Where to start the Dandadan manga after season 1, explained

Modified Dec 24, 2024 03:30 GMT

Where to start the Dandadan manga after season 1, explained (Image via Science SARU)

Following the conclusion of its television anime adaptation earlier this week, many fans are desperate to learn where to start the Dandadan manga after season 1’s finale. While the series was inherently enthralling enough to inspire such actions, season 1’s cliffhanger further spurred viewers to start Mangaka Yukinobu Tatsu’s original series.

Likewise, fans’ biggest concern in transitioning to the original work is a potential need to reread large chunks of material due to Science SARU’s adaptation cutting key events. Thankfully, this is not the case, making the Dandadan manga one of the easiest to shift to following the conclusion of its first anime season.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the manga.

Dandadan manga immediately gives fans the answers they need on season 1’s major Momo cliffhanger

Expand Tweet

Fans looking to start the Dandadan manga series after watching the entirety of the first season of Science SARU’s television anime adaptation can begin with chapter 34. The final shot of the first season, that being the hidden room that Ken “Okarun” Takakura and Jin “Jiji” Enjoji discover in the latter’s house, is the chapter’s first page. Some brief dialogue follows them before the focus shifts to the other ending scenes of the first season focused on Momo Ayase.

At this point in chapter 34, fans will see episode 12’s Momo scenes play out exactly as they did in the anime. She’s suddenly intruded on by five pale-skinned men in the woods surrounding Jiji’s house early on in episode 12. Just as in the anime, they enter and begin acting hostilely towards Momo, eventually approaching and attempting to restrain her. This is obviously where the season ends in terms of its focus on Momo, not showing her ultimate fate.

Thankfully, chapter 34 overtly clarifies her fate, first seeing her use her powers to free herself before being caught once again. However, something causing the building around her to fall helps her out perfectly, seeing her assailants squashed as she escapes unharmed. The Cursed House Arc then progresses from here, offering key information on its antagonists and a surprise appearance that won’t be discussed here to avoid unnecessary spoilers.

Expand Tweet

However, what will be generally discussed in a spoiler-free context is what fans have to look forward to after concluding the Dandadan manga’s Cursed House Arc. As of this article’s writing, Tatsu’s manga series has 177 chapters published overall. These are split into ten total story arcs across two sagas, with the second saga still in its first arc. The Cursed House Arc is the fifth story arc of nine in the first saga and ends with chapter 50.

In other words, even after finishing the Cursed House Arc, fans have well over 120 total chapters left to catch up on before getting current with the series. From here, they can begin reading weekly on Shueisha’s MANGA Plus service or Viz Media’s official website, with both allowing users to read the first and latest three issues in a series for free.

In summation

Fans can get a headstart on Okarun, Momo, and co's next adventures by switching to the manga (Image via Science SARU)

Fans looking to start the Dandadan manga after watching all 12 episodes of the first television anime season can begin with chapter 34. Some scenes will be repeated in the first nine pages of the issue, but a majority of the issue is fresh material that will answer the major cliffhanger questions of the first season.