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ROUTE END #1
Route End 1
人間の死が日常的となる職業、"特殊清掃業"を生業とする青年・春野。彼が近隣で続発する連続猟奇殺人事件、「END事件」に足を踏み入れて...。生と死の在り方を問うサイコ・サスペンス開幕!!
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2017
6 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 27, 2019
This is a rating and review of the entire series.
Story: ☆☆☆☆
Art: ☆☆☆☆
Haruno works for a small business that cleans and disinfects rooms in which a person has recently died. He deliberately chose this peculiar line of work in the hopes that it would help him cope with his own feelings of inadequacy and lack of purpose, which stemmed from his early childhood when his mother committed suicide and he had found her hanging from the ceiling.
Despite such a traumatic experience and a rough childhood, Haruno eventually does find motivation and a sense of belonging due to the close relationships he managed to build with his employer and colleagues. So when one day his boss falls victim to the serial killer who has been plaguing the city, Haruno takes it upon himself to investigate the murderer who dubs himself "End".
What follows is eight seasons of mystery and investigative work. We follow both Haruno and Igarashi, a detective who is on the case while dealing with her own loss when recently her younger brother committed suicide. The two make an unlikely pair, helping each other not only in terms of the case, but also in dealing with death and suicide of a loved one.
So yes, this manga touches on dark themes: suicide, depression, self-harm. You get to really feel for Haruno, as someone not only left behind by suicide, but also grappling with the same depression that claimed his mother. It tries to show you how different people deal with things in different ways--and yes, how some people cannot deal in a constructive way.
Besides graphic scenes of mutilation (as the serial killer is known to mutilate his victims), this manga also has a few graphic sex scenes--so it's perhaps not suitable for your younger siblings. But I did appreciate that they weren't simply added in order to sensualise the story or make it more "attractive" to a certain demography--the inclusion of sex here is in fact highly relevant to the plot and the character's development.
While I did guess the ultimate villain much before the ending came, this series is still far from predictable. There were key reveals that I only caught on seconds before they happened, which kept me guessing throughout.
The only reason why I deducted a star from my overall rating is due to the supernatural element thrown into this series. I say "thrown" into, but it is actually there from the beginning--only that it is one of those "supernatural elements" that can juuust scrape by as being plausible and realistic, so you find yourself questioning; is it really supernatural, though?
Now, I know that supernatural elements in an otherwise clear-cut murder-mystery would put some people off from reading. Heck, as a fantasy/supernatural lover myself, I also prefer my murder-mysteries to be as realistic as possible. I hate it when supernatural elements get in the way of my own sleuthing, or is used as a "plot twist" that ruins what is otherwise a solvable mystery.
So to put your mind at ease, the supernatural element here was veeery unobtrusive. It made no impact on the identity of the killer, nor on our characters' arrival to that conclusion.
If you would still like to know what this supernatural element is exactly in order to make a decision on whether you should invest time in reading this entire series, I'll write it below behind the spoiler tag. It will not spoil the identity of the killer (other than by eliminating one character from your pool of potential suspects).
Story: ☆☆☆☆
Art: ☆☆☆☆
Haruno works for a small business that cleans and disinfects rooms in which a person has recently died. He deliberately chose this peculiar line of work in the hopes that it would help him cope with his own feelings of inadequacy and lack of purpose, which stemmed from his early childhood when his mother committed suicide and he had found her hanging from the ceiling.
Despite such a traumatic experience and a rough childhood, Haruno eventually does find motivation and a sense of belonging due to the close relationships he managed to build with his employer and colleagues. So when one day his boss falls victim to the serial killer who has been plaguing the city, Haruno takes it upon himself to investigate the murderer who dubs himself "End".
What follows is eight seasons of mystery and investigative work. We follow both Haruno and Igarashi, a detective who is on the case while dealing with her own loss when recently her younger brother committed suicide. The two make an unlikely pair, helping each other not only in terms of the case, but also in dealing with death and suicide of a loved one.
So yes, this manga touches on dark themes: suicide, depression, self-harm. You get to really feel for Haruno, as someone not only left behind by suicide, but also grappling with the same depression that claimed his mother. It tries to show you how different people deal with things in different ways--and yes, how some people cannot deal in a constructive way.
