you perpetually off-balance yet thoroughly engaged.
The premise allows for endless creative possibilities, with each new chapter bringing increasingly bizarre encounters and scenarios while still maintaining a coherent overarching story. It’s this perfect balance of chaotic energy and thoughtful character development that makes Dandadan such a standout manga.
Characters: The Heart and Soul of Dandadan
Momo Ayase: The Psychic Powerhouse
Momo isn’t your typical female manga protagonist. Strong-willed, occasionally foul-mouthed, and fiercely independent, she subverts expectations at every turn. Her spiritual powers and combat abilities make her a formidable fighter, but it’s her vulnerability and complex emotions that make her truly compelling.
As the series progresses, we learn more about Momo’s family history with the supernatural and witness her growth as she confronts both external threats and internal conflicts. Her character design is instantly recognizable, with her distinctive hairstyle and expressive face perfectly capturing her no-nonsense attitude.
Ken “Okarun” Takakura: The Unlikely Hero
When we first meet Okarun, he’s a timid, socially awkward boy obsessed with aliens and conspiracy theories. His possession by Turbo Granny early in the series grants him strange powers but at a significant cost. Throughout the manga, Okarun’s journey from bullied outcast to someone discovering his own strength forms one of the most satisfying character arcs.
What makes Okarun particularly endearing is how he maintains his fundamental decency and surprising bravery despite the increasingly insane situations he faces. His growing feelings for Momo are handled with surprising nuance for a series that also features space gorillas and possessed genitalia.
The Dynamic Duo and Supporting Cast
The chemistry between Momo and Okarun drives much of the series’ emotional core. Their relationship evolves naturally from antagonistic strangers to trusted partners who rely on each other in life-or-death situations. The romantic tension builds organically alongside their supernatural adventures, creating emotional stakes that ground even the most outlandish plot developments.
The supporting cast gradually expands to include other memorable characters like Jiji (a classmate with his own supernatural entanglements), Aira Shiratori (a girl with alien connections), and various bizarre entities from both the ghostly and alien sides of the supernatural spectrum. Each character brings their own quirks and backstories, enriching the manga’s world.
Art Style and Visual Storytelling: A Master Class in Manga
Any comprehensive Dandadan manga review must highlight Yukinobu Tatsu’s extraordinary artwork, which deserves special recognition even in a medium filled with talented illustrators. The art style seamlessly shifts between beautifully detailed action sequences, genuinely disturbing horror imagery, and hilarious cartoon-like expressions.
Kinetic Action and Panel Layouts
Dandadan’s action scenes feel like they’re practically bursting off the page. Tatsu employs dynamic panel compositions, speed lines, and impact frames to create a sense of movement that rivals animation. Fight sequences are chaotic yet always readable, with clever perspective shifts that emphasize both power and vulnerability.
The manga excels at conveying motion through its panel transitions, creating the illusion of fluid movement through static images. Whether it’s Momo unleashing psychic attacks or Okarun’s transformed body contorting in impossible ways, the action never fails to impress.
Monster Design: Nightmarish and Memorable
Where Dandadan truly shines is its creature design. The supernatural entities—both ghostly and alien—range from genuinely disturbing to bizarrely comical, often within the same character. Turbo Granny, with her impossibly wide grin and unnatural movements, is an early indicator of the visual creativity that defines the series.
As the story progresses, we encounter ever more elaborate and imaginative beings: aliens with anatomically impossible forms, ghosts that distort reality around them, and hybrid creatures that defy categorization. Each new antagonist brings a distinct visual identity that makes them instantly memorable.
Expressive Characters and Visual Comedy
Despite all the supernatural spectacle, Tatsu never loses sight of the human element. Characters’ facial expressions are remarkably detailed, conveying subtle emotions alongside exaggerated reactions. The manga employs visual comedy techniques reminiscent of classic gag manga, with perfectly timed reaction shots and physical humor that balances the horror elements.
The art also excels at creating moments of genuine beauty and emotional resonance. Quieter scenes are given just as much attention as the action set pieces, with thoughtful composition and lighting that underscore the characters’ emotional states.
Plot and Pacing: A Perfect Balance of Chaos and Structure
Dandadan’s narrative structure cleverly blends standalone supernatural encounters with ongoing character development and larger mysteries. This approach keeps the story fresh while steadily building a richer mythology and deeper character connections.
Story Arc Structure
The manga follows a loose “monster of the week” formula in its early chapters, with each new supernatural threat introducing different aspects of the paranormal world. However, unlike series that reset to status quo after each adventure, Dandadan allows consequences to accumulate. Powers gained, relationships formed, and mysteries uncovered in early arcs become crucial elements in later storylines.
Each arc typically introduces a new supernatural threat, unexpected allies, or deeper lore about the world’s metaphysics, while advancing the core relationship between Momo and Okarun. This structure creates natural escalation as stakes rise and the supernatural phenomena grow increasingly bizarre.
Pacing and Tone Management
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Dandadan’s storytelling is how it manages dramatic tonal shifts without giving the reader whiplash. A genuinely terrifying horror sequence can transition into slapstick comedy and then pivot to heartfelt character development, all within a few pages.
This tonal flexibility is a hallmark of the best Dandadan manga review points—it creates an unpredictable reading experience where anything seems possible. The manga never lets you get comfortable with expectations, constantly surprising with new directions while maintaining internal consistency in its characters and world-building.
