After reading Volume 1 of Tsugumi Ohba’s manga Death Note, I was eager to continue
reading the story and so far have completed reading volumes 2 through 5 of the
twelve volume series (VIZ Media 2003, illustrated by Takeshi Obata, available
for $9.99 per volume at https://www.viz.com/read/manga/death-note-vol-1/5360). At this point, I thought a review was
in order.
In addition to being an interesting cat-and-mouse
detective story, the first volume presented many fascinating ethical dilemmas
(see my review http://stevesofgrass.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-of-death-note-by-tsugumi-ohba.html). In volumes 2 through 4, the detective
games intensify, and I found my allegiance shifting away from the anti-hero Light
and toward the now less mysterious but eccentric detective “L.” The introduction of a “second Kira” in the 4th volume complicates the plot even
further, providing another perspective on what could happen if a human were to
be granted god-like powers.
The plot also reveals an unexpected weakness of the
Shinigami or death gods. The gods
can be killed! A series of stars
must align for it to be possible.
I will not spoil the read by revealing what those circumstances are here
but I will comment that said circumstances are surprising.
The battle of wits between the two Kiras and L is
resolved in a most spectacular and satisfying stalemate, opening a new plot
line where Kira and Misa voluntarily assist L with the hunt for a “third Kira” who
does not share the first two’s motivation for killing. This third Kira, an executive of a
major Japanese corporation, uses his death note for his own personal and his
company’s financial gain by killing off executives in rival companies. The shift of the story to this rather
mundane, non-idealistic reason for murder was a bit of a letdown for me,
transforming a philosophically and ethically challenging plot into more
pedestrian fare. For that reason,
I admit I was a bit disappointed with volume 5 but not disappointed enough to stop reading
the series.
