4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌈

A really fun read, and I definitely can't wait to read more.

It's an office story where the two characters are really sweet and silly, and due to a series of misunderstandings, they start spending more time together. I liked the age difference and how respectful they are about that topic.

I can't wait to read more about these two characters and see how ⭐️⭐️⭐️ their relationship develops.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy.

This actually made me laugh out loud several times, and I sat there reading it with a big smile on my face. It was super fun and sweet, I loved the artwork, and all of the childish ED puns. I am totally here for Hiwatari being a closet simp.

I found some parts of it a little hard to follow, and not much really happens in this volume, but it definitely sets things up nicely for future instalments and I’ll 100% be reading more when they become available.

This manga was hysterical and I loved every minute of it. The art is crisp and well drawn and the story is hilarious. Takanashi-san has struggled with ED for a year now and Hiwatari-kun has been secretly in love with him for ages. The dynamic between these two is great and feels natural and I honestly cannot wait to read the next volume!

Cute and funny! Takanashi believes he has ED because he hasn't been able to get an erection in a year. Then sometime happens with his fellow employee, that changes everything about what he thinks about his ED and his feelings for Hiwatari. I really enjoyed it. It made me giggle at times and gave me the feels at others. I definitely want to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! This was fun but the pacing was a little odd. Both a lot happened and the overarching plot didn't progress that much. Would enjoy reading volume 2 though!

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé tells the story of Makoto Takanashi and Ren Hiwatari. Makoto is our titular zaddy who has been dealing with erectile dysfunction for over a year at this point. Ren, the icy protégé, has had a huge crush on Makoto, his superior at the company they work at, for a long, long time. Coincidence brings them together and from there hilarity and possibly love ensue.

"...another day, another morning without a boner."

This manga was just a whole lot of fun! Romance BL meets gag manga, the plot presented at a high pace. There were some very touching moments and more than once I laughed out loud at not only the antics the characters got up to, but also the seriousness with which the dialogue is presented. The characters are very loveable and I feel they'll have a surprising amount of depth. There are already hints to a much larger backstory in this very first volume.

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé is a fast-paced, addictive read that is perfect for fans of BL and gag manga. As expected from the synopsis, beware that this manga deals with sexual topics and does depict suggestive imagery. This manga is laugh-out-loud funny and contains a big dose of cuteness, which makes for an addictive read. I can't wait till volume 2 gets released!

I enjoyed this story but wish there was a little more depth into the characters lives outside of work so you could be more connected with them but it is just the 1st volume

I would give the story 2.5 stars.

The drawingwas nice but the story just wasn't for me. It didn't keep me interested.

This follows a 40 year old, Takanashi, who believes he’s suffering from ED. He starts spending time with our other main character, 26 year old, Hiwatari, and realizes that maybe that’s not the case anymore.

The art is great, but I didn’t love the story. I felt like the euphemisms for Takanashi’s ED were childish and uncomfortable for me.

I won’t be continuing with this series.

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé is a fun read that I couldn’t put down. The art is amazing. It definitely made me want to read more from this author! The story follows Takanashi, a 40-year-old CEO dealing with erectile dysfunction, and his younger protégé, Ren, who’s been crushing on him for a while. There’s a nice mix of humor and sweet moments as these two get closer, and I liked their banter. The age gap and office romance aspect were fun, though some parts, like the ED subplot, felt a little forced. The thing that threw me off the most was the backstory about Ren knowing Takanashi since childhood. It felt kind of weird and added some unnecessary tension to their romance. But aside from that, their relationship is cute.

This was actually super hilarious and cute. I’m excited for volume 2! The title itself is funny, but seeing the inner thoughts of Hiwatari and Takanashi was a riot!

This was even more hilarious than I thought it was going to be. The male lead is head over heels for his older coworker and I am here for it. Can't wait for the next volume to see how these two progress.

