Paru Itagaki's Sanda Vol. 1: A Chaotic, Comedic Dive into a Dystopian Santa Claus Mystery

The highly anticipated manga debut from Beastars creator Paru Itagaki, Sanda Vol. 1, has arrived, instantly captivating the global manga community with its unconventional premise. Itagaki introduces readers to a surreal near-future dystopia defined by plummeting birth rates and a societal fixation on the excessive protection and control of children. Central to this bizarre new world is the titular character, Sanda, a young man suddenly finding himself trapped within the body of an elderly figure. This condition is tied inextricably to the mythical legacy of Santa Claus.

Sanda’s transformation grants him peculiar, powerful abilities, which only surface under specific, often absurd, conditions, such as donning the color red or actively protecting a child. These strange powers, however, come with an equally strange deactivation switch: consuming his preferred brand of candy reverses the transformation, albeit temporarily. The narrative quickly thickens as Sanda’s secret is exposed to his classmates, notably the cryptic Fuyumura Shiori. Shiori, driven by the disappearance of a friend, pulls Sanda into a deepening mystery that forces him to confront the implications of his new identity.

Critics are hailing Sanda Vol. 1 as a masterful fusion of frantic action, complex mystery, and biting social critique. The dystopian backdrop serves as a chilling mirror to contemporary concerns, illustrating a society where the young are stifled by overbearing security and the old desperately cling to vitality. Itagaki utilizes her signature style to explore profound themes of lost autonomy, the essence of childhood innocence, and the crushing weight of societal expectations, echoing the thematic depth familiar to Beastars enthusiasts.

Visually, the volume is a striking spectacle. Itagaki employs dynamic, sometimes chaotic, paneling, coupled with dramatically exaggerated character expressions and sequences of physical transformation that carry the same raw, surreal energy found in works like Chainsaw Man. While the manga is lauded for its originality, reviewers note that its distinctive, offbeat humor and moments of genuine unease, particularly stemming from Shiori’s volatile character and the demanding nature of Sanda’s roommate, Amaya, may challenge mainstream sensibilities. These unsettling elements, however, are integral to the manga’s success as a sharp satire, mercilessly skewering the exploitation of innocence and the sheer absurdity underpinning current social norms.

Sanda Vol. 1 concludes having posed far more compelling questions than it answers, establishing a powerful and thought-provoking foundation that leaves readers scrambling for theories and eagerly awaiting the next installment.