Okay, friends, gather ’round. We need to have a serious conversation about Dandadan.
If you hang out in manga circles, you’ve probably seen the panels floating around. Maybe it was a giant crab monster running down a highway, or a possessed high schooler sprinting at Mach 10 in a tunnel. I remember the exact moment I picked this series up. I was doom-scrolling Twitter, and I saw a double-page spread so detailed, so dynamic, and so utterly bizarre that I stopped mid-swipe. I thought, “What on earth is happening here, and why does it look better than 90% of the art in the Louvre?”
I went in blind. I didn’t read a synopsis. I didn’t check the tags. I just clicked Chapter 1.
And let me tell you, Dandadan grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. It is the most unhinged, high-energy, and surprisingly wholesome train wreck I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Vibe Check: Imagine if The X-Files had a baby with FLCL, raised by Chainsaw Man, and fueled by three cans of Red Bull. It’s a supernatural-sci-fi-rom-com-horror mashup that shouldn’t work, but somehow, it’s absolute peak fiction.
The Premise: Do You Believe in Ghosts or Aliens?
The setup sounds like a joke, but stick with me.
We have two protagonists who couldn’t be more different. First, there’s Momo Ayase, a bold, no-nonsense “gyaru” who was raised by her spirit-medium grandmother. She believes 100% in ghosts but thinks aliens are total nonsense.
Then there’s Ken Takakura (nicknamed Okarun because of his obsession with the occult). He’s an awkward, conspiracy-theory-loving nerd who believes 100% in aliens but thinks ghosts are made up.
They get into a petty argument about who is right. To settle it, they make a bet: Momo has to go to an abandoned hospital known for UFO sightings, and Okarun has to go to a tunnel infamous for ghost activity. The loser has to admit the other is right.
Spoilers (but not really): They are both right.
Momo gets abducted by aliens (who are terrifyingly perverted, by the way), and Okarun gets cursed by a yokai known as Turbo Granny. Chaos ensues. Okarun gains a super-powered form but loses… well, his “family jewels.”
Yes, you read that right. The driving plot of the first arc is literally a quest to retrieve Okarun’s missing testicles from the supernatural entities that stole them.
It sounds ridiculous. It is ridiculous. But beneath that wacky premise lies a story with incredibly high stakes, terrifying monsters, and genuine heart.
Why It Hits Different: A Review from the Heart
I read a lot of shonen. Usually, you can predict the beats. Dandadan throws the playbook out the window. Here is why this series is currently sitting at the top of my “Must Read” list.
1. The Art is God-Tier
I cannot stress this enough: Yukinobu Tatsu is a monster.
Tatsu used to be an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man) and Yuji Kaku (Hell’s Paradise), and you can see the DNA there, but Tatsu has refined it into something sharper.
The line work is crisp, detailed, and incredibly confident. Most weekly manga artists have to cut corners with backgrounds to save time. Tatsu apparently didn’t get the memo. The backgrounds are lush and hyper-realistic, which makes the monsters look even more unsettling when they show up.
And the perspective! Tatsu loves these fish-eye lens shots and dynamic angles that make you feel the speed of the characters. When Okarun sprints in his cursed form, you can feel the wind. When Momo uses her psychic powers to throw a telephone pole, you feel the weight. There are double-page spreads in this manga that belong in a museum. I found myself staring at single pages for minutes, just trying to absorb every little detail in the debris and character expressions.
2. The Genre-Bending Rollercoaster
One minute, you are reading a sweet high school romance where two awkward teenagers are blushing at each other. The next page turn? Boom. Body horror. Aliens ripping people’s faces off. Terrifying ghosts with tragic backstories.
It balances horror and comedy perfectly. There’s a character introduced early on—Turbo Granny. Initially, she is the stuff of nightmares. But through a series of events (which I won’t spoil), she becomes the series’ comedic mascot. The way Tatsu manages to make you terrified of a monster in Chapter 3 and then laughing at them in Chapter 10 is genius writing.
3. Momo and Okarun: The Heart of the Chaos
Let’s be real: shonen romance is usually… bad. It’s often an afterthought.
In Dandadan, the relationship between Momo and Okarun is the engine driving the whole thing. Their chemistry is fantastic. Momo is protective, fierce, and kind, while Okarun is timid but incredibly brave when it counts. Watching them slowly grow from “weird acquaintances” to “ride-or-die partners” is the most satisfying slow burn I’ve read in years.
They aren’t just fighting monsters; they are navigating adolescence, insecurities, and trust. It’s surprisingly grounded amidst the alien invasions. You root for them not just to survive, but to finally hold hands.
4. The Pacing is Relentless
There is no “filler” in Dandadan. The story moves at breakneck speed. I binged the first 60 chapters in one weekend because I physically couldn’t stop. Every arc flows naturally into the next, usually escalating in scale. It goes from a haunted tunnel to a global alien invasion threat so smoothly you barely notice the transition.
How & Where to Read (Support the Industry!)
Okay, you’re hyped. I can tell. Now, please, for the love of the manga gods, read this legally.
When you read on official platforms, you are directly telling the publishers, “We want more of this.” It helps the author, it helps the industry, and it ensures we get high-quality translations.
Here is where you go:
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Manga Plus (by Shueisha): This is my go-to. It is free. You can read the first three chapters and the latest three chapters for free. Even better, they often have a campaign where you can read every chapter once for free on the mobile app.
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The Shonen Jump App / Viz Media: If you want to binge the backlog without restrictions, it’s $2.99/month. That is less than a bag of chips. It’s worth it for the high-resolution art alone.
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Physical Volumes: Dandadan is now being printed in English! The cover art is psychedelic and vibrant. It looks amazing on a bookshelf. If you really love it, buy Volume 1.
Quick Tip for New Readers:
Remember, manga is read Right-to-Left.
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Start at the top right panel.
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Read across to the left.
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Go down to the next row on the right.
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Don’t worry, your brain adjusts in about 5 minutes!
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time?
Who is Dandadan for?
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If you loved the chaotic energy and grime of Chainsaw Man…
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If you liked the psychic battles and humor of Mob Psycho 100…
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If you just want a Rom-Com where the couple fights cryptids instead of miscommunication…
This is a 100% must-read.
It is rare to find a series that feels this fresh. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet handles its characters with immense care. It’s funny, it’s scary, it’s heartwarming, and it looks better than almost anything else on the market.
My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Missing Gold Balls)
Status: S-Tier. Certified Banger.
Do not sleep on this. Dandadan is going to be the next big anime hit (the anime adaptation was just announced!), and you want to be the person who says, “I was reading this back when they were just fighting Serpo aliens in a convenience store.”
Go read Chapter 1 right now. Thank me later.