Written by Tsugumi Ohba and featuring the sharp, realistic art of Takeshi Obata, Death Note (Japanese: デスノート) is a masterpiece of supernatural suspense. It is famous for its intricate "legalistic" magic system, where the complex rules of the notebook serve as the foundation for various gambits and plot twists. By centering the story on an Anti-Hero protagonist, the series challenges the audience to question their own morality: is a peaceful world worth the price of a single man’s tyranny?

The story ignites when Ryuk, a bored Shinigami, drops his notebook into the human realm. When Light Yagami picks it up, he triggers a chain of events that shifts the global balance of power. As Light uses his intellect to manipulate the police and hide his identity, L uses unconventional investigation techniques to corner him. The conflict is a pure intellectual duel, devoid of typical shonen tropes, where the true battle is won through social engineering and the cold application of logic. It remains a definitive study on how the power to kill can corrupt even the most "perfect" mind.

Alternative Names and Titles
Death Note / デスノート / Desu Nōtu / Тетрадь смерти / เดธโน้ต / 死亡笔记 / 死亡筆記 / 데스노트 / Oneulman Saneun Gisa