Wandance, Vol. 8

ワンダンス [Wondance] #8

by Coffee

KABO DREAMS OF MAKING IT BIG WITH WANDA, BUT HE’S CONVINCED THAT THE TWO OF THEM ARE ON DIFFERENT PATHS IN THEIR DANCING LIVES. WILL DANCING TO THE BEAT OF THEIR OWN SONGS BE THE KEY TO KEEPING THEM IN STEP WITH ONE ANOTHER, OR WILL THE DUO HAVE TO DANCE THEIR SEPARATE WAYS?

While Wanda pursues a part in Assay’s dance showcase, Kabo will have to decide whether he wants to forge ahead with hip-hop, or if the siren call of breakdancing will make him part of Kabe’s circle. He’d better choose fast though, because there’s an all-B-Boy competition coming up, and Kabe wants Kabo to partner with him—but only if he can polish his breakdancing basics before the battle! As Kabo grapples with his insecurities, On-chan reveals she has her own bouts of self-doubt, and shows him her secret to dealing with them. Meanwhile, Wanda throws herself into the showcase, but will she be able to prove herself among Assay’s handpicked dancers? Or will she discover that the big star of a backwater high school is just another face in the crowd when it comes to the wider world of dance?

Genres: Manga, Sports

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2022

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back at school, Kabo has decided to change his focus, while Wanda continues to strive for her upcoming showcase. As they slowly drift apart, they have little time to worry about it as life starts piling up around them.

It’s pleasantly ironic how this volume starts with Kabo’s way, way over the top daydream about himself and Wanda being the most amazing duo to ever dance a dance, given how quickly that side of things slams into a metaphorical brick wall.

All of it is down to communication, with Kabo thinking a lot and assuming a lot more and not actually asking Wanda what she’s actually thinking about. Part of that is down to his stutter, which, phew, having him deliver the line he does without missing a beat? That lands so, so hard because of it. Gut. Punch. Also, Kabo? You’re a dumb high school boy sometimes.

Yes, the kinetic dramatics of Wandance are back in full form and our leads have begun to just slip away from one another. There will surely be a reckoning, but not any time soon, as the other things they’re chasing get in the way. This is one of the only manga that can drag storylines over multiple volumes and keep my attention the entire way.

Additionally, we get lots of On and Iori together this volume and they make for such a welcome contrast, coming together and being such a fun coupling (maybe?), that it helps not only provide some relief from the awkward but also highlights it at the same time.

There’s just a little brilliance to this that keeps shining through every time for me. Yeah, it may play out like manga Fame mixed with Breakin’, but it never fails to just kill it. Coffee’s visuals were designed to do this story, I should hate how wild this art is and yet I love it to bits, and the writing’s good too.

I think On might be the secret sauce that holds this all together, as she’s not just really strong at dancing, but she’s also a great leader. When things are going sideways for Kabo, she notices, and even without having to address his stutter, she knows just what to say.

But then, almost every character is kind of interesting that way, but On’s low-key stealing this away from two leads who are already great themselves. Both their arcs, from Wanda being out to prove herself as a dancer to Kabo learning to breakdance and also silently standing up to bullies, are solid.

Strong supporting cast, great leads, inherent conflict, brilliant art, I don’t know what else this series can do to be any better than it is? If you like this dance style at all, it’s a no brainer, but it has straight up appeal far beyond that.

5 stars - the usual score, but still very earned. This story always makes me want to learn how to dance, which for the sake of my dignity I do not pursue further. However, given my general dislike for dancing, that says it all right there.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

We get to see a lot more break dancing this volume, and we see Wanda get a big chance. I wish we could have seen her reaction to what Kabo said though

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[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kabo and Wanda focus on their own thing and while this made me sad, we do get to see some really good dancing. Wanda is dancing in a professional's showcase and their might be some trouble on the horizon. Kabo is set to enter the b-boy battle scene. My favorite moments in this volume were when he was practicing and learning the new moves. The style continues to ooze off the pages and I find myself learning something new each volume.

[Isabell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh, those outfits are terrible. So are the proportions of the characters' bodies. They are very, very slim, especially the girls' waists often are as narrow as the circumference of their heads, or even smaller.

It was also not easy to follow what was imagined by Kabo and what was not. Still cute, though.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Akane-banashi this story introduces new elements of its subject art as it goes along, but this one's much more stylish. Although Wanda-san and Kaboku are separated for the majority of this volume, I bet they'll be dancing together again before long.

[鯊 · Rating 4 out of 5]

不要拆散小倆口啊我沒料到這走向囧>

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The dance competition, although it ends in three a volume went on a bit too long for me.