Matt
Matt is a supporting character in the Death Note series. Raised at Wammy's House, an orphanage for gifted children in England founded by Watari, he ranks third in intelligence behind Near and Mello. When Mello loses his syndicate operatives, Matt serves as his primary accomplice, assisting him behind the scenes during the Kira investigation.
Overview
Matt is a supporting character in the Death Note series. Raised at Wammy's House, an orphanage for gifted children in England founded by Watari, he ranks third in intelligence behind Near and Mello. When Mello loses his syndicate operatives, Matt serves as his primary accomplice, assisting him behind the scenes during the Kira investigation.
Appearance
Matt sports short hair that is depicted as black in the colored manga pages and anime, and dark blue-black in video games. He wears a striped shirt underneath a brown leather jacket featuring plush fur trimming around the collar. He is constantly seen wearing goggles on his head and is frequently depicted smoking a cigarette.
Personality
Matt is a dedicated homebody who dislikes going outside, preferring to pass the time playing video games and watching television. He maintains a laid-back and indifferent attitude toward broader world events. Despite his high intelligence, he dislikes complex mental battles and favors straightforward action, remaining remarkably relaxed even in dangerous situations.
Abilities
Recognized as the third smartest child at Wammy's House behind Near and Mello, Matt possesses advanced information-processing skills, including the ability to monitor multiple display screens simultaneously. However, his focus can lapse when he is absorbed in playing video games, occasionally leading to oversight during surveillance operations.
Background
After leaving Wammy's House, Matt answers Mello's call for assistance after Mello loses his organization. He handles the tailing of Kanzo Mogi and surveillance of Misa Amane, eventually helping execute the kidnapping of Kiyomi Takada. Acting as a decoy during the escape, he is cornered by Takada's armed guards. His attempt to negotiate is rejected, and he is shot on the spot, though certain animated summary versions depict him surviving.
Relationships
Matt shares a long-standing connection with Mello from their time at Wammy's House, acting as one of Mello's few trusted allies. Upon learning of Matt's death, Mello expresses clear remorse for sending him into harm's way. Through his operational duties, Matt also interacts with and monitors figures associated with the Kira case, including Kanzo Mogi, Misa Amane, and Kiyomi Takada.
Trivia
Author Tsugumi Ohba created Matt primarily because Mello needed a conversational partner while operating independently. Illustrator Takeshi Obata initially saw a draft featuring a character with a bowl cut and round glasses, but opted to redesign him into a stylish figure suited to his personal tastes under the assumption that the character would have minimal screen time.
