The manga series Dandadan, created by Yukinobu Tatsu, combines both storytelling and artwork by the same author. Rather than appearing in a traditional print magazine, the series has been digitally serialized on Shōnen Jump+, an online platform operated by the major Japanese publisher Shueisha, beginning in April 2021. The manga’s growing popularity eventually led to international recognition, and in early 2022, the American publisher Viz Media secured the rights to distribute it in printed form outside of Japan. The debut volume under Viz’s release schedule became available to readers on October 11, 2022. Since its initial publication, the series has expanded steadily, reaching a total of 17 collected volumes by the start of November 2024.
Etymology
In Japanese, the character dan (談) translates to “story” and is commonly used as a suffix in various compound words. For example, kaidan (怪談) refers to a “ghost story,” kidan (奇談) means a “strange or unusual story,” and taiken-dan (体験談) denotes a “personal experience story.” Each of these words uses “dan” to emphasize a narrative or account related to a specific theme.
In contrast, when written in Chinese, the title Dandadan appears as 膽大黨. Here, the characters have entirely different meanings: 膽 (dǎn) stands for “courage” or “guts,” 大 (dà) means “big” or “great,” and 黨 (dǎng) refers to a “group” or “party.” When combined, 膽大黨 can be interpreted as “the bold group” or “a party of brave individuals,” highlighting a sense of fearlessness rather than storytelling.
History
Before launching Dandadan as his own series, Yukinobu Tatsu gained industry experience by working under two prominent manga creators: Tatsuki Fujimoto, known for Chainsaw Man, and Yūji Kaku, the author of Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku. Tatsu served as an assistant on both series and remained committed to these roles until their completion. It wasn’t until a planning meeting held by Shōnen Jump+ in the second quarter of 2020 that the decision was made to move forward with the serialization of Dandadan. Only after fulfilling his responsibilities as an assistant did Tatsu shift his focus entirely to developing and illustrating his own original work.
Plot
Packed with ghosts, monsters, aliens, teenage romance, intense battles, and just about everything else imaginable, this series delivers a chaotic and thrilling experience. It follows Takakura, an obsessive fan of the occult who denies the existence of ghosts, and Ayase, a skeptical girl who refuses to believe in aliens. Despite their opposing beliefs, the two are forced to confront bizarre supernatural events that challenge their worldviews. Blending comedy, action, and the paranormal, this manga takes readers on an unpredictable and otherworldly adventure.
Dandadan Age Restricted Manga
In the doujinshi version of Dandadan Age Restricted Manga, the story focuses on the battles and romance between Okarun, Momo Ayase, and Aira Shiratori. In the first session, the story highlights the fight against a tentacled alien monster that is extremely difficult to destroy, even after being defeated multiple times. Meanwhile, the second session reveals Aira’s past and the appearance of a new character named Bamora. If you are interested in the fan-made Age Restricted version of Dandadan, you can find more information on the wiki.
Gallery
Volume Covers
Japanese
Front
Back
English
Front
Back
Logo
Age Restricted Manga Chapters Cover
Japanese
English
The Dandadan Doujinshi Age Restricted Manga Chapters Cover is available in multiple languages. To view all versions clearly, simply click the button below.
Fans-Art
Explore the Dandadan image gallery collection featuring various illustrations and character interpretations from the Dandadan manga. Discover a variety of interesting images you can enjoy here.
Reception
By November 2023, Dandadan had achieved significant commercial success, with more than 3.2 million copies in circulation and over 360 million views on the Shōnen Jump+ digital platform. Its growing popularity was further reflected in critical recognition across various industry awards. In June 2021, the series was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Award in the Best Web Manga category, where it earned second place out of 50 nominated titles. It was also highly ranked in Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2022 list, placing fourth among manga targeted at male readers. Moreover, it was a finalist in the 15th Manga Taishō in 2022, finishing in seventh place with a total of 53 points. The manga also received top honors in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees’ and Publisher Comics’ Recommended Comics of 2022 and ranked fourth in the Tsutaya Comic Award 2022, solidifying its status as one of the most notable emerging titles of the year.
Popularity Polls
1st Popularity Poll
| # | Characters | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Okarun | 38,699 |
| 2. | Momo Ayase | 25,763 |
| 3. | Turbo Granny | 22,920 |
| 4. | Jiji | 18,499 |
| 5. | Aira Shiratori | 14,271 |
| 6. | Seiko Ayase | 12,821 |
| 7. | Unji Zuma | 11,935 |
| 8. | Bamora | 11,464 |
| 9. | Rokuro Serpo | 10,549 |
| 10. | Kinta Sakata | 9,760 |
| 11. | Mr. Mantis Shrimp | 7,648 |
| 12. | Reiko Kashima | 4,015 |
Character Popularity Poll 1 Results (Color Spread)
