I just finished watching “Death Note” Vol 1 and 2. Before watching the anime, I saw the movie, and I must say that I am now really impressed with the film. They did an amazing job of mirroring what is in the anime. There are some minor differences, but really minor. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite animes of all time.

It focuses on death, god complexes, and a cat-and-mouse chase. The characters are not easily identifiable as good or evil. It’s something that i like about this anime. I sometimes feel like I am smarter than other people, like Light and L. I also feel like I am constantly pondering the questions that the characters are battling:

1. Is killing criminals a crime?
2. Is killing innocents in order to continue killing bad people a crime?
3. What is good?
4. What is evil?
5. What would you do if you had the power to kill someone without touching him/her?

Currently, I think the following:

1. Not if they have killed, tortured, or sexually abused others.
2. Yes
3. Still thinking
4. Still thinking
5. I would do it if they were evil people

I can’t wait to get Volumes 3 and 4. This is one thing that I love about animes. It usually makes you question your beliefs and values . I think my love for anime like this one is one of the reasons that I think in a way that others don’t. Definitely start watching “Death Note.” If you aren’t an anime fan, then watch the movie of the same name.

In the second volume of Death Note, we get to see Light Yagami further experiment with the powers and capabilities of the Death Note. Raye Penber, the FBI agent assigned to investigate him, and his fiance, a former-FBI agent herself, become inextricably wrapped up in the Kira mystery. L, an enigmatic recluse pursuing Kira, reveals himself to the task force and begins closing in on Light as a suspect.

Things progress nicely in the second volume of Death Note. We spend a bit more time with L, learning about his thought process, habits, and his theories about the Kira case. We also begin to see the lengths to which Light will go to follow his dream of a utopia, even if that means killing innocents. You still get that Encyclopedia Brown-vibe with L and Light (they figure things out with so little to go on and then have to explain to you, at length, how they did it). But Light is also able to play the charismatic teen who only wants to help, and it’s disturbing how he can go from this to serial killer within a matter of seconds.

This is a great manga… I can’t wait to keep reading!