I saw the Anime first and then read the Manga. Perhaps that’s the reason I preferred the Anime version more than the Manga. The concept and story of ‘Death Note’ are mind-blowing and still rank No. 1 in my opinion. However, I did not enjoy reading the Manga as much because of some minor issues. According to Google, ‘Death Note’ is a Psychological and Supernatural Thriller, but it is also a Detective Mystery. ‘Death Note’ is not suited for children or teens, strictly 16+. The storyline encompasses Deception, Murder, Crime, and Deceit and has many Brutal moments. But Death Note is one hell of a Graphic Novel.
Chapter 1 is titled ‘Boredom’. Ryuk, a Death God, or Shinigami, if you prefer the Japanese term, is bored in his immortal existence. To kill his boredom, he drops a Death Note in the human world hoping for some entertainment. Light Yagami, an extremely intelligent 17-year-old who comes first in class, has nothing challenging to do in life and is bored out of his mortal existence. But by some bizarre coincidence, Light stumbles upon the Death Note. Now the Death Note is a supernatural object. You can kill anyone in the world by writing their name in the Death Note. Do you want to know what Light Yagami does with the Death Note? Well, you’ll have to read or watch the Anime to find out.
Here are some things I disliked about Chapter 1 of the Manga:
1. Ryuk drops the book on purpose and waits for a few days for someone to find it and hopefully begin using it. But when Ryuk comes to the Human world, the author shows how Light found the book, however, forgot to mention ‘A Few Days Earlier’. So, the continuation of the Manga was a little off. If you’re showing a Flashback, I like to see a callout that mentions so. I think the Manga should have started with the book dropping first then a Flashback of who dropped it and then Ryuk showing up at Light’s door.
2. Again on Page 30, Light describes how he wrote the first name in the Death Note, and the author forgot to mention a callout saying ‘A Few Days Earlier’.
3. The fact that Japan’s notorious criminals were broadcasted on television is a little unbelievable because I’ve never seen that happen in India. But perhaps it happens in Japan, or happens in the fictitious world the author has created in this Manga.
Likes:
1. I liked how Light was mentally prepared for a visit from a Death God, but yet panics and falls down when it happens. That was a very human response and the author nailed it.
2. I liked how Light’s thought process was laid out. How he thought he was the only one who could use the Death Note to make the world a better place. A noble idea at the start but gives a slight hint of a Narcissist. The Death Note brings Light’s hidden Narcissism to the surface as he wields the power of a Shinigami or a Death God. And Light already had the brilliant intelligence that made him feel like he was a Kami or a God.
3. I loved Ryuk. The fact that he was a Death God who was here to only have some fun. At the mercy of human lives, his way of getting some entertainment for himself cause immortality has run out of its perks. Makes me wonder if even God is doing the same across the universe.
I just found 3 points I disliked about Chapter 1, and 3 points I liked about it. But there are far too many good points about ‘Death Note’ and I’ll run out of words if I begin to write about all of them. If you’re someone who hasn’t seen the Anime or read the Manga, you must. Death Note deserves the praise it has if not more. Just read the first 2 Chapters. If you’re not hooked to it by then, you can give it up. But I’m sure you’ll enjoy every second of the story.
