I've been making a habit lately of buying gifts to give away from my favorite comic book shop, and Death Note was a perfect choice for my brother's birthday. I gave him the first three volumes, which I had just finished reading and thought he would enjoy--the series is smart and complex, and I've been enjoying it myself. Plus, I like being the cool older sibling. The fourth volume, Love, collects chapters twenty-six through thirty-four of the manga, picking up where Hard Run leaves off.

Ever since L invited Light to join the Kira investigation, Light has had to be especially careful. While it gives him some insight into the progress of the case, it also allows more opportunities to slip up and reveal himself as Kira--the killer of criminals worldwide. But the appearance of a second Kira has complicated things even further. Light hopes to discover the identity of the new Kira before L and the rest of the investigation team can. This Kira displays powers even beyond Light's and he is determined to use this to his advantage and kill L once and for all.

L isn't nearly as creepy to me as he used to be. He's still a bit strange and awkward though, making it more difficult to really know what's going on in that brilliant mind of his. Light, on the other hand, is a little easier to read. But this doesn't mean he doesn't have a few surprises in reserve. Since L is closing in on Kira, Light is more concerned than ever to protect his identity and that of the second Kira. In previous collections, we've seen the lengths Light is willing to go to from a distance in order to implement his plan, but this is the first time we've really seen such intimate and personal manipulation. Frankly, it's a bit frightening to watch Light's descent and ruthlessness.

The artwork has really settled in by the fourth volume, with very little continuity or consistency issues. The Shinigami death gods are perhaps the most visually interesting. Besides Ryuk, who we already know, Rem is introduced as a major player in this volume. I particularly enjoyed examining the similarities and differences in the portrayal of two characters, those both subtle and obvious. It was also interesting to compare their attitudes, which was captured quite well by the artist.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Death Note collections and Love is no exception; it may even be my favorite so far. I remain impressed by the story's depth and complexity. This is the only "unflipped" manga that I'm reading at the moment, but it doesn't take too long to settle in, thanks mostly to the strong artwork and design. (And a little bit of practice, of course.) There were a few translation quirks in this volume, but nothing that was too distracting. Also, a few cultural references might pass over some readers, but these aren't paramount to understanding or enjoying the book. Death Note continues to improve with each volume and I'm very much looking forward to the next one, Whiteout.

Experiments in Reading ( )

L is still trying to figure out the identity of killer Kira when what looks to be a second fake Kira shows up. They also have a death note and a Shinigami and are causing havoc as they have taken the deal of using the Shinigami eyes to see people's names. Light (the real Kira) is also looking for the fake Kira and is trying to find them before L before they manage to reveal too much and let people know about the death notes and Shinigami.

The second Kira is Misa Amano who loves Kira for bringing justice to her parents murderer. When she was younger both of her parents were killed in front of her and the case kep getting delayed. The murderer was one of the criminals Kira brought "justice" to and he has become her hero and knight in shining armour. She was also saved by a Shinigami who had fallen in love with her from his world and by prolonging her life he fortit his own.

She uses her eyes to figure out Kira's real identity and demands Light become her boyfriend. He is not too pleased at this as he is dating a string of girls, but relents to use her eyes to find out L's real name. Can they kill L or is he still somehow another step ahead of them both. It's quite a complicated installment but still very gripping. I was a little annoyed by Misa. I felt sorry for her, but she was still quite annoying and clingy. I loved that L now sees Light as his friend, it makes the tension between them even greater. I can't wait to read the next volume...! ( )

Once again, Death Note takes new twists and turns, but no prior volume has been this drastic; the plot re-shapes and characters are growing more complex, especially since volume 3. This is shaping up for massive drama. The art is near-impeccable as far as I've discovered manga, as related to the western graphic novels I've read much of previously. ( )

The last volume ended with a bit of a cliffhanger... someone besides Light possesses a Death Note and has made the deal for shinigami eyes. This second Kira is eager to meet the original, and L and the task force hope to intercept copycat before Kira can. Of course, Light is still active on the task force. When the second Kira reveals herself (gasp!) to Light, he must decide how best to use her and her shinigami.

Okay, so getting down to specifics, Misa (the second Kira) reveals herself to the police and then Light, confessing her love for him. She not quite what anyone expected. Compared to super geniuses (Wile E. Coyote-style) like Light and L, Misa isn't nearly as clever, but she's no dummy. She's unpredictable as well, being much more emotional than Light, and having the power of shinigami eyes. Her shinigami, Rem, is the complete opposite of Ryuk - forthcoming, patient, caring, and protective. Light isn't prepared to handle this curveball, and we see him acting more and more on the defensive.

Still, you can't help but feel that L is also struggling with the investigation. There's an interesting exchange between L and Light, where they talk about being friends. While you know that Light is just playing a part, you do feel for L, who seems lonely. He also contemplates his own mortality, knowing that he should concentrate on what he can do instead of letting the fear of death control him.

I think this volume's shift in focus - away from Light and Ryuk and on to L, Misa and Rem - was effective. While L has grown on me over the past three volumes, I liked Misa and Rem almost right away. Perhaps it's that they aren't as calculating as the other characters, but rather plain about their feelings. I'm looking forward to the next volume, especially after this new cliffhanger. ( )

Great manga! Neat story, good art. ( )