The first volume of the English edition of the manga, titled Boredom , serves as the foundation for one of the most celebrated psychological thrillers in the medium. Created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata , this volume introduces the high-stakes game of wits between a brilliant student and an enigmatic detective. Core Premise and Synopsis
The story follows , an ace high school student who is profoundly bored with his life and disillusioned by a world filled with crime. His life shifts when he discovers the Death Note , a supernatural notebook dropped into the human world by Ryuk , a rogue shinigami (death god) who is equally bored with the monotony of his own realm. Volume 1 establishes the fundamental rules of the notebook: Death Note Vol. 01 of 12 (Eng)
: Light's father and head of the Japanese National Police Agency, who inadvertently provides Light with access to vital investigation files. The first volume of the English edition of
: A shinigami who stays near Light as an observer. Unlike a typical antagonist or ally, Ryuk is primarily motivated by entertainment and remains a neutral party to the conflict. His life shifts when he discovers the Death
: Any human whose name is written in the notebook shall die, provided the writer has the person's face in their mind to avoid affecting others with the same name.
: If no cause is specified within 40 seconds, the victim will die of a heart attack. If a cause is written, the details can be further refined within the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
: A genius student whose initial goal of achieving justice is quickly complicated by a growing god complex and a ruthless willingness to eliminate anyone who threatens his mission.