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Aside from being a bestseller,Death Notehas had a major impact on popular culture in more ways than one. The series is a trailblazer in its exploration of morality, death, and conflict as its enmeshing of modern, along with classic literary references, is remarkable.
This further makes it a standalone masterpiece in the psychological thriller genre. Above all, the mangaka refused to play along with this key aspect, which would’ve proved detrimental to his series.
Unlike Tite Kubo, Ohba had a rather distinct approach to their characters, which gave them their signature flair. This is especially true for the shinigami in the series.
Thankfully, the manga avoided a central trope that could’ve reflected glaring similarities in both the series. And while they may not have the most handsome Shinigami in their manga, Ohba gave them their fair share of edginess.
Tsugumi Ohba avoided his manga from being anotherBleach
Not much is known aboutTsugumi Ohbaexcept they are one of the finest and most seasoned mangaka. Along with Takeshi Obata, they gave us one of the iconic psychological thriller series in the genre. But that is not all, considering its impact on the anime industry.
For decades, the series influenced cosplay, pop culture, and media in every way possible. This is attributed to the mangaka’s writing of the layered and complex characters in his story. But there’s more to it considering the drastic changes in the series.
Like most mangaka, Ohba’s series underwent serialization that altered its conception. For four years, the series was serialized between 2003-2006 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump.
Obata fine-tuned it with his precision and expertise. This is especially true forRyuk’s characterand one of the most iconic scenes that reflected his badassery. However, it wasn’t the only thing that was altered completely.
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Initially, Ohbafaced difficultiescreating Ryuk’s character because of the original plan. His approach was to make the character handsome, to which his editor refused. The editor told him to drop the plans, citing “The shinigami doesn’t have to be a human”.
And while this makes sense, mostly, it saved the manga from being a blatant copy of Tite Kubo’s seriesBleach. With the sheer amount of censorship and plagiarism, it was a close call for Obata and Ohba. Regardless of that, the series stands out with its edginess in more ways than one.
Death Notestands out with its edginess
WhileDeath Notemay not have a cult fanbase like One Piece, the series sets itself apart in most aspects. Unlike most Shinigami, Ryuk’s character is reminiscent of punk-rock nostalgia. His disinterest, coupled with his eccentric behavior, is what makes the series unique in its way.
Conversely, it is the edginess that makes the manga different from most of its contemporaries. Its approach to morality, along with its riveting storyline, adds up to its unconventional flair. But we’ve barely scratched the surface with this one.
The series draws influence from a wide variety of literature. Its enmeshing of mythology and religion with Faustian symbolism makes it unconventional and avant-garde. This ties well with theever-present moral conflictin the series.
The edginess aspect comes in handy in bestowing the Shinigami their quirkiness. As opposed to Soul Repaers in Kubo’s series, the Shinigami in Ohba’s manga are rather discreet and detached.
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Ryuk’s aloofness, along with his demeanor, is a refreshing take and a breakaway from the conventional portrayals of the Soul Reapers in popular media.
And while Ohba didn’t choose the popular road, we’re glad that his series wasn’t reduced to banality.
Death NoteandBleachare available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Both manga are available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
