DEATH NOTE - Manga Review (9/10)
Death Note was one of the first manga series that I read, and what a way that was to start this journey. Developed by Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Obha, Death Note is a story about a deadly notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it, and how Light, our protagonist, is slowly consumed by its power. The main crux of the story is dependent on the delicate chess-game between Light and L, a genius detective set on bringing the killer to justice. You go panel from panel, following the threads of logic each of them leaves behind in their inner monologues (which there is PLENTY of) as they try to outwit each other. Light is arguably one of the strongest protagonists in all of manga. He is extremely driven in his creation of the “perfect world” and watching the innocent boy spiral into madness is as satisfying an arc as you can get. The series also diversifies its backdrop quite frequently, going from back-room conversations to an entire arc dedicated to discovering the identity of a single women at the side of the road to a shoot out, never letting its ideas get stale. Though it may be surprising with how much dialogue the series contains, but Obata’s art is also extremely impressive. He breathes life into these already rich characters, and his environments and angles add an almost cinematic look to the manga. Though I still enjoy it very much, I find the latter third to be a bit less engaging than what comes before it, but I cannot divulge much due to spoilers. Overall, Death Note is a brilliant piece of writing that kept me hooked for all 108 chapters and one that I have revisited in its entirety very often. If you enjoy watching smart people do smart things, recommending this series would be my ultimate gift to you.
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