Volume 1

Volume 1 is the first volume of the Deadman Wonderland series.

Chapter 1
The chapter opens with a flashback scene of young children, a boy and an albino girl, playing together as a weeping woman plays the piano and sings the Woodpecker Song. The following pages show images of various unnamed soldiers fighting and dying by the hands of a blood-covered, armor-wearing man that causes immense amounts of destruction. In the present time at school, Ganta Igarashi, the main protagonist of the series, watches an advert about Deadman Wonderland on his cell phone. As his friends, Mimi and Yamakatsu are introduced and usual the usual school routine plays, Ganta hears the familiar but forgotten tune of the Woodpecker Song. Turning to see where the source of the song came from, Ganta sees the same armored man previously shown, at the window and floating. Almost as soon as Ganta acknowledges this, the floating man (dubbed by Ganta as The Red Man) releases an unknown and powerful attack on the classroom thus, blowing a huge hole in it. Ganta, once recovered from the impact, asks Mimi if she's alright only to see her severed head in the grasp of The Red Man and the rest of his classmates brutally murdered as well. As the Red Man approaches Ganta, grinning wildly, he takes a red crystal and impales it into the center of Ganta's chest, knocking him unconscious. As Ganta's consciousness returns, he awakes to find himself in a hospital and is instantly charged of the murder of his classmates and teacher. When the memory of the event comes flooding back to him, Ganta checks his chest for the scar from the Crystal but finds it unharmed as if nothing had happened. After a suspiciously short trial, Ganta is sentenced to death at Deadman Wonderland and soon encounters Makina, the chief warden, as she explains the 'truth' behind the gates of Deadman Wonderland. After a series of events involving Yō Takami, Makina is shown to be talking with Tsunenaga Tamaki, the same person who was Ganta's lawyer in the trial, revealing that he is the boss of the prison. After, Shiro is shown singing the Woodpecker song at the top of one of the rides and somehow smells Ganta's scent despite that being humanly impossible and him being far away. Ganta, obviously traumatized by the events, cries uncontrollably whilst talking to himself until the point he wishes to be dead. Shiro, overhearing this, bursts through his window and attempts to kill Ganta (as she believes he really meant it) and questions why Ganta dodged her attacks. Without giving him time to respond, Shiro feels his chest and realizes that he was lying due to the fact that his heart was beating rapidly (which is more likely to be because of the sudden adrenaline rush). Shiro then informs him that they are friends and a quick flash-back shows a close up of the children playing before hand and therefore reveals them to be Ganta and Shiro. Ganta retorts saying that friends wouldn't try to kill one another but, that brings back the memory of him being accused of just that. In another scene, Tamaki is shown reading Ganta's defense statement and points out that seeing the Branch of Sin of the Wretched Egg and living is incredibly lucky. Ganta is made to clean up the mess Shiro caused and reports to the construction site. At the construction site, Shiro comes out from a man-hole with a biscuit and states that he should be happy as he doesn't really want to die. They are soon attacked by other prison members and one of them recognizes Ganta and his "crime". Shiro comes to his defense until she is hit by one of the men. Showing no reaction to the attack, Shiro surprisingly defeats him with a kick as she does a backward handspring, but is then knocked-out with a shovel to the back of her head. Suddenly, a bomb goes off at the top of a tower which cause a large sphere to come crashing down and the thugs run away. Ganta has an epiphany about his life and the events in it as the Red Crystal in his chest re-appears. This then causes blood to be released from his body and produce a projectile which is surrounded by similar hexagons as of the Red Man's attack, which he then fires at the sphere which destroys it. Ganta, not really acknowledging what he had just done, thinks to himself with a new-found hope as the chapter closes with a broken duck-shaped speaker saying "Welcome to Deadman Wonderland" and a close-up of a crystal.

