DEATH NOTE: How to Read by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata(2008).
© Viz Media
Mania Grade: B+
Manga: Death Note: How to Read
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Story By: Tsugumi Ohba
Art By: Takeshi Obata
Publisher: Viz Media
Price: $14.99
Manga: Death Note: How to Read
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Story By: Tsugumi Ohba
Art By: Takeshi Obata
Publisher: Viz Media
Price: $14.99
Manga Review: DEATH NOTE: How to Read
By: Nadia OxfordReview Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008
The thriller series Death Note technically ends at volume 12: the last battle of wits is fought, the climax surges and the resolution closes the curtain on one of the most popular manga series of all time. Fans might be a little surprised to learn there is, in fact, an official thirteenth volume of Death Note and that it bears the subtitle “How To Read.”
It's a little late to teach someone “how to read” Death Note <i>after</i> they've followed twelve volumes of Light Yagami dodging the law. But How To Read isn't an extended tutorial about following the text from right to left; it's actually a small encyclopedia that includes extensive character bios, creator interviews and tonnes of extra Death Note content. Featuring a mix of serious and self-parodying content, How To Read is a lot of fun for a fan to go through.
Death Note: How To Read isn't exactly a resource to keep on hand while going through the series for the first time. It's meant to be enjoyed as a wrap-up for any reader who still has questions after reading the previous twelve volumes (everyone). Major spoilers are all over the volume. Included within are extensive interviews with writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata; each manga-ka talks at length about their inspirations and difficulties for each story arc. In addition, each character has a thorough profile (do you know L's real name? How about his nationality?), nagging questions are answered (who was the girl leading the cult at the very end of the series?) and there are a number of four-panel gag strips that are worth a laugh. The first serialised Death Note-related story is included as well and there's a personality test for anyone who ever wanted to know if they're more like L, Light or, Heaven forfend, Ryuk.
There are a few problems with How To Read's presentation. The pages feel packed-in and crowded at times and there are inconsistencies. One page mentions that the Death Note can never run out of pages. Another page mentions that the Death Note can indeed run out of pages, and that a new one must be acquired in such cases.
Of course, the Death Note is meant to be a mysterious object and even Ohba and Obata admit they can't remember all the rules they wrote down for the book. Despite its flaws, How To Read is a must-have for anyone who desires a truly complete Death Note collection. Neglecting to collect volume 13 might prove...unlucky.
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