"Y'know? I had put my hopes and dreams into this place. I could take refuge here and forget. But...that ended. This place no longer makes sense."
—The Creator
DELETE is a 2016 manga written and illustrated by Isabel Terol Martinez (also known as Isakytm) that serves as the prequel/spinoff of their subsequent webtoon, Lalin's Curse, specifically in terms of David and Felix's backstory.
The story follows X (later named Valor), a video game character whose world is slowly being destroyed by mysterious, powerful adversaries known as Nil and "the Creator". In order to stop their world from being deleted, X has to team up with a bird-creature called F:el find the game's cores before Nil does, and uncover the mysteries of both their world and the Creator himself.
All spoilers are unmarked.
This comic provides examples of:
- Action Girl: Valor was immediately willing to fight as much as she had to in order to defend her home and prove to the Creator that he had no right to discard her.
- Berserk Button: Valor is very, VERY angry at Nil and the Creator for wanting to destroy her world. She also really disliked it when one of her little roommates (?) joked about how she can "be a fish like [them]".
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: The Demon lured David with the pretense that he was going to help take away his pain. Turns out he just wanted to feed off it for his own gain.
- Break the Cutie: Turns out the Creator is just David, a kid who attempted suicide after excessive bullying and just desperately wanted to get away from all his pain.
- Broken Pedestal: When David found out about the Demon's true colors, though not much of a pedestal existed in the first place.
- Broken Tears: Many throughout the story, mostly from David.
- Childhood Friends: The Creator and F:EL - David and Felix - were this prior to the bullying situation that drove them apart.
- Cruel to Be Kind: The main reason why Nil helped destroy the game world was because that's what the Creator wanted and Nil sincerely thought he was helping him for the better.
- Cute Little Fangs: Nil has these.
- Dark Is Not Evil: The Creator’s face is completely covered in shadows when he’s introduced, and while he is callous and mocking at the start, it's eventually revealed (along with his face) that he's really just a scared boy who needed an escape.
- Deadpan Snarker: Valor and F:el.
- Despair Event Horizon: Valor falls into this – literally – when the Demon pushes her into a black void after their climactic battle, essentially defeating her. That is, until David admits he wants to stay alive and saves her.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Nil’s punishment for agreeing to work with Valor and F:el? Getting shot in the head.
- Early-Bird Cameo:
- Literally: we see F:EL's 'little' form in the first three panels, seemingly spying on Nil and the Creator.
- Cody, Eric, Maria, Tomas, Lucia, Noemi and Selena all make cameos near the end of the comic, watching the fight between Felix and the bullies.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Nil, who spent most of the story being destructive and ruthless, immediately agreed to stop when he realized his actions were doing more harm than good to the Creator.
- Expy: In-Universe examples, due to this being a game created by David and Felix:
- Valor represents a part of David's soul, particularly his courage.
- F:EL is based off of Felix himself, and serves as his active counterpart in this world due to the Demon trapping him there.
- Nil is based off of Tobias, another childhood friend of David and Felix. Unlike the latter two, Tobias himself doesn't end up the dream world, so the only source of Nil's agency seems to be both David's memories and the Demon's manipulation.
- Gratuitous English: The original comic is entirely in Spanish, apart from whenever Valor touches a core, when the words ‘Game Saved’ appear in English.
- Heel–Face Turn: Valor and F:el manage to convince Nil that his actions are actually hurting the Creator and he agrees to help them make things right. Unfortunately, this redemption doesn't last long.
- In a Single Bound: Nil and Valor are both able to quite far in one leap.
- Indy Ploy: What Valor relies on for majority of the story, much to F:EL's chagrin.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold
- As sadistic as he is, Nil is deeply loyal to the Creator and willing to do whatever's necessary for his wellbeing.
- Valor's occasional snark and tantrums make her come off as at least a brat but overall she's brave and well-intentioned.
- One-Word Title
- Red Right Hand: Nil's right eye is just a white dot shrouded in dark glitches.
- Sore Loser: Valor.Valor: Agh! Come on! How could I lose????: C'mon, X, don't get mad. You can't always win.Valor: I'm not mad, it just bugs me to have to carry out the bet now...
