Death Note is a must read. I would challenge even those who say they don't like manga to pick up this series- I am convinced that anyone will be hooked by the plot, characters, and overall themes in this manga.

The storyline of Death Note is essentially a murder mystery- however, this mystery is told from the perspective of the murderer, Light Yagami. While this alone is enough to catch the reader's attention, the author continues to provide well thought out characters and plot twists to the very end.

The art, characters, and plot of this series are all very good, and often more complex than your average shounen lineup. However, what really made Death Note special to me was the surprisingly challenging questions on justice that the author managed to raise in this short series. Questions like: Are the laws of justice decided by the fickle majority, by unchanging principles that humans naturally understand, or by some sort of god? Who should enforce justice? Can criminals be forgiven? Is it morally justified to get your hands dirty if it brings about a greater good? These are only some of the many age-old themes that are brought to life again in Death Note.

This series is not only a brilliantly drawn and creatively written manga; in my opinion, it is also a contribution to the ongoing search for the meaning of justice. I highly recommend this series.