Death Note Pilot Chapter

As an English reader, I got my chance to check out the “pilot” to Shonen Jump‘s Death Note in the awesome How to Read coda, basically an encyclopedia for Death Note fans with lots of goodies. It’s a must-have.

Anyway, so is this if you already like the series. Takeshi Obata‘s art is great as always, though less detailed and thus less striking than his more serious work for the actual series.

What makes this “bonus” chapter so great is that Taro Kagami is a very different character than Light, thus leading to a different story and outcome. This is much lighter than the series, since the Death Note only falls into the hands of a child that doesn’t know better rather than an overzealous genius. Also, the consequences aren’t as strict, which you’ll find out about when you read.

A non-canonical diversion, but Death Note 13: How to Read is of extreme value for all of us Death Note fans who just need more.