Space, Bones, and a Kid Who Just Wants Spaghetti | Manga Monday

Welcome to Manga Monday! This week we're diving into Dai Dark by Q Hayashida, the creator of Dorohedoro, and if you loved that unhinged masterpiece then buckle up because she did it again but in space. Zaha Sanko is a 14 year old kid cursed with bones that can supposedly grant any wish, which means every alien, space pirate, and cult fanatic in the galaxy wants to rip him apart. Armed with a shapeshifting weapon made of pure darkness and his skeletal best friend Avakian, Sanko fights his way through the cosmos looking for whoever cursed him in the first place. But here's the thing, despite being hunted by literally everyone, this guy is mostly just vibing. He's baking bread on abandoned pirate ships and inventing spaghetti sandwiches between murder attempts. The art is raw, gritty, and overflowing with Hayashida's signature chaotic energy, and the world building is so bizarre and detailed it feels like it shouldn't work but absolutely does. Nine volumes deep and ranked seventh on Kono Manga ga Sugoi. This one's a fever dream you don't want to wake up from.If you enjoy the show, please rate, review, like, and subscribe to Sakura Society | An Anime Appreciation Podcast — and any other podcasts you love. It takes seconds, costs nothing, and means everything to us creators. (The algorithm only accepts 5 stars, just so you know.)Stay up to date with me on Bluesky | Instagram | TikTok | TwitterJoin our Discord — a community full of anime and culture fans just like youFollow my anime Spotify playlistMy amazing sponsors:Audio-Technica — the best in audio equipmentIced Tea Aesthetics — anime streetwear done right (use code SAKURASOCIETY5 at checkout to save $5)Japan Crate — Japanese snacks and treats delivered to your door (use code ATEBIT15 at checkout to save 15% + get free shipping)Affiliate links:Captivate.fm - the best podcast hosting platformKomi.io - the best linkinbio websiteRiverside.fm - the best remote video/podcast recording platform