Besides graphic scenes of mutilation (as the serial killer is known to mutilate his victims), this manga also has a few graphic sex scenes--so it's perhaps not suitable for your younger siblings. But I did appreciate that they weren't simply added in order to sensualise the story or make it more "attractive" to a certain demography--the inclusion of sex here is in fact highly relevant to the plot and the character's development.
While I did guess the ultimate villain much before the ending came, this series is still far from predictable. There were key reveals that I only caught on seconds before they happened, which kept me guessing throughout.
The only reason why I deducted a star from my overall rating is due to the supernatural element thrown into this series. I say "thrown" into, but it is actually there from the beginning--only that it is one of those "supernatural elements" that can juuust scrape by as being plausible and realistic, so you find yourself questioning; is it really supernatural, though?
Now, I know that supernatural elements in an otherwise clear-cut murder-mystery would put some people off from reading. Heck, as a fantasy/supernatural lover myself, I also prefer my murder-mysteries to be as realistic as possible. I hate it when supernatural elements get in the way of my own sleuthing, or is used as a "plot twist" that ruins what is otherwise a solvable mystery.
So to put your mind at ease, the supernatural element here was veeery unobtrusive. It made no impact on the identity of the killer, nor on our characters' arrival to that conclusion.
If you would still like to know what this supernatural element is exactly in order to make a decision on whether you should invest time in reading this entire series, I'll write it below behind the spoiler tag. It will not spoil the identity of the killer (other than by eliminating one character from your pool of potential suspects).
September 30, 2019
4,5/5
¡Como me gustan este tipo de historias! Me ha encantado, gráfico y con mucho misterio.
¡Como me gustan este tipo de historias! Me ha encantado, gráfico y con mucho misterio.
July 21, 2018
Une série fort prometteuse !
December 23, 2020
Series Review
This was a very gripping manga that dealt with a lot of mature content so I wouldn't recommend it to those that dislike themes such as suicide, gore and the like.
At its core, it was a mystery around a serial killer and on how it affected the victims' families. But as the story advanced, the subplots became just as important as the main one. The characters were very nuanced and their developments were what I liked the most about the manga.
If you are in the mood for a mystery, then I think this would be up your alley. It's just 54 chapters long, making it a "quick" read in manga terms.
This was a very gripping manga that dealt with a lot of mature content so I wouldn't recommend it to those that dislike themes such as suicide, gore and the like.
At its core, it was a mystery around a serial killer and on how it affected the victims' families. But as the story advanced, the subplots became just as important as the main one. The characters were very nuanced and their developments were what I liked the most about the manga.
If you are in the mood for a mystery, then I think this would be up your alley. It's just 54 chapters long, making it a "quick" read in manga terms.
January 28, 2022
4,5★
Me ha parecido un muy buen tomo para tratarse de tan sólo el primero de lo que será una historia policiaca con su toque de thriller.
La parte artística, no es nada asombrosa. Pero sí que lo es su parte narrativa. Me parece que se narra la historia de una manera perfecta para enganchar al lector desde su inicio y, más aun, tras finalizar el tomo, sintiendo la necesidad de comenzar la lectura del siguiente.
Me ha parecido un muy buen tomo para tratarse de tan sólo el primero de lo que será una historia policiaca con su toque de thriller.
La parte artística, no es nada asombrosa. Pero sí que lo es su parte narrativa. Me parece que se narra la historia de una manera perfecta para enganchar al lector desde su inicio y, más aun, tras finalizar el tomo, sintiendo la necesidad de comenzar la lectura del siguiente.
June 6, 2020
Not my usual genre of choice for manga, but picking this up as part of a new manga reading club I joined. brings up a lot about death and dealing with that in terms of grief, acceptance, and/or revenge. I'm curious to see how to continues as it ends on a major cliffhanger.
August 31, 2021
4,5:
El dibujo no acaba de convencerme del todo aunque las secuencias están muy bien.
La historia engancha desde el principio!
El dibujo no acaba de convencerme del todo aunque las secuencias están muy bien.
La historia engancha desde el principio!
