Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Manga » REVIEW: ‘Date A Live,’ Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka

REVIEW: ‘Date A Live,’ Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka

Jake YoderBy Jake Yoder04/03/20214 Mins ReadUpdated:11/20/2021
Date A Live Volume 1
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Date A Live Volume 1

Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka is published in English by Yen Press and written by Koushi Tachibana, with illustrations by Tsunako and translation by Jocelyne Allen. The light novel follows Shido Itsuka, a second-year high school student living in a world where anomalies known as “spacequakes” can appear at random, causing massive destruction wherever they appear. Unbeknownst to most of the world, these spacequakes are actually caused by the appearance of beautiful, incredibly powerful girls known as Spirits, and there’s only one way for Shido to stop them: by dating them.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

If you’ve been an anime fan in the last ten or so years, chances are you’ve at least heard of Date A Live. The series’ anime adaptation released in 2011 and took the otaku world by storm, though the series was never able to catch my attention in its heyday. With the release of Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka, the first official English translation of the original light novel series, the time finally felt right to dive into the Date A Live universe and see what all the excitement was about.

In an afterword at the end of the novel, Tachibana notes that the idea for the novel came from the absurd thought of a military team incredibly seriously playing a dating sim. While this premise might sound absurd at first, it actually makes for a good light novel, especially if you are already a fan of dating sims or romance/harem anime.

Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka was first published in Japan in 2011, and you can really feel that while reading. The bulk of the light novel feels like a semi-generic harem anime from that era, something I’ve seen/read a million times before. Shido is an unremarkable protagonist, every girl in his life seems to be somehow attracted to him, there are tons of “accidents” that leave the girls in revealing poses… it’s all pretty typical harem stuff.

This doesn’t mean Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka is bad, however. In fact, Tachibana seems to know exactly what he is doing, using these tropes to his advantage. Just about every time one of these tropes appears in the light novel, Tachibana brings attention to the absurdity of the situation in generally funny ways. While most of the light novel is by no means exceptional, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t have me laughing.

There’s more to Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka than comedy and ecchi, however. The core mystery of the series (that being the nature of the spacequakes/Spirits) is genuinely enthralling. The first chapter of the light novel features some truly intense moments, drawing readers in quickly. Even with the discovery that the spacequakes are caused by the Spirits, the first volume still begs answers to many questions that will hopefully be addressed within subsequent volumes. 

Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka’s illustrations by Tsunako are beautiful. The few colored illustrations found at the beginning of the light novel give a great tease of what is to come, and the black and white illustrations scattered throughout the rest of the 160-or-so pages feel like a treat whenever they appear.

While Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka won’t be blowing anyone away (unless this is somehow your first harem series), it is a ton of fun to read. Filled with funny moments and introducing enthralling mysteries, this first volume sets up a great series; now Tachibana just has to keep it up for the next 21 volumes.

Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka is available now wherever books are sold.

Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka
3.5

TL;DR

While Date A Live Volume 1: Dead-End Tohka won’t be blowing anyone away (unless this is somehow your first harem series), it is a ton of fun to read. Filled with funny moments and introducing enthralling mysteries, this first volume sets up a great series; now Tachibana just has to keep it up for the next 21 volumes.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘The Department of Truth,’ Issue #7
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Do You Like the Nerdy Nurse?’
Jake Yoder

Related Posts

Wolf Girl and Black Prince — But Why Tho

REVIEW: Wolf Girl and Black Prince Volume 1

05/16/2023
hirano and kagura volume 2

REVIEW: ‘Hirano and Kagiura,’ Volume 2

04/25/2023
K-On Shuffle — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘K-On! Shuffle’ Volume 1

04/24/2023
Skybeams in the Sky — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Sunbeams in the Sky’ Volume 1

04/24/2023
The Boxer Volume 2 — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘The Boxer,’ Volume 2

04/24/2023
Run On Your New Legs Volume 4 — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Run On Your New Legs’ Volume 4

04/24/2023

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 Alcatraz
9.0
PS5

REVIEW: ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Gives Old Games New Life

By Kyle Foley07/07/2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 is another example of how to breathe new life into a classic without losing touch of what makes the originals great.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here