An encyclopedic guide to the <B><I>Death Note manga series, including character bios, storyline summaries, interviews with creators Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, production notes and commentaries, and bonus manga pages.

 

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects--and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal…or his life?

2008 Eisner Comic Winner! Street urchins Black and White have skyscraper-sized chips on their shoulders, but are fiercely loyal to each other. Black is especially quick to avenge any slight against his dim-witted pal. The result? The citizens of Treasure Town are afraid of them, the police are afraid of them--even the local <I>yakuza gangsters are afraid of them! But when the crime boss known as the "Rat" returns to Treasure Town, it looks like there's gonna be a rumble... The violence in this unique European-influenced manga title is more mindful than it seems at first glance, and the subtle relationships between its unique cast of characters are marked by surprising poignancy.

The Meija Era (1868-1912) brought Japan into the Modern Age. Contemporary writer, Soseki Natsume, expressed the feelings of the time through his classic Botchan which Sekikawa explores through an adult story that Taniguchi illustrates with exquisite and elegant detail forming a transparent window onto this time of turbulent (and sometimes violent) change in Japanese society.

Who takes the time these days to climb a tree in bare feet? To stop and observe birds? Play in puddles after a storm? Go down to the sea to return a shell? The Walking Man does as he strolls at random through urban Japan - often silent, usually alone - with his vivid dreams that let time stand still.

Kira is a lonesome waif who cares more about her art than anything else. Rei is an arrogant, rebellious and tough playboy who wears his delinquency like a badge. When these two opposites find each other, the sparks fly, but they also attract some unwanted attention. While Kira deals with Rei’s jealous suitors, Rei has to confront demons from his past.

The annual midwinter hike is no walk in the park for the students of Azumano Middle School. Daisuke has been dreading the trek all year, but at least he gets to show off his rugged charms for his beloved Risa. But when Daisuke and Riku find themselves lost and alone on the frigid mountainside, it's Dark to the rescue. Can the Phantom Thief save the day without blowing Daisuke's cover?

After retrieving all of the evil Clow Cards, fifth-grader Sakura, Master of the Clow, must now face the challenges sent by Clow Reed, the creator of the Clow Cards, while also dealing with her love for older student Yukito.

When Sakura Avalon opened the mysterious Clow Book in her dad’s library and released the cards inside, she inadvertently signed on for the challenge of a lifetime.

Momo overhears her ex-boyfriend Kiley talking with Monika about a hotel rendezvous and is devastated. But when her current boyfriend, Toji, ends up in the hospital, Momo is hurt to find out that everyone else knew about it before she did. How will the scheming Sae take advantage of this situation?

Just when things are beginning to heat up between Kira and Rei, Rei's old girlfriend shows up and confesses that she never stopped loving him. When Rei tells her not to come around again, she walks into traffic and Rei is forced to rescue her. His act of heroism only intensifies her obsession, and soon the exiled ex refuses to get out of bed or eat until Rei agrees to see her. When Kira tries to give him some girlfriendly advice on the matter, Rei lashes out at her and reduces her to tears. Emotions continue to escalate until the anniversary of Sei's death, when repressed memories are unearthed and hidden secrets revealed.