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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good series--but I fundamentally disagreed with the choice to go past the 2/3 mark. Momentum was lost--and so many additional complications were added that a proportionate amount of explainey bits began to overwhelm the panels and the characters.
Great art. Wonderful characters. Gripping plot. Just went on too long.
Great art. Wonderful characters. Gripping plot. Just went on too long.
dark
tense
Holy crap. This was absolutely the finest manga series I have read (not that I've read that many, but not that many appeal to me). This was a satisfying end to the series.
The art was thoroughly fantastic throughout the series, and the intensely psychological plot was wonderfully free of flying samurai robots and girls with improbable cleavage (though, as other reviewers noted, there aren't many strong female characters either). It is also notably very successful at swinging the reader's sympathies back and forth like the most fickle of pendulums. You root for Light and want him to get away with what he's doing, but then when following another character, you realize what a sociopath Light is and root for them to bring him down.
I did think that the series could have been about half as long. After reading the first volume, I was thinking, "They'll probably wrap this up in the next volume or two." Nope. Twelve volumes. While it never got boring, it's easy to forget some of the stuff that went on earlier, especially because the plots are so complicated. I mean, for the life of me, I can't remember how the original L died except that Light Yagami killed him. Every conflict in Death Note is an epic battle of wits, like a chess game where both players know exactly what the other will do. It's difficult to keep all the details straight when you're thinking 5 or 6 conflicts ago.
I was happy that Matsuda survived, and had such a crucial part in bringing down Kira. He was my favorite character because he is a sweetly dopey goofball, too trusting, and innocent enough to want a romance with Light's younger sister. Ah, what could have been.
All in all, a most excellent series. I would recommend it to adults and teens who are mature enough to be interested in a very complex storyline.
The art was thoroughly fantastic throughout the series, and the intensely psychological plot was wonderfully free of flying samurai robots and girls with improbable cleavage (though, as other reviewers noted, there aren't many strong female characters either). It is also notably very successful at swinging the reader's sympathies back and forth like the most fickle of pendulums. You root for Light and want him to get away with what he's doing, but then when following another character, you realize what a sociopath Light is and root for them to bring him down.
I did think that the series could have been about half as long. After reading the first volume, I was thinking, "They'll probably wrap this up in the next volume or two." Nope. Twelve volumes. While it never got boring, it's easy to forget some of the stuff that went on earlier, especially because the plots are so complicated. I mean, for the life of me, I can't remember how the original L died except that Light Yagami killed him. Every conflict in Death Note is an epic battle of wits, like a chess game where both players know exactly what the other will do. It's difficult to keep all the details straight when you're thinking 5 or 6 conflicts ago.
I was happy that Matsuda survived, and had such a crucial part in bringing down Kira. He was my favorite character because he is a sweetly dopey goofball, too trusting, and innocent enough to want a romance with Light's younger sister. Ah, what could have been.
All in all, a most excellent series. I would recommend it to adults and teens who are mature enough to be interested in a very complex storyline.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a satisfying conclusion to the series, albeit a bit underwhelming. As a series filled with so many interesting twists, I was expecting more from the ending, but this was a great way to finish anyway.
Light's hybris reaches its apex, and so he must face the consequence. I loved the final images of Misa Amane, and how open-ended that felt.
Light's hybris reaches its apex, and so he must face the consequence. I loved the final images of Misa Amane, and how open-ended that felt.
A good ending to an all-around stellar series. Death Note Vol 12 finally sees Light get his just desserts which is satisfying. The main detractor from this is that it is Near that brings him down and not L. I normally applaud a series for killing off main characters in unsuspected ways but L's death, while shocking, ultimately hurt the series because Near and Mello were never as likable as L was. L also had the major benefit of being close and personal rivals with Light while Near keeps his distance. His death seemed abrupt and it ultimately hurt the series.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes