Another short review! As with my previous reviews, this is simply to get my thoughts on something I just read or watched on paper for my own sake, to show to others, as well to look back in the future when I wonder why I gave trash or something I don't remember a high rating. This is the next thing I actually have somewhat substantial thoughts on.

I recently picked up the Death Note: Short Stories compilation and the prospect of re-reading the pilot oneshot and looking at these extra aspects of the Death Note lore was exciting, having just finished rewatching the series dubbed over the summer, but the first oneshot, /manga/34941/death-note-ckiram was really quite disappointing. It added literally nothing to the characters, story, and lore, nor was it a particularly interesting read either, but the following oneshot in the volume, a-Kira, published in 2020 was far more interesting.

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You can clearly see a large jump in the quality of art from the pilot (2003), to the original manga in the same year, to their other works like Bakuman., and it's truly stunning. Especially early on in the main character's back story where the blacks from his gakuran mesh with the blacks from his hair, and the border around the page, and Ryuk. It's quite stunning.

Before I get into the actual plot, I want to quickly address the state Japan is in following Kira. Japan is now a surveillance state with cameras all of the place, and as an American that is really freaky lol. It's ironic that following the reign of terror a man that fought for the ultimate freedom of man, the country has seemingly lost a number of freedoms. But this is in line with the main series, and can be seen following the death of L.

From here forth the review is filled with spoilers.
The story begins in medias res where we see the main character receive the notebook two years after he first did. The page where his memories come flooding back is spectacular, and so is the way it was all set up. It's not like this whole thing was entirely unique or anything, but it was really fun to read to and well written/drawn. This immediately had me hooked.

Minoru states he wishes to sell the the notebook in an auction, a move that is certainly way easier now than it may have been back during the original series' run. This is a remarkably interesting move, in my opinion.

Spoiler, click to view

Minoru may have once again used it for seemingly his own personal benefit (at least until he had the money transferred those holding an account at Yotsuba bank). Much like Higuchi.

But what ultimately what makes this interesting is that as opposed to someone using the name for killing once again. With a series of this name, they managed to create a thrilling story not focused on killing while still addressing the major themes of the series.

Spoiler, click to view

The people of Japan were sent into a frenzy calculating the amount of money they'd receive when the news came the money would be divvied up. And once they were able to claim it, there were massive crowds trampling over people to get in.

Effectively showing one of the most prevalent themes of the series, the foolishness of man in the face of vice. The hearts of men are easily manipulated, as seen through Light's innocent heart by the temptation of the notebook, and everyone else.

Spoiler, click to view

And, just as we thought Minoru somehow got away unscathed, he two suffered for the weight of his sins by by ultimately being killed by the notebook. It can be considered somewhat contrived that this was the outcome, but this series is dependent on supernatural forces like fate and gods of death anyway, that I think this was effective and pretty well done

Donald Trump, Xi Jingping, and Shinzo Abe were absolutely insane to see. 10/10 renditions of everyone.

If you are a fan of Death Note, I highly recommend you give this a read. You will not regret it! At the very least, it is is a oneshot so the time you lose if you didn't like it is pretty marginal, isn't? lol