DEATH NOTE ONE-SHOT REVIEW
By Maxine Covarrubias
El Rodeo Staff Writer
El Rodeo Staff Writer
On December 1, 2003, Tsugumi Ohba wrote a manga known as Death Note that ran until May 15, 2006. The manga was a success as well as its anime adaptation with great voice actors and amazing openings and endings along with an amazing soundtrack. The anime has a total of 37 episodes available to watch on Netflix and two films that are a retelling of the anime titled Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God and Death Note Relight 2: L's Successors that cover the first half and second half of the anime and manga itself. On February 3, 2020, Tsugumi Ohba released a special one-shot that takes place after the events from the manga. There was another one-shot that was published two years after the manga series that was also referred to as chapter 109. This review will have spoilers. You have been warned.
The one-shot takes place nine years after the death of Kira but starts three years after his death. We see Ryuk with another Shinigami named Midra who tried having fun with a human like Ryuk did with Light only to fail as the human he came in contact with wrote his name in the death note after killing many lives. Ryuk tells Midra that the human he chose was weak as they didn’t have a strong spiritual strength and conviction which was what Light had told Ryuk when he was still alive using the Death Note.
Handing back the notebook, Ryuk takes it as he can get more apples with it. Six years later as it is now May 2019, we are introduced to a young male by the name of Minoru Tanaka sitting on his bed listening to music. Ryuk appears up from under the floor and touches Minoru on his head with the notebook. There is a full page that shows Minoru having his memory returning indicating that he once possessed the Death Note. Minoru lets out a sigh of relief saying that it’s been two years since he’s last seen Ryuk.
A flashback then starts when Minoru first met Ryuk. The facility is discussing Minoru's grades and how they are at the top three years running now. Minoru is outside sitting on a swing at a park when he is suddenly hit on the top of the head by the Death Note. Ryuk stands behind him, looking over him as he speaks up, frightening the young boy as he says how he’s heard how Minoru is smart even though he doubts himself. Minoru explains to Ryuk that he’s talking about an intelligence test. Hearing this, Ryuk begins to realize that Minoru might be suited for the Death Note. Minoru takes Ryuk to his place to discuss about the notebook in private as whoever touches the Death Note can see and hear the Shinigami. When Ryuk informs Minoru about the Death Note once belonging to Kira, he flips out and begins to shout, shocking Ryuk by surprise. Minoru explains to Ryuk that everyone has learned about Kira. In elementary school, he was in their Ethic textbooks and middle school, they studied him in world history. Thinking he was treated like one of the greats, Minoru explains to Ryuk that in Ethics, they taught them that Kira was evil and in world history, he was described as a mass-murdering terrorist, the worst in recent history. He then tells Ryuk how lots of people saw Kira as a god.
After that discussion, Ryuk went over the notebook such as how it’s used and the importance of its rules. Minoru asks how Kira used the death note and in exchange for an apple, Ryuk told him everything excluding personal details. Minoru then informs Ryuk that despite Kira being very smart, his idea wouldn’t work in today's world as cameras are everywhere you go. On the streets, the next corner, and in every train car, cars, and buses have dash cams. He then brings up the fact that if Kira wanted to get a message out, he would be tracked down right away but admits that Kira would have found a way around all that still works in this day and age. Ryuk asks if Minoru can do what Kira did. Minoru thinks about the idea for hours and asks Ryuk if anyone can see the Shinigami and how far away he can be from the owner of the death note. Ryuk answers his questions saying yes, there are people he is still visible to from the past (The Japanese police department and Near) and that his estimated distance from the owner would be about 14 kilometers in the human world. Minoru finally comes up with his decision that in two years, Ryuk will return to him with the notebook as for now, he abandons ownership with the death note for the time being.
Back to present day, Minoru recalls that day and his plan to sell the death note. Minoru came up with the idea to put it up for auction online only for Ryuk to remind him that he mentioned two years ago about how he would be tracked. Minoru tells Ryuk that he’s not going to use the net but announce it on Sakura Tv using Ryuk to hold up a piece of paper when the tv station is live on the air. When the time comes, Ryuk holds up the piece of paper announcing that the key device that Kira used will be up for sale and that any interested must post their amount with #PowerofKira along with it. Of course this doesn’t go unnoticed as not only do the Japanese police, but Near gets interested in this new Kira. Since Near and his investigators are still able to see Ryuk, they look into the security cameras of Sakura Tv Station in attempt to track the new Kira down only to be displeased as Ryuk leaves to building down into the crust of the Earth.
