Dandadan Vol. 17

It’s a new year, and this 2026, Dandadan is kicking off its year of English translation with Vol. 17, a continuation of the Danmara Arc that began back in the last volume. I went into this volume expecting to wrap up that arc, and potentially even begin another, but if Dandadan Vol. 17 proved anything, it’s that there’s a lot more ground to cover in this arc than I had initially anticipated, and when an arc is this entertaining, its length won’t draw any complaints from me.

There’s a lot to talk about with the drop of this new volume, and I’m here to go over everything that Dandadan Vol. 17 has to offer. So, let’s not waste any more time! A warning – this is a spoiler review! Be sure to read Dandadan Vol. 17 before reading on (chapters 139-147)! It’s time to talk about all things Dandadan Vol. 17!

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Dandadan Vol. 17 Review

Image by VIZ Media

Dandadan Vol. 17 picks up right where Vol. 16 left off, in a continuation of the tradition of Dandadan starting and ending its volumes in really awkward spots from a narrative point of view. I’m glad to be diving right back into the Danmara Arc though, as this is easily one of the more unique and compelling arcs to take place in the series as of late, and in a shonen as unconventional as Dandadan, that’s saying something. Dandadan thrives on madness, and the Danmara Arc allows the series to explore all sorts of wacky corners of reality, as the series dives into what is essentially an isekai experience for Momo and Zuma.

In fact, opening with the Danmara Arc feels like more of a positive than a negative, as it also lets us spend more time with Zuma, who has quickly become one of my favourite side characters in the series. Dandadan has always had a very charming cast of characters, so much so that I often wish side characters would be promoted to main characters so we could spend more time with them. Zuma is yet another addition to the growing list of really likeable characters, but unlike Aira and Jiji, I hope he stays as a side character. I don’t want the character to be oversaturated, and on top of this, Dandadan Vol. 17 hints at a romantic storyline between Momo and Zuma, which I don’t really want to pursue.

If I was to highlight one flaw in Dandadan‘s writing, and this has been an issue from the very beginning, it would be the unbelievable amount of potential romances that Tatsu lays out on the table. Momo and Okarun’s will-they, won’t-they relationship is more than enough romance for me, but I can deal with the complications of having Aira and Jiji be interested in the two, to introduce a little conflict in the love department. However, I really don’t need characters like Rin and Zuma being thrown into that mix, and unfortunately, it seems like Dandadan just can’t help but rely on reeling these characters into the story through the use of romantic interest. The novelty is starting to wear thin, and I’d be a little disappointed to see Zuma, a character who could fit the role of a good friend or even sibling well, be relegated to yet another potential partner for Momo.

Image by VIZ Media

On the plus side, the artwork in Dandadan Vol. 17 is absolutely incredible, but this is nothing new for this series. However, it feels like this volume was actually a step-up in this department from many of the recent volumes released. Dandadan‘s artwork is some of my favourite, especially owing to how clear and legible everything is. Not to throw any other authors under the bus, especially considering I’m a big fan of Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece, but the artwork in Dandadan is so easy to get immersed in based on how clear everything is, especially when compared to the work of artists like Gege Akutami or Eiichiro Oda. I may prefer the stylistic choices of those two manga over Dandadan, but the legibility of Tatsu’s illustrations doesn’t go unnoticed, and really helps to enhance the world of this manga.

Speaking of style, Dandadan Vol. 17 continues the series’ hot streak in terms of comedy, as more than a few moments genuinely made me chuckle aloud. In particular, the dice scene, where Momo’s antics backfire, was a great time. There are some moments that didn’t exactly work for me – I got nothing out of the underwear jokes involving Zuma – but for the most part, I was enthralled by Dandadan Vol. 17’s sense of humour. This is yet another volume that I cannot wait to see Science SARU bring to life, though it does depress me a little to think about how many years and years are ahead of us before we reach that point in the anime. Dandadan feels like a manga that was destined to be adapted weekly, and is forced to release seasonally.

The climax of Dandadan Vol. 17 revolved around a huge army-based battle against the final boss of the Danmara. While this battle was a really enjoyable time for the most part, and there was plenty of amazing artwork to keep my compelled, I can’t help but feel like this premise was executed a little sloppily. There were RPG elements and mechanics present in this fight in theory, but I don’t feel like they were taken advantage of to the fullest. The volume also left off in a strange spot, considering how blunt of an ending chapter 147 has. I would have liked for the Danmara Arc to have a clean ending in Dandadan Vol. 17, but unfortunately, it seems the arc will leak over into Vol. 18, if only for a chapter or two.

Image by VIZ Media

Thanks to the beautiful page spreads and massive pieces of phenomenal artwork, Dandadan Vol. 17 also ends up feeling a little scarce from a plot perspective, covering quite little ground compared to previous volumes. I really enjoyed taking our time with Zuma and Momo in the hotel, but a good chunk of this volume was spent on fairly slow-paced character development, and when we eventually got to the climax of the volume, it felt like it flew by in an instant. Overall, I really enjoyed Dandadan Vol. 17, particularly the artwork, but its grandiosity did take away from some storytelling opportunities, leaving the volume feeling as a transitional edition of the series.

Overall though, Dandadan Vol. 17 was a really fun time, but I am ready to wrap up this arc as early as the first chapter of Vol. 18, and judging from the pacing, I think we will. I hope Zuma sticks around into the future as a side character, though we can leave his potential romance with Momo on the cutting room floor as far as I’m concerned. Here’s looking forward to the future of the series!

Dandadan Vol. 18 is scheduled to release on April 7, 2026, so mark your calendars! What did you think of this volume of the series? Did you enjoy Dandadan Vol. 17? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section, and many thanks for reading!

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