20th Century Boys, vol. 3

20th Century Boys Kanzenban #3

by Naoki Urasawa, Marc Bernabé (Translator), Verònica Calafell (Translator)

La continuación de esta trepidante historia en la que las acciones de la infancia tienen terribles consecuencias...

¡El robot gigante ya ha sido construido! Y ahora solo espera el gran despertar. Mientras, ‘Amigo’ aún no ha sido identificado, los días pasan y la cuenta atrás hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2000… el día que la tierra conocerá su fin.

Los únicos que pueden salvar el mundo son los llamados ‘nueve amigos’, que han escrito ‘El libro de la profecía’, durante su infancia.

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

432 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2016

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

[Artemy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, I really don't know what to think of this series at this point. The climactic event it seemed to be building up towards for the finale actually happened off-page midway through this volume, after which there was a 14-year time jump and all the momentum's gone just like that. None of the main characters are around after that and we follow a set of new ones, albeit ones who are tangentially connected to the main guys from the first two volumes. Then, the book splits into three different stories — a prison escape drama, a lone detective versus the entire corrupt police force, and a fugitive on the run. All of these stories are archetypical, and all of them are entirely predictable — every single story beat, every plot point plays out exactly as you would imagine, and there wasn't a single twist or reveal that I didn't see coming a mile away. I do like the new characters and see the potential in them, and I'm still kinda curious to find out what really happened before the time-jump, but I'm just not sure how much more of this jumping around I can take. There are nine more of these double-volumes to go and yet it feels like the series blew its proverbial load already, and everything that happens now just feels hollow and anti-climactic. I'll probably check out the next volume when that's available, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Sarah Aubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to love this series! This volume brought some unexpected twists and helped me see characters in a new light. I am desperate to continue, as this series has totally reeled me in. On to the next volume!

[Whitney Jamimah · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES!

This story has now hit a point where it is literally everything I want it to be. There is so much depth to the story already and just imagine how much deeper we are going to get by the time it's done! I didn't see the story taking this turn that it eventually did but I really think it worked extremely well, I can't see it NOT doing that at this point. A bunch of the little snippets from the first Perfect Edition volume are starting to come together which was fun. I love how attached I am to the characters. Oh, and did I mention that there are drag queens?! I can never ever say no to drag.

Immediately on to volume 4!

[Des Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was an unexpected shift. I did not see another huge time jump coming, but Urasawa absolutely keeps you on the edge of your seat, as the events of the past come to light. This is an amazing work, with characters instantly full of life an likability, even as we are introduced to an entirely new cast. The genre shuffles around as we explore the universe from all sorts of perspectives, and good golly is Kana just an amazing character. I need the next volume immediately please.

[Jojosbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I thought the climax hit too early. But that big time jump grew more and more satisfying.

[the_deepest_black]

Dziewczyna analogowa!

[Izabela Noga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arcydzieło🥰

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of drifted away from reading this series and I'm not really sure why considering that I have been loving it so far? finally picked up volume 3 and it was also amazing, as expected! this one had a few twists and turns + some time jumps and I loved that about it! I'm going to make it a priority of mine to read volume 4 ASAP this time!

[Blanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the fourth just like right now!!! It gets even more interesting after each book!

[Othy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is still a five-star graphic novel, but there was a pretty big time- and plot-jump here that, for me, took the air right out of all that was built up in the previous volumes. I can see why it was done, and it has its own effectiveness, but I don't think it was a great choice. Thus the lower rating.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting twist/switch in time and storyline in this one. I didn't think it will go that fast and I was surprise by it while liking it a lot. Not sure if we're ever going back a little or not... This switch take a lot of new elements into the story, a lot of thinking about freedom, tons of new characters, even the style of the story telling felt a bit different, it's almost a brand new series, I'm pushing this one a little but really a different vibes to it. All of that might sound strange of scary to readers, because you like the first two volume and then bang! it happens. It could have failed in so many ways, crazy huge risk the author has taken here, but it works terribly well, congrats to him for achieving something like that and I'm just even more into it!

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐

[Aradeea · Rating 4 out of 5]

La verdad, no sé porqué tardé tres meses en leerlo. Life happens supongo. Urasawa excelente como siempre ❤️

[Maksym Karpovets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Мушу визнати, що це поки найслабший том. Серія тримає в напрузі й інтересі, бо все дуже добротно написано й промальовано, але однаково є багато питань. Отож, тайм-лайн скаче на чотирнадцять років вперед, повністю змінюючи дійових осіб і загальний контекст. Катастрофа сталася, люди якось після неї живуть. Відразу ж питання: стоп, а що більше не буде повернення до наших героїв, яких так довго прописували, особливо завдяки флешбекам у дитинство? Чи це все ще малюється велике полотно, а ми просто не бачимо загальної картини, адже сфокусовані на окремому пазлі? Урасава нічого не пояснює, а просто розказує три паралельні історії: тюремну, поліцейсько-детективу й підліткову. Мені з усього найбільш сподобалась підліткова, хоча теж не ясно куди все це іде. Словом, моя основна претензія в тому, що я не бачу куди рухається історія. Повторюсь, що читати це цікаво (хоча й передбачувано), адже світ затягує миттєво, але ось це перевантаження щоразу із нового тому для мене трохи спірне. Правда останній епізод із тюремної драми все ж таки додає надії, що далі щось буде справді зрозуміле й цілісне. Але очікувати від Урасави послідовності, наскільки я зрозумів, це марно тішити себе зайвими ілюзіями.

[Doc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Golly Miss Kanna...the future is on your shoulder.

Curious who the girl on the cover is? I know I was curious but now its the adorable little lady Kanna who the Friend wanted to take in at a young age now all grown up and independent. I also know this story, which has been a little confusing at times, gives us a view of the world after the Friends"saved" humanity. Free speech has been banned, corrupt police continue to make examples of those that do not conform, innocent souls are made criminals and their identities are being taken after getting mock trials, and we get to see the fate of at least one of the brave souls rushing off to face a monstrous menace right at the beginning of the book. Hang on tight folks because hope has not been extinguished though the world has become a rather dark place.

[Sarah Schanze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, UGH, Urasawa is just too good. His pacing and storytelling style are like nothing I've ever read. I'm so amazed he's able to jump around from era to era and it's never confusing and always suspenseful. I may really have to buy these books, haha.

[mau · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT WASSSSS so good i’m always left at awe with how naomi is able to create a universe where everything interconnects while still being able to make the story so realistic it’s crazy. only small downside to tht is the connections between characters are sometimes so subtle it ends up making u have to look back in older volumes to remember some characters but it’s not too bad. i love kanna sm and chôno even tho he’s a bit of a dummy :’) THE DANCING SCENE absolutely broke my heart which reminds me naoki has NO RIGHT to create all these characters and make u get attached to all of them so fast and then SNATCH THEM AWAY from me u idk he could give the mice in the sewers of japan a backstory and i would eat it up he’s just a genius. cant wait for the story to unfold even more. merci marmaron pour ce beau cadeau love u sm

spoilers ???

KENJI I NEED U BACK SOON and why otcho all of a sudden looks like a buff version of santa .. an #gilf if u will idk

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

80%

A little jarring to me to be honest, with this volume quickly going into and skipping past Kenji and the group’s confrontation with the robot. I know that all my questions will be answered going forward at least, but it is a little unsatisfying.

Besides that though, the renewed plot is still interesting, and I’m liking the prison break arc that seems to be the focus going into the next volume. I’m not all that interested in the policeman’s grandson as a new main character, but I assume he’ll get character development soon enough.

[nica · Rating 4 out of 5]

la storia si fa sempre più misteriosa e sempre più intricata. Speravo di ricevere risposte invece ho finito questo volume ricolma di domande.. come mai nessuno conosce più l’amico? come mai solo Occho è vivo insieme a Kanna e Kenji? Che fine hanno fatto “gli altri eroi”? come mai hanno deciso di combattere anche se solo in 7 quando l’amico aveva detto che il regolamento preveda SOLO 9 persone? come è andata realmente la battaglia?

non vedo l’ora di leggere il prossimo per saperne di più!

[Nadia Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume compiles both #5 and #6.
Whilst I was feeling that the pace was slowing down by #4 and the story was somehow stagnating, from #6 onwards the plot is picking up again, offering us many bridges between past and present and also reviving the main mystery behind. A manga in noir, the best of crime and underworld.

[Casper Paaske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things ampts up perfectly for a thrilling finale!
And then in a move that is either brilliant or mad, it skips it and we jump 14 years out into the future!

This would probably have ruined the story for me if it wasn’t for the fact that the writing is still superb and Kamba is a fantastic new main character. 20th century boys remains to prove why it deserves it place as a classic!
For now…

[Pranta Dastider · Rating 5 out of 5]

These book editions are really great! Clear print and nice color pages. I do wish there were a few more color pages though! The story is going all over the place. I don't know what is going to happen next. Concerning the Friends group's leader's identity, I have my guess. Lets see what happens by the end.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn, feeling better. I don’t have the 4th book. This book good tho, I want to keep reading, but I ain’t paying for the next volume. Hopefully I will still remember this by the time I get to read the fourth one. Incase I forgot. Tony you like this book. Cervina, you OPP 😡

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given how Pluto developed, I'm primed for a dropoff as things become clearer...but that's not happening here. There are more ambitious time shifts, characters aging, loads of fairly well-plotted mystery to unpack...just great stuff, to be honest. Recommended, as page turners go.

[Kevin Elias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zaczynam się zastanawiać czy ta seria dojdzie w ogóle do jakiegoś sensownego zakończenia. Ale póki co czytam z dużym zainteresowaniem.

[antho.cqlr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible encore une fois. L’auteur joue avec les sauts dans le temps et le suspens. Je veux en savoir plus 🤯

[Colin Wheatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations as before. This volume is a little slower than the first two, though it starts to pick up in the final third.

[Stormlord · Rating 4 out of 5]

No me gusta especialmente que haga un salto temporal tan grande, ya que estaba metido de lleno en la trama y ahora tiene poco que ver con lo que era antes. Aun así, es bastante disfrutable

[Taylor Rabbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Maro]

Cho-san i love you my poor baby 🥺