February 23, 2020
Este primer número sienta las bases de esta historia de misterio en la que un tipo que trabaja como limpiador de escenas de crímenes acabará inmerso en la investigación de un asesino en serie al que llaman End (palabra que deja escrita con los miembros amputados de sus víctimas en cada escena del crimen), después de descubrir un esqueleto oculto al limpiar el lugar de uno de sus asesinatos.
No da tiempo para mucho más que presentarnos al protagonista y algunos secundarios, aunque sí que tenemos algunas pistas que nos harán sospechar de ciertos personajes, a pesar de conocer poco o nada de las motivaciones del asesino.
El dibujo es sobrio pero correcto, sin escrúpulos a la hora de detallar los cadáveres.
Todavía es pronto para aventurar si estamos ante una buena obra o no, pero este primer número entretiene y promete.
No da tiempo para mucho más que presentarnos al protagonista y algunos secundarios, aunque sí que tenemos algunas pistas que nos harán sospechar de ciertos personajes, a pesar de conocer poco o nada de las motivaciones del asesino.
El dibujo es sobrio pero correcto, sin escrúpulos a la hora de detallar los cadáveres.
Todavía es pronto para aventurar si estamos ante una buena obra o no, pero este primer número entretiene y promete.
August 1, 2021
Thriller policiaco y oscuro sobre un asesino en serie llamado End y cómo sus antiguos crímenes se cruzan en la vida del joven protagonista (un adolescente que trabaja en una empresa de limpieza de escenarios de crímenes sangrientos).
Con un buen arte y una historia que no deja de sorprender, este primer volumen de una colección de 7, atrapa en la historia de forma muy magnética.
A veces recuerda a la película Seven, pero sin ser tan claustrofóbico.
Con un buen arte y una historia que no deja de sorprender, este primer volumen de una colección de 7, atrapa en la historia de forma muy magnética.
A veces recuerda a la película Seven, pero sin ser tan claustrofóbico.
August 19, 2019
Este es el comienzo de un thriller manga muy entretenido, por ahora. Me quedo con ganas de ver por dónde se encamina. Seguiré leyéndolo.
December 23, 2019
Muy interesante. No esperaba nada y me ha recordado a Kurosagi, servicio d entrega d cadáveres. :)
February 16, 2020
This is a very entertaining (and dark) first volume for a manga series. Taji Haruno, who as a child found his mother dead at home (she had committed suicide), works for a company that cleans places where people have died. This is a problem (*issue) in Japan, were more and more old(-er) people live by themselves, without many friends or family (not only old people, youngsters too, and it seems around fifty is the age were more cases happen of people dying alone). He seems to 'like' his job well enough, but pretty soon his life becomes entangled with the one of serial killer 'End', after his company gets the job of cleaning the scene of one of End's killings.
"Route End" (Vol. 1) is moody enough, with good and realistic drawings, and a nice introduction to its world. The characters are interesting, and the situations, even if not particularly original (serial killer?) are gripping enough. It helps the mature and realistic art, the humans drawn with realistic measures and the settings with a dry and detached air. Sometimes it tries too hard to say it is a mature work (sex scenes don't make for mature or deep), but it does a good job at it.
The problem may be where it is planning to go with its 'End, the serial killer' story line, which seems somewhat run-of-the-mill. Let's see...
The best: the atmosphere
The worst: it feels a little bit derivative; the unnecessary sex scene
8/10
(Castilian translation by Marc Bernabé)
"Route End" (Vol. 1) is moody enough, with good and realistic drawings, and a nice introduction to its world. The characters are interesting, and the situations, even if not particularly original (serial killer?) are gripping enough. It helps the mature and realistic art, the humans drawn with realistic measures and the settings with a dry and detached air. Sometimes it tries too hard to say it is a mature work (sex scenes don't make for mature or deep), but it does a good job at it.
The problem may be where it is planning to go with its 'End, the serial killer' story line, which seems somewhat run-of-the-mill. Let's see...
