This is the only Manga I ever read and I loved every minute of it. I just cant get into the anime though!

Personally Light, in my eyes, is the prime example of Abosulte power corrupts abosultely. He believes the ends justify the means even if itll cost him his soul.

While L is the complete opposite. He understands that doing an evil deed for a "good reason" turns that reason into an evil one.

L Lawliet's successors, Near and Mello are very inferior, and their entry into the story doesn't add much flavor to that battle of wits you were used to, I think the events after the demise was a quick way to end the story and not expand it much more.

I can't remember much about them from the manga but I remember finding them completely lacklustre compared to L!