Ghosts versus aliens. That is the entire pitch of the Dandadan manga — and somehow it is one of the most creative, heartfelt, and flat-out fun action series running right now. Created by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dandadan throws a girl who believes in ghosts and a boy who believes in UFOs into a world where both are real, and neither is safe. This guide covers the story, the characters, the volumes, and how to read the series through official licensed sources.
What Is the Dandadan Manga About?
Momo Ayase is a confident high school girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens. Ken Takakura — nicknamed Okarun — is a nerdy occult fan who believes in aliens but not ghosts. After a dare to prove each other wrong, they discover the terrible truth: both are real, and both want a piece of them.
Okarun gets possessed by a powerful spirit, Momo awakens latent psychic powers, and together they stumble into a hidden world of yokai, aliens, cryptids, and curses lurking beneath everyday life. What starts as a battle-of-beliefs comedy quickly becomes a genuine ensemble adventure, with Momo and Okarun collecting allies — and enemies — who are as weird as they are memorable.
The series runs in Shonen Jump+, and it wastes no time: the first chapter alone has possession, psychic awakenings, an alien abduction attempt, and a confession of feelings that neither character is ready for.
Meet the Main Characters
Momo Ayase
Momo is the heart of the series — bold, foul-mouthed, fiercely loyal, and powered by psychic abilities she inherited from her spirit-medium grandmother. She acts tough because she has to, but her growing feelings for Okarun and her devotion to her friends give her real depth beneath the bravado.
Okarun (Ken Takakura)
Okarun starts as a lonely UFO obsessive with no friends and slowly becomes a genuinely heroic figure. After being cursed by the yokai Turbo Granny, he gains incredible speed and strength — at the cost of his dignity, since his transformation leaves him nearly naked. His earnest, self-sacrificing nature makes him easy to root for.
Turbo Granny
One of the strangest and best characters in modern manga: a foul-mouthed old-lady yokai who becomes trapped inside a lucky cat doll. She is rude, petty, and reluctantly heroic — and she steals every scene she is in.
Aira, Jiji, and the Rest
The cast keeps growing. Aira is a popular girl who gains the powers of the yokai Acrobatic Silky. Jiji is Okarun’s childhood friend with his own dark connection to the occult. Each new arc introduces creatures drawn from Japanese folklore, urban legends, and outright alien weirdness.
Why the Dandadan Manga Works So Well
On paper, “ghosts and aliens fight teenagers” sounds like chaos. In practice, Tatsu controls the chaos masterfully:
- Relentless creativity. Every arc introduces a new yokai, alien race, or cursed object with its own rules. The series never repeats a trick — from a sumo-wrestling alien to a cursed haunted trunk, each threat demands a totally different solution.
- Action with real stakes. The fights are kinetic and inventive, with psychic powers, yokai transformations, and alien tech colliding in ways that feel fresh every chapter.
- Romance that earns itself. Momo and Okarun’s slow-burn relationship is the emotional engine of the series. It is sweet without being saccharine, and every romantic beat lands because the characters have genuinely grown.
- Horror-comedy balance. The series can be genuinely creepy — some yokai designs are nightmare fuel — and then pivot to an absurd gag in the same page. The tonal whiplash is the point, and it works.
Dandadan Manga Volumes: Story Arcs in Order
If you are catching up or collecting, here is how the story unfolds across the volumes:
- Volumes 1–2: The bet. Momo and Okarun’s dare goes wrong in the best way. Possession, psychic powers, and the Turbo Granny arc establish the series’ blend of horror, comedy, and heart.
- Volumes 3–5: The Serpo aliens. First contact with genuine extraterrestrials raises the stakes and introduces Aira and the Acrobatic Silky.
- Volumes 6–9: The cursed house. Jiji’s family home hides something ancient and evil. This is the series’ first true horror arc — and one of its most acclaimed.
- Volumes 10–13: Kaiju and space. Yes, it goes there. Giant monsters, alien invasions, and some of the most spectacular action in the series.
- Volumes 14–20: The cursed trunk saga. A cursed game unleashes mayhem, and the Fairy-Tale Card arc pushes the cast to their limits — including Momo getting shrunk to fairy size after eating sweets from the cursed trunk, and a library encounter with a mysterious pygmy.
The English release is published by VIZ, with new volumes arriving regularly. For the latest volume listings and licensed digital chapters, see the official VIZ page for Dandadan.
Anime vs. Manga: Where Should You Start?
The anime adaptation by Science SARU (2024) is a visual spectacle — fluid animation, wild color, and a killer soundtrack. It covers the early arcs and is a great entry point. But the manga is the complete experience:
- The manga is far ahead of the anime, with 20+ volumes of story the show has not touched.
- Tatsu’s panel work is astonishing: double-page spreads that choreograph chaos with total clarity.
- The later arcs (kaiju battles, the cursed trunk saga) are some of the series’ best material and currently manga-only.
Watch the anime, then pick up the manga where it leaves off — or just start from volume one for the full ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dandadan manga finished?
No. Dandadan is ongoing in Shonen Jump+, with the English release past volume 20. New chapters release on a regular schedule, and new arcs continue to expand the world.
Who created Dandadan?
The series is written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu, a former assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man). You can feel that influence in the series’ fearless creativity and emotional gut-punches.
Is Dandadan appropriate for younger readers?
Dandadan is rated for teens and older. It contains horror imagery, strong language, crude humor, and suggestive content. It is best suited for older teens and adults.
Where can I read the Dandadan manga legally?
The official English release is published by VIZ. Physical volumes are available at bookstores, and licensed digital chapters are available through official platforms listed on the publisher’s site. Reading through licensed sources supports Yukinobu Tatsu directly.
How many volumes of Dandadan are there?
The English release has reached 20+ volumes, with the Japanese release slightly ahead. New volumes continue to arrive several times per year.
Conclusion
The Dandadan manga is proof that a simple premise — ghosts versus aliens — can become something extraordinary in the right hands. Yukinobu Tatsu blends horror, comedy, romance, and some of the most inventive action in modern manga into a series that never stops surprising you. It is loud, weird, and genuinely moving, often in the same chapter.
If you want high-energy supernatural action with real heart, start with volume one. And when you are ready to slow down with something quieter and more reflective, our Frieren manga guide covers one of the most beautiful fantasy series of the decade.