The best: the atmosphere
The worst: it feels a little bit derivative; the unnecessary sex scene
8/10
(Castilian translation by Marc Bernabé)
February 11, 2020
3.5 stars
Haruno Koji is a professional specialist cleaner for traces of the deceased. In his field, currently there are jobs for cleaning after victims of what seems like a serial killer. Everything was at arm length until he got involve with the case himself.
Good starting point I'd say. We get to know him personally because the story opened at an important event/incident in his life that become the reason for him to go into his career field. There was this 'shocking' discovery for me in the middle of it because I was totally not expecting it and which I thought it looks like a cheap thing to include into the storyline. Now that I'm reading the 3rd volume, things got into perspective but still I dont understand the reason the author included it. The reason could be explained later, maybe...
August 31, 2020
The premise is really interesting with a crime scene cleanup technician as a main character who gets caught up in a grisly serial murder case and the supernatural. The series and artwork, especially the drawings of the crime scenes and dismembered bodies, are realistic and well-researched. The author's pro-life anti-suicide agenda can come across as a little heavy-handed sometimes, but in a country where the suicide rate is dizzyingly high, highlighting this issue is probably a step in the right direction. Recommended reading for readers who've enjoyed Death Note, Monster, 20th Century Boys, Oyasumi Pun Pun and looking at paintings by Gericault.
November 1, 2024
3.5
I’m not a huge fan of the drawing style but it was okay enough that I could read it and enjoy it.
I felt that some parts were too slow and that some of the interesting parts and details went by too quickly.
The general theme of the manga is interesting - he becomes a specialist in cleaning the remains of deceased peoples - and it abord themes like acceptance, grief and revenge.
I’m curious about the rest of the story but I don’t think I will continue it except if I found it in second hand !
I’m not a huge fan of the drawing style but it was okay enough that I could read it and enjoy it.
I felt that some parts were too slow and that some of the interesting parts and details went by too quickly.
The general theme of the manga is interesting - he becomes a specialist in cleaning the remains of deceased peoples - and it abord themes like acceptance, grief and revenge.
I’m curious about the rest of the story but I don’t think I will continue it except if I found it in second hand !
June 16, 2018
Ich fand es wirklich einfach nur gut! Es war komplett anders als ich erwartet hab xD ich dachte das ist so Endzeit Manga und kein Thriller xD aber es war echt richtig gut und der böse Cliffhanger ey xx brauch Band zwei... Q___Q
September 21, 2019
Hacía tiempo que un manga no me enganchaba. ¡Y este lo ha conseguido! Eso sí, la traducción me ha sacado de quicio en más de una ocasión (¿desde cuándo contestas "¿El qué?" a la afirmación "Ha vuelto"? ¿Desde cuándo las cosas vuelven solas?).
August 13, 2022
¿Por qué este manga no es más famoso? Tipo, que chulada!!!!
No suelo leer mangas de misterio/asesinatos, porque es dificil engancharme a eso en este formato, pero es que este es genial!! Los personajes me gustan, el misterio es complejo... Deseando leer ya los demás tomos
No suelo leer mangas de misterio/asesinatos, porque es dificil engancharme a eso en este formato, pero es que este es genial!! Los personajes me gustan, el misterio es complejo... Deseando leer ya los demás tomos
July 21, 2021
3,5🌟 Un primer tomo interesante, con diferentes incógnitas y que te deja con ganas del siguiente.
July 9, 2022
Enganxa moltíssim, és com un capítol de csi. Realment si t’agraden aquest tipus d’història Rute End val la pena, veurem que tal evoluciona la trama. Per ara súper recomenable.
July 24, 2022
Olala c'était génial !! Quel très bon premier tome, j'ai hâte de découvrir la suite ⚡️
November 7, 2022
Tw suicide et meurtre
Très dur mais aussi très prometteur ! Pas à lire avant de s'endormir :)
Très dur mais aussi très prometteur ! Pas à lire avant de s'endormir :)
January 23, 2025
Primer volumen potente aterra de principio a fin ojala siga asi los proximos volumenes
January 27, 2025
Un manga cuanto menos, curioso. Estoy bastante intrigada por saber exactamente qué mueve a cada personaje y por qué.
March 26, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
July 23, 2021
Pour un premier tome assez intéressant plutôt rapide à lire.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews