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大ダーク [Dai Dark] #3
Dai Dark Vol. 3
Zaha Sanko is the most wanted man in the universe. They say that if you can take his bones, you'll be rewarded with anything you might desire. That's made no end of trouble for Sanko, who's a pretty normal teenage dude (when he's not killing people with an axe made out of pure darkness). Currently the prisoner of an ancient space cult, he'll need everything he's got to reclaim his freedom. Thankfully, he's got three oddballs backing him up who just so happen to be the other most wanted men in the universe. Bizarre mayhem is just around the corner! Don't miss this hilariously twisted and gruesome series from the unique mind of Q Hayashida, creator of the manga and Netflix anime Dorohedoro!
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2021
39 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
About the author
Q. Hayashida
81 books596 followersQ Hayashida (林田球, Hayashida Kyu) is a manga author from Tokyo.
Hayashida studied oil painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. She has discussed her childhood and artistic inspirations in interviews but maintains a high level of privacy about her personal life, to the point that her true name and face are unknown.
Hayashida's first major manga was Maken X Another (1999-2001), a comic book adaptation of a video game.
Her most famous work is the 23-volumes long Dorohedoro (2000-2018). It was originally serialised in the alternative manga magazine 'Monthly Ikki', but it was later moved to 'Hibana' when Ikki ceased publication, and finally transferred to 'Monthly Shōnen Sunday'. Dorohedoro has been partially adapted into an anime on Netflix in 2018.
Hayashida's most recent manga series Dai Dark began serialisation in 2019 in the pages of Monthly Shōnen Sunday.
Hayashida studied oil painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. She has discussed her childhood and artistic inspirations in interviews but maintains a high level of privacy about her personal life, to the point that her true name and face are unknown.
Hayashida's first major manga was Maken X Another (1999-2001), a comic book adaptation of a video game.
Her most famous work is the 23-volumes long Dorohedoro (2000-2018). It was originally serialised in the alternative manga magazine 'Monthly Ikki', but it was later moved to 'Hibana' when Ikki ceased publication, and finally transferred to 'Monthly Shōnen Sunday'. Dorohedoro has been partially adapted into an anime on Netflix in 2018.
Hayashida's most recent manga series Dai Dark began serialisation in 2019 in the pages of Monthly Shōnen Sunday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 31, 2024
The gang picks up an outlaw with a strong healing factor. They fumble about in their usual way trying to figure out if he is friend or foe.
I like looking at the pictures and the occasional gross joke, but this is really pretty stupid. Soooo, I guess I'd better put the next three volumes on hold at the library . . .
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Bone 13. Inside Lighthead -- Bone 14. Lighthead's Dark Side --Bone 15. How Much for that Damemaru-- Bone 16. Bone Improvement -- Bone 17. Ow Ticka Ow Ow -- Bone 18. Fear of Failure -- Bonus Bone: A light between kids is followed by a return home with a headless corpse. What a day!!
I like looking at the pictures and the occasional gross joke, but this is really pretty stupid. Soooo, I guess I'd better put the next three volumes on hold at the library . . .
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Bone 13. Inside Lighthead -- Bone 14. Lighthead's Dark Side --Bone 15. How Much for that Damemaru-- Bone 16. Bone Improvement -- Bone 17. Ow Ticka Ow Ow -- Bone 18. Fear of Failure -- Bonus Bone: A light between kids is followed by a return home with a headless corpse. What a day!!
August 6, 2021
oh god the coverrrrrrrrrrrrrr
December 23, 2021
Content warning: Gore, skeletons, ticks, body horror, exposed bones
Zaha Sanko is kidnapped by a space cult and it’s up to Avakian, Shimada Death, and the fourth member of the Little Shits, Hajime Dameraru.
The danger is definitely more palpable here, even though there were enough world-building and concepts introduced to know that our characters weren’t really in peril. But the damage is gnarly, full of corpses. There’s not a moment that doesn’t entirely remind you that this work does fall in the horror genre.
I love the thorough tour we get of the Moja. It’s kind of like a termite nest with different chambers, and the level of customization for each new living space. It’s so detail-oriented and delightful.
You squeal at the ridiculousness in the same breath as you’re wincing in grossness. And Sanko’s injury in the middle is truly disgusting, but people have to get at those bones somehow.
Zaha Sanko is kidnapped by a space cult and it’s up to Avakian, Shimada Death, and the fourth member of the Little Shits, Hajime Dameraru.
The danger is definitely more palpable here, even though there were enough world-building and concepts introduced to know that our characters weren’t really in peril. But the damage is gnarly, full of corpses. There’s not a moment that doesn’t entirely remind you that this work does fall in the horror genre.
I love the thorough tour we get of the Moja. It’s kind of like a termite nest with different chambers, and the level of customization for each new living space. It’s so detail-oriented and delightful.
You squeal at the ridiculousness in the same breath as you’re wincing in grossness. And Sanko’s injury in the middle is truly disgusting, but people have to get at those bones somehow.
July 5, 2023
Shimada is funny. meow
Read
April 30, 2024combo review for vol 2-3
series continues to be very silly and very violent.
I think the sub stories where Zaha is a kid are maybe my favorite for some reason.
also highlight of these two volumes is (a) a bit that takes place in a light cult's domain or something. (b) Zaha making a meatball sandwich. incredible content
bye
series continues to be very silly and very violent.
I think the sub stories where Zaha is a kid are maybe my favorite for some reason.
also highlight of these two volumes is (a) a bit that takes place in a light cult's domain or something. (b) Zaha making a meatball sandwich. incredible content
bye
February 16, 2025
Glad I decided to stick with this, Hayashida's work is just engaging as hell !!! Anyways, see Vol 8 and on for reviews......
June 15, 2022
This series is so stupidly gory. If your favorite part of Chainsaw Man is how f***ing dumb Denji can be but still get away with a lot, OH BOY WILL YOU LOVE THIS.
I sound sarcastic, but I love the dark humor and violence in this series.
I sound sarcastic, but I love the dark humor and violence in this series.
December 23, 2023
Soooooo good!!!
April 28, 2025
me when i get a parasitic tick attached to my body and my name is spaghetti meatball
August 12, 2024
Highly enjoyable so far, Shimada Death is turning out to be a favorite of mine.
May 14, 2024
Vol. 1 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
Not gonna lie, feel like I should just read Dorohedoro instead. The lack of plot is getting to me. The series is fun, but it's hard to stay invested when it's not building up to anything. My favorite in this volume is chapter 17, which goes into Sanko and Shimada Death's friendship.
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
Not gonna lie, feel like I should just read Dorohedoro instead. The lack of plot is getting to me. The series is fun, but it's hard to stay invested when it's not building up to anything. My favorite in this volume is chapter 17, which goes into Sanko and Shimada Death's friendship.
December 21, 2021
This series is so much fun. Over the top gore, fun and wild characters, a zany story, and some really great art. This is one of my top 10 manga of 2021 for sure. I am very excited to see this develop more in 2022.
January 6, 2024
Meatball spaghetti
I’ve got tears in my eyes from laughing. The humor in this series is so unique and unexpected. This is the weirdest series as well. Weird and wonderful
I’ve got tears in my eyes from laughing. The humor in this series is so unique and unexpected. This is the weirdest series as well. Weird and wonderful
December 11, 2022
This volume is bizarre, in that, objectively, an awful lot happens, yet by the end our heroes are more or less back to the status quo. Sanko gets rescued from Photosfere (whose inner workings we get to see a bit of), we meet Hajime Damemaru, the fourth "Little Shit," (who Avakian essentially wants to treat the same way everyone else treats Sanko, interestingly), we see more of Sanko's past, people get double-crossed, and toward the end we find out about a place called Zolar, which is either at the center or the edge of the universe, and which might be tied to Sanko's bones.
And despite all this, when all's said and done, the crew is essentially back to being on the run from everyone who wants their wishes granted. Yes, there are more of them aboard the Moja now, their ship's a little better, and Zolar has given them a more concrete objective to work towards, but they're still sort of adrift, since no one knows where Zolar is. The main difference now, is they might have to start courting danger instead of running from it, if they want to get any answers.