This was so absurd it had me cackling. Hiwatari has a crush on his boss, Takanashi, who turns out is struggling with impotency. Hijinks ensue after a computer mishap at work, and the illusions in this are incredibly funny. I look forward to reading the next volume of this comedic BL. Thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé, Vol. 1 kicks off with a strong visual identity and a dynamic that’s ripe with tension. This series blends sharp banter, fashion-forward aesthetics, and a mentor-protégé relationship that teeters between playful and emotionally charged.

In a twist on expectations, it's actually the "zaddy" character who is more friendly while the protégé is aloof. While he can’t seem to fully explain his own reactions—especially the more intimate or confusing ones—toward his younger protégé, he frequently shows care and tenderness that almost crosses into romantic territory. There’s a push-pull here that’s intriguing, but also occasionally hard to pin down emotionally.

One issue that pulled me out of the story a bit was the subplot involving the zaddy’s ED (erectile dysfunction). It’s played for awkward humor and character development, but I honestly hope it doesn’t linger throughout future volumes—it’s already wearing thin, and I’m not sure it adds much beyond surface-level jokes.

The bigger reason I dropped this to a 3-star rating is a storyline choice that made me uncomfortable: it’s revealed that the protégé has known the zaddy since childhood and has harbored a crush on him for years. While the zaddy hasn't explicitly returned those feelings or expressed discomfort, that kind of dynamic—where one character knew the other as a child and becomes their romantic interest later—has always felt off to me. It introduces a power imbalance and familiarity that complicates the romance in a way that feels unnecessary and distracts from the otherwise promising emotional beats.

On a brighter note, the artwork is top-tier. The character designs are stunning—clean lines, expressive faces, and perfectly styled outfits that really bring the fashion-forward vibe to life. The contrast between the zaddy’s reserved coolness and the protégé’s bold presence is beautifully done through body language and panel composition. Visually, it’s sleek, modern, and hard to look away from.

Overall, this was a fun and stylish start with some strong elements, but certain narrative choices gave me pause. I’ll keep an eye on how the story develops, but I’m hoping future volumes steer away from those questionable dynamics and lean more into the emotional and character-driven potential that’s already there.

I loved everything about this manga from the artwork to the mutual pinning they have. Work settings are always nice but that doesn’t lead to anything outside work obstacles. I don’t really like the miscommunication trope, but “curing” the ml is something I’m willing to read more about.

There isn't much happening in this volume yet so there isn't much I can say :(
the way one of the mmcs is oblivious is kinda cute 🤧 i want to know what happens next because that last panel???😳😳🫣🫣 yesss!!! that is actually what I want🫣🤣🫣

the side story is so helpful to understand how this possessiveness started 🫣🫣

4.5⭐️

I really liked this! It was cute and a lot more funny than I expected. Very excited to see how the story and the ranch will progress.

Really enjoyed the art style and our characters. I will absolutely read volume 2!

This first volume is a delightful start to what I expect will be a fun series. It's a little over the top ridiculous at times, but it made me laugh out loud multiple times. Both characters are quite loveable -- it's easy to root for the two of them to get together, with feelings already sparking in this first volume. In terms of the visuals, the art style is very pretty, and the lettering, speech bubbles, panel layouts, and sound effects are very clear and easy to read.

Thank you to netGalley and Kondansha for the eARC!

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protege was a fun read for a BL manga, with mid adult aged men navigating their issues and setting up their future relationship. I really thought the pacing and the story was fun and compelling, not taking itself too seriously, but also making the characters likable, relatable, and more human. The main downside I think is the localized title name, I think zaddy is already a worn and aged slang term, and it will not age well in the long run. But also, the original title called the older man a monster so maybe the cringe name is just part of the charm,

This first volume was a blast! It was the perfect combination of humor, potential romance, and engaging characters. I really appreciate the way that our 40 year-old lead was treated and represented on the page. I also appreciate that his budding relationship with his younger co-worker represented open communication even in "awkward" situations. I look forward to the next volume and seeing their relationship progress.