Ryuk, a god of death, drops his Death Note into the human world for personal pleasure. In Japan, prodigious high school student Light Yagami stumbles upon it. Inside the notebook, he finds a chilling message: those whose names are written in it shall die. Its nonsensical nature amuses Light; but when he tests its power by writing the name of a criminal in it, they suddenly meet their demise.

Realizing the Death Note's vast potential, Light commences a series of nefarious murders under the pseudonym "Kira," vowing to cleanse the world of corrupt individuals and create a perfect society where crime ceases to exist. However, the police quickly catch on, and they enlist the help of L—a mastermind detective—to uncover the culprit.

Death Note tells the thrilling tale of Light and L as they clash in a great battle-of-minds, one that will determine the future of the world.

Death Note ranked second in the 2006 and 2007 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! for the Male Readers division. It was nominated for the 38th Seiun Award in the Best Comic category in 2007. In the same year, it was also nominated for the 11th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. As of April 2015, over 30 million copies of the manga are in circulation. The manga was published in English by VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint from October 10, 2005, to July 3, 2007, and again in 2-in-1 omnibus volumes subtitled Black Edition. There have been several more rereleases of the series: a special hardcover edition of the first volume; a complete box set, which included a guidebook titled Death Note 13: How to Read; and a complete omnibus. It was also published in Italian by Panini Comics from October 19, 2006, to September 18, 2008; in Brazilian Portuguese by Editora JBC from June 2007 to June 2008; in German by Tokyopop from September 2006 to March 2009; in French by Kana from January 19, 2007, to October 9, 2008; in Dutch by Kana; in Argentina by LARP Editores from May 20, 2009, to April 2012; and in Spanish by Glénat España from June 30, 2006, to September 30, 2007. The series was adapted into three live-action films, a TV drama series, and a stage musical. It has also inspired other works and copycat crimes outside Japan, leading to various controversies.