Death Note, Vol. 1

by Tsugumi Ohba

Book Overview

When Light Yagami finds a notebook giving him power over death, will he use it for good--or evil?

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects--and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1421501686
• ISBN13: 9781421501680
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Two Games: One Obvious, One Not

"Death Note" gets five stars, but maybe not for the reasons you think. It is a remarkably popular manga and anime, stylish, carefully plotted, elegantly composed, and very skillful. I imagine that by now most readers know that Light Yagami, the brilliant but bored young hero, finds a "Death Note," a notebook deliberately dropped on Earth by Ryuk, a Shinigami (literally, "god of death"), that gives Light the ability to kill anyone he wants. Light's murderous escapades - he kills criminals to make the Earth a better place - are opposed by the equally brilliant young detective L. Light and L play a long-lasting and very elaborate game of hide-and-seek, each trying to out-think and out-plot the other as L closes in on Kira, the name the media has given to the killer. The conflict between Light and L is highly stylized, even to the point of being quite unrealistic. For example, it is hard to imagine that any government would let a 20-something detective like L alone handle a case of such national and international significance; the death notebook provides its possessor with power beyond a flotilla of nuclear missiles, but the military is never interested and mounts no investigations of Kira. Well, not likely. Instead, L and Light play a game reminiscent of Go, the Japanese board game ("Death Note" illustrator Takeshi Obata also illustrated "Hikaru no Go," about an immortal Go player). So the reader observes not for moments of truth, but in a nearly abstract appreciation of strategy of the two players. Enjoying "Death Note" therefore means a hefty dose of willing suspension of disbelief. In parallel to Light and L's intricate competition is the story of Light and Misa, a young woman who has her own death notebook and protective shinigami. Misa too is a killer, but her relationship to Light is far from simple. Here we reach one of the most striking features of the story. I've read many comments about "Death Note," and most merely say that Misa is madly in love with Light and virtually worships and obeys him, while he uses her with cold-blooded calculation. This view reminds me of L's thinking as he tries to evaluate Light's relationship to Misa: he believes (although without legally acceptable proof) that Light is Kira, and therefore treats Misa as a mere auxiliary or tool of Light/Kira's Machiavellian schemes. But, of the two, Misa is far deadlier and far more dangerous than Light: to underestimate HER is a fatal mistake. Nonetheless, to young male readers, Misa is what she pretends to be - a pretty girl in love, an empty-headed doormat for the real players. Yet, in the first story-arc, it will be *Misa's* plans and hopes that come to fruition, and Light will do what *she* wants. Thus, two games are being played in "Death Note." One, between Light and L, seems to be the main game, of whether or not L can prove that Light is the killer. The intricacy of this "police procedural" story is surely impressive. But the second game is more interesting. It

Morality or Immorality Genius

We've all heard stories and myths of Death, the Grim Reaper, or, as in the case of Death Note, the Shinigami. We know that, at will, these creatures can bring death. We know that Death and the Grim Reaper are particularly fond of huge scythes. But what a lot of us don't know (mainly because it's an added fictional element presented in Death Note) is that Shinigami prefer to use note books, or death notes. And occasionally, they lose their notebooks accidentally-on-purpose so that a human can find it. That is the beginning of Death Note, a story of a genius student named Light who finds this strange notebook and decides he wants to change the world into a utopia by killing all of the world's most horrible criminals without any suspicion to him. All he does is write their name in the death note and they're dead. The description above sounds dark, and this story is very dark. The lead character seems to have little care for those he kills and in fact finds some enjoyment in the unique ways he can bring about their death. His Shinigami shadow, Ryuk, bound to him because Light now owns the death note, guides him only to the point just beyond complete ignorance but otherwise lets Light do as he wishes. Thus, even despite the fact that it's nearly impossible to trace the murderer, suspicion does rise. This is when the true horror starts, as we begin to see what Light is willing to do to get himself free of suspicion. Anyone familiar with Shonen Jump's Hikaru No Go will recognize the artwork here. They won't recognize, however, the deep themes of morality VS. immorality. While reading, you have to decide, based on your own personal beliefs, what side Light is actually on, moral or immoral, good or evil. Certainly, at face value, Light is a decent human being, studying hard to become a top student, helping his sister with her homework, talking cop-business with his father, but it's in those moments of inspiration that Light has when you'll begin to wonder. And yet, it's his anti-hero love-ability that makes you keep reading, know matter what your beliefs are. You want him to avoid suspicion, to do away with the criminals, and to get rid of the cops tailing him. In volume one, it details Light's first moments with the death note and Ryuk. It also begins his battle with Interpol and their top agent, the secretive L. In between, we learn the main rules of the death note as well as the side-effects it has on humans and on Shinigami. It's haunting the way some of these rules are relayed, as if they were natural things to be considered in our minds. Death Note is one of those few mangas that captured me from the beginning (I read the first chapter in Shonen Jump). I knew after I read it that I would buy the graphic novels. As someone very selective of manga this was something special. I highly recommend this to fans of manga or to horror/thriller fans. This is a well-written, artistic manga indeed. I'd give it more stars if I could.

Death Note

Death Note is a very different manga from the others Viz Media has begun to release here in the U.S. It is thanks to them, however, that I learned of this brilliant series. The story follows a teenager, Light, who is bored with his life and sick of the monotonous cycle. He stumbles upon a Shingami's (Death God's) notebook, or Death Note. The notebook has a dark power: a brief way to put it would be to say when you write down a person's name and have the image of them in your mind, they will die of a heart-attack in forty seconds. There is much more to it than that, however. Details can be added as to how and when they die, but they must be physically possible. Ryuk, the Death God whose notebook Light has found, was also bored. He deliberately left the notebook there for a human to find. He is a very strange character with a very strange appearance. Nevertheless, he does play an important role. Light's name seems almost contradictory. He says he is killing off violent criminals to make the world a better place. He claims that he is righteous. But is murder the righteous thing to do? Interpol begins to move and is forced to play it's trump card: L, a person whose face and full name are not even known to the NPA. L and Light are both brilliant. Their plans, deductions, and observations never cease to amaze. Their battle and search continues as it evolves into a race to discover who the other is. Ultimately, you don't know who to cheer on. The protagonist is a bit crazy and is continously commiting murder and playing with peoples lives. Yet you find yourself still reading. The plot is engrossing; it is rare for me to find a manga that keeps me glued to the pages without frequent action scenes. Dark, mysterious, and decidedly different, Death Note is a level above.

Manga for people who don't read manga.

The majority of mainstream manga released in America has, up 'til now, been easy to categorize into two genres: Shounen(boy-oriented, lots of action, fighting, magical weapons, heroes out to save the world, etc.) and Shoujo(girl-oriented, romance, emphasis on character development and emotions, girls with magical powers/boyfriends, shounen-ai, etc.) Death Note, although serialized in Shounen Jump, doesn't clearly fall into either category. The main confict is the intense psychological battle between Light and L. Ingenious mindtraps, moral ambiguity, and strong suspense characterize the theme of Death Note. If you think this sounds more mature and complex than the average manga, then you would be correct. The supernatural setup involving death gods and a lethal notebook may turn off some people who would really enjoy it. I assure you that the premise is not hokey, and the supernatural aspects are secondary to the suspense and plot. The exploration of the "Rules" regarding the Death Note, the intricate use of logic, and the slow moral decay of the main character are fascinating to watch. The protagonist(he can hardly be called the hero), Light, is a brilliant young student who first decides to use the Death Note to rid the world of deadly criminals. However, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and his main goal shifts from promoting peace to avoiding capture at any cost. His pursuer is the international enigma who is known only as "L". This equally brilliant detective has a different idea of justice and is hot on Light's trail. They soon become locked in a battle of life and death; the first side to make a mistake(or fail to anticipate the other's move) will die. During their chess game, the public is divided by support and opposition for the mysterious killer, known to the media as Kira. To thicken the matter, other characters and factors interfere, throwing both L and Light for a loop. This is a book for fans of The Usual Suspects, intrigue, and detective thrillers. However, if you don't like following lots of dialouge or keeping track of complex plot lines, Death Note may not be for you. I also think it could benefit from more character development, since Light and L's personalities take a backseat to their actions. Even so, this manga is a real treat for those who want something deeper than the usual fare. If you enjoy Death Note, also look forward to upcoming "Monster" and "20th Century Boys.

Even If you are an adult, read this !

I am a Japanease. You know Japanease reads comics much. Even an adult often read. It is a culture recognized from society. This is one of the masterpieces of Japanese comics. This comic broke through the million seller early most until now. Story 10/10 Picture 9/10 Complexity 10/10 Difficult and very complex story maby trouble your understanding, but read it again and again. If you buy this comic, I recommed to buy 1 to 3. Although it does not know whether it was well transmitted in poor English, I think that this book does not surely betray expectation.