AoD Advance Review: Death Note vol. 1 [Archive]

Evangelist

09-22-2005, 02:44 PM

I find it VERY difficult to like this series, mostly because of the character of Light. He just has zero developement or motivation prior to him deciding to become a self-proclaimed death-dealer with a god complex. Why is he like this? What gives him the urge to kill criminals? I'm not saying that every protagonist (or in this case antagonist) has to have a complex back-story, I'm just saying that if a series is going to focus on a character, the author should at least give us a reason to give a damn about them.

Noodle

09-22-2005, 03:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Evangelist said:
I'm not saying that every protagonist (or in this case antagonist) has to have a complex back-story, I'm just saying that if a series is going to focus on a character, the author should at least give us a reason to give a damn about them.

[/ QUOTE ]

.. I actually think that's why I liked this one so much. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif It's different? Heh.. As for backstory, well, we do know that Light wanted to be the head of the NPA, so he already had the "justice" thing going on... at least it started somewhere, not just because he picked up the Death Note.

Dagger

09-22-2005, 06:15 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Noodle said:
[ QUOTE ]
Yashiro said:
Love the series, especially everything up until L's death . Awaiting the first volume.

[/ QUOTE ]

Curse your spoiler!! Dammit.. /images/graemlins/relief1.gif
No one read that... /images/graemlins/depresse.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, jeez, it totally sucks that you saw that. /images/graemlins/sad.gif

On a brighter note (not a pun, I swear), Death Note is awesome and I'm eagerly looking forward to having the English version in my hands. I pre-ordered volumes 1 through 3 as soon as I could.

Dagger

09-22-2005, 06:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Evangelist said:
I find it VERY difficult to like this series, mostly because of the character of Light. He just has zero developement or motivation prior to him deciding to become a self-proclaimed death-dealer with a god complex.

[/ QUOTE ]
I figure he was always a genius... and beneath that there was always the potential for him to become an outright sociopath. Getting his hands on Ryuk's Death Note was what really triggered it. I'm not sure a real past or backstory is necessary here. It's just the way he is.

AmericanBeauty

09-22-2005, 06:22 PM

Between this and Monster, October 4 is shaping to be a good day. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Andrew Cunningham

09-22-2005, 06:35 PM

Death Note goes with a Talented Mr. Ripley sort of deal, where the main character is completely amoral and we root for him anyway.

Gonfreaks

09-22-2005, 07:02 PM

I actually didn't mind the lack of backstory of Light. We really don't need one, IMO, there wouldn't really be much of one to tell. He's just a genius, and the Death Note pushes him a little too far.

Dagger

09-22-2005, 07:51 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Andrew Cunningham said:
Death Note goes with a Talented Mr. Ripley sort of deal, where the main character is completely amoral and we root for him anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]
Personally, I've never actively rooted against him--if only because there's no more story if Light goes down. But I've never really rooted for him, either. What can I say--the guy pisses me off, but I love reading about his machinations anyway. Odd, that. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

09-22-2005, 08:35 PM

packaging--
I hope this book is the same size as the Japanese one, but I kinda doubt it. All the same, I really love the size of the untranslated copies I've seen at Waldenbooks. Maybe just because it's different though? I also hope those omakes make it in. I love omakes, even though I don't see them much in the manga I collect. /images/graemlins/depresse.gif

artwork--
Yeah, there is some nice artwork in this book. That's all I know about DeathNote so far cuz, uh, I don't know Japanese /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif But I agree it's consistantly good artwork, and I know at the very least it stays consistantly good all the way through v4. That's the furthest Waldenbooks got so far, though.

SFX/Text--
Hooray! I love lots of little notes. I love details. And I like editors notes, especially when they're funny like the little Tite Kube notes in Bleach. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

Contents/Comments--
Hmm, sounds intriguing. Nice little overview without being spoilerific. *thumbs up* /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif I can tell you're kinda excited about this title, which is always a good vibe to catch off a reviewer. If I hadn't been waiting for this title for a long time now, this review woulda convinced me to check it out! But, I had. So you don't get my vote

/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

sasuke

09-22-2005, 08:59 PM

I read the first chapter in shonen jump and now I'm hook.

ayumu

09-22-2005, 10:21 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Dagger IX1 said:
Personally, I've never actively rooted against him--if only because there's no more story if Light goes down. But I've never really rooted for him, either. What can I say--the guy pisses me off, but I love reading about his machinations anyway. Odd, that. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed. I'm not rooting for Light (I'm an L fangirl /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif) and I don't want him to win--I think he's crazy and his vision is scary.

When I first started reading this series, I didn't think it could last long, but eight volumes in (more than that if you count the Jump chapters) and it's still going strong. I have no idea where the story is going or how the author is going to wrap things up, but I'm really looking forward to it.

Andrew Cunningham

09-23-2005, 01:08 AM

Rooting is perhaps a strong word.
But emotionally, we are with him to a certain extent, or the scenes would have no suspense.

Dicrel Seijin

09-23-2005, 03:14 AM

*clicks on spoiler* Damn my curiosity. /images/graemlins/depresse.gif

Well, I am still looking forward to it. The review just makes me chomp at the bit now.

Marmalade Brat

09-23-2005, 11:54 AM

I been looking forward to this one too. Alot of friends who read the japanese recommended it to me. With this and Beck, I might actually start buying Comics, I mean Manga, regularly again.

pete5883

10-07-2005, 02:35 PM

Just read this last night, I couldn't put it down. Good thing vol. 2 is soon /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Helschadenfreude

10-10-2005, 08:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
ayumu-chan said:
[ QUOTE ]
Dagger IX1 said:
Personally, I've never actively rooted against him--if only because there's no more story if Light goes down. But I've never really rooted for him, either. What can I say--the guy pisses me off, but I love reading about his machinations anyway. Odd, that. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed. I'm not rooting for Light (I'm an L fangirl /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif) and I don't want him to win--I think he's crazy and his vision is scary.

When I first started reading this series, I didn't think it could last long, but eight volumes in (more than that if you count the Jump chapters) and it's still going strong. I have no idea where the story is going or how the author is going to wrap things up, but I'm really looking forward to it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same thing here, but I can't believe what Light did!! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif I feel like the ongoing Jump chapters are more of a part 2 type of thing... /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif damnit, I still don't want L to be dead.

coolerimmortal

10-15-2005, 03:25 PM

Ah, Death Note...such a fun series. Light is my favorite anime/manga character. He's the only one that has never made a decision I disagreed with. People tend to be torn between liking Light and hating him for his twisted philosophy, but I love him as a character. To be precise; I agree with what he is doing. That's part of the reason I love Death Note so much; I can connect with it very well.

Dagger

10-16-2005, 05:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
coolerimmortal said:
Ah, Death Note...such a fun series. Light is my favorite anime/manga character. He's the only one that has never made a decision I disagreed with. People tend to be torn between liking Light and hating him for his twisted philosophy, but I love him as a character. To be precise; I agree with what he is doing. That's part of the reason I love Death Note so much; I can connect with it very well.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's scary, frankly. But each to his own. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

What I found completely reprehensible (spoiler for recent chapters) was how Light handled his dad's death.

Texhnolyze

10-16-2005, 05:59 PM

sakurajade

10-16-2005, 10:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Texhnolyze said:
[ QUOTE ]
coolerimmortal said:
Ah, Death Note...such a fun series. Light is my favorite anime/manga character. He's the only one that has never made a decision I disagreed with. People tend to be torn between liking Light and hating him for his twisted philosophy, but I love him as a character. To be precise; I agree with what he is doing. That's part of the reason I love Death Note so much; I can connect with it very well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, seek help.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ditto. Cause that's just scary.

Monte Cristo

10-17-2005, 01:44 AM

Pelianth

10-17-2005, 10:19 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Monte Cristo said:
[ QUOTE ]
coolerimmortal said:
Ah, Death Note...such a fun series. Light is my favorite anime/manga character. He's the only one that has never made a decision I disagreed with. People tend to be torn between liking Light and hating him for his twisted philosophy, but I love him as a character. To be precise; I agree with what he is doing. That's part of the reason I love Death Note so much; I can connect with it very well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy shit, that's horrifying.

[/ QUOTE ]
*twitch* The irony is overwhelming.

SnowfairyX

10-18-2005, 10:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
coolerimmortal said:
Ah, Death Note...such a fun series. Light is my favorite anime/manga character. He's the only one that has never made a decision I disagreed with. People tend to be torn between liking Light and hating him for his twisted philosophy, but I love him as a character. To be precise; I agree with what he is doing. That's part of the reason I love Death Note so much; I can connect with it very well.

[/ QUOTE ]
I mostly agree with Light's way of thinking as well. He's a very fascinating character so far from the preview I read in Shonen Jump and I'll definitely be getting the manga novels eventually just to see how twisted he can get /images/graemlins/devil.gif. Unless he starts killing completely innocent people later on, I don't think I'll grow to hate him when I eventually get the series.

ayumu

10-18-2005, 09:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
SnowfairyX said:
I mostly agree with Light's way of thinking as well. He's a very fascinating character so far from the preview I read in Shonen Jump and I'll definitely be getting the manga novels eventually just to see how twisted he can get /images/graemlins/devil.gif. Unless he starts killing completely innocent people later on, I don't think I'll grow to hate him when I eventually get the series.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't think anyone hates him, per se, but his way of thinking is scary. It makes for highly entertaining reading, but I would be absolutely terrified of him if he were a real person.

I'm not going to say anything specific about later volumes, but you only get the tiniest taste of Light's craziness at first. In retrospect, he seems almost reasonable in the beginning.

Dagger

10-18-2005, 10:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
ayumu-chan said:
I'm not going to say anything specific about later volumes, but you only get the tiniest taste of Light's craziness at first. In retrospect, he seems almost reasonable in the beginning.

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed. The really shudder-inducing moments don't come till later on.

AmericanBeauty

10-18-2005, 11:24 PM

I sampled the first volume tonight and all my expectations were exceeded; it's so interesting and well-written. With the ability to literally "write off" all the bad people on this planet, you can eventually just wipe out people you just plain don't like it. Having that amount of power would be awesome.

So the next time some rude driver cuts you off during your commute, get the person's name and have the fucker die in an automobile accident. Or some fatass who starves your mother to death because he just HAD to have that last piece of fried chicken, have his clogged heart explode. How about some perverted child molestor? DECAPITATION. Or that kid who abused your puppy, never underestimate the power of lightning.

The possibilities are endless.

amarythia

10-22-2005, 09:17 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Evangelist said:
I find it VERY difficult to like this series, mostly because of the character of Light. He just has zero developement or motivation prior to him deciding to become a self-proclaimed death-dealer with a god complex. Why is he like this? What gives him the urge to kill criminals? I'm not saying that every protagonist (or in this case antagonist) has to have a complex back-story, I'm just saying that if a series is going to focus on a character, the author should at least give us a reason to give a damn about them.

[/ QUOTE ]
I liked Light's development, actually. And a part of what makes it all so convincing is that he was innocent, boring, and bored and didn't genuinely think through the effect his actions would have on him. The whole "Look into the Abyss..." thing--that's very well-done in the manga.

amarythia

10-22-2005, 09:21 AM

Well, I *was* excited about this release...until I actually got the book in hand. Has anyone else noticed the substandard picture reproduction? I thought something was amiss the moment I opened the book, and sure enough. When compared to the Japanese tankoubon, a wide gradient of shading has been flattened either to white or to black.

Dagger

10-22-2005, 09:40 AM

Yeah, the image quality isn't that hot... but isn't that true of most, if not all, North American versions of manga?

Noodle

10-22-2005, 12:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Amarythia said:
Well, I *was* excited about this release...until I actually got the book in hand. Has anyone else noticed the substandard picture reproduction? I thought something was amiss the moment I opened the book, and sure enough. When compared to the Japanese tankoubon, a wide gradient of shading has been flattened either to white or to black.

[/ QUOTE ]

I couldn't grade it with my copy, as it was little more than, say, xerox copy quality, but in flipping through #2 (I'm reviewing that one now but my proper #1 hasn't shipped from TRSI yet), the quality looks no worse than the majority of the books being published from VIZ. I don't have a lot of knowledge of the originals though (have seen them, but don't own them) so I can't really speak to how different the shading is. It's true sometimes things really are bad though, (two recent books from TP come to mind) but rarely have I seen it be terrible with VIZ-- I mean, there's only so much US standards for printing manga can duplicate. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

amarythia

10-24-2005, 05:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Noodle said:
It's true sometimes things really are bad though, (two recent books from TP come to mind) but rarely have I seen it be terrible with VIZ-- I mean, there's only so much US standards for printing manga can duplicate. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
*shakes head* It's bad. Really bad. Much worse than is standard with Viz. It honestly looks like they're not working from masters of the pages (and there's no reason why they shouldn't have them), and if they are, then the reproduction is doubly shameful.

Noodle

10-24-2005, 09:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Amarythia said:

*shakes head* It's bad. Really bad. Much worse than is standard with Viz. It honestly looks like they're not working from masters of the pages (and there's no reason why they shouldn't have them), and if they are, then the reproduction is doubly shameful.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you toss up a scan or two and let us see? Without the originals in front of me I certainly can't act as though I've got an educated opinion, but nor can I compare them in my reviews and/or grade accordingly. For example, I finished the critque portion of my #2 review this evening and I had only good things to say: Unless I know that isn't what the pages are supposed to look like I'll go on saying I was rather impressed by the sharp, clean printing job and solid blacks.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying VIZ's art repro is spectacular even when taken alongside the Japanese, I just think they are generally quite good for the US and do normally have better books than other publishers. I've got a whole host of Japanese Shonen Jump books and I've spot-compared them with ones released here, and in general I'd stand by what I just said -- but if I'm wrong on this one, I'd like to know.

Felix

11-11-2005, 01:44 PM

After reading the first volume I had the same feeling as someone else posted up a little bit about how it could still be going after 8 volumes. By then even if he never gets caught it seems like he should have used up the note book...

But the first volume has me trying to get the second tonight /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Dagger

11-11-2005, 01:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Felix said:
By then even if he never gets caught it seems like he should have used up the note book...

[/ QUOTE ]
Later in the series, multiple Death Notes come into play.

IIRC there's a rule stating that a Death Note will never run out of pages. That's just something I seem to remember, though, so I could be totally wrong.

Felix

11-11-2005, 02:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Dagger IX1 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Felix said:
By then even if he never gets caught it seems like he should have used up the note book...

[/ QUOTE ]
Later in the series, multiple Death Notes come into play.

IIRC there's a rule stating that a Death Note will never run out of pages. That's just something I seem to remember, though, so I could be totally wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]Hmm, I thought that Ryuk said something about he had to stay around the owner until the new owner died of used it up, but I couldn't find the page, and I read through the rules and it didn't say anything either, so that could be it.

But goodness, I that does sound like they can drag it out for a while /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Thanks for the info