20th Century Boys
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20th Century Boys
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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: 20 Seiki Shounen, Nijuu Seiki Shounen, Nijuusseiki Shounen, 20thCB
Japanese: 20世紀少年
English: 20th Century Boys
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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: 8.931 (scored by 109789109,789 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #232
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #24
Members: 311,440
Favorites: 23,080

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20th Century Boys
8.93
Ranked #23Popularity #24Members 311,440
MangaBig Comic SpiritsUrasawa, Naoki (Story & Art)
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Volumes: /22
Chapters: /249

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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 Endou is a normal convenience store manager who is 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 is not 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]

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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.
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21st Century Boys
Sequel (Manga)
21st Century Boys
 
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More characters
Characters

Endou, Kenji
Endou, Kenji
Main
Friend
Friend
Main
Endo, Kanna
Endo, Kanna
Main
Ochiai, Chouji
Ochiai, Chouji
Supporting
Sada, Kiyoshi
Sada, Kiyoshi
Supporting
Minamoto, Yoshitsune
Minamoto, Yoshitsune
Supporting
Koizumi, Kyoko
Koizumi, Kyoko
Supporting
Hattori, Tetsuya
Hattori, Tetsuya
Supporting
Kaminaga, Kyuutaro
Kaminaga, Kyuutaro
Supporting
Setoguchi, Yukiji
Setoguchi, Yukiji
Supporting

Reviews

Write review
85 Recommended
13 Mixed Feelings
7 Not Recommended
All reviews (105)
Mar 23, 2026
kazyeth1
Recommended
This is a story where symbolism takes priority over the plot, creating a deep philosophical treatise on the contrast between the "child's mind" and the "adult's mind." The core of the narrative focuses on comparing these two ways of thinking and how they conflict with each other.
Most of the main events serve as echoes of various Biblical teachings, creating parallels between different political ideologies. It offers a brilliant critique of religion while simultaneously acting as a representation of Nietzschean philosophy (specifically Thus Spoke Zarathustra) through Urasawa’s manga style.
The only real issue is the introduction of supernatural powers, which feel somewhat unnatural within the realistic setting. ...
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Feb 23, 2026
Mutante
Mixed Feelings
We're "Lost" all over again.

20th Century Boys starts with a blast, but misses the point where it should stop adding stuff and simply wrap it up. This could have been a fantastic 4-volume story, instead it was drawn out to 12 volumes, watered down, filled with unnecessary side plots, repetition and developments that take away from the strong opening.

The whole story seems to be aging in reverse: it's grounded in reality during the characters' childhood, then gets more and more nonsensical as they get older. What seemed to be an intricate plot becomes a fumbling mess, adding when it should be trimming things down, becoming ...
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Sep 12, 2025
Sentient_water
Not Recommended
FunnyFunny
Where do I even begin with 20th Century Boys? This manga is less a compelling thriller and more a torturous exercise in patience and futility. The entire premise promises a gripping mystery, a shadowy figure known as “Friend” orchestrating a cult capable of threatening the world, but the execution is a catastrophic mess.

First, let’s talk about pacing. The narrative drags like a soggy blanket through mud. The manga teases the identity of “Friend,” dangling it as some tantalizing prize, but the payoff is so delayed that it transforms anticipation into irritation. By the time you finally get answers, your emotional investment has been ground into ...
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Poll: 20th Century Boys Chapter 249 Discussion ( 1 2 )
Darkreaper70 - Oct 1, 2008		 87 repliesby zeidXD »»
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