Japanese: 20世紀少年
English: 20th Century Boys
Synonyms: Nijuu Seiki Shounen, Nijuusseiki Shounen, 20thCB
Type: Manga
Volumes: 22
Chapters: 249
Status: Completed
Published: Sep 27, 1999 to Apr 24, 2006
Genres: Mystery, Drama, Historical, Sci-Fi, Psychological, Seinen
Mangaka: Urasawa Naoki (Story & Art)
Serialization: Big Comic Spirits
Synopsis: Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren't for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns. This is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world.
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| Urasawa Naoki, Baka updates |
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. 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.
Related manga
Side Story: 20 Seiki Shounen no Wakiyaku
Spin-Off: 20 Seiki Shounen Tanteidan
Sequel: 21 Seiki Shounen
Groups Scanlating
Manga-Heaven
Mangascreener
Viz Media (22 Vols, Complete)
Source: MAL Manga info, Baka updates
Side notes: You're not the only one watching the title and list of tags when reading the synopsis.XDD You can bet that I did that too and was more or less puzzled why my search for Music/ bands came up with this one. And I didn't change my search words in the middle either. Only reason that I came up was the tag "Pop culture references" that could mean anything in this case.^-^ But things do clear up after you start reading the manga itself, nee.
Anyhow I picked this manga here mainly 'cause it has so strong popularity and readers like it... and yup... it's an Award Winning Work. As a such it deserves to be presented and I really am amazed that there is no anime made of it. O.o And one more thing... The art style changes during this manga was made so the start and the end aren't similar in that way. Mangaka is also known for his Monster manga that was published first in English for his own request (just in case that you missed that part in above.XD)
Main characters
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| As an adult |
Kenji Endo (遠藤 健児)
Endo Kenji grew up in late-1960s/early-1970s Japan, at a time when American phenomena, notably the space race and the era of Woodstock, were resounding around the world. An avid reader of manga who often saw apocalyptic scenarios playing out, he always responded with the cry of "I would fight!" During this time, he and his friends made up a scenario for world conquest in order to play heroes.
Flash forward to 1997, a time where Kenji has taken charge of his families liquor shop and turned it into a convenience store. He is now raising the daughter of his sister, Kiriko (who disappeared immediately after leaving her daughter to Kenji), and living a fairly ordinary life. However, after events from the prophecy he made up earlier begin to come true, he learns of an evil organization, led by a masked man called "Friend", which is using his plans to conquer the world. As the organization's hold on the government strengthens, he becomes a wanted man and lives on the streets, continuing to (covertly) oppose Friend, partially through terrorism and partially through a protest song he wrote (named "Bob Lennon").
Kanna Endo (遠藤カンナ)
Kenji's niece, she serves as the protagonist for the events in the aftermath of the "Bloody New Year's Eve". She is shown to have ESP at an advanced level, and is capable of predicting the future (To a small extent), bend spoons with her mind, and even once strangled a woman without touching her (in a fit of emotional rage). She loves rock&roll, due to Kenji's obsession with it. She idolizes Kenji despite what the rest of the world thinks of him, and is also quite skilled at the guitar. She lives by herself in a low-rent apartment and works part-time at a small noodle shop in the middle of Thai/Chinese Mafia territorium.
Friend (ともだち)
The main antagonist of the series. An enigmatic cult leader who, in 1997, began using the symbol Kenji and his friends put together in the 1970s. His followers have filled venues such as the Budokan. One of his goals is to take over the world. His face is hidden in shadow throughout the series; he even confronts Kenji by wearing a mask. His true identity is one of the driving mysteries of the series. As of 2000, the Friendship Democratic Party (FDP) is established as a political group with government representatives such as Manjome Inshu.
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