Chapter 2
The chapter starts with Ganta Igarashi reviewing a summarized version of his life up until the present and then changes to a scene of Makina noting the connection between Ganta, Tsunenaga Tamaki and the disturbance caused at the construction site. Her train of thought is interrupted by an alarm going off, signifying a prisoner causing a commotion which turned out to be another prisoner who had been taken hostage. The prisoner who had taken hostage of the other threatens to kill him unless he gets a piece of Candy to which no-one reacts to (other than Kasuga Kyōko) and Makina points out that he'll die soon anyway. The prisoner now realizing that he's seriously running out of time, begs for Candy as he doesn't have any Cast Points but, dies before he can finish. Makina then informs that this is the death sentence at Deadman Wonderland. Ganta is then shown in the cafeteria only receiving a small cube of an unidentified ration then, looks around where he sees others with actual food. Azami Midō appears telling him to move out of the way and scans a Cast Card in order to buy her lunch. At first, she questions Ganta's taste in food but then figures that he doesn't have any Cast Points. She eventually gives him her sandwich while she states that she is poor too and then informs him about Cast Points and their importance in Deadman Wonderland. The scene then switches to an old man being attacked and robbed by a gang of nameless thugs which is lead by Kōzuji Kazumasa. Ganta, unerved by the scene before him, drops his ration and reaches for it when it is crushed under Kōzuji's foot and is then punched by said person. Kōzuji commands Ganta to kneel when he sees him laughing, clear a path etc. and states that he will kill Ganta if otherwise. When Ganta leaves the room, he encounters Makina in the hallway and she calls him over to explain the rule book. However, she notices the bruse on his cheek and tells him to go to the clinic first. In the clinic, he sees Yō Takami in a neighboring bed and Yō apologizes for bumping into him and causing Ganta to 'loose' his Candy. Shiro pokes her head out of the ceiling asking Ganta to play but, cause Yō and Ganta to scream in response. Shiro challenges Ganta to a race which Yō interprets as the Dog Race Show. Yō briefly explains the game saying that the prize is 100,000 CP to which Ganta gets excited over. In the Dog Race Show changing rooms, Kōzuji and his thugs orders everyone else not to get in his way to ensure his victory to which Azami objects, but gets her arm kicked as punishment for breaking the 'rules'. Kōzuji then tells Ganta to stomp on Azami's arm again however, he refuses as she is already injured and that sucking up to Kōzuji makes him disgusted with himself. In this moment, Ganta throws a magazine at Kōzuji face and insults him and his rules which naturally enrages him. However, Ganta is saved by a guard who intervenes. Seconds before start of the race, Ganta sees that the price of Candy is the same as the price money and it dawns of him that he'll die the next day unless he wins the race.

Chapter 3
Ganta is shown reading the Deadman Wonderland information booklet whilst Tsunenaga Tamaki raises the danger of the race to the maxium. The race starts with a stage called "Slice and Dice" and Ganta makes multiple near-miss evasions of the huge swinging blades. However, another unnamed prisoner, who unfortunately is not as nimble as Ganta, is cut into multiple pieces which, causes Ganta to remember the day of his classmate's murder. As the prisoners stare in shock and horror at the scene, the audience however, remain oblivious the death, believing it to be special effects and wouldn't care either way as they are criminals. Ganta, momentarily confused as to why the audience enjoy this, finds more motivation to win the race. On the other hand, Kōzuji Kazumasa notices this urge to win and orders his thugs to kill Ganta otherwise he'll kill them in a gruesome manner. As Ganta progresses to the next stage, one with ducks firing arrows at them, the thugs attempt an aerial attack on him when Shiro, quite literally, jumps into the scene and nudges Ganta at that precise moment. Ganta questions Shiro about the possibility of him falling into a pit when one of the thugs is struck by many arrows thus, falling one of the electrified pits. Shiro, completely un-fazed by this, states that the thug is clumsy and that Ganta shouldn't be so that they can eat Anpan together afterwards. In response, Ganta says that he'll die if he doesn't win to which Shiro responds with a less-than-bothered realization of that fact. Ganta is then taken back by this as they were supposed to be friends yet Shiro is so light-hearted about it. In another scene, Azami Midō and Yō Takami are shown watching the race. Back at the race, the thugs are shown to have many more foiled attempts at Ganta's murder due to Shiro interfering. Kōzuji threatens the thugs again until the thugs are all hit by Shiro riding a bull then, Kōzuji finally choosing to do his own dirty work, draws out a combat knife. Through more stages, Shiro is shown to be interfering with Ganta's progression (or survival) and Ganta becomes irritated as a result. With few contestants remaining, Ganta reaches the final stage (a battle royal) whilst a woman explains the rules of the level. Ganta pleads with Shiro to stop getting in his way and the game begins. Almost instantly, two contestants fall through a floor panel and the over-head speaker explains that every 5 seconds, a panel will deteriorate. It is then revealed that underneath the platform is a bed of huge spikes with many corpses punctured by them. As the game goes on, many more prisoners are succumbed to the deteriorating panels and one unlucky contestant accidentally passes the ball to Ganta thinking that he was playing Volleyball (and was therefore presumably a Volleyball player) whilst others are kicked into the holes by Kōzuji in the background. Ganta, with a relieving thought, notes that he must only hold the ball for another 3 minutes in order to win but almost steps on panel which was about to fall. As other contestants attempt to steal the ball (including Kōzuji), Ganata tries to figure out with panels are safe to travel on when Kōzuji leaps at him with yet, more threats and Ganta discovers that the panels fall inverse with each other. Upon discovering this, Ganta moves one place to allow Kōzuji to land on fallen panel. At the last moment however, Kōzuji manages to kick the ball out of Ganta's grip but, is secured by Shiro. Kōzuji with his last seconds of life remaining, throws his knife at Ganta but, is intercepted by Shiro and stabs her back. Ganta finally realizes that Shiro was actually protecting Ganta by taking the blows for him throughout the race. Shiro, however, seems unaffected by the blow and gives Ganta a cheerful smile. Suddenly, the panel Shiro was standing on falls and Shiro passes the ball to Ganta. But, Ganta chooses to ignore the ball as it falls into and is punctured by the spikes, and grabs Shiro's arm instead. The audience and Deadman Wonderland inhabitants alike, are shocked by this outcome (some disappointed by the fact there is no winner) when, Kōzuji is shown to still be alive but, encounters Makina and gives him the option of one year in solitary confinment or stab himself through the heart. Elsewhere, Shiro asks Ganta why he didn't take the ball and he explains that it was because they wanted to eat Anpan together but, Ganta then thinks to himself and accepts that he'll die the next day. In the clinic, Yō is shown with another prisoner who had owed him Cast Points apologizes for not paying him back sooner and states that'll pay it back later but with interest. The entire time however, Yō is looking at his single earring. Later on, Yō is shown in the bathroom washing the same earring then tossing an ear into a near-by bin. The chapter closes as he says that he'd like his new friends (referring to Ganta and Shiro) to be nicer in a menacing tone.

