Death Note: Tokubetsu Yomikiri
Death Note: Special One-Shot

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This was a very fun, short read. If you're a fan of death note in general I highly recommend it. The overarching themes present throughout the original series are ingrained into this one-shot. It presents an interesting take on how owning a death note would look in modern times. The art is as good as ever and the characters, both old and new, are given adequate development, as much as you could expect for something this short. Also included some unexpected political messaging which was done well and not ham handed or overwhelming.

Pretty good read. Death Note fans should enjoy it. 8/10

The top review states that this is apparently a very good read if you're a "Death Note fan". I, respectfully, disagree. This short story is absolutely not something I'd recommend to a "Death Note fan" with excitement. Is it Death Note? Sure, yeah I suppose it is and has that similar charm to it, but it's kind of like going from L to Near in the original run. It feels underwhelming, less interesting and overall not as enjoyable and these feelings are only amplified if you were expecting anything interesting to happen. If you want to "hate read" it and then feel somewhat good after ... it ends (the ending redeems the story), then go ahead and read it, otherwise if you're expecting something interesting lore wise or in terms of seriousness and intrigue as the first half of Death Note, well... stay away from this, it's not worth your time.

P.S. I'm only harsh, because the summary, premise and the cover art are all giving the wrong impression.

‘Death Note’ carries the distinction of being the “gateway” anime for scores of western adolescents and young-adults. In fact, if not for ‘Death Note’ and ‘Gurren Lagann,’ I’m not sure I would have given the medium much of a chance. Sure. I grew up on ‘Pokemon,’ ‘Dragon Ball Z,’ and ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’. But those shows were geared toward a younger audience whom would purchase gobs of merchandise every time Goku changed his hair color. Seriously, though. Kim Kardashian (Freiza) is jelly from all the attention she’s not getting from her “enhancements.” The Butt just got 10 inches bigger!

Anyhow…

I was ... a big fan of ‘Death Note’s’ intellectual approach to the introduction of a pre-eminent power. So much so, that I binge watched it twice in a seven day period (while being in school!—Thank the Shinigami King for coffee!). Aside from overly dramatic dialogue, romanticized main characters, and an underwhelming conclusion, ‘Death Note’ is an anime that warrants the massive amount of hype that it receives. Of course, I could go into detail explaining each facet of the show that I found enjoyable; however, this review is about its one-shot successor.—Titled: ‘Death Note: Special One-Shot.’

yeah…title could have used a little creativity.

In all seriousness, this ‘Death Note’ one-shot had an interesting idea that could have been good if fleshed-out over the course of numerous chapters. But the brevity of the work made certain outcomes inevitable.—Thus, inhibiting the enjoyment of the reader. The one-shot starts off with a Japanese boy, Minoru Tanaka, who comes into contact with Ryuk (due to Ryuk craving apples). Not wanting to proverbial write his own gravestone like the previous Kira. Minoru decides to not use the ‘Death Note,’ but to auction it off the highest bidder. As anticipated, there is a high demand for the greatest killing instrument known to man. Eventually, though. The last bidders are the richest countries in the world, whom wish to possess the ‘Note’ for geopolitical advantages.

The first qualm I have is the lack of alliances in the bidding for the Death Note. If such a power existed, why wouldn’t China strategically align itself with Russia to outbid the United States? This would, inevitably, lead to a proverbial “alliance race” in which the group of countries with the most capital would gain the Death Note. Afterwards, however, the winning alliance would need to determine who would possess the Death Note and how they would share the “benefits” of such an instrument (somewhat similar Yotsuba group in the original ‘Death Note,’ but on a larger scale with political leaders at risk).

My second qualm is with the superfluous addition of Near to the story. In effect, he serves one purpose: to “validate” A-Kira’s (Minoru’s) superior intelligence compared to the previous Kira (Light) — via admitting defeat. If you defeat the man who defeated the “thee” man, then, ergo, you are smarter than the previous Kira. The original ‘Death Note’ was a proverbial competition of the mind between two strategic savants. There’s no need to diminish their battle by having A-Kira, effortlessly, conquer the top mastermind.

My third and final qualm deals with the ending. An ending that was retconned to all hell, and ruined the entire proceeding. Angered by the “misuse” of the Death Note. The Shinigami King wrote a new rule that any human involved in buying or selling the Death Note would die upon completing the transaction. Do you see the problem? The whole premise was that Minoru discovered a loophole in the set of predetermined rules of the Death Note. And instead of being rewarded for his cleverness, he was punished retroactively. What the hell was the point if the Shinigami King was just going to troll a human with superior wits?

Furthermore, the transfer of wealth from A-MUHR-eh-KA to Japan was thinly veiled Japanese Nationalism. I get it: Trump’s not popular around the world. But combating his abrasive nationalism, with petty nationalism is just…petty. Unfortunately, it was a failed political jab that makes Marco Rubio’s ill political “jokes” look clever. All in all, this one-shot was ill-advised and had a clear ulterior motive that I, personally, did not find amusing (and I voted for Bernie Sanders).