Themes and Subtext: Depth Beneath the Chaos
Beyond its supernatural hijinks, Dandadan explores several recurring themes that add substance to its stylish exterior:
Coming of Age Through the Supernatural
At its heart, Dandadan is a coming-of-age story where supernatural elements serve as metaphors for adolescent challenges. Okarun’s transformation powers and his struggle to control them parallel puberty and self-discovery. Momo’s psychic abilities connect to her family legacy, representing the weight of expectations and inherited trauma.
The central question of identity—who you are versus who others expect you to be—recurs throughout the series as characters confront beings that literally transform bodies and minds.
Science Fiction vs. Supernatural
The initial premise pitting aliens against ghosts evolves into a more nuanced exploration of how different paranormal phenomena interact. Rather than simply declaring one side “real,” Dandadan creates a complex cosmology where scientific and supernatural explanations coexist and sometimes contradict each other.
This blending of genres serves as a metaphor for embracing seemingly opposing viewpoints, much as Momo and Okarun learn to respect each other’s perspectives.
Connection and Isolation
Many characters in Dandadan are isolated by their supernatural experiences or social circumstances. The growing bonds between the main cast provide emotional anchors amid cosmic chaos. The manga repeatedly emphasizes how human connections help characters withstand otherworldly horrors.
Comparisons: Where Dandadan Fits in the Manga Landscape
Reading Dandadan often evokes comparisons to other supernatural battle manga, but its specific blend of elements feels distinctly fresh:
Influences and Parallels
Readers familiar with Tatsuki Fujimoto’s work (Chainsaw Man, Fire Punch) will recognize similar visual techniques and tonal balancing acts, unsurprising given Tatsu’s background. Dandadan shares Chainsaw Man’s ability to pivot from comedy to horror and back, though with its own distinct voice.
The series also echoes classics like Mob Psycho 100 in its psychic battles and character growth, while its alien elements and body horror recall Parasyte. Fans of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure will appreciate the creative supernatural powers and strategically inventive fights.
What Sets Dandadan Apart
Unlike many battle manga that establish rigid power systems, Dandadan maintains supernatural unpredictability. New phenomena follow their own rules rather than fitting neatly into established frameworks, creating genuine surprise when new abilities appear.
The romance element also distinguishes Dandadan from similar series. Rather than relegating romance to subtext or secondary characters, the growing relationship between Momo and Okarun forms a central narrative pillar, with their emotional development given equal weight to supernatural battles.
Verdict: Is Dandadan Worth Your Time?
This Dandadan manga review can be summed up simply: Yes, this manga absolutely deserves your attention. It represents some of the most creative, energetic, and emotionally resonant storytelling in contemporary manga.
Strengths:
- Extraordinary artwork that excels at action, horror, comedy, and emotion
- Genuinely unpredictable storytelling that constantly surprises
- Complex, likable characters who grow throughout the series
- Perfect balance of comedy, horror, action, and romance
- Visual creativity that pushes the boundaries of the medium
Minor Drawbacks:
- Early chapters can feel slightly disjointed as the series finds its footing
- Some comedy relies on crude humor that might not appeal to all readers
- The complex visuals occasionally become overwhelming during intense action
Who Will Enjoy Dandadan?
Dandadan is perfect for readers who:
- Appreciate imaginative supernatural concepts and creature design
- Enjoy series that blend genres (horror, sci-fi, romance, comedy)
- Like character-driven stories with meaningful emotional stakes
- Want something unpredictable that constantly surprises
- Appreciate artistic excellence and visual storytelling
Final Rating: 9/10
Dandadan represents some of the most exciting and innovative work in contemporary manga. Its blend of horror, comedy, action, and genuine heart creates a reading experience unlike anything else on the market. While not flawless, its creative ambition and consistent execution make it essential reading for any manga fan looking for something truly fresh.
FAQs About Dandadan
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Is Dandadan finished?
No, Dandadan is still ongoing. The manga continues to be serialized in Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ digital platform, with new chapters released weekly (barring author breaks).
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Where can I read Dandadan legally?
In the United States, Dandadan is officially available in English through Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump service and their website. Physical volumes are also being released regularly. The Manga Plus app by Shueisha also offers the most recent chapters for free.
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How many chapters are in Dandadan?
As of this review, Dandadan has over 100 chapters published. The series continues to release new chapters weekly, so this number will increase over time.
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Who is the author of Dandadan?
Dandadan is written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu, who previously worked as an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto (creator of Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch). Dandadan is Tatsu’s first major serialized work.
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Is there an anime adaptation of Dandadan?
Yes, an anime adaptation of Dandadan was announced and is being produced by Science SARU, the acclaimed animation studio known for their distinctive visual style. Fans of the manga are eagerly anticipating seeing the series’ wild supernatural encounters brought to animated life.
Your Turn: Join the Dandadan Conversation!
Have you already experienced the wild ride that is Dandadan? What’s your favorite supernatural encounter or character moment from the series so far? Or are you a newcomer intrigued by this Dandadan manga review and ready to dive in?
Share your thoughts in the comments below! Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering this unique manga, we’d love to hear your take on Yukinobu Tatsu’s supernatural masterpiece.
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