Dandadan (Volume 3) – I’m Supposed to Protect Her…

Momo and Okarun saved Aira from the Acrobatic Silky, but that didn’t mean she would give up. But then, after the Acrobatic Silky got her hair caught, something became apparent that completely changed the mood!

Dandadan (Volume 3) – I’m Supposed to Protect Her…

What happened?

Okarun raced through the building, zipping beneath beams and around posts. Eventually, the Acrobatic Silky believed that she had them cornered. However, her hair had become tangled in all of the obstacles. Momo used her psychic powers to grab Silky’s legs and hold her in place. Then, she told Okarun to hit it with everything he had. However, he’d never really been in a fight and the last time, he got so angry he acted on instinct. Then, as it looked like Silky might break free, Okarun hit her with a flying headbutt. She was defeated.

However, none of that mattered when they realised that Aira was already dead. That was generally what happened to people who had been swallowed by a yokai. Okarun and Momo were the exceptions because of their gifts. They tried to resuscitate her but it wouldn’t work. Turbo Granny explained that she had lost her aura. That was when Silky climbed to her feet and approached. Okarun told Momo to keep trying while he held off Silky, but she told him that she would save her by giving Aira her aura. Momo was sceptical, but it seemed to be their only choice. She would need to use her psychic powers to connect them.

When she did that, Momo saw the life of the person who became the Acrobatic Silky and how she suffered a cruel and horrible life trying to care for her daughter. Ultimately, her daughter was taken from her and then she took her own life. Sometime later, a young Aira who had recently lost her mother mistook the Silky for her own mother, making a connection between them. Silky was prepared to give her life to save Aira, and she did.

After Aira had recovered they watched in horror as Silky slowly faded away, destined for nothingness as she was leaving with unresolved issues. Then, Aira ran and hugged her, giving her the closure she needed to pass on to the afterlife. Later, they went to Momo’s house which only confirmed Aira’s suspicions that she was a demon. After all, her grandmother was far too long and hot to be a grandmother. She swore that she would continue to fight her and one-day free Okarun from her clutches.

The next day at school, Okarun told Momo he couldn’t have lunch with her because he had a paper to work on. However, she found him behind a building on top of Aira looking a bit flustered and sweaty! The truth is Okarun had been trying to work out, desperate to get strong enough to protect Momo. That was when Aira found him and confessed her love for him for saving her. She tried to kiss him, but he resisted, and they fell on top of one another which was when Momo saw them. She was furious and refused to listen.

In the next period, something strange happened. Suddenly the school had been flooded with water. There was no one there except for Okuran, Aira, and Momo, however, Momo was on her own at this time. There was also no way out, just like the time they were attacked at Momo’s house. The aliens had returned and they wanted Okarun’s banana organ to save their species. Aira was able to tap into the aura of Acrobatic Silky, enabling her to fight like Okarun, however, they were no match for the Serpoians without Momo, who was busy with the Loch Ness Monster!

What did you think?

First things first, I am in love with this series. The subject matter is fantastic, mixing stories of yokai and aliens into one unbelievable smorgasbord. Then, when you add the insane humour and general chaos that seems to flow through every panel, it just takes on a life of its own. I said in the last volume that I was hoping that Aira would become a regular character and it looks like I’m getting my wish. I love that she now has a bizarre power similar to how Okarun uses Turbo Granny. I also love that she has fallen for Okarun and what that does to the dynamic of the group, especially when you throw in Momo’s grandmother who is determined to make everyone’s life miserable. She is the most chaotic character I’ve seen in ages and I love her for it.

I have to laugh that the main plot at the moment is Okarun trying to find his missing testicle while trying to stop the Serpoians from taking the rest of his genitals. It’s utterly insane. So insane, that I just ordered all the rest of the volumes. I currently had up to volume five, but this was enough for me to go all in. I can’t wait to see just how crazy this series gets. I just hope it can maintain this level of energy because the bar has been set incredibly high. Also, that backstory for Acrobatic Silky and Aria was heartbreaking. How the hell did they manage to sucker-punch us like that in the middle of all this chaos? Just incredible. Bring me more!

Volume highlights

Series Information

English Title	Dandadan
Japanese Title	Dandadan
Genres	Action, Comedy, Supernatural
Demographic	Shounen

Manga

Author	Yukinobu Tatsu
Artist	Yukinobu Tatsu
Volumes	Ongoing	Chapters
1	I am an Awkward Fellow After All!	1-5
2	Now My Balls Are Gone!	6-14
3	I’m Supposed to Protect Her…	15-23
4	First Love!	24-32
5	You’ve Been Protecting Me?	33-40
6	This Damn House!	41-49
7	Pardon the Intrusion!	50-58
8	You’re Weak!	59-67
9	It’s About the Powerbomb!	68-76
10	This is the Power of Words!	77-85
11	You Dead or Something?!	86-93

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