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A review by ellelainey
Deadlock Volume 4 (Deadlock, 4) by Saki Aida
4.0
I am actually quite confused by this volume.
1) It is the end of the manga series.
2) It is NOT the end of the story, either in terms of the light novel or the characters.
I've read A LOT of manga over the years, but I've never seen a "series" end abruptly without an HFN or HEA, without actually resolving anything. From the relationship between Yuto and Dick, to the investigation into Corvus, to the closure of who framed Yuto and why, to the truth of Dick's real identity - NOTHING was resolved, yet there won't be any more manga. :/
I didn't know any of this, going into the manga. I found this by fluke on Kobo, bought it for the description, and was glad it was "complete". It was only when I got to the end of Book 4 that I realised it wasn't done, then there was an Afterword that explained the manga were "complete" but I should go read the original light novel to find out what happens next. I have NEVER seen this done before, and I don't appreciate it, especially as it was IMPOSSIBLE to find the light novel in English. It actually makes me mad that I invested hours, binging a 4-volume series that is just the start of a story. I'd call this the Prison Arc or Part 1 of a longer plot, because it focuses only on the part of the story where Dick and Yuto are prison inmates, but it doesn't resolve ANY of the larger plot points.
Honestly, I'm mad and frustrated and I SHOULD be rating this a 2 for the serious irritation, but I did enjoy what I've read so far and I've managed to borrow a copy of Volumes 1-3 of the light novel, so all is not yet lost. I may eventually find out what happens to these two, it just won't be right now.
1) It is the end of the manga series.
2) It is NOT the end of the story, either in terms of the light novel or the characters.
I've read A LOT of manga over the years, but I've never seen a "series" end abruptly without an HFN or HEA, without actually resolving anything. From the relationship between Yuto and Dick, to the investigation into Corvus, to the closure of who framed Yuto and why, to the truth of Dick's real identity - NOTHING was resolved, yet there won't be any more manga. :/
I didn't know any of this, going into the manga. I found this by fluke on Kobo, bought it for the description, and was glad it was "complete". It was only when I got to the end of Book 4 that I realised it wasn't done, then there was an Afterword that explained the manga were "complete" but I should go read the original light novel to find out what happens next. I have NEVER seen this done before, and I don't appreciate it, especially as it was IMPOSSIBLE to find the light novel in English. It actually makes me mad that I invested hours, binging a 4-volume series that is just the start of a story. I'd call this the Prison Arc or Part 1 of a longer plot, because it focuses only on the part of the story where Dick and Yuto are prison inmates, but it doesn't resolve ANY of the larger plot points.
Honestly, I'm mad and frustrated and I SHOULD be rating this a 2 for the serious irritation, but I did enjoy what I've read so far and I've managed to borrow a copy of Volumes 1-3 of the light novel, so all is not yet lost. I may eventually find out what happens to these two, it just won't be right now.