Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#171: Dandadan

Have you ever wanted to get into something so batshit crazy it'll leave you slack-jawed? If so, then fear not cause Yukinobu Tatsu's Dandadan is here to keep you company with some kooky Kool-Aid.

Summary

In a world where seemingly anything is possible, two teenagers, Okarun and Momo Ayase, sit at a crossroads. While the former believes in all things extraterrestrial, Momo's experience as a spiritual medium has led to having faith in the supernatural. Yet the two seem to not believe in the other's fascination, thus leading them to engage in a bet that'll forever change their lives.

For Momo, that meant awakening her psychic powers after nearly getting probed by some villainous aliens. For Okarun, it meant getting possessed by a powerful evil spirit at the cost of his "manhood." Incidents tie our two heroes together as they use their supernatural powers to find the balls to find Okarun's missing "family jewels" while attracting a whole host of supernatural phenomena to their doorstep.

Characters

Momo Ayase: The head honcho of our dynamic duo, Momo, is a foul-mouthed and tempered young girl who spent most of her life hiding away her occult knowledge to look cool. But when push comes to shove, she's one of the fiercest and fiery friends you could ever ask for, with her headstrong kindness pushing her through any challenge.

Okarun: Given the rather "odd" circumstances, Okarun, despite appearances, is a true man's man. Okarun is extremely altruistic, formal, and polite to a fault, a chivalrous gentleman to a fault. Unfortunately, these traits can hinder him, as Okarun constantly doubts his abilities and relationships. Still, if a friend is on the line, Okarun will do everything he can to improve.

Seiko Ayase: Momo's grandmother, Seiko, is an expert in all things supernatural, often providing both kids a low down on how to master their powers better. Momo gets her tough and more informal actions from her, but these unconventional actions beset a genuinely kind woman who seeks to give everyone in her home an asylum.

Aira Shinatori: Serving as a rival to Momo in school life and love, Aria is a preppy yet posed girl who sits at the top of the social ladder. Once she catches feelings for Okaryn, her tune becomes a bit sweeter, especially when she gets possessed by a spirit of her own.

Jiji: Momo's childhood friend, Jiji, is a hyper-energetic, amiable, and amazingly sweetheart guy. As a prodigy for spiritual energy, Jiji serves as a powerful warrior and friend to have by your side.

Turbo Granny: The provocative poltergeist, Turbo Granny is an incredibly cantankerous soul who wishes to prove her superiority any chance she gets. Which makes her current predicament as a spirit trapped in a cat toy even funnier.

Overview

I don't know what's more cursed, Dandadan's first chapter or this is the 169th spotlight. Either way, Dadandan is one of the most batshit experiences I've had the unfortunate of reading. If risque or more sexually charged jokes aren't your thing, you're entirely free to turn back now. Let me paint the scene for those who are braver and more curious.

Dadadan is a crazy non-stop train ride from the start, and it doesn't let you go by the proverbial balls for a second. Despite the initial premise, Dandadan, instead of relying too much on longstanding narrative shifts, focuses on a far more episodic mini-arc format, increasing focus on the characters.

Through this, we get hit pretty hard with a diverse cast and a world with endless possibilities. Skyscraping monsters, cute aliens, vengeful spirits, and virgin weeaboos pose.

Exciting challenges for Okarun and Momo as they grow their powers and friend groups. It doesn't hurt that every character looks so fucking good when they kick butt.

Horkoshi may still be my overall favorite artist in Jump, but hot damn, does he got some competition with Yukinobu Tatsu. While I haven't dug into his author's notes or interviews, it wouldn't surprise me if there were a lot of sci-fi and horror influences. The variety of monsters and extraterrestrial designs are vast, always looking uncanny, fearsome, and distinct from each other and other creatures.

This insane variety lends itself well to the detailed cityscapes or their backgrounds since our heroes often have to come up with unique scenarios or inspirations to beat their foes. Whether it comes in a rocket concert across the city or a giant robot smackdown, there's always something crazy in this manga.

And while this is very much unfitting ( hell, I would love it if the characters remained clothed), I do think if you're able to adapt, you get to see some entertaining characters. Because against all the craziness, I feel the characters' grounded nature makes Dandadan worth it. More so than most shonen manga, I fully believe that our main cast is real teenagers whose nonsensical egos, anxious doubts, and complicated complexes push them forward. Or holding them back *cough, cough* Okarun and Momo Ayase just fucking confess to each other *cough, cough.*

Still, crushing lack of confession aside, these human aspects make it whenever Dadandan gets a serious hit like nothing else. I don't particularly know where the story is going from here or what the overall moral of Dandadan is, but I think faith would be the best overall script. If you believe in something more fantastical, life can become more magical.

Epilogue

Dadadan is a series that will be for everyone, but it's a series I recommend nonetheless. It's an uncanny and unpredictable manga, but I feel that great art and strong characters will tie it through as it continues to find more of its footing, especially with its 2024 adaptation coming up pretty soon. Until that comes out, though, let's shine the spotlight somewhere else.