Fans of Dead Mount Death Play have reason to celebrate—and to prepare their shelves. Retail listings now show that the fifth and reportedly final compiled volume of Yata Sugami’s spinoff manga Dead Mount Death Play Gaiden: Kaijin Solitaire no Shinsen Kijutsu (Dead Mount Death Play Side Story: Phantom Solitaire’s Art of Disguising Oneself as a Supernatural Being) is scheduled to ship on April 24. This volume promises to close out Phantom Solitaire’s chaotic, show-stealing run with a mix of mischief, heists, and the dark humor that connects it to the parent series.
Table of Contents
Overview: What is Phantom Solitaire’s Gaiden about?
Dead Mount Death Play Gaiden zooms in on Phantom Solitaire, an audacious and theatrical thief whose flair for the dramatic makes him one of the most memorable side characters to emerge from Ryohgo Narita and Shinta Fujimoto’s darker urban-fantasy world. The gaiden series, written and illustrated by Yata Sugami, explores the thief’s rise to infamy long before the main story’s Corpse God walked into the city. Expect slick heists, media spectacles, and a protagonist who treats crime like performance art.
What to Expect in Volume 5 (Final Volume)
According to merchant listings, the fifth volume will serve as the gaiden’s finale. Early blurbs tease a high-stakes arc in which Phantom Solitaire attempts an audacious public art theft that forces him to balance attention, ego, and survival. As the press, the police, and rival criminals close in, Solitaire must navigate escalating danger while the very fame he craves threatens to topple him. For readers who enjoy morally gray antiheroes and fast-paced plotting, the last compiled volume aims to deliver a satisfying mix of spectacle and consequence.
Key narrative beats to look for
- Major set-piece heist scenes with cinematic staging and clever misdirection.
- An exploration of how notoriety and public acclaim increase personal risk.
- Potential crossover elements or connective tissue back to the main Dead Mount Death Play continuity.
- Character moments that deepen Solitaire’s motivations beyond the thrill of criminality.
Release Details and English Availability
Per retailer pages, Volume 5 is scheduled to ship on April 24. Square Enix originally serialized the gaiden on the Manga UP! website (the spinoff launched in November 2023), and the series has been collected periodically into tankōbon volumes. Square Enix released the fourth volume in November 2025, making this fifth volume the natural follow-up to complete the arc.
For English readers, Yen Press has been releasing the main Dead Mount Death Play series and has published English volumes of the gaiden as well—Yen Press shipped the gaiden’s second English volume on January 20 in the year noted by retailers. Additionally, Square Enix’s Manga UP! Global publishes the spinoff digitally in English, giving international readers multiple ways to follow Phantom Solitaire’s exploits.
If you prefer to pre-order or check current availability, retail pages such as Amazon often list release dates and preorder options (link provided in the image credit). For other English-language storefronts and regional availability, check official publisher pages or reputable booksellers for the most up-to-date shipping information.
Creators & How This Ties Back to the Main Series
The gaiden is rooted in the wider Dead Mount Death Play universe created by Ryohgo Narita (Baccano!, Durarara!!) and Shinta Fujimoto (Red Raven). Yata Sugami’s gaiden expands the world by focusing on characters who were previously supporting or background players, giving them full arcs with their own themes. While the main series blends necromancy, urban underworld politics, and moral ambiguity, the gaiden channels those elements into a more focused tale of celebrity crime and performative identity.
Why spin-offs matter
Spin-offs like Phantom Solitaire’s gaiden let creators experiment with tone and scope. They can illuminate corners of the world the main series only hinted at, offer tonal variety, and give fans additional vantage points on familiar settings. For Dead Mount Death Play readers who want more of the franchise’s atmosphere without necessarily following the central plot thread, the gaiden is a rewarding alternative.
Anime Adaptation: A Reminder
The original Dead Mount Death Play manga received an anime adaptation that premiered in April 2023 and was streamed as it aired by Crunchyroll. While the gaiden itself hasn’t been adapted to animation (as of the last publisher notices), the anime’s popularity helped raise the profile of related manga projects, making a collected finale for Phantom Solitaire a notable event for the franchise’s fanbase.
Why Phantom Solitaire Resonates
Phantom Solitaire stands out because the character blends showmanship with danger. Readers are drawn to personas who challenge social order not just through violence but through spectacle—turning a heist into performance makes the criminal’s motivations legible and oddly charismatic. The gaiden’s themes—fame, identity, and the consequences of living for the spotlight—resonate beyond genre boundaries, which is likely why the spinoff built a steady audience since its 2023 debut.
Who should read the gaiden?
- Fans of the main Dead Mount Death Play series looking for deeper worldbuilding.
- Readers who enjoy antihero-led caper stories and morally complex protagonists.
- Those who appreciate a mix of dark fantasy and modern urban drama.
Where to Buy and Read
English readers can check Yen Press releases and the Manga UP! Global digital storefront for official digital and physical editions. Retailers list preorders and regional shipping options; always verify ISBN and release dates with your preferred seller before purchasing. (The image credit links to a retailer listing for reference.)
Final thoughts
With Volume 5 scheduled to ship on April 24, Phantom Solitaire’s gaiden is poised to close a flashy, edge-of-your-seat chapter in the Dead Mount Death Play universe. Whether you’re following for the stylish heists, the morally ambiguous lead, or the series’ connection to Narita and Fujimoto’s larger world, this final volume looks set to deliver a memorable send-off. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, consider picking up the collected volumes or following official English releases to support the creators and ensure more spinoffs get the chance to thrive.
Note: Check official publisher pages for the latest availability and regional release details before ordering.
