Title: Dimension W Vol. 4
Author: Yuji Iwahara
Publisher: Yen Press
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Publication Date: November 22, 2016
The Story
The fourth volume of Dimension W dives deeper into the mystery of Lake Yasogami. We get a good idea of what The Numbers are capable of as well as an explanation as to what Dimension W actually is and how it can cause what is happening in Yasogami. While the mystery is getting unraveled, Kyouma has to deal with a new problem of unlicensed collectors searching for The Numbers. Their goal is to steal the numbers and sell it to the highest bidder on the black market. Meanwhile, Mira is still trapped inside of the alternate Yasogami created by The Numbers is looking for a way to escape. There, she discovers important information that she needs to get to Kyouma, but her consciousness is being held prisoner.
There was a LOT of information thrown at you in this volume, but Iwahara did an amazing job of blending in action into the story so that the reader didn’t become overwhelmed by the information dump that we got. A lot of mysteries were unraveled and a lot of the confusion was cleared up with this volume. Learning about Dimension W was interesting as it also tied in to why the unlicensed collectors were there searching for The Numbers. It was a bit odd that New Tesla would assume that Dimension W was created by a “droplet from God,’ though. Typically, science and religion are kept separate as each side usually likes to disprove the other. A scientific and tech company such as New Tesla, admitting that they believe in the existence of God is actually pretty revolutionary and is something that some readers may not pick up on right away.
I also found the reason how Dimension W becomes linked to the real world interesting. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t read the volume yet, but it actually does make some sense if you think of it from The Numbers’ perspective… especially after what we learn about the coils and their abilities.
Characters
The focus of character development is spent on the secondary characters… namely Marisa and Shijuurou. As we dive into their backstories, it all gets tied into the overall mystery behind Lake Yasogami, which also connects it to The Numbers. The characters themselves help weave a web around the story and it’s not just some meaningless background to get you to care about them. The way their legacies are integrated into the story only serve a way to enhance it.
With the introduction of Red, Blue and White… the code names for the unlicensed collectors, we get a reminder that Kyouma is not the only collector out there in the world and that the underground markets are still a real threat. Despite everything that is going on in this volume as far as story goes, it reminds us about the fierce competition that the underground market has for the coils, especially The Numbers. When they say that a Numbers coil can fetch the equivalent to $100 million, you know people are going to be after it. Iwahara also did a great job tying the collectors, namely Blue, into the explanation of Dimension W; which doesn’t really add depth to the character, but it adds depth to the overall world that Dimension W is building.
Knowing that some of these characters won’t be seen again after this story arc is almost a shame. We got some pretty good development for them only to see the characters fade away, but it’s also a testament to the author who is showing that no character is unimportant and he wants you to care about all of them. It shows that no matter how big or how small a character is, they all have a story to tell.
Final Thoughts
This was another great volume of Dimension W that really shows what this series is capable of. While some of the chapters were a bit slow, it was necessary to help build up the backstory in order to make sense of everything. The series, within four volumes, transitioned from a story about collectors and the underground markets that want them to a sci-fi thriller about unlimited possibilities thanks to the coil technology…..and the underground markets that want them!
Even through the radical shift in direction, the series stays true to its roots. I cannot wait for volume five to see how The Numbers play their role… and also why Loser is searching for them (which still wasn’t answered in this volume.) I’ve been giving this series my recommendation with each review and I still give it my recommendation today!
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This item was provided for review by Yen Press
