| Overall |
6 |
| Story |
6 |
| Art |
9 |
| Character |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
This is the prototype that would soon give light (pun intended) to one of the most famous and beloved series by both manga and non-manga fans alike, so how's it?
It's a quick read; as a matter of fact, I finished reading it in around seven minutes or so. However, I'd like to point out something: the story isn't really as good as the "official" 'Death Note'.
Meet Taro, a thirteen-year-old boy who, at the way home, picks up a dark, mysterious notebook. Without much knowledge
of English, Taro can only understand the last part of its name; in fact, he just thought it was a regular notebook because he didn't know what "death" meant. When he finally gets home, he decides to write about his day in it. With low self-esteem, Taro, a bullied and depressed kid, writes about every tiny detail about it with the bullies' names on it. His mum invites him for dinner, such a "normal" middle-schooler day, isn't it?
What may have seemed normal previously is now completely shattered. As soon as the class starts, the teacher announces the bullies' unexplainable, sudden death due to a heart attack (sounds familiar?).
Overall, I'd give this a score of six; even though it's a one-shot, the story lacks a bit of "flavour" to it — such a quick story, even if it's good, doesn't exactly appetise me.
The artwork is splendid; I personally like when manga and anime are overdramatic and convey surprised faces, but everyone's surprised faces astonished and gave me a feeling of anxiety (which is what I look up to when I'm reading or watching something).
Trespassed seven years, the story ends with a question: what would you do if you had the power to kill anyone, at any time with something as simple as writing their name on a notebook whilst having their face in mind?
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