Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrator: Takeshi Obata
U.S. publisher: Viz Media
ISBN: 9781421506289
Released: September 2006
Original run: 2003-2006 (Weekly Shōnen Jump)

Zero, the seventh volume in the wildly popular manga series Death Note, collects chapters fifty-three through sixty-one and picks up immediately were the previous book, Give-and-Take, left off. Like so many others, I have been very fond of the series thus far. And since Give-and-Take ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger, it didn’t take me too long to get around to reading Zero. The series’ premise is engaging and supported by strong artwork, making it easy to like. While Zero is definitely not my favorite installment, the book marks a significant turning point in the series. Several major and very important plot points happen in Zero which does make it difficult to discuss without spoiling things, but I will do my best.

The capture and arrest of Kyosuke Higuchi, determined by the investigation team to be acting as one of the Kiras, is the key to the return of Light’s memories of the Death Notes. The only thing that now needs to happen to ensure the success of Light’s plan and to initiate his endgame is Higuchi’s death. Much will happen before victory is guaranteed, but even then the question is how long will Light be able to hold onto it?

The first three quarters of the book are spent unveiling the details of Light’s plan (implemented several volumes ago) which have been a mystery up until now, even to him, and then watching how it plays out. Unfortunately, despite the rapid pacing of the revelations, the story has almost no tension. Light states at one point that he “spent every second thinking up every possible scenario and how to deal with it,” which is certainly impressive but a little boring when everything goes according to plan and he’s never shown to worry that there’s even a chance that it might not. Light and the story simply feel very passive at this point in the series. Through all of this, L remains convinced that Light is the most likely suspect contrary to much of the supposed evidence. He furiously continues to try and figure it all out before it’s too late. The last fourth of the book reveals the aftermath of Light’s machinations and manipulations, effectively fast-forwarding through five years. The Kira investigation is still underway, though not much is said about it, and new players enter to challenge Light’s control over the situation.

The artwork in Zero continues to be very good; I also appreciate its consistency. A few things that were done particularly well in this volume were the aging of the characters, the shift in Light and Misa as they regain their memory, and, as always, the portrayal of the Shinigami. Light really seems to have lost it in this volume and his facial expressions, while at times a little over the top and never nearly as subtle as earlier in the series, certainly get the point across and then hammers it home.

I knew when I began reading the Death Note series that there was a point about halfway through in which the tone of the story significantly changes and that fans are very divided over this. I will admit that I was mostly disappointed with Zero even though there is still some great stuff going on. However, at this point, I’m going to reserve my final opinion about the shift until I finish the series, which I fully intend to do. Because, while I found the seventh book ultimately disappointing, it wasn’t because of the major events in the plot. The story is still very strong and thought provoking, although some elements introduced in Zero really seem to come out of nowhere; it just wasn’t executed as well as I have come to expect from this series. I’ll just have to see how things go with the eighth volume of Death Note, Target.

Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrator: Takeshi Obata
U.S. publisher: Viz Media
ISBN: 9781421506272
Released: July 2006
Original run: 2003-2006 (Weekly Shōnen Jump)

It seems that I’ve been putting off reading Give-and-Take, the sixth book in the Death Note manga series, and I’m not entirely sure why since I’ve really liked the books. Granted, I didn’t enjoy the last book I read, Whiteout, quite as much as the ones previous. So, despite having picked up Give-and-Take soon after finishing Whiteout, it took me a while to actually get around to reading and reviewing it. But, I’m glad that I did and I still have plans to read the entire series—not that that has ever been in doubt for me.

Give-and-Take follows directly after Whiteout. Light is still chained to L and Misa is still under strict surveillance. Even though they are both considered suspects for being one of the first two Kiras, they are doing all that they can to assist the investigative team in tracking down and capturing the third Kira. So far, the investigation has been able to determine that this Kira is connected to a small group of people at the Yotsuba Corporation, but narrowing down it down even further is going to be tricky without showing their hand. It doesn’t help that the team has split into two groups over a disagreement in how to proceed. But the closer they get to Kira, the more dangerous it becomes for all involved and the team members must decide how far they are willing to go and how much, and who, they are willing to risk to capture Kira.