The auction becomes so huge, that not only is Japan involved, but the entire world. The leader of China gets involved as well as the president of the United States. Yes, I am telling the truth when I say that Donald Trump made an appearance in this one-shot. I cannot make this up if I wanted. Trump makes a speech saying who will be purchasing the death note for 500 billion dollars and then to two trillion dollars.
This goes on for a week when Trump finally decides to buy it for one quadrillion yen. Minoru announces that he will sell the Death Note to the United States of America and that the money from the winning bid should be deposited by May 27 of this year in equal amounts to every person with a Yotsuba Bank of Japan savings account and registered residence in Tokyo aged 60 and under as of the date of May 24, 2019. Splitting up the money for one million people would be one billion yen per person. Everyone goes crazy as they rush over to Yotsuba Bank to get their money the day of the deposit as well as people signing up for an account.
On the 27th of May, Minoru discards possession of the notebook forever telling Ryuk that he never wants to see it again and waits to live a happy life as he forgets everything again. Ryuk takes the Death Note and heads over to the Oval Office in the White House. When he hands the notebook over to Trump, he explains to him how he got yelled at by the Shinigami King about letting the human sell the death note in the human world and that there’s been a new rule added to the death note. This new rule says “A human who buys or sells the death note in the human world will die. The seller will die when they receive the money, and the buyer will die when they receive the death note.” Unable to believe this, Ryuk tells Trump that he can refuse to take the death note, treating it as if he didn’t buy it but won’t get his money back, and if he does take it, he will die and the notebook will belong to the nation. Trump tells the Shinigami that he won’t take the Death Note but will announce that he has gained the Power of Kira and will refuse to use it, making him look like a saint.
Ryuk leaves the White House and debates whether or not he should tell Minoru about the new rule only when he remembers that he said “Don’t ever show up around me again, for any reason.” With that, Ryuk leaves to the Shinigami world as one month passes and we see Minoru dead on the floor of the bank. The next and last page shows Ryuk on the Yotsuba Bank sign with Minoru’s name written underneath Light’s name in his Death Note and complains about if there’s anyone who will use the Death Note a little longer so he can get more apples.
This one-shot was amazing as it was written by the original creator and it doesn’t feel that rushed at all. It gives a great idea of what would’ve happened after the events of the original manga story. It makes you wonder if Death Note should make a sequel or not. I think not, but I do hope to see this one-shot adapted into an OVA in the future
The one-shot takes place nine years after the death of Kira but starts three years after his death. We see Ryuk with another Shinigami named Midra who tried having fun with a human like Ryuk did with Light only to fail as the human he came in contact with wrote his name in the death note after killing many lives. Ryuk tells Midra that the human he chose was weak as they didn’t have a strong spiritual strength and conviction which was what Light had told Ryuk when he was still alive using the Death Note.
Handing back the notebook, Ryuk takes it as he can get more apples with it. Six years later as it is now May 2019, we are introduced to a young male by the name of Minoru Tanaka sitting on his bed listening to music. Ryuk appears up from under the floor and touches Minoru on his head with the notebook. There is a full page that shows Minoru having his memory returning indicating that he once possessed the Death Note. Minoru lets out a sigh of relief saying that it’s been two years since he’s last seen Ryuk.
A flashback then starts when Minoru first met Ryuk. The facility is discussing Minoru's grades and how they are at the top three years running now. Minoru is outside sitting on a swing at a park when he is suddenly hit on the top of the head by the Death Note. Ryuk stands behind him, looking over him as he speaks up, frightening the young boy as he says how he’s heard how Minoru is smart even though he doubts himself. Minoru explains to Ryuk that he’s talking about an intelligence test. Hearing this, Ryuk begins to realize that Minoru might be suited for the Death Note. Minoru takes Ryuk to his place to discuss about the notebook in private as whoever touches the Death Note can see and hear the Shinigami. When Ryuk informs Minoru about the Death Note once belonging to Kira, he flips out and begins to shout, shocking Ryuk by surprise. Minoru explains to Ryuk that everyone has learned about Kira. In elementary school, he was in their Ethic textbooks and middle school, they studied him in world history. Thinking he was treated like one of the greats, Minoru explains to Ryuk that in Ethics, they taught them that Kira was evil and in world history, he was described as a mass-murdering terrorist, the worst in recent history. He then tells Ryuk how lots of people saw Kira as a god.
After that discussion, Ryuk went over the notebook such as how it’s used and the importance of its rules. Minoru asks how Kira used the death note and in exchange for an apple, Ryuk told him everything excluding personal details. Minoru then informs Ryuk that despite Kira being very smart, his idea wouldn’t work in today's world as cameras are everywhere you go. On the streets, the next corner, and in every train car, cars, and buses have dash cams. He then brings up the fact that if Kira wanted to get a message out, he would be tracked down right away but admits that Kira would have found a way around all that still works in this day and age. Ryuk asks if Minoru can do what Kira did. Minoru thinks about the idea for hours and asks Ryuk if anyone can see the Shinigami and how far away he can be from the owner of the death note. Ryuk answers his questions saying yes, there are people he is still visible to from the past (The Japanese police department and Near) and that his estimated distance from the owner would be about 14 kilometers in the human world. Minoru finally comes up with his decision that in two years, Ryuk will return to him with the notebook as for now, he abandons ownership with the death note for the time being.
Back to present day, Minoru recalls that day and his plan to sell the death note. Minoru came up with the idea to put it up for auction online only for Ryuk to remind him that he mentioned two years ago about how he would be tracked. Minoru tells Ryuk that he’s not going to use the net but announce it on Sakura Tv using Ryuk to hold up a piece of paper when the tv station is live on the air. When the time comes, Ryuk holds up the piece of paper announcing that the key device that Kira used will be up for sale and that any interested must post their amount with #PowerofKira along with it. Of course this doesn’t go unnoticed as not only do the Japanese police, but Near gets interested in this new Kira. Since Near and his investigators are still able to see Ryuk, they look into the security cameras of Sakura Tv Station in attempt to track the new Kira down only to be displeased as Ryuk leaves to building down into the crust of the Earth.
The auction becomes so huge, that not only is Japan involved, but the entire world. The leader of China gets involved as well as the president of the United States. Yes, I am telling the truth when I say that Donald Trump made an appearance in this one-shot. I cannot make this up if I wanted. Trump makes a speech saying who will be purchasing the death note for 500 billion dollars and then to two trillion dollars.
This goes on for a week when Trump finally decides to buy it for one quadrillion yen. Minoru announces that he will sell the Death Note to the United States of America and that the money from the winning bid should be deposited by May 27 of this year in equal amounts to every person with a Yotsuba Bank of Japan savings account and registered residence in Tokyo aged 60 and under as of the date of May 24, 2019. Splitting up the money for one million people would be one billion yen per person. Everyone goes crazy as they rush over to Yotsuba Bank to get their money the day of the deposit as well as people signing up for an account.
On the 27th of May, Minoru discards possession of the notebook forever telling Ryuk that he never wants to see it again and waits to live a happy life as he forgets everything again. Ryuk takes the Death Note and heads over to the Oval Office in the White House. When he hands the notebook over to Trump, he explains to him how he got yelled at by the Shinigami King about letting the human sell the death note in the human world and that there’s been a new rule added to the death note. This new rule says “A human who buys or sells the death note in the human world will die. The seller will die when they receive the money, and the buyer will die when they receive the death note.” Unable to believe this, Ryuk tells Trump that he can refuse to take the death note, treating it as if he didn’t buy it but won’t get his money back, and if he does take it, he will die and the notebook will belong to the nation. Trump tells the Shinigami that he won’t take the Death Note but will announce that he has gained the Power of Kira and will refuse to use it, making him look like a saint.
Ryuk leaves the White House and debates whether or not he should tell Minoru about the new rule only when he remembers that he said “Don’t ever show up around me again, for any reason.” With that, Ryuk leaves to the Shinigami world as one month passes and we see Minoru dead on the floor of the bank. The next and last page shows Ryuk on the Yotsuba Bank sign with Minoru’s name written underneath Light’s name in his Death Note and complains about if there’s anyone who will use the Death Note a little longer so he can get more apples.
This one-shot was amazing as it was written by the original creator and it doesn’t feel that rushed at all. It gives a great idea of what would’ve happened after the events of the original manga story. It makes you wonder if Death Note should make a sequel or not. I think not, but I do hope to see this one-shot adapted into an OVA in the future