Reading Death Note was one of the defining manga moments in my life. Up until I had read Death Note, all I had ever read was shounen manga. Which, don't get me wrong, can be awesome! But Death Note was the first series I read that played with more mature concepts like life and death, morality, and the individuals role in society. All of that was coupled with some of the most suspenseful and masterful storytelling I've ever read.

The premise for the series itself is amazing, our hero/antihero is given power over life and death itself in the form of a notebook. The two main characters are unforgettable. The story is a battle between two sides of the law, between two views of the world, and two total bad-ass geniuses. The art was perfect for the story, which is all I look for. The first half series of the novel was stronger than the rest. But when I think of Death Note, I know where the series ends for me truly (with the resolution of the conflict between L and Light).

Death Note will always hold a special place in my manga history and my heart.