Takeshi Obata’s artwork is as great as ever and continues to be consistent. Light’s personality changes come across very well, but I will admit that I miss the intensity of the old Light. I also miss Ryuk; the apple-loving Shinigami is nowhere to be found in Give-and-Take. However, the other god of death, Rem, does show up and has a fairly important role at this point in the story. It does feel like a personality shift may have happened with this character as well—and I’m not sure I completely buy it yet. I know that Light’s charismatic, but he seems to have an awful lot of control over others. Given that, it should be interesting to see how his plan to regain a Death Note works out, especially as he is currently unaware of what that plan is since he has no memories of being Kira, though he is becoming more and more convinced of that possibility. L doesn’t seem nearly as strange to me as he used to. I’m not sure if it’s just that I’ve gotten used to him, or if he simply isn’t acting as outrageously as he once was. He still has some rather odd, and amusing, moments though.

While I didn’t enjoy Give-and-Take as much as some of the earlier books, the series is making a strong comeback. The book did start out slow, but then I was never that interested in the “evil corporation” as Kira. Fortunately, Give-and-Take explores the individuals that make up the Yotsuba group, revealing just how freaked out they are about the whole situation—sure, they’re willing to go along while it’s advantageous for them, but they also realize how dangerous it is and they’re frightened for they’re lives. This more personal approach is what gets the series back on track. And once the third Kira has been identified, the pacing is put back into full speed and the tension skyrockets as the chase begins. Of course, it all manages to end in a cliff-hanger, so I suppose that it would do to pick up the seventh book, Zero, sooner rather than later. I’m looking forward to starting the last half of the series.

Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrator: Takeshi Obata
U.S. publisher: Viz Media
ISBN: 9781421506265
Released: May 2006
Original run: 2003-2006 (Weekly Shōnen Jump)

I’ve only recently really been getting into manga but have definitely been enjoying my foray into the genre. Death Note has consistently been among the best series I’ve found so far. The first four volumes were fantastic and I was looking forward to reading the fifth, Whiteout. Although still very good, ultimately I wasn’t taken by it as much as I was by the previous books. But I’m not going to let that stop me from reading the rest.

At the end of the fifth installment, Love, Light had turned himself in to the investigation team for observation in an attempt to convince L that he wasn’t Kira. Whiteout begins with both Light and Misa imprisoned under suspicion for being one of the Kiras, which leads to the voluntary imprisonment of Light’s father as well. Eventually, all three are released, but L still hasn’t been completely convinced of their innocence so Misa is put under constant surveillance and Light is literally chained to L. While he was under observation, Light secretly gave up ownership of the Death Note (although I suspect only temporarily), resulting in the loss of all of his memories directly relating to it. Since he is still assisting with the Kira investigation, this puts him in an awkward position. He is now unknowingly trying to outwit himself while insisting upon his innocence, sometimes despite the evidence and occasionally even hiding it. And on top of that, the investigation is only going to get more complicated when the existence of a third Kira is discovered.

The pacing in Whiteout has definitely slowed from that of the previous books. However, there are still some absolutely fantastic and exciting scenes. Additionally, a little more humor is introduced into the story, though it still has a predominantly serious tone. Whiteout continues to develop and introduce human characters, but we hardly get to see the Shinigami at all. I expect the volume mostly serves as a transition between the feel of the first four volumes and what’s to come; while the still very interesting, it almost feels like a placeholder.

The art in Whiteout remains excellent. What especially stood out to me in this volume is how the character’s appearances change after they have been held in solitary for so long. In particular, the change in Light is subtle but extraordinarily effective in portraying his personality shift. I’m continue to be impressed by the artist’s skill. The Shinigami, which have always been the most interesting visually, don’t really make much of an appearance in Whiteout. Unfortunately, even Rem and Ryuk only show up briefly in a few panels.

Whiteout was the first volume of the series that I don’t feel improved over those that came before. (Don’t get me wrong—it wasn’t a bad book by any means.) I missed the intensity between Light and L as they each tried to outwit and out-think the other. While Light’s ploy was brilliant in throwing the investigation off, it results in a significant decrease in tension plot-wise. Which is not so say Light and L being chained together isn’t’ amusing and that there aren’t other interesting and intriguing developments—because there are quite a few. I’m certain that Light’s plan hasn’t completely unfolded yet, and look forward to seeing what happens. I still have great confidence in Death Note and have already picked up the sixth book, Give-and-Take.

Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrator: Takeshi Obata
U.S. publisher: Viz Media
ISBN: 9781421503318
Released: March 2006
Original run: 2003-2006 (Weekly Shōnen Jump)

I’ve been making a habit lately of buying gifts to give away from my favorite comic book shop, and Death Note was a perfect choice for my brother’s birthday. I gave him the first three volumes, which I had just finished reading and thought he would enjoy—the series is smart and complex, and I’ve been enjoying it myself. Plus, I like being the cool older sibling. The fourth volume, Love, collects chapters twenty-six through thirty-four of the manga, picking up where Hard Run leaves off.

Ever since L invited Light to join the Kira investigation, Light has had to be especially careful. While it gives him some insight into the progress of the case, it also allows more opportunities to slip up and reveal himself as Kira—the killer of criminals worldwide. But the appearance of a second Kira has complicated things even further. Light hopes to discover the identity of the new Kira before L and the rest of the investigation team can. This Kira displays powers even beyond Light’s and he is determined to use this to his advantage and kill L once and for all.

L isn’t nearly as creepy to me as he used to be. He’s still a bit strange and awkward though, making it more difficult to really know what’s going on in that brilliant mind of his. Light, on the other hand, is a little easier to read. But this doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a few surprises in reserve. Since L is closing in on Kira, Light is more concerned than ever to protect his identity and that of the second Kira. In previous collections, we’ve seen the lengths Light is willing to go to from a distance in order to implement his plan, but this is the first time we’ve really seen such intimate and personal manipulation. Frankly, it’s a bit frightening to watch Light’s descent and ruthlessness.

The artwork has really settled in by the fourth volume, with very little continuity or consistency issues. The Shinigami death gods are perhaps the most visually interesting. Besides Ryuk, who we already know, Rem is introduced as a major player in this volume. I particularly enjoyed examining the similarities and differences in the portrayal of two characters, those both subtle and obvious. It was also interesting to compare their attitudes, which was captured quite well by the artist.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Death Note collections and Love is no exception; it may even be my favorite so far. I remain impressed by the story’s depth and complexity. This is the only “unflipped” manga that I’m reading at the moment, but it doesn’t take too long to settle in, thanks mostly to the strong artwork and design. (And a little bit of practice, of course.) There were a few translation quirks in this volume, but nothing that was too distracting. Also, a few cultural references might pass over some readers, but these aren’t paramount to understanding or enjoying the book. Death Note continues to improve with each volume and I’m very much looking forward to the next one, Whiteout.

Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrator: Takeshi Obata
U.S. publisher: Viz Media
ISBN: 9781421501703
Released: January 2006
Original run: 2003-2006 (Weekly Shōnen Jump)

Hard Run is the third volume in the Death Note manga series, collecting chapters seventeen through twenty-five. Hard Run, along with the first two collected volumes (Boredom and Confluence), was included on the Top Ten list of the 2007 American Library Association’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens. This is not to say that older audiences won’t enjoy the series as well—its sophistication is sure to win the appreciation of many adult readers in addition to teens.

Despite being the main suspect in the Kira case, Light has so far been able to avoid leaving any concrete evidence leading to him as the killer of criminals worldwide. In fact, his alibis come across as being too perfect and L, the brilliant detective heading the case, becomes even more interested in him. So much so that he follows Light as he begins college, posing as a fellow student. Surprisingly, he ultimately reveals his identity and invites Light to join the investigation even though he is suspected to be Kira. But the battle of wits is cut short, or at least put on hold, due to a family emergency. It appears another Death Note may have been dropped and now there is a second Kira on the loose.

Hard Run was a little more quickly paced than the previous volume, Confluence. Light and L still seem fairly equally matched, but when it looks like the eccentric investigator might be starting to get the upper hand, the possibility of a Kira copycat complicates everything for both him and Light. The introduction of a second Death Note in the human realm ensures the continued complexity of this series and I expect that things will be kicked up another notch at least in the upcoming volumes.

Death Note is a popular manga series, and for good reason. It’s smart, well drawn, and complex. The characters are engaging and the story addicting. I am fascinated by Light and how his obsession with creating a perfect world is steadily corrupting him. L still is a bit creepy although I am beginning to get used to his bizarre behavior. Ryuk (a Shinigami death god and original owner of Light’s Death Note, which he dropped out of boredom) continues to amuse me, especially in regards to his supposed apathy and his delight in the whole situation. I remain impressed with this series and definitely look forward to reading the next volume, Love.