)I don't see a way to summarize this volume without spoiling the previous one, so let's skip that and comment on the style.
This is the first volume that I am giving a 4 because so many pieces come together well here. In previous volumes, too much time was spent on exposition that did not bear repeating, or the best part of the plot was the twist at the end rather than seeing it happen. Lots of explanation. We get a bit of that with our new character, but it is more indirect characterization. Light and L are already in their elements and performing well, and we get both big plots and little twists. The series has found its stride fully.
Misa is a fun wild card to throw in, especially with Rem as a less "fun" heavy. Given the weakness of the female cast so far, in which the one potentially strong female mostly had the role of "fiancée," I was hoping for something a little more feminist. Maybe later. She is not manipulative enough to hold her own with Light and L, but she makes things both sunnier and more chaotic. I hope she keeps the odd mix of images and character traits; her arc already threatens to make her an entirely flat character.
The art note comes early this time. Misa's visuals are not quite as consistent as they could be (her age seems to shift a bit based on how childish (or not) she needs to be for a scene), but they create a nice counterpoint to Light and L. Misa in disguise is adorable. Her counterpart is Takada, an equal but opposite visual archetype, although the blonde gets the goth visuals that would go usually go with the brunette in American imagery.
Light's eyes again do a great deal of work, particularly when he wonders how horribly Misa is going to destroy him or how he can use her to destroy L. His outraged near-panic is beautiful to behold. His scheming face is just over the top enough to be perfect.
Gelus was too short-lived. I loved his look. Rem, unlike Gelus or Ryuk, actually looks threatening and predatory rather than silly, which is probably a good thing considering his role. Ryuk is just in it for the lulz, Gelus was a puppy, and Rem is an attack dog.
The plots remain excellent, particularly the way that L manages to thrust himself boldly but completely safely into harm's way and disrupt Light's plans. We get to see Misa have her own plans and some others go awry. We see both long games and sudden turns, good stuff.
Since we end mid-scheme, I will end. We know that the scheme must circle around, we just don't know what Light has put in place to make it happen. This whole thing must have been much more suspenseful in the original, when you never knew if there was going to be a "next volume." On the other hand, while the existence of a known end point leaves us with only the question of how we get there, we know that the author cannot string the story out indefinitely in hopes of Dickensian payment-by-volume, and we know that no outside event will come along and ruin the whole affair. Surely good things lie ahead.
collected edition
Amazon link
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