Over a decade after the end of the Death Note manga, the series is returning in a big way. A collection of short stories by original creators Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata was released in 2021, and has been made available in English for the first time.Death Note follows Light Yagami, a bored yet brilliant high school student. He stumbles upon a notebook entitled the "Death Note", a seemingly ordinary book with incredible supernatural abilities. The Death Note works by a person writing a name in the book which causes their subsequent death. The Death Note has its own rules to abide by, which Light twists and manipulates to achieve his goal of eradicating criminals from the world. Light's activities are threatened by another brilliant young man named L, a talented detective. The cat and mouse chase between the characters are what makes the anime so enticing and addictive.Death Note Short Stories is available for purchase in on VIZ Media's site as well as most other book retailers. The collection tells the tales of those whose lives were greatly impacted by Kira and the Death Note's shake-up of the world. If you ever wondered what it takes to use the Death Note or fight it, you will find the answers in this collection. The collection may surprise or delight audiences. Stories included in the collection are “C-Kira,” “a-Kira,” the Death Note pilot, and glimpses into L’s life and others.
Paperback versions will be sold at $14,99 USD. Digital versions are available for purchase from VIZ Media at $10,99 USD. A free preview is open for viewing on VIZ Media's site, as well.
Takeshi Obata provided the artwork for the collection, and Tsugumi Ohba wrote the story. Obata said, "You never know what will happen in this world" in a statement about the new collection. Against the backdrop of a pandemic, Ohba apologized for a few jokes throughout the manga, as it is his style of writing, and hopes that audiences enjoy the manga regardless.
Sources: VIZ Media; VIZ Media Official Twitter Account; Comicbook