Dandadan, Vol. 3

Well, I did not expect that at all.

Dandadan starts off as a silly, often crass manga, and absolutely nothing in the first two volumes prepares you for the heartbreak of our monster-of-the-week’s backstory in Vol. 3. Until now, the story has literally been about the hunt for Okarun's missing testicle. His missing testicle, for crying out loud! I can't believe I'm even writing this sentence.

So, when mangaka Yukinobu Tatsu suddenly shifts gears and gets serious, it hits you like a truck. Without spoiling anything, it’s remarkable how, in just a few pages (and with zero dialogue!), he manages to evoke an emotional story beat that adds depth not only to the wonderfully bizarre yokai but also to our newest cast member. And just like that, my expectations for the series have been completely reset, and I’m hooked.