When I got this box set of the whole Death Note manga, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Never having read the manga or seen the anime before, I really didn't even have any specific expectations for this product to begin with. However, from the second I opened this box and rifled through its contents, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that this has to be one of the best things I've ever bought here on Amazon.com. I'll go through some of the reasons why I consider this a great, no, a FANTASTIC buy and why you should get it if you're into Japanese manga, Death Note, or are just bored and would like something fun (and very entertaining, might I add) to read. Let's begin:

THE BOX: The set itself is a 5.5 x 10.2 x 9.1 inch, 6.8 pound (yes, I had to look that all up) box with a carrying handle on top. There are a pair of Velcro circles on top where you can open the box up in two folding sections and easily close it up again. When opened up, the inside is divided into 2 sections: a very large section for volumes 1-12 of the manga and the How to Use It booklet, and a small space for Death Note Vol. 13 - How to Read. There is just enough space for everything in here, so unless you have several books out of it at a time, you won't have to worry about anything falling over or getting jostled around when carrying it. Plus, being the size and weight it is, it isn't too bulky or heavy and should be quite suitable for traveling. Also, there's a lot of (what I presume to be) Obata's original artwork on the outside, which, in my opinion, is some of the best out there.

MANGA VOLUMES: All 12 volumes of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's addictive series are included in this box. Each volume is about 210 pages in length and, with the exception of volumes 1, 11, and 12, all contain 9 chapters of the total 108 in the series. Volume 1 only has 7 chapters while 11 and 12 each have 10. Within each of these volumes is a summary of what happened previously and a preview of what's to come in this volume, a table of contents for the chapters, the chapters themselves, and some of the obligatory advertisements at the end (and beginning, as well). As this is Japanese manga (translated to English, of course), the pages are both in black and white and read from right to left. The only exception to the "black-and-white" rule is the front/rear covers of each volume, which have beautifully colored illustrations drawn by the series' artist and co-owner, Mr. Takeshi Obata. Many people who enjoy anime/manga will admit that Death Note was their "starter" series, or the series that originally got them hooked on the genre in the first place, and this is perfectly understandable. On one hand, Mr. Obata's writing is brilliant and incredibly detailed. One of the things Death Note is famous for is its heavily dialogue, and the manga can definitely attest to that. Not only is there a lot of character-to-character dialogue, but a lot of focus on their thoughts and emotions, as well. The character development, dialogue, plotline, and other certain themes make the series come together in a most amazing manner and will definitely have you hooked by the end of the very first chapter. On the other hand, Mr. Obata's illustrations will amaze, thrill, and maybe even scare the hell out of you. It's not your typical manga drawings where you expect everything to look cartoon-ish and sort of like a comic; every panel is filled with mind-blowing, careful detail that almost makes everything appear realistic. As stated before, Mr. Obata is probably one of the best, most famous manga artists out there because of his skill and incredible attention to detail that few others in the world are able to match.

DEATH NOTE VOL. 13 - HOW TO READ: After having read the series, you may still have some questions or feel curious about certain aspects of the series, such as how it was started or how certain characters were created. Look no further than the 13th volume of Death Note, which is basically an encyclopedia database of the series. Slightly larger in height (maybe an inch or so) and pages (somewhere around 240-250, I imagine), this volume is filled to the brim with facts, opinions, and bonus content that will most likely help you understand and enjoy Death Note even more. Within this volume, you'll find character bios, interviews with co-creators Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, behind-the-scenes looks at creating the manga, fun trivia and facts you probably didn't know about yet, an extra chapter in the series, the Death Note pilot, and, probably the coolest thing in here, L's true name card tucked away behind the front cover in a cut-away section. It's definitely a really cool part of the series and a very fun addition to the box.

HOW TO USE IT BOOKLET: This is a bonus booklet that contains every rule of the Death Note notebook outlined in its pages. It's pretty small, but still fun to read if you need to catch up on your DN rules. Plus, unless you purchase this online separate from the box, you have a very slim chance, if no chance at all, of finding it in a retail bookstore, so consider it a bonus for getting the box set. ;)

PRICE: For just nearly $60, this complete set is basically a steal, and I'll explain why. If you purchase a single volume of this series online, it will probably cost you about $10. Get it at a bookstore and you'll probably spend at least $15 there. Altogether, if you bought every individual volume of the series, it will more than likely cost you somewhere between $130 and $200, depending on who and where you get them all from. Now consider this: by getting this box set for(about) $60 with everything previously mentioned included inside, you'll save at least 50%, if not more than that, from what you would if you got all of these separately. Really, if you're thinking about getting the complete series, there's really no logical reason why you shouldn't get this box set.

All in all, this is a great buy and a great deal, and if you're a fan of Death Note and want to complete your collection for the manga, THEN BUY THIS SET! I guarantee that you will NOT be disappointed!!! ;)

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.9 (3476 ratings)
Price	$114
Category	Action & Adventure Manga

Death Note Complete Box Set: Volumes 1-13 with Premium