20th Century Boys 4

20th Century Boys [20世紀少年] #4

by Naoki Urasawa

Am Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts steht die Menschheit vor dem Abgrund, doch nur eine Handvoll Erwachsener sieht die Vorzeichen der nahenden Katastrophe rechtzeitig. Diese Erwachsenen verbindet ihre gemeinsame Kindheit, in der sie zusammenhielten wie Pech und Schwefel und zum Zeichen ihrer Freundschaft sogar ein Symbol kreierten.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Mystery, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Seinen, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2001

About the author

Urasawa Naoki (浦沢直樹) is a Japanese mangaka. He is perhaps best known for Monster (which drew praise from Junot Díaz, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner) and 20th Century Boys.

Urasawa's work often concentrates on intricate plotting, interweaving narratives, a deep focus on character development and psychological complexity. Urasawa has won the Shogakukan Manga Award, the Japan Media Arts Festival excellence award, the Kodansha Manga Award and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. In 2008 Urasawa accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University.

Series list (not including short stories collections):
- Pineapple ARMY (パイナップルARMY) 1985-1988, written by Kazuya Kudo;
- YAWARA! 1986-1993;
- Master Keaton (MASTERキートン) 1988-1994, written by Hokusei Katsushika;
- Happy! 1993-1999
- MONSTER 1994-2001
- 20th Century Boys (20世紀少年) 1999-2006
- 21st Century Boys (21世紀少年) 2007
- PLUTO 2003-2009, based on Tezuka Osamu's Tetsuwan Atom
- BILLY BAT 2008-2016
- Master Keaton Remaster (MASTERキートン Reマスター) 2012-2014
- Mujirushi (夢印-MUJIRUSHI-) 2017-2018, collaboration with Musée du Louvre
- Asadora! (連続漫画小説 あさドラ!) 2018-ongoing

Reviews

[Tawfek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the story telling and how the story is unfolding.
Also i absolutely love the character building their growth and evolution, its epic to say the least
more characters are being introduced, and the plot is getting thicker .
I love how when otcho returned to japan how he viewed everyone around him, and lets be truthful here i bet that is just his view of his country after he returned from a less evolved place, he literally saw every girl and guy in front of him the same way, they all just looked the same to him plain and simple, he didn't like how everyone had mobile phones, happens to the best of us after seclusion, especially how we view the newer generations with a critique eye.
Friend now wants them to gather all 9 of the childhood friends, i wonder if next issue they will stop the huge robot, it would be premature but it would hardly be the end of the story.
Honestly its hard to know what naoki ursawa has in store for us, so i ll just enjoy the ride 😍

[Anthony Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

From strong to strong, that's what I think of Urasawa's "20th Century Boys" thus far. This one stacks up well with the other books in the series. I have to admit, this volume has a segway story that leads the story a few years down the road from where we last left Kenji. The segway story features the mysterious not yet seen Otcho though, and it was very interesting.

The jump in time takes us to the summer of 2000, where most of the "present day" story is taking place. The 'Friends' have infiltrated the Japanese government at the highest levels starting their own "Friendship Party" and are moving ahead with their plans. It is funny to step back and think that the only thing standing between the world and a giant robot induced devastation of the world as we know it is a homeless guy who wears a bunny suit and his friends. I do like that time, and the little details about them growing up, aging and forgetting things from their childhood play a role in the story. Urasawa is great with the details.

Amazing series, and the art is beyond subtle in its ability to show mood. So good. Just found out they did a movie trilogy of this as well, tempted to want to order that when I finish this series.

[yel ᰔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is a nice step up from the last volume. This time we go to ALOT of present day, year 2000, stuff. I loved most of it.

The majority of the volume revolves around Shogun. He is one of Kenji's best friends growing up. You do get some nice glimpse into the past, into when they're kids, and it's nice to see that contrasted compared to now. However it's the modern day stuff that keeps this volume interesting and excited. A few new people introduced, some sad results, and I won't spoil it, but this one got me a bit emotional and I just met these damn characters haha.

