Death Note (漫画)

We talked earlier about the "Death Note" movie that came out in Japanese movie theaters in June. In a continuing effort to find the coolest and most interesting Japanese media, I have read the first two issues of the Viz English manga, Death Note, from which the movie is based. So far 6 of the 11 Japanese volumes have been translated into English, and hopefully we will see a theatrical if not simply a DVD release of the movie (actually two movies...Part II reaches Japanese theaters later this year).

Simply put, I have never read anything quite like this. The title and covers imply some kind of horror story, but Death Note is much more challenging than simple horror. Without revealing too much, (going in knowing very little has made the experience that much better), Death Note is more of a large scale moral battle. We learn early on that the Death Note itself is a notebook, in which it's owner can write the name of any living person and they will die (time and means of death are up to the owner). These notebooks are usually held by the gods of death, but occasionally they can fall into human hands, as is the case where our story opens. What follows is sometimes shocking, sometimes frustrating and always keeps you wanting to read more. What would you do if you could eliminate any person you wanted to? How could you possibly be caught? Brains and wits are required when using the Death Note...especially when all the world is looking for it's owner...