Dandadan
Manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, serialized in Shonen Jump+ since 2021. Momo Ayase, a high schooler who believes in ghosts, and Ken 'Okarun' Takakura, an otaku who believes in aliens, discover both exist and are swept into a spiral of wild supernatural adventures. An explosive mix of action, comedy, and romance with spectacularly energetic artwork.
Quick Facts
Japon- Year
- 2021
- Volumes
- 16
- Author
- Yukinobu Tatsu
- Status
- ongoing
- Demographic
- shonen
Synopsis
Momo Ayase is a high school girl who firmly believes in ghosts and the supernatural, while Ken Takakura, nicknamed Okarun, is a lonely otaku passionate about aliens and UFOs. When Momo defends Okarun against bullying classmates, the two make a bet: Momo will visit a location known for UFO sightings, and Okarun will go to a haunted tunnel. They discover that both are right: Momo is attacked by aliens who want her spiritual power, and Okarun is cursed by Turbo Granny, a vengeful spirit who partially transforms him into a monster and... steals his family jewels.
Thus begins a wild adventure where Momo and Okarun must fight both ghosts and aliens to recover Okaruns stolen assets, scattered across different locations guarded by malevolent spirits. Momo possesses psychic power inherited from her exorcist grandmother, while Okarun can channel Turbo Grannys curse to gain superhuman strength. Their duo expands with the arrival of Aira Shiratori, a school idol who acquires powers, and Jiji, a mysterious boy connected to spirits.
The manga chains spectacular confrontations against entities drawn from Japanese folklore (yokai, urban ghosts) and aliens with extravagant designs, while developing a touching and awkward romance between Momo and Okarun. Tatsu, a former assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man), displays remarkable visual talent with dynamic page compositions and a stunning sense of movement.
Themes and Influence
Dandadan celebrates adolescence in all its awkwardness, energy, and emotion. The manga fuses genres that are usually separate — Japanese folklore, science fiction, romantic comedy, shonen action — with total creative freedom. The work addresses school bullying, self-acceptance, and the value of solidarity in the face of the strange. Dandadans unique tone, oscillating between spectacularly violent fights and moments of adolescent tenderness, makes it one of the most refreshing manga of the 2020s. The 2024 anime adaptation by Science SARU was praised for its exceptional animation quality.
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