There have been some Death Note video games, right? They had those DS games! That were only released in Japan… Okay, fine. I just want to talk about Death Note. But for good reason. This one is a doozie. In the latest installment of the “Never Complete” Death Note universe, the deadly diary finds its way into the hands of the one and only Donald J. Trump. For the low low price of $10 trillion, the president of the United States of America can kill anyone on the planet for only 13.3x the annual military budget. It’s a great investment!
How? What? Why? Didn’t Death Note end in 2006? Well, yes. The main story did. But ever since the conclusion, series creator Tsugumi Ohba has been releasing a series of one-shot stories set in the expanded Death Note universe. This latest issue finds the Death Note in the hands of Japanese teenager Minoru Tanaka. While the general trend of Death Note is for the new owner to try some kind of social restructuring by killing off who they deem as undesirable, Minoru decides the best option is to auction it off to the highest bidder. At this point in the canon, the existence of the Death Note is public knowledge. So the bidding war for the world’s most lethal artifact begins.
As the prices skyrocket, it’s soon apparent that only two entities have the financial power to stay in the race: the United States of America and People’s Republic of China. So a bidding war ensues pitting Donald J. Trump against Xi Jinping. I’m not making this up. While the two world leaders are never expressly named, they are clearly depicted. Just look:
The new Death Note one-shot only 87 pages long, or in Shonen Manga terms, a 30-minute read. You can find the whole thing here on the VIZ Media website. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you’re familiar with Death Note you should know it has to end tragically. Is it the best story in the Death Note universe? No, not really. The twists are okay. By the end of the story, new states have been introduced that might affect future one-offs. If nothing else, we will now forever have the image of Donald J. Trump making his best anima, “Nani!?!?!” face.
In addition to the intriguing plot of the latest Death Note one-shot, it also raises interesting questions about the potential consequences of possessing such a powerful and deadly tool. The story delves into the moral implications of using the Death Note for personal gain or political power, highlighting the dangers of absolute power in the wrong hands. It serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of unchecked authority and the importance of ethical decision-making.
Furthermore, the competition between world leaders for control of the Death Note sheds light on the geopolitical tensions and power struggles that exist on a global scale. By framing the narrative around a high-stakes bidding war, the story offers a satirical commentary on the absurdity of political brinkmanship and the lengths to which individuals will go to assert dominance. It serves as a reflection of real-world dynamics and the ways in which leaders may engage in risky and unethical behavior to achieve their goals.
Overall, the latest Death Note one-shot presents a thought-provoking exploration of power, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions. It challenges readers to consider the ethical implications of wielding authority and the potential ramifications of using power irresponsibly. As fans of the Death Note series delve into this new chapter, they are sure to be captivated by the twists and turns of the narrative and the profound themes it addresses.