Chapter 4
Shiro is shown leaving Ganta after eating Anpan and suggests eating together again tomorrow. However, Ganta weakly and quietly replies that he'll be 'executed' that day but is not heard by Shiro. The next setting is of Tsunenaga Tamaki's presumable meeting room which is full of eerie, border-line demonic mechanical animals and such and his taste, (or lack-there-of) is picked up on one of the members. Another demands to know how many prisoners he had killed in the race (after stating that Tamaki has gone too far) despite them not even being on death-row and points out that it was a public mass-murder and that they can only protect him for so long. The other members ask for the director to which Tamaki replies saying that he's in charge whilst fiddling with a cat's cradle. After making a bridge, he suggests that they should continue funding Deadman Wonderland if they want to keep the Wretched Egg sealed away which causes anger to flare up. However, the meeting is interrupted by Tamaki's cellphone ringing informing him that the Wretched Egg has escaped. The next scene shows Ganta in his cells writing his last will and testament then, scrunching it up just before Yō Takami enters. Yō comes in, surprised to see Ganta there, but then says that he's been looking for him and re-introduces himself as he offers his hand. Ganta doesn't take it and explains that he'll be executed soon as he doesn't have any Cast Points to buy Candy and Yō says that, that is what he wanted to talk about. After apologizing for bumping into him and causing Ganta to 'loose' his candy, Yō gives him another piece. Ganta is moved by this and thanks Yō excessively but, Yō only smirks sinisterly. Yō has a flashback revealing that he was assigned to spy on Ganta in return for Cast Cards by Tamaki then Ganta and Yō shake hands (in the present) as friends. The next panels show scenes of blood-covered walls and the Wretched Egg's armor taken. Tamaki is then shown stating that the Mother Goose System had failed and that it needs to be back online before the Wretched Egg grins. Afterwards, the Wretched Egg, revealed to be the Red Manthat killed Ganta's classmates, cracks the signature grin. Yō and Ganta are walking together in the courtyard talking about Shiro when Yō spots an ice-cream stand. Ganta reminisces himself and Yamakatsu together after a tiring gym lesson on a similarly hot day. The two also see an ice-cream stand but, only have a few Yen between them. Mimi walks by and the boys plead with her to help them buy ice-cream, which she complies to. Ganta then remembers their murder and weeps. Yō asks Ganta if he's alright, but Ganta's chest begins to cause him pain. When the clock chimes at 12:00, the Wretched Egg appears directly below it and unleashes it's Branch of Sin on everyone. The BoS creates a tornado which twists one prisoner apart and shreds another's limb off. Some of the flying rubble hits Yō in the throat and knocks him down. Ganta sees that the Wretched Egg will kill his friends again and uses his own Branch of Sin that exposes the crystal in his chest. As Ganta's blood flows out of him and a circle of hexagons revolve around him, Yō and Tamaki watch in shock as a new Branch of Sin is revealed. The blood collects in Ganta's right hand and fires as a bullet at the Wretched Egg. Despite hitting it in the head, the Wretched Egg only grins wider and wilder and greets Ganta as "Woodpecker", then jumps away. Ganta chases after the Wretched Egg, demanding it to stop running away, when the Mother Goose System is put back online. Tamaki is ecstatic that he has discovered a new Branch of Sin and Yō fearfully questions if Ganta is human. Tamaki then crazily welcomes Ganta (as he watches from another room) to the real Deadman Wonderland.