Death Note, Volume 10: Deletion

Complexity, thy name is Death Note, volume 10. In this one, things go even more haywire for Light as Near and Mello join forces somewhat. Multinational doings and really, really deep thinking on who's who turns this volume cerebral, together with near-all bowing down to Kira. Also, what's happening with Kira?

Unnecessary addition: I must say I really like Mello's new-found glam.

Deletion is the tenth volume in the widely successful twelve volume manga series Death Note, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. Death Note also has a thirteenth, companion volume in addition to anime, live-action, and prose adaptations and spin-offs. Deletion was originally published in Japan in 2006 and Viz Media released the English-language edition in 2007. Viz is also now re-releasing Death Note in two-volume omnibuses called Death Note: Black Edition (because the covers are black), so Deletion will be found in the fifth omnibus. The series has its ups and downs, but for the most part I have really enjoyed it. The story and themes are interesting and Obata's artwork, as always, is excellent. Deletion picks up show more the story immediately where the previous volume, Contact, leaves off.

Just when it looks like Light, who is also acting as Kira and posing as L, has finally gotten a one-up on his adversaries Near and Mello, he quickly loses much of the ground he has gained as the two young men start grudgingly working together and sharing information. Near has determined that the new L is most likely Kira and that Kira is most likely Light. Mello shouldn't be far behind him in reaching the same conclusions. Now, they just need the proof. Near begins by attacking the trust that the members of the Japanese taskforce investigating Kira as built amongst themselves. As they begin to suspect each other and especially Light, who is leading the taskforce, Light has fewer and fewer options left to him for escape, none of them particularly good.

Teru Mikami is probably one of the most interesting character to be introduced in Death Note, certainly in recent volumes. He is also the only characters to have his entire past revealed. To do so, Ohba and Obata resort to a flashback sequence which feels a little out of place at first but ultimately I think it works. Plus, it gives Obata a chance to show off great skill at drawing a character at different stages of maturity while still remaining recognizable. The tone of the flashback also shifts away from the surrounding narrative. It almost reads like it could be a religious text. If Kira is God, as many people want to believe, Mikami is his prophet. Mikami is undeniably intelligent, smarter than even Light expected, making his adherence to extreme moral beliefs even more terrifying and disconcerting. It is obvious that he could be a very dangerous person working on his own. The question remains whether Light will be able to control Mikami's fanaticism or not.

After a few volumes with some very significant action sequences, Deletion is a return to the more cerebral elements of Death Note. Instead of running in with guns blazing, the men battle it out with their minds as they try to out-think and out-maneuver their opponents and sometimes even their allies in order to take control of the situation. This doesn't mean things have become any less intense, dangerous, or deadly. Near has forced Light to take risks he would rather not and Mello is just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike to appear. Even Mikami is proving problematic as his ideals quickly diverge from those held by Kira. Panels do become a bit text heavy through all of this as characters explain things or think things through. While some are spelled out very thoroughly, other leaps of logic are difficult to follow. Usually the characters end up being correct, but I can't help but feel that they are making some unfounded assumptions or conveniently forgetting things as needed. Still, I am very interested in learning what happens next in the following volume the series, Kindred Spirit.

Experiments in Manga show less

Excellent Deathnote hit a definite lull in some of the later volumes, but I'm happy to say that Vol. 10 is picking it back up. Light's back on his game, and excellent new character is introduced, and some of the supporting characters develop some backbone.

2014 Review:
Death Note #10 & 11 (Manga Monday)
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Synopsis
After Mello's spectacular failure in books 8 and 9, the story shifts over to Near as he tries to catch Light/Kira in a cerebral mastermind game of wits.

My Thoughts
After Mello's failed attempt at getting a hold of Kira, and the death of Light's father, things go from the action/gungho/blitz-a-rama to a much more "I know that you know that I know that you know that I know that show more you know" type of back and forth between Light/Kira and Near.

Sadly, Near isn't as likeable as L was and a lot of his motivation is proving that he is as good as L was. L had a hate/love camaradie with Light that was fun to read about. Near and Light just talk over the phone and we get to hear their thoughts about how they're going to outwit the other.

However, the end game is in sight. Both Near and Light/Kira are finalizing their plans to outwit the other. And just as Near and Light begin their plan, Mello shows up at the end of book 11 to throw a monkey wrench into both their plans.

In summary, I was going to throw in book 12, the final book as part of this review. But I thought it was worth it's own review next week. So next week will be the review for book 12, the final book in the Death Note series.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Artist:Takeshi Obata















2007 Review:

Light has Misa pass her notebook onto another Kira worshipper. Light also begins to start a relationship with another woman to better control the "new kira" and in anticipation of getting rid of Misa. Shows just how cold hearted Light truly is. " show less

READ IN ENGLISH

I had completely deleted Mikami in my memory for some reason. Guess he deserved it.

The story is nearing its end, and you can feel it. Two more books to go. Brace yourself for the last and final battle...

Love this series.

Los seguidores de Kira tienen rodeado a Near en el cuartel de SPK, ¿será posible escapar de esta crisis? Después de todo lo que ha sucedido, la idea de que Light es el segundo L se hace cada vez más fuerte para Near, lo cual sacude por completo al equipo de investigación japonés...