Synopsis

Dai is the only human living on Dermline Island, an island filled with monsters that were once the minions of the evil Dark Lord Hadlar. Away from the dark lord, these monsters are friends to Dai, a young boy who dreams of being a hero but sadly trains instead to be a mage who stands alongside a hero. A few encounters with a group of fake heroes, a princess, and a talented tutor set Dai on a quest to become the hero he was destined to be. 

Review and Recommendation

Volume 1 of The Adventures of Dai is just a tiny chunk of a vibrant and expansive fantasy realm with noble protagonists, unique creatures, and cutthroat bad guys. The themes, style, and structures in this manga have inspired many other manga series in the Shonen genre. The Adventures of Dai was an exciting read jam-packed with various plots, character development, and world-building. Dai is a wonderfully charismatic and optimistic protagonist that I couldn’t help but keep rooting for throughout each arch. The story is fast-paced, as there is so much to cover after this volume. I would have preferred more details in some of the arcs as I was enjoying learning about each of the characters introduced. (I must continue this series to see if some of my favorite characters’ backstories are described.) The pace did fit with each arch and explained what needed to be told for each specific situation in the arch. The Adventures of Dai is a must-read for manga enthusiasts, particularly those drawn to fantasy. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and visually striking artwork, the manga offers an immersive and enjoyable experience. Riku Sanjo's creation is a testament to the enduring power of captivating storytelling and imaginative world-building in the realm of manga.

Cautions

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.) 

Adventures of Dai Volume 1 contains violence because the story centers around Dai building his powers to defeat Dark Lord Hadlar and Lord Vearn one day. Some scenes do include blood splatter, swordplay, and training montages. However, the scenes are similar to what you might find in a cartoon on television. There is some mild language (for example: hell, darnit, dangit, etc.) One panel did stand out to me and seemed a bit random. In the panel, one of the evil henchpersons is out shopping and gets taken by Dai. The henchwoman wears a mid-length dress with pants. The pants are in one panel, and the pants are missing in the next. Nothing is shown (she’s very much still covered by her dress); only her pants are missing. The scene is also reasonably innocent as it depicts one of Dai’s monster friends tickling the henchwoman’s feet until she tells him where his monster friend Gomechan is being held captive. The age rating for this book is for all ages, but I think this manga would be best suited for ages 10 and up.