MANGA REVIEW | "Dandadan" - Volume Eleven
No Shonen Jump manga would be complete without a training arc. Dandadan is no exception, especially with the beatdown our heroes received in the last volume. A bigger threat is coming, and with one of their key players out of action, the time to focus, practice, and work together is now. This also means having to team up with someone who, let’s just say, isn’t the most trustworthy of creatures.
Volume Eleven of Dandadan starts off where the last volume left off, as Momo fends off many cloned Serpoians. Only one seems to be on her said, as the maid café-working heroine uses all of her moé moé kyun power to defeat the foes. But as the battle ends, the time to take shelter from Reiko Kashima has already taken effect. What’s a high school girl and one-half of a Serpoian to do? Well…thank the gods for those manga cafés, right?
Normally, this is the part where foes find common ground, with one character normally saying something along the lines of, “We’re not so different, you and I.” But no, this ain’t the time to break bread, as Reiko takes control of a manga café worker and attempts to find Momo. It’s here where our heroine and alien foe do have to cooperate to have Reiko sod off in the calmest of manners. A little fart joke here, a skirt peek there, and — somehow — their plan works.
Alas, this isn’t the time when things go back to normal for our Dandadan team. The others are badly beaten, with Okarun on the brink of death. Momo lashes out at Vamola, who believes to be the cause of these aliens coming to Earth. There’s no “I can explain” or “It’s not like that at all” coming from Vamola’s mouth, even as Momo chases her away from the crew. Odds are, this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Vamola, but one can’t help but feel heartbroken by the look in either her or her kaiju form’s eyes.
With Seiko and Turbo Granny still away in Hokkaido, that means the heroes (and a reluctant Serpoian) must figure out what to do next. They’ve got five days to take on the biggest threat in human history, and there’s no hyperbolic time chamber this side of Universe 7 that can help them become stronger. So they make do with an abandoned hospital basement, which the Serpoian has filled with food, water, and some training bots. But to get there, our team needs a lift.
And here is where the real humor of Dandadan takes form. Each kid takes a turn at transforming their home into some sort of vehicle. As you can imagine, they don’t have the concentration skills to get it right, resulting in some wild concoctions. An added bonus is seeing what happens to Okarun’s comatose body each time, with every situation being well-deserved of a “YOU’RE NOT HELPING!!!” kind of reaction.
Speaking of Okarun, he has his own kind of out-of-body experience, as he roams around without anyone noticing. Is he on the brink of death, or could it be a new power of his unleashed while being comatose? It’s hard to say for now, but we can at least watch him squirm a bit while looking at an innocent moment between Momo and Jiji. (At least he can answer a phone, albeit in the most peculiar of ways.)
The time to nut up or shut up is nigh in Dandadan. Those who read Volume Eleven will see just how much of a threat is coming to Earth. Thankfully, those who read it also will no doubt be entertained by the antics of Momo, Jiji, Aira, Mr. Mantis, and the lone Serpoian (whom I’ve dubbed “Sidebottom” for obvious reasons). And those who fear the worst for our heroes, don’t fret. Team Grandma is on their way!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
