Finished Manga
Death Note

“Death god's notebook grants Light godlike killing power, sparking genius duel with detective L over justice and world fate.”

Death Note

8.69
84 rank · 430,644 readers · 33,118 favorites
Shounen Psychological Supernatural Suspense
108 chapters · 12 volumes · 2003 - 2006 · Manga
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Chapters · 108 0/108
CH 01 + 8 more CH 108

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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...

However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...

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Synopsis

Death god's notebook grants Light godlike killing power, sparking genius duel with detective L over justice and world fate.

Ryuk, a god of death, drops his Death Note into the human world for personal pleasure. In Japan, prodigious high school student Light Yagami stumbles upon it. Inside the notebook, he finds a chilling message: those whose names are written in it shall die. Its nonsensical nature amuses Light; but when he tests its power by writing the name of a criminal in it, they suddenly meet their demise. Realizing the Death Note's vast potential, Light commences a series of nefarious murders under the pseudonym "Kira," vowing to cleanse the world of corrupt individuals and create a perfect society where crime ceases to exist. However, the police quickly catch on, and they enlist the help of L—a mastermind detective—to uncover the culprit. Death Note tells the thrilling tale of Light and L as they clash in a great battle-of-minds, one that will determine the future of the world.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

What people say

Community consensus

Derived from 112 sampled reviews

8.8 /10

What 112 readers settled on.

97% recommend
Score distribution
median 9 mode 10 σ 1.52
1510
Agreement

Mostly aligned

σ 1.52 · some divergence

mixed
The polarity gap

5.5 pts

Recommenders 9.2 · others 3.7

Yes
No
Score over time

↓ 0.18

Running avg · Aug 2007 → Apr 2026

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Publication slate

A Manga Publication

  • Format 108 × 12 ch × vol
  • Total read 14h 24m approx
  • Published Dec 2003 – May 2006
  • Source Manga media type
  • Ref. BS-M0019 catalog

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