On the flipside we get a bit more into the "Friends" and see their planning. The part dedicated to them building the robot is unnerving. It's funny at times but the "threats" bring it back down to horrifying and anything can go wrong. You see just how powerful the friends are and by the end you really feel some bad shit is coming.

This might become one of the best mangas of all time for me. Most volumes have been great, and I really hope it continues.

[RG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has alot more of the current story line and we learn more about a character called Shogun. Great storytelling here.

[Derek Royal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most engaging volume in the series, so far. Much of this comes from a focus on Otcho, mostly absent from the story up until this part. His backstory and current dilemma make him a remarkable figure. Kenji comes more into his own in the last third of this volume, as well. Oh...and love the bunny suit.

[Estibaliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series, we are only in volume 4, but so many things have already happened.

This one has sort of a different pace and focus, with the mysterious Shogun being its main protagonist... and the big revealing that he is actually someone else that we already (kinda) knew.

I'm not going to lie, the temporal lines and jumps got me confused for a second here and there, but Urasawa is still his usual master storyteller, so nothing really major, and the quality of the story is just superb.

So, yep... lots of action on this one, and a real bang of an end. Can't wait for the next volume and to see what kind of game the nine are playing next...

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda hard to review individual volumes of long running comics. Mostly catching up with one character in this volume. Things are happening.

I like the switch to liner notes for immediate translations and cultural notes in the back pages. The ideal localization IMO. Also this production run really stood the test of time. Any other MMPBs I get from the library that are as old as these are typically pulped by now. Good job Viz.

[Rahul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenji Let's Play !
These words inspire horror and something terrible is going to happen.
As like every of the Urasawa works , the messier the situation is, the more exciting is the drama.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not that it needed a huge plot advance, we get it anyway, scurrying past those difficult few years of getting oneself physically and mentally ready to take on a global dictatorship while living among the homeless and dressing like a bunny. Oh yeah, and I like Shogun/O a lot, too. You can tell Kenji and he are best buds. Now if only they weren't so completely out of their league, I might feel like they'd have a chance.

At least we didn't get a montage. We're just thrown into the future. Believe it or not, I'm fine with it. This is definitely a smart manga for adults. I wouldn't say it's classy though. I will say it has a fantastic build. I wonder what Stephen King would have done with it had he written a whopper based on this. Seriously, it's almost like a good early SK epic, (but nothing like DT).

[Farhana Lüba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I actually liked this chapter more than the last chapter. Shogun is my most favorite character till now.
From this volume, I loved that chapter where the girl becomes "friends" with Shogun. I believe "friendship" to be a heavily meaningful word, and the girl just showed what it means to be a friend. To stick to the end, no matter what.
I have a feeling that Shogun will die. He sort of resembles Wolfgang Grimmer from "Monster". I hope he doesn't die.

[M. Ashraf · Rating 4 out of 5]

20th Century Boys
Volume#4
Naoki Urasawa

A great volume!
Otcho persona is awesome! his life out of Japan, Thailand, his meeting with Friend goons and his coming back to Japan to join Kenji the prophet to save the world and to stop Friend.
The story is progressing in a unique way and building up to something epic!
I am really enjoying this!

[riley ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so dumb like why did I forget about a character who's with the monk?! Oh right, that's because Otcho was said to be found in India not in Thailand and I mistakened him with another long-haired character who was with a Professor's daughter. Anyway, Otcho and Kenji finally reunited !!

[Christina Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume shifted the timeline once again, but we didn't get as much from when the group were kids which was a bit disappointing. I'm still enjoying the mystery, though, and am curious when we'll learn what happened in the timeline that was skipped over.

[Iman Danial Hakim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manga marathon.

[Graham Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's balancing all its threads well. The pacing is perfect.

[Maggie Mackay MacKillop · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Shenniferr · Rating 5 out of 5]

8 mayo

[Yudhish · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Nadia Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenji found Shogun and together they are on a quest to recall the events they both wrote up when kids in the "book of prophecy".

[Francisco Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un salto temporal de 3 años respecto al tomo 3 (20th Century Boys, Libro 3: El hombre de Bangkok) y con ello el status quo ha cambiado totalmente.

Kenji es un fugitivo que opera contra el grupo de 'Amigo' desde las alcantarillas , mientras que se revela la identidad del hombre de Tailandia, que pasa de lleno a formar parte del tablero de Japón.

Me gusta demasiado esta serie, el como el pasado parece una bolsa con muchas pistas borrosas y al mismo tiempo las trampas y conspiraciones del presente, por muy disparatadas que sean en algunos casos, se sienten como un real peligro para los protagonistas.

[Anna Kļaviņa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapters 33-43
Year 2000 Kenji has been on the run for 3 years now. He seeks out his childhood friend Otcho the one who was missing in Thailand for years and was at first suspected by Kenji as the Friend. Otcho returns to Japan and with Kenji tries to discover possibility how to stop the Friend.
Meanwhile the Friend has successfully risen to power and influence in the government.

[Adam Spanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urasawa is one of the best storytellers and artists around. I can't say enough good things about 20th Century Boys. I'm one of those people who can tell how a tv show or book is going to end at the beginning. Urasawa keeps me guessing about what will happen next.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Urasawa could reference mecha anime and rock and roll's 27 club in the same volume of manga, and make it all work perfectly. Pure genius.

[Julie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man from Japan who lives in Bangkok, Thailand, and goes by the name of Shogun, is being sought by a dangerous element. Mostly because he helps girls in slippery situations out of those situations and sends them home, thus putting himself on the radar of some very bad people. But there is more to his being wanted than just that, as a business associate tells him, it has to do with the drugs he destroyed. A valuable new street drug called Rainbow Kid. The associate has a new job for Shogun. He’s to go to a hotel and remove some low-life drug user before he dies and ruins the reputation of the place. Shogun goes to the room, and the druggie tells him a story involving the police, and the military, and cabinet members… and he’s a cop himself. Nothing is making sense. Friends? What friends? And then Shogun finds a pin, a symbol long forgotten from his childhood….

Shogun learns the last girl he saved has been captured again, and so of course he goes to free her. Once they get out of the place she is being held, she asks him why he is helping her, and Shogun replies, “ (because) I wasn’t there when my own kid died.” On the verge of being attacked, Shogun and the girl are assisted by a group of men, the leader of which introduces himself as a member of the house of representatives, and a member of the FDP—the Friendship and Democracy Party.

Shogun takes the girl to safety then returns to his business associate at the travel agency. But the girl suddenly turns up, much the worse for wear, with an important message about the politician they just met, where she’s seen him before. And an unexpected phone call from an old friend in Japan brings Shogun to the realization that it’s time to go back to Japan. But first, there’s something he’s gotta do…

This volume of Twentieth Century Boys is primarily about Shogun, a character we’ve been long awaiting to take his place on this particular stage. In filling in the blanks of his life, past and present, we get a more cohesive picture of our heroes, and what they’re about, and what they are capable of.

Some time has passed, with Kenji in hiding, blamed for the death of the homeless man. But he’s managed to eluded capture and fly under the rader, and his niece, Kanna, is now three, and cute as can be. Kenji, his mom, and Kanna, have all found shelter with the group of homeless men who insist they need his help, that he is the one who will save the world. Not that Kenji believes that, but at this point, he has few options.

Having learned in the previous volume who the baby daddy is, it’s not hard to extrapolate that at some point, Kanna will become a target for his group. Things are really happening. I love all the back story, as more and more things begin to make sense, and we get a lot of omg and wtf moments. From the beginning of the series, we know that a group of men saves the world, and we can kindof guess who they are, but how they do it definitely remains to be seen. One can surmise that the how involves music in some way, but against this growing group of crazies who are hell-bent on achieving the destruction of the world, that doesn’t seem like a very strong defense.

With every volume, I think I love this series more and more. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Fany Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este fue de esos tomos que desde el momento en que lo leí hace años, se quedó conmigo. Poco más de la mitad del tomo está dedicado a un arco protagonizado por Otcho, y lo he disfrutado como una niña. Ahora que estoy grande, me doy cuenta de que la historia de este personaje tiene muchos clichés de cierto tipo de héroes, clichés que están ahí porque son geniales aunque sean irreales o estereotípicos, como el hecho de que Otcho sobreviva a hongos venenosos, no le afecte la droga de amigo, haya entrenado con un viejo místico en la jungla o sea un ideal de hombre masculino que ayuda a las mujeres y es amado por ellas, sin embargo, a pesar de que soy consciente de todo esto el arco me encanta. De alguna manera, el mangaka consigue que me crea este personaje y las cosas increíbles que hace, además de que lo maneja de tal forma que el trato de Otcho con las mujeres se siente más genuino que el de muchos héroes clásicos.

Sí, el hecho de que las mujeres lo amen está ahí para que lo veamos con un tipo genial, nadie va a negar eso, pero creo que lo que hace la diferencia es el contexto. Las mujeres que frecuenta Otcho son prostitutas atrapadas en un tipo de vida al que seguramente han entrado por necesidad o engaño y que las hace sufrir de alguna u otra forma, distintas a la mayoría de los hombres que frecuenta Otcho que o son criminales o turistas que son responsables de los problemas en los que se meten. Siendo así, es normal que Otcho prefiera atender casos de mujeres, y la chica a la que más ayuda no es ni una novia ni alguien en el que esté interesado sexual y románticamente, es una madre con la que él empatiza mucho al ser un padre que ha perdido a su hijo.

Me cuesta explicar lo que me transmite la historia de Otcho en Tailandia, lo mejor que se me ocurre decir es que pareciera estar inspirada en un cómic de aventuras viejo, pero con más profundidad y humanidad, y hay algo en eso que me fascina. Claro, soy una inexperta en lo que a cómics de aventuras viejos se refiere, sin embargo, este manga es tan referencial que no me extrañaría que el autor en realidad se hubiese inspirado en algo así para crear este arco.

Aparte, adoro como está dibujado Otcho ¡siempre se ve tan malditamente genial! Me encanta como su diseño se llena de carisma y movimiento gracias al cabello largo.

En comparación a toda la emoción que me produjo la primera parte, el resto del tomo es más tranquilo, sin embargo, también lo sentí así porque es una historia que ya leí, porque la primera vez toda esa parte fue muy emocionante y ver a Kenji con el traje de conejo fue épico. Además, me encanta como se muestra la amistad de Kenji y Otcho.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the entire series.

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 gang of boys who try to save the world. Failed rock musician Kenji's memories of his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that's been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.

Review: This is basically the manga equivalent of a Stephen King novel, channeling themes and plot devices from the likes of It, Dreamcatcher, The Running Man and quite a few others. A young group of friends that make an innocent promise which ends up creating the most dangerous cult in the world, a 'friend' turned into the world's greatest evil, a strange suicide that reunites a group of adults to solve a mystery from their childhood which ended up leading to an apocalyptic police state, clever use of cultural references, rock songs and historical allegories to tell the full story, extremely small actions resulting in extremely massive consequences, an eerie threat lurking in the shadows that may or may not be of supernatural origins, kids overthrowing a totalitarian regime and rebelling against society while fighting against a sinister threat that no one else knows about; sound King enough for ya?

Though I don't think it's quite as good as Monster by the same author, it's definitely very close. It's a masterpiece of intricate plotting, interweaving narratives, deep character development and psychological complexity. The villain's presence is suffocating from the very beginning while remaining mysterious and terrifying until the final chapter. It's intense, it's relatable, it's horrifying and it's an emotional rollercoaster. Be careful who you call your friend and be careful of the promises you make. You might just end up causing the end of the world.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three volumes of this series focused on Kenji and his quest to discover the identity of The Friend, someone from his childhood who had started a cult with plans to take over and destroy the world. The plans to take over and destroy the world were actually from a story Kenji had written as a kid, with himself and his friends as the heroes who stop it.

It's been a fun story, and I've enjoyed how at the end of the first three volumes, the introduced a brand new character. Until this volume, those characters were integrated into the background of Kenji's quest. Here in volume four, we begin with the character introduced at the end of volume three, and follow him until he crosses path with Kenji in the back quarter of the book. This new character becomes the anti-hero protagonist of this volume, and his story is vastly different from Kenji's. He's referred to as a shogun a few times, which is pretty accurate. Whereas Kenji is the hapless guy who stumbles into heroics by accident, this new character seeks to help the suffering, even if it would cost him his own life. His story takes place in Thailand, where he's battling a corrupt drug dealer far removed from The Friends in Japan. Until it turns out not to be so far removed after all.

I really enjoyed this slight shift in tone, and am eager to see how he'll fit into the larger narrative of the story as it progresses. I still believe this is a great First Manga recommendation for someone who likes sci-fi/adventure. It's also a good book to recommend for someone who's only read Akira, Vol. 1, and wants to know what's next.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying the series so far. Urasawa actually managed to get me to listen to a Janis Joplin song for the first time which was pretty nice. I also wonder if his inclusion of the drug "Rainbowkid" in this chapter is supposed to be a critique of modern culture. Other characters mention that the drug is only being produced by the cult for the Japanese and the only effect it seems to have is that it makes the user live through the most horrific experience possible. Users are then forced to live in a state of constant terror or fear hoping that the cult leader will save them. I think the drug Urasawa created is supposed to be a metaphor for mass hysteria. That people seem to fantasize about how the world is about to end in their lifetime and that by stringing together series of events they can see the path towards catastrophe. I think even looking around now at commentary on the news you get a sense that people get off on the idea that society is collapsing and we're all doomed, when the reality is that society and the world at large will continue to move forward and exist long after we're gone.

I think Urasawa is moving towards a larger commentary about how these fantasizes about the world ending are something that kids come up with and then linking that to the cultural movements in the 60s, which the manga references, that sort of revolved around a belief the world was going to get worse and then eventually end in that generations lifetime.

[Florencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

20th Century Boys, Band 4
4.5 ★
Leído: 28.01.23

¡Kenji se detonó! ¡La revolución está aquí!

Me gusta cómo este manga mezcla muchos tropos en los diferentes momentos. Tenemos mafia y cultos, conspiraciones y profecías entrelazándose en un misterio que parece estar cerca de ser revelado, pero cuando menos lo esperas termina el tomo. De todas formas, hay una revelación importante en cada uno.

El tono se ha vuelto mucho más oscuro y denso. Kenji, obligado a vivir bajo tierra por sus crímenes terroristas en su lucha contra "Friend", se ha vuelto un personaje sumamente calculador y motivado por la venganza y el heroísmo. A pesar de que suene a paradoja, a este personaje lo mueve el deseo de salvar al mundo tanto como el odio hacia su enemigo. Pero bueno, los mejores héroes son los más complejos.

A pesar de todo, hay espacio para el humor. No es um humor desatado, sino más bien contenido, cotidiano. Una risilla que sale casi sin querer mientras recuerdas el pasado con tu amigo de la infancia, con quien te acabas de reencontrar. Y bueno, el traje de conejo es bastante gracioso.

Con tan solo 4 tomos ya siento que la historia ha madurado lo suficiente como para terminar. Por lo mismo, me emociona saber que le queda tanto. ¿Qué sorpresas me esperan los siguientes tomos?