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20th Century Boys [20世紀少年] #18
20th Century Boys 18
Am nördlichen Grenzposten weit weg von Tokio taucht plötzlich ein Mann auf! Alle Menschen im Norden sind tot, doch er kommt mit seiner Gitarre auf dem Rücken auf einem Motorrad angefahren, aus dem Land der Toten und stellt sich als Joe Yabuki vor.
Wer ist er?! Wie konnte er überleben? Ist er ein Messias oder ein Spinner?
Die Antworten darauf kennt nur... Gott.
Wer ist er?! Wie konnte er überleben? Ist er ein Messias oder ein Spinner?
Die Antworten darauf kennt nur... Gott.
206 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2005
10 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Naoki Urasawa
356 books2,815 followersUrasawa 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 16, 2023
After this volume we are left with a question, who is the current friend?!
So Fukubei/Hattori is dead for real, and the current friend is someone who's just impersonating him, and trying to carry out his plan.
Also Kenji is back with a continuation to his Kenji's song Guta lala Suda lala, and he has an army of hippies.
While Kanna and Ocho learn that Kenji is alive, and well, and decide to look for him, only to be interrupted by the new friends, which are led by none other than Manjoume Inshou, who now wants to kill the current friend.
Sadly my brain isn't racing with thoughts like it used to be in the past, so i ll just cut this review short.
2021 Read
So Fukubei/Hattori is dead for real, and the current friend is someone who's just impersonating him, and trying to carry out his plan.
Also Kenji is back with a continuation to his Kenji's song Guta lala Suda lala, and he has an army of hippies.
While Kanna and Ocho learn that Kenji is alive, and well, and decide to look for him, only to be interrupted by the new friends, which are led by none other than Manjoume Inshou, who now wants to kill the current friend.
Sadly my brain isn't racing with thoughts like it used to be in the past, so i ll just cut this review short.
2021 Read
November 7, 2019
Now this volume messed up my mind. So much of past came in it. Kenji is alive that for sure. Majoume is planning "Friend" assassination. And my mind is 🤯🤯🤯.
April 23, 2024
This volume was a bit of a mess at times, with too many jumping around, visiting different characters, locations, and storylines.
But the ending was interesting enough, that's for sure, and I can see how Urasawa is slowly moving for a big finale, which should be preceded by lots of great reunions.
Onto the next one...
But the ending was interesting enough, that's for sure, and I can see how Urasawa is slowly moving for a big finale, which should be preceded by lots of great reunions.
Onto the next one...
April 2, 2018
Book 18 has Urasawa's usual masterful storytelling but there's not much preogress to our long-running plot. The cast moves a few steps closer to a confrontation with the Friend, we learn a bit more about the Friend's history and see some more of Yabuki Joe, who may or may not be the return of our lond-dead hero Kenji.
There are some very good scenes, but things felt a little padded with no new answers and few new questions.
There are some very good scenes, but things felt a little padded with no new answers and few new questions.
April 22, 2015
I'm listening to the world tour now. I'm unexpectedly thrilled by the developments, and despite how dark everything seems to be, the alien who shows up is a much greater comfort than I would have ever believed.
Fantastic!
Fantastic!
August 19, 2020
This volume explains how Ice Queen faction comes to be and why she's on her own now. The fact that Kenji is alive didnt shock me one bit but now I want to know how he survive the whole thing on his own.
February 24, 2021
Some interesting twists as the conclusion approaches...
February 28, 2021
GUTA LALA SUDA LALA
November 11, 2021
oh boy, we're nearly at the end and there's so many bombs that have been dropped in this VOL.
December 11, 2023
WHO'S DAT
June 22, 2020
4 of 5 stars
May 29, 2022
PFFF THIS SERIES MAKES ME CRAZY. Sooo hooked. Everyone should read this
December 22, 2022
That really too ma a long while to finish, didn't it? Oh well I kinda lost interest and things got complicated.. will we ever get to know who friend is? I don't think so, but I guess we will see what happens, there are like 2 volumes or something until I finish this.
January 19, 2024
No me esperaba para nada el último giro de la trama, donde sabemos que Amigo no es Fukubee. ¿Quién es entonces? Si bien hay muchas otras situaciones interesantes, como el ejercito de hippies que comanda inconscientemente Kenji, o el grupo liderado por la Reina de Hielo, nada se compara a ese final. Todo lo que corresponde a la investigación del subordinado de Maruo y Haru es bastante interesante, porque justamente se trata de ir narrando en paralelo con lo que desea contar Manjome para eliminar a Amigo. Se van resolviendo misterios, faltan otros, pero siento que la historia va tomando forma para el tramo final. Y si bien, como he reiterado más de una ocasión, me hubiera gustado más la parte política global que dinámica íntima entre amigues, pienso que ha valido la pena el viaje, porque le vas tomando cariño a los personajes y les deseas lo mejor, más todavía que ahora están "nuevamente" vivos.
January 10, 2020
This edition of 20th Century Boys takes some strange turns and is one of my favorites. It's about some kids from the 70s that come together along with their descendants to fight for the future of the world that is being destroyed by their past. The events that take place really add to the storyline and the pace is upbeat. It leaves some questions unanswered as it comes to it's conclusion.
August 8, 2021
Otcho tries to talk Kanna out of a suicide run. We briefly meet the DJ who's been playing Kenji's music. The mysterious stranger with the guitar faces the border guard. Manjome has concerns about the resurrected Friend.
This volume is somehow anti-climactic yet building toward the climax.
This volume is somehow anti-climactic yet building toward the climax.
October 17, 2010
great characters, superb story, and fascinating mystery....
must read it more than once to completely understand though ^^
must read it more than once to completely understand though ^^
April 15, 2023
guta lala suda lala on repeat.
September 22, 2021
Otcho and the others are searching for Sanae, who went to warn the Ice Queen to call off the plans for August 20th, panicking when they can’t find her. But when she does turn up, Otcho is amazed that she did make contact, and that the Ice Queen is none other than Kanna, although that is really no surprise to him. But Sanae was unable to dissuade her from her ill-advised plans. Sanae further reveals that a guy she likes at work was singing a song that Kanna played for her on a cassette tape, but that his version went beyond what was on the tape. There is a refrain at the end: Gutarara, sudarara. Otcho perks up at that, eyes wide with wonder. Could it be…. Dare he hope…
Meanwhile at the border, there is a report of an alien invader attempting to gain entrance… and apparently he was admitted. Although it is his day off, Chono is called to action to help find the alien in their midst. They say he is carrying a guitar-shaped weapon. Huh?
Otcho catches up with Kanna, who reveals why she chose August 20th for her plans, and why she won’t change her mind. Otcho tells her what her friends did for her, and how she has to do the right thing now. And how he thinks maybe Kenji is really alive. A DJ in the middle of nowhere continues to play a particular song, even though he receives no comments, no calls regarding it. But still he plays it, hoping someone is listening. And the so-called alien begins to sing. He tells the guards, “When somebody’s singing a song, you can’t shoot them.” Suddenly they are being attacked… by a group of hippies?
Otcho and Kanna find themselves apprehended by the Confidential Guard and taken to a secure location. There, waiting for them, is none other than Manjome. And what he has to say is shocking on more than one level.
Everything is moving now with lightning swift speed, and threads are weaving together more and more, as details we’ve been missing come to light. For one thing, we see more of what Manjome did to propel Friend to where he’s at, which makes what he told Otcho and Kanna actually not as surprising as it might seem. Kanna is undergoing a crisis of faith. Can the hope and belief that her beloved Uncle Kenji is actually alive spur her to do what is right? There can be no doubt of that now, too much evidence not to believe, and I am beyond excited to have been proven right in this regard.
We are barreling toward the end. To be honest, I really don’t know how this will go. I mean, the good guys have to win, right? Right? But at the same time, what is Friend and how has he done what he did? Or did we just get a clue to that question after all?
Great volume, anxiously waiting for more!
Meanwhile at the border, there is a report of an alien invader attempting to gain entrance… and apparently he was admitted. Although it is his day off, Chono is called to action to help find the alien in their midst. They say he is carrying a guitar-shaped weapon. Huh?
Otcho catches up with Kanna, who reveals why she chose August 20th for her plans, and why she won’t change her mind. Otcho tells her what her friends did for her, and how she has to do the right thing now. And how he thinks maybe Kenji is really alive. A DJ in the middle of nowhere continues to play a particular song, even though he receives no comments, no calls regarding it. But still he plays it, hoping someone is listening. And the so-called alien begins to sing. He tells the guards, “When somebody’s singing a song, you can’t shoot them.” Suddenly they are being attacked… by a group of hippies?
Otcho and Kanna find themselves apprehended by the Confidential Guard and taken to a secure location. There, waiting for them, is none other than Manjome. And what he has to say is shocking on more than one level.
Everything is moving now with lightning swift speed, and threads are weaving together more and more, as details we’ve been missing come to light. For one thing, we see more of what Manjome did to propel Friend to where he’s at, which makes what he told Otcho and Kanna actually not as surprising as it might seem. Kanna is undergoing a crisis of faith. Can the hope and belief that her beloved Uncle Kenji is actually alive spur her to do what is right? There can be no doubt of that now, too much evidence not to believe, and I am beyond excited to have been proven right in this regard.
We are barreling toward the end. To be honest, I really don’t know how this will go. I mean, the good guys have to win, right? Right? But at the same time, what is Friend and how has he done what he did? Or did we just get a clue to that question after all?
Great volume, anxiously waiting for more!
May 17, 2017
'A quien canta no se le dispara'
Pues el tomo en si revela dos grandes interrogantes de la serie:
-El retorno a la vida del héroe ejemplificado en el poder de la música como bandera para las revoluciones. Edificando un camino que probablemente culmine hacia le fin de la serie pero que se hace sumamente disfrutable al situar como motor de cambio el poder que ejercen las canciones sobre las conciencias de las personas.
-Que efectivamente la muerte del villano no tuvo resurrección. Sino un mero y burdo reemplazo. Que el pasado repleto de engaños y triquiñuelas no hacen sino depreciar un mito edificado en base a mentiras y que parece más el fruto de la envidia que un constructo real. Hay una escena en particular que es sumamente decidora y que situaba a Tomodachi realizando su acto de magia barato mientras una audiencia que sabía era engañada decide seguir creyendo voluntariamente esta mentira al tener una carencia enorme de fe.
Queda poco para el final y el buen regusto de 20th Century Boys, Libro 17: Cruce de caminos parece seguir perpetuándose en la recta final.
Pues el tomo en si revela dos grandes interrogantes de la serie:
-El retorno a la vida del héroe ejemplificado en el poder de la música como bandera para las revoluciones. Edificando un camino que probablemente culmine hacia le fin de la serie pero que se hace sumamente disfrutable al situar como motor de cambio el poder que ejercen las canciones sobre las conciencias de las personas.
-Que efectivamente la muerte del villano no tuvo resurrección. Sino un mero y burdo reemplazo. Que el pasado repleto de engaños y triquiñuelas no hacen sino depreciar un mito edificado en base a mentiras y que parece más el fruto de la envidia que un constructo real. Hay una escena en particular que es sumamente decidora y que situaba a Tomodachi realizando su acto de magia barato mientras una audiencia que sabía era engañada decide seguir creyendo voluntariamente esta mentira al tener una carencia enorme de fe.
Queda poco para el final y el buen regusto de 20th Century Boys, Libro 17: Cruce de caminos parece seguir perpetuándose en la recta final.
April 11, 2022
Kenji is back and starts his move towards the Tokyo followed by ever growing army of people roaming the beyond-the-wall area. While they are entranced by Kenji's song (Gua LaLa, Suda LaLa) they move on without fear and very soon get treated by the Friend's Earth Defence Force as aliens bet on invasion of the world.
If you have a feeling you are inside Twin Peaks episode, you are right. This gets veeeryyyy weird.
On the other hand Kanna and Otcho (Shogun) find themselves prisoners of Manjoume, Friend's first secretary. and he offers them an opportunity for freedom if they take out Friend. Because Manjoume knows this Friend is not actually The Friend and he is afraid of what he will do.
Twists galore.
Art as always is great.
Highly recommended.
If you have a feeling you are inside Twin Peaks episode, you are right. This gets veeeryyyy weird.
On the other hand Kanna and Otcho (Shogun) find themselves prisoners of Manjoume, Friend's first secretary. and he offers them an opportunity for freedom if they take out Friend. Because Manjoume knows this Friend is not actually The Friend and he is afraid of what he will do.
Twists galore.
Art as always is great.
Highly recommended.
July 6, 2023
It keeps going in a way I would never expect. Everything is so fucking crazy you can't even expect any panel of it. So many good ideas in once that I can't think a better story than this. I love how Urasawa play with characters and he still left no single insignificant characters. The plot twist keeps twisting, almost to the point of no plot twist because twist is the normal. KANNAAAAAAAA (exactly). This book is crazy.
I want to have a proper discussion on the view of the characters of what is Good what is Evil (so rare in books nowadays). Also a proper discussion on how this book is the allegory of Abrahamic religions depiction of doom.
I want to have a proper discussion on the view of the characters of what is Good what is Evil (so rare in books nowadays). Also a proper discussion on how this book is the allegory of Abrahamic religions depiction of doom.
November 25, 2023
While not a bad volume, this felt like filler as we got some mostly inessential backstory to minor characters, one repetetive conversation between two major characters that lasted through most of the volume, and a reveal that is probably supposed to be shocking but which made complete narrative sense, so it's more of a "Well, of course." moment than an "Oh Shit!"
I am still curious where the story is going but I'm glad that it's finally going to start winding up/down to the climax. You know, before it becomes 21st Century Boys.
I am still curious where the story is going but I'm glad that it's finally going to start winding up/down to the climax. You know, before it becomes 21st Century Boys.
November 30, 2025
????????!?!?!?!?!?
WHO THE HELL IS THE FRIEND RIGHT NOW. I did not think this would lead to someone taking the role of The Friend after Fukube’s death what the hell! Kenji’s aura is at an all time high right now dude just sings and plays his guitar and he has a whole rally around him. I really joined the intense and sad dynamic Otcho and Kanna have right now where they try to support each other but also show tough love. 18 volumes deep and the mysteries fucking continue somehow and fuck it I’m in it for the ride.
WHO THE HELL IS THE FRIEND RIGHT NOW. I did not think this would lead to someone taking the role of The Friend after Fukube’s death what the hell! Kenji’s aura is at an all time high right now dude just sings and plays his guitar and he has a whole rally around him. I really joined the intense and sad dynamic Otcho and Kanna have right now where they try to support each other but also show tough love. 18 volumes deep and the mysteries fucking continue somehow and fuck it I’m in it for the ride.
June 24, 2020
When Otcho said that he couldn't get Fukubei's pulse, I believed him tbh. That's why I had my doubts that "Friend" wasn't Fukubei anymore, at least not after 2015.
But then, who is he?
I guess we'll get to know in the next chapters.
See, one man's ADHD is the whole world's misery. Take care of your mental health, fellas.
But then, who is he?
I guess we'll get to know in the next chapters.
See, one man's ADHD is the whole world's misery. Take care of your mental health, fellas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2018
Me pareció un poco más lento que otros tomos, aunque tiene algunos momentos muy buenos. Ver a Kenji en acción de nuevo es tanto hilarante como emocionante.
Y aquí vamos de nuevo a ver otra parte de la historia de Amigo.
Y aquí vamos de nuevo a ver otra parte de la historia de Amigo.
Read
April 29, 2022La sensación de que todo acabara es tan latente. Las acciones y mentiras de amigo comienzan a revelar hechos importantes de su fraude. Y Otcho sigue siendo Otcho, un viejo con cara de villano, pero buena persona. Kenji y su ansiosa aparición de su nombre es cardiaca.
July 1, 2022
kenji bernyanyi, pistolpun tak bergeming. nyanyian kenji sdikit merubah dunia kearah lebih baik. anak buah kanna ditangkap dan kanna dipertemukan dengan manjome untuk kali ini bekerja sama membunuh sahabat. akhiri pembunuhan ini
March 6, 2024
It has been decided that Endo Kanna is my favorite character!!! I'm on my period and now getting emotional over Kenji's comeback. This volume explained how Kanna came up with the August 20th plan. The current Friend seems like it's not Fukubei and Fukubei is actually dead in that incident.
April 9, 2024
This volume takes a step back from the usual cast to have a certain invidiual return. Just as it seems like Kanna is out of options a new element is revealed to her. It makes you wonder where this series will end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews