View Full Version : 20th Century Boys
WabukiSensei
2004-04-19, 17:51
I was just wondering what this story is all about. I heard that it's a good read. Can anyone give a summary of it?
I was just wondering what this story is all about. I heard that it's a good read. Can anyone give a summary of it?
1. A good friend dies mysteriously
2. "It seems like the death stems back from the time when we were little kids back in the 1960s"
4. "Remember how we made that secret hideout in the backyard when we made the story about destroying and saving the Earth?"
5. "Looks like some person is trying to re-enact that as a prophecy..."
6. "But, who was at the secret hideout, and who else knew about that secret when we were kids...?"
at the turn of the century:
1. As prophecized, the Earth is almost destroyed by bioterrorism
2. A cult named "Tomodachi" becomes a leader for saving the earth
3. But some people begins to doubt that this "tomodachi" created the bioterrorist event in the first place...
In short: A mystery-suspense story spanning from several events of from 1960s-2010s that all leads to one big consipracy and a group of misfits trying to go against the greatest threat to humanity.
Written by one of today's best manga authors: Urasawa Naoki
WabukiSensei
2004-04-19, 19:27
1. A good friend dies mysteriously
2. "It seems like the death stems back from the time when we were little kids back in the 1960s"
4. "Remember how we made that secret hideout in the backyard when we made the story about destroying and saving the Earth?"
5. "Looks like some person is trying to re-enact that as a prophecy..."
6. "But, who was at the secret hideout, and who else knew about that secret when we were kids...?"
at the turn of the century:
1. As prophecized, the Earth is almost destroyed by bioterrorism
2. A cult named "Tomodachi" becomes a leader for saving the earth
3. But some people begins to doubt that this "tomodachi" created the bioterrorist event in the first place...
In short: A mystery-suspense story spanning from several events of from 1960s-2010s that all leads to one big consipracy and a group of misfits trying to go against the greatest threat to humanity.
Written by one of today's best manga authors: Urasawa Naoki
Whoa, sounds cool. Thanks!!! The reason I'm asking is cuz I instantly fell in love with MONSTER. It seems like this story hasn't finished yet. I'll check it out soon enough.
whatever123
2004-04-19, 22:06
check it out and enjoy it but don't forget that urasawa will mentaly screw you in 20th century boys more than he did with monster
brightman
2004-04-19, 22:48
Yup, the twists and turns in this manga just keeps coming at you... So much that I started doubting anything that's happening somewhere along the way.
And the cliffhangers... If anything wait until you have a lot of time before you read this, because once you start, you can't stop....
WabukiSensei
2004-04-19, 22:53
Is it true that it's not completed yet? If it's one thing that I've learned from Urasawa's mangas, its that he's good at screwing people's heads up. Also, which came first? Monster or 20th Century Boys?
brightman
2004-04-19, 22:59
Vol 16 will be released in less than two weeks :) So yes, it's not finish. And yes, Vol 15 ends in the worse way possible... :heh:
Anyway, Monster came first. That one finished at Vol 18 a few years ago.
evil|plushie
2004-04-20, 23:57
20th century boys is good. But one thing puzzles me is what happened in vol. 15 with the pope and friend. How did he do it? -_-
20th century boys is good. But one thing puzzles me is what happened in vol. 15 with the pope and friend. How did he do it? -_-
Friend simply made a scheme and led everyone to believe he would try to assassinate the pope. But in fact, he used that scheme to acquire more political and popular power. He literally came back from the dead and risked his life to save the pope, gaining the hearts of a lot of people. Of course, like I said before, it was all planned by him.
That's why I say Friend is the perfect antagonist ever made.
20th Century Boys is, in my honest opinion, one of the best manga ever created. The story, the characters, the feeling. All is perfect, and Urasawa-sensei is a story-telling master. He's the Agatha Christie of manga- when you think you know who Friend is, he proves that everything you knew was awfully wrong. I, honestly, like 20th Century Boys more than Monster. Monster comnes in a close 2nd place, but a good suspense story like 20th Century Boys. Using a profecy made by Kenji and his friends when they were kids, Friend's trying to make it true. But who's Friend? Why is he doing that? What does exactly he want? These questions remain unanswered even today, but you can be sure Urasawa will answer them perfectly, putting every little detail to form a huge web. 20th Century Boys is a manga with normal people (no super-power crap) trying to protect their normal lives, against a not so normal enemy (Friend- he's a genius, so he's not that normal). 20th Century Boys and Monster made Urasawa my favorite mangaka ever, along with Katsuhiro Otomo (who wrote Akira, the best manga I've read so far).
20th Century Boys is, in my opinion, the best Seinen being released today. If you want an adult and very good story, read it. You won't be disappointed. At all.
20th Century Boys is, in my honest opinion, one of the best manga ever created.
And in MY honest opinion, it's THE best manga ever created.
///_^
WabukiSensei
2004-04-22, 00:14
What volume do you guys think the manga will end at?
Interesting manga, not action filled more like mystery suspense. Many people love it, I think it has gone on too long, the twists and turns are getting a bit too repetitive thought I doubt how long they can drag it. Sometimes short and sweet is good.. but that's just me
brightman
2004-04-22, 10:16
What volume do you guys think the manga will end at?
Seems like it can still go on for a while... The third "story arc" apparently starts with Vol 16 (haven't read it yet so I have no idea if that's really true), so there's still quite a bit of story left to tell.
evil|plushie
2004-04-22, 11:56
Friend simply made a scheme and led everyone to believe he would try to assassinate the pope. But in fact, he used that scheme to acquire more political and popular power. He literally came back from the dead and risked his life to save the pope, gaining the hearts of a lot of people. Of course, like I said before, it was all planned by him.
That's why I say Friend is the perfect antagonist ever made.
.
Yes, but how the hell did he come back? Everything up to then was within the realm of possiblity, but coming back from the dead? Thats just pushing it
Yes, but how the hell did he come back? Everything up to then was within the realm of possiblity, but coming back from the dead? Thats just pushing it
Warning: spoilers for volume 15.
No, not at all :D
Well, you must know that it has been "revealed" that the "real" Friend is Fukubei. Remember he forged his own death once. Who said he can't forge it again?
Also, refer to Majoume Inshuu in chapter 167: "The imposter... is going to become genuine." Meaning that Fukubei wasn't the real Friend, or there's another Friend right now (the imposter).
Everything is possible in an Urasawa manga. Don't worry, you can be sure he'll tell us later who the real Friend is, and all of it will make sense :D
Yes, but how the hell did he come back? Everything up to then was within the realm of possiblity, but coming back from the dead? Thats just pushing it
There are several possibilities, the most likely of which is that the man who "came back to life" is a different person than the one who was shot and killed in the science room. At any rate, Urasawa should have already shown you that you can't assume anything about the story until its been proven plain and true... and even then you should be careful.
Fighter Volk
2004-04-22, 17:16
Is this manga licensed? If not, are there any scanlations of it? Thanks -- Monster looks really intriguing, so I'm interested in reading