MANGA REVIEW | "Dandadan" - Volume Thirteen
It used to be that the fate of the world would rest on the shoulders of one single person. At least, that’s how it was in many shonen manga series and some Western comics. However, as the years have gone by, we have seen that attitude change, as there isn’t just one hero in the story; there are many. The thirteenth volume of Dandadan demonstrates this well, and while we’ve known there are other heroes besides Momo and Okarun, it’s here where we can see they are just as strong as them!
The volume continues with the backstory involving Vamola’s past. Her planet was under attack by other aliens, to the point where all men were enslaved. Things look bleak, until Vamola and her team decide to keep on marching forward until they either win or die trying. However, as they go on a rescue plan, it turns out that maybe some folks aren’t worth saving, as their cowardice takes over the minute they’re let go.
Just how bad is that? It’s enough for the God of Sumer to call them out on their bullshit! Their planet’s being taken over. Loved ones are dying. Cities are being destroyed. Doesn’t this piss them off?! Why aren’t they fighting back?! The God of Sumer gives everyone the pep talk they need, in a way I wish other shonen manga series would do in dire situations.
This all leads to Vamola escaping the planet, as she searches for a new home and a person to fall in love with. All of these moments play in the mind of Momo, who is healing her. At long last, she sees the kind of person Vamola is. She’s not a threat in the slightest; she’s a scared girl who’s looking for her place in this crazy-ass universe of ours! (I mean, us readers could kind of figure it out early on, but good on Momo for realizing it too!)
At this moment, Dandadan shifts gears into full-throttle mode. The Serpo heals Vamola, its last act before it runs out of power. With a promise to destroy the research data in her back pocket, Momo reenters the fight with gusto! And thankfully, the likes of Aira, Jiji, and even Mr. Mantis Shrimp show that they have plenty of fight in them too.
I often find it crazy how much attention to detail Yukinobu Tatsu puts into his fights. From the vibrations of a monster’s punch to the tiniest damage flying off in a massive explosion, Tatsu has a true knack for making some kick-ass fight sequences. While this whole battle has been a wonder to look at, it’s seeing this moment where our heroes throw everything and the kitchen sink into their punches, kicks, and Super Saiyan-like blasts where Dandadan just looks better than anything else in the Shonen Jump lineup!
Thankfully, this is not just some battle manga with only cool fights and little substance. We get why Aira is fighting. Jiji’s reasons are clear for why he keeps battling. Hell, freaking Mr. Mantis Shrimp has a whole tragic backstory of his own involving his child that shows why he wants to save a planet that he isn’t even a part of! And this is all before Okarun even joins the fight, something that the final bits of Volume Thirteen finally offer a taste of.
Okay, maybe Akira Toriyama may have been the first manga author to perfect the concept of the world resting on the shoulders of many. I get that. But Dandadan is following that attitude and storytelling with a hell of a lot of pizazz and heart. It makes me laugh where this is a manga series that made me raise an eyebrow or two when I first read it, only for it now to be something that may one day be placed high on a pedestal. And now with everyone reunited, we may be in for one of the coolest, most bombastic, and most eye-poppingly detailed battles of the decade.
But wait…aren’t our Dandadan heroes forgetting someone?
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