While Dai Dark can seem a bit aimless at times, as the crew bounces from one danger to the next, the series is still a lot of fun. It's almost Cowboy Bebop-like in a way, with this group of misfits (who don't entirely trust one another) having all sorts of misadventures, as they're just trying to survive. A lot of those adventures are rather episodic, but there is a larger plot that's taking shape to tie things together. It still isn't grabbing me as much as Dorohedoro did by this point, but I can certainly see the potential in the groundwork that's been laid. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
And despite all this, when all's said and done, the crew is essentially back to being on the run from everyone who wants their wishes granted. Yes, there are more of them aboard the Moja now, their ship's a little better, and Zolar has given them a more concrete objective to work towards, but they're still sort of adrift, since no one knows where Zolar is. The main difference now, is they might have to start courting danger instead of running from it, if they want to get any answers.
While Dai Dark can seem a bit aimless at times, as the crew bounces from one danger to the next, the series is still a lot of fun. It's almost Cowboy Bebop-like in a way, with this group of misfits (who don't entirely trust one another) having all sorts of misadventures, as they're just trying to survive. A lot of those adventures are rather episodic, but there is a larger plot that's taking shape to tie things together. It still isn't grabbing me as much as Dorohedoro did by this point, but I can certainly see the potential in the groundwork that's been laid. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
June 2, 2025
These books by Q Hayashida are just "okay".
I still love the "dirty" heavy metal ink-based drawing style, although the character designs and world-building are much worse than Dorohedoro. Less crazy, detailed and unique.
Having read the first 3 books in the series, I'm still looking for any resemblance of a story.
The odd team of necromancers and death-like spirits behave like goofy kids.
None of them are serious, or mature, for that matter, despite their grim, horror looks. Worse, I can't see any difference in personality.
At this stage, I wonder Q Hayashida actually has a story concept--it seems like she's making everything up on the spot because there's zero character development, plot progress or overarching theme.
Sounds like I'm ranting, but I love her drawing style. It's among my fav in the whole manga world. I just wish she either constructs a story or teams up with a pro author...
I still love the "dirty" heavy metal ink-based drawing style, although the character designs and world-building are much worse than Dorohedoro. Less crazy, detailed and unique.
Having read the first 3 books in the series, I'm still looking for any resemblance of a story.
The odd team of necromancers and death-like spirits behave like goofy kids.
None of them are serious, or mature, for that matter, despite their grim, horror looks. Worse, I can't see any difference in personality.
At this stage, I wonder Q Hayashida actually has a story concept--it seems like she's making everything up on the spot because there's zero character development, plot progress or overarching theme.
Sounds like I'm ranting, but I love her drawing style. It's among my fav in the whole manga world. I just wish she either constructs a story or teams up with a pro author...
December 24, 2022
Dark, gory, heartfelt and hysterical. The necromantic sci-fi saga of Dai Dark continues with superb art and a renewed sense of purpose. After my reading of the last volume I felt slightly disappointed by its lack of focus, when you have a story with so many elements like this one (sci-fi, horror, fantasy etc) it's always a risk to lose the main thread that should hold everything together. It takes a skillful writer to maintain all those seemingly disparate elements into a cohesive and amusing whole. Hayashida proves here that she is up for the task. And I'm glad because this has been a blast to read and I feel ready for my cosplay as the living corpse of Hajime Damemaru.
June 16, 2025
I really enjoyed getting more of Damemaru in this volume! (Especially in a non-blown-up, single piece lol). He may become my favorite out of the four little shits…
I didn’t especially like the flashback chapter this volume, although the tickman was fun and perfectly disturbing.
The ship Moja looks exactly like how I’d imagine a 14-year-old boy’s spaceship would look, lmao. And Katastrophos is as precious as ever 🥰
Moreover, we got a good close look at the enemy’s dark side, which is indeed mysterious and sinister. The first big arc, and possibly the series’s main plot, is taking shape, and I’m so excited!!
I didn’t especially like the flashback chapter this volume, although the tickman was fun and perfectly disturbing.
The ship Moja looks exactly like how I’d imagine a 14-year-old boy’s spaceship would look, lmao. And Katastrophos is as precious as ever 🥰
Moreover, we got a good close look at the enemy’s dark side, which is indeed mysterious and sinister. The first big arc, and possibly the series’s main plot, is taking shape, and I’m so excited!!
May 16, 2022
Dai Dark continues with its over the top gore and humor in this third installment. We are introduced to another character that I can only assume will make up the core of this ragtag band of misfits, and we are given a hint of an overall plot emerging. While I enjoy all the crazy antics the "Four Little Shits" are getting into, I don't know how the series will thrive without a quest or goal for the characters.
March 7, 2024
Este manga cada vez me gusta más. Creo que he entrado en la vorágine de estupidez que requería y ya estoy en modo dame más de esta mierda.
La aparición de nuevos personajes como Damemaru hacen que esto avance por el buen camino, y al final, le estoy cogiendo cariño a Sanko, a Shimada, Avakian y al que me parece el mejor personaje del manga: Moja. Es adorable, a la par que extraño y sobre todo útil. Soy #TeamMoja.
Muy entretenido y muy loco todo.
La aparición de nuevos personajes como Damemaru hacen que esto avance por el buen camino, y al final, le estoy cogiendo cariño a Sanko, a Shimada, Avakian y al que me parece el mejor personaje del manga: Moja. Es adorable, a la par que extraño y sobre todo útil. Soy #TeamMoja.
Muy entretenido y muy loco todo.
January 6, 2022
Q Hayashida är lika fantasifull och makaber som vanligt. Serien är hittills inte lika spännande som Dorohedoro. Skurkarna känns inte så farliga eller ens minnesvärda. Men huvudpersonerna är alla *väldigt* charmiga och hur kan man inte älska en serie som delvis utspelar sig på ett "Leviathan Class Elementary School Ship"?
January 16, 2022
5 stars for the space ship tour alone. Q Hayashida wields one of the most playful and morbid imaginations in manga, especially with character design and world building, and this series so far has felt like a 1 participant home run derby with a batter who is hitting dingers and having the time of her life doing so. I can't wait to see where this goes
July 19, 2023
Another very fun volume! I love this universe and the artwork. The comic is so wholesome, despite being insanely violent. Loved the section when he was a kid in this one. I wish I was able to find Volumes 4 & 5 (the latest existing ones) last time I was in Tokyo. Can’t wait to pick them and any new ones up next time!
まだとても面白い！一ダメ丸、カルト、子供の部分全部好きだった。次巻を楽しみしてる！
まだとても面白い！一ダメ丸、カルト、子供の部分全部好きだった。次巻を楽しみしてる！
October 12, 2023
I literally just sat and read this book and a span of an hour. The series only gets more interesting and I have so many questions. I love the dynamic of the characters in the team building that’s being made. I hope to expand on the story and I’m glad to know that I’m halfway through it. That makes me really proud.
July 16, 2024
This was another fun volume, and really seemed to put in the work to get an overarching story going. I'm a little apprehensive of what exactly is going to happen with Hajime's character, but I enjoyed seeing the development between Sanko and Shimada that built up slowly. This continues to be a fun and unique sci-fi. Overall, this series has been pretty light reading and entertaining.
April 18, 2024
As our duo thwarts off the usual greedy wish-crazy people, they find help from an interesting woman and escape with some scrapes. Later, we meet another boney armored man named Damemaru who has ties to Sanko’s child past. A- (91%/Excellent)
May 5, 2024
Somehow, this volume tickled my fancy a bit less than the previous ones. Maybe because these guys' shenanigans end up feeling a bit repetitive?
But don't get me wrong, still a lot of fun banter and gore. I especially enjoy the flashbacks to Sanko time in the elementary school ship, the Treegun.
But don't get me wrong, still a lot of fun banter and gore. I especially enjoy the flashbacks to Sanko time in the elementary school ship, the Treegun.
September 18, 2024
3.4
Pretty silly once again. I love baby zaha parts and I littrralyy salivate over Shimada (both forms ,I willnkot lie) also that nigga is not only 16,he is at least 35
Also im still fending over Zaha, no freaking shame
Pretty silly once again. I love baby zaha parts and I littrralyy salivate over Shimada (both forms ,I willnkot lie) also that nigga is not only 16,he is at least 35
Also im still fending over Zaha, no freaking shame
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2025
Free Sanko they really after him! He’s kidnapped by this weird space cult and it’s up to his friends Shimada, Avakian, and Damemaru to get him back. I love the little Moja bits we get and I’m not usually a fan of yellow but this cover is so sick I’m obsessed.
July 31, 2021
weeeeeeeee I missed them all
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews