MANGA REVIEW | "Dandadan" - Volume Seventeen
Perhaps I jumped the gun when I compared the last volume of Dandadan to Jumanji. Sure, having Momo be sucked into a board game is exactly the plot to the Robin Williams-starring film adaptation, but I was misinformed. In actuality, as the seventeenth volume shows, there are a plethora of board games that this arc of Dandadan is tipping its hat to. (I just wish I wasn’t so dumb as to not notice the Candy Land homage that our hero is currently going through!)
As we saw previously, Momo made a new friend: Zuma, the man who stole Okarun’s jewel. The two of them are working together to get the heck out of the board game, whilst Momo attempts to gain the golden ball. These two are basically the focus in this particular volume, as Okarun, Turbo Granny, and a gang of hooligans work outside to bring Momo and Zuma back. However, even when only one of our main heroes is in the spotlight, it still delivers a hell of a fun time!
Well... fun time for us readers of Dandadan; not-so-much fun for the actual characters. As they take on giant bakers and stoned Medusas, Momo and Zuma learn how things work in this weird world of theirs. New cards are earned with every boss battle won, which gives our new duo some great skills for the battlefield. And as past volumes have proven, these face-offs with Rock-Hard Costinus and Nom Nom Bongo are as sweet as the giant desserts the latter conjures up.
But even in this battle, there’s time for Momo and Zuma to take a breather. After roaming through a frog-filled RPG world, the two settle for a rest in an inn, which has enough bonus features like a giant bath and washing machine to make it seem like a reasonably sized Japanese apartment. It’s cute that they take turns guarding the door and taking in the amenities, especially since Momo has got a man already. With that being said, even though we readers know who Momo was dreaming about when she mumbled, “Tell me you love me”, one thinks Zuma may read too deeply into it.
Which leads to the big match, one that combines the smarts of chess and the variety of Dungeons & Dragons. After the roll of the dice to see how many soldiers they’ll get, the battle wages on. Readers will be treated to one hell of an epic fight, one that’s close to The Return of the King’s classic climax. And as the fight continues, some familiar faces pop in to raise a bit more anarchy!
Volume Seventeen of Dandadan is a hell of a lot of fun! The imaginative fights, the bonding friendship between Momo and Zuma, and even its kooky humor are balanced nicely throughout the book’s pages. However, even as we’re reaching the end of the board game, I can’t help but feel like getting out won’t be that easy. I mean, did you read the small print on the Nom Nom Bongo card?
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
