20th Century Boys
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20th Century Boys

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: 20 Seiki Shounen, Nijuu Seiki Shounen, Nijuusseiki Shounen, 20thCB
Japanese: 20世紀少年
English: 20th Century Boys
More titles

Information

Type: Manga
Volumes: 22
Chapters: 249
Status: Finished
Published: Sep 27, 1999 to Apr 24, 2006
Genres: Award Winning Award Winning, Drama Drama, Mystery Mystery, Sci-Fi Sci-Fi
Themes: Historical Historical, Psychological Psychological
Demographic: Seinen Seinen
Serialization: Big Comic Spirits
Authors: Urasawa, Naoki (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.941 (scored by 9595395,953 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #172
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #27
Members: 273,357
Favorites: 20,862

Resources

8.94
Ranked #17Popularity #27Members 273,357
Add to My List
Volumes: /22
Chapters: /249

Synopsis

As the 20th century approaches its end, people all over the world are anxious that the world is changing. And probably not for the better.

Kenji Endo is a normal convenience store manager who's just trying to get by. But when he learns that one of his old friends going by the name "Donkey" has suddenly committed suicide, and that a new cult led by a figure known as "Friend" is becoming more notorious, Kenji starts to feel that something isn't right. With a few key clues left behind by his deceased friend, Kenji realizes that this cult is much more than he ever thought it would be—not only is this mysterious organization directly targeting him and his childhood friends, but the whole world also faces a grave danger that only the friends have the key to stop.

Kenji's simple life of barely making ends meet is flipped upside down when he reunites with his childhood friends, and together they must figure out the truth of how their past is connected to the cult, as the turn of the century could mean the possible end of the world.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

20th Century Boys won the Kodansha Manga Award in the general category in 2001, an Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2002, and the Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category in 2003. The series' combined storyline won the Grand Prize at the 37th Japan Cartoonist Awards on May 9, 2008.

VIZ Media published the series in English under the VIZ Signature imprint from February 17, 2009 to September 18, 2012. VIZ Media licensed the series in 2005; however, at Urasawa's request, it was rescheduled for release after Monster finished its English publication due to a change in art style over time. It was also published as 2-in-1 omnibus volumes from September 18, 2018 to March 16, 2021. The series has also been published in Brazilian Portuguese by Panini Comics/Planet Manga since September 2012.

The series was adapted into a trilogy of live-action films which released in Japan between August 30, 2008 and August 29, 2009.

Characters


Reviews

Sep 23, 2024
Probably one of the best stories my eyes have ever been blessed to read. Following Kenji as he and his friends uncover a plot in motion based on childhood stories he wrote when he was, well, a kid. The art is consistent and doesn't waste time. Urasawa knows how to convey action in quick motions and put in place events that will pay off later in the story.

As for the story, I've read other works by Urasawa and I can say this is along of the best he's done. Characters and actions done earlier come back in plot twists and sudden changes. Moments of great ...
Jun 19, 2022
Mixed Feelings
This is a typical Urasawa manga, meaning it starts off great, introduces engaging characters and weaves an intriguing mystery with great care and skill. And then, when it comes time for him to end it and resolve the various plot threads and mysteries... he doesn't.

Instead of a satisfying ending you are treated to multiple masturbatory volumes of the author self-insert becoming a wandering musician while the entire plot up to that point just collapses in on itself with the carefully characterized cast members suddenly acting out of character, chapters ending in increasingly nonsensical cliffhangers that never get resolved satisfactorily and shifting focus to the ...
Jul 12, 2024
FunnyFunny
*Spoiler free - Rapid Review*

Perhaps the most over-rated manga ever.

This manga is *extremely* over-rated. Despite having good characters that are properly characterised and play off each other well, the manga fails to support the plot with a paper-thin mystery that should have only lasted 100 chapters. It's a hodgepodge of many ideas that don't support each other and the resolutions of plot points are really boring. Which, is exactly what this manga is, boring. The art is decent and certain scenes look great, the actual story is so random and bad that I really cannot recommend this manga to anyone. It's a shame this manga ...

Interest Stacks

49 Entries · 75 Restacks
50 Entries · 5 Restacks
34 Entries · 61 Restacks

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Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: 20th Century Boys Chapter 249 Discussion ( 1 2 )
Darkreaper70 - Oct 1, 2008
78 repliesby NillyPC »»
Sep 23, 10:53 AM
Poll: 20th Century Boys Chapter 248 Discussion
VitaX - Sep 15, 2010
17 repliesby NillyPC »»
Sep 23, 10:40 AM
Poll: 20th Century Boys Chapter 247 Discussion
Rasco - Mar 6, 2012
13 repliesby NillyPC »»
Sep 23, 10:34 AM
Poll: 20th Century Boys Chapter 246 Discussion
Rasco - Mar 6, 2012
12 repliesby NillyPC »»
Sep 23, 10:28 AM
Poll: 20th Century Boys Chapter 245 Discussion
Rasco - Mar 6, 2012
9 repliesby NillyPC »»
Sep 23, 10:20 AM

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