Death Note Volume 12

In this final volume of Death Note, action unfolds in a whirlwind of revelations and betrayals, as the life-or-death battle between Death Note-wielding Light Yagami and eccentric child detective Near reaches its climax. Dense with details and plot twists, Death Note Volume 12 provides a satisfying and exciting end to this unorthodox supernatural thriller.

After 11 volumes of supernatural suspense and detective drama, all paths lead to this moment. Ohba and Obata have woven a dense tapestry of complex characters, intertwined relationships and arcane supernatural laws, and waste no time in unraveling Light's plans for world domination in a climatic confrontation between the twenty-something genius and his equally brilliant adversary, a child detective named Near.

I'll try not to give away too much, but this much I can say: No character is safe from the Death Note's grip, and even characters you thought you knew well turn around and do things that will catch you by surprise.

Unlike most manga that comes across my desk, Death Note, especially this final volume, is a dense read. There are lots of details and complicated plot twists that are explained in a relatively short time. Sorting through the multi-layered conspiracies and double-crosses that are revealed in the first half of the book takes time, but it's worthwhile to see the thought that went into both sides' final moves in this deadly chess game.

But once that's done with, then the drama and action ramps up, as accounts are settled and judgment is passed upon the innocent, the evil and the misguided alike.

The art, as always, is superb. The staging of the scenes is like watching a great movie – it absolutely immerses the reader in the action and the mood. You can see the emotions wash across each characters face as each new twist is revealed, which adds to the pulse-pounding drama.

In a way, reading Volume 12 is like observing an elaborate dominos set-up and then seeing it collapse in twisted but elegant patterns. You marvel at the time and patience it took to set it all up, are amazed to watch the dominos fall in rhythm and then feel a little disappointed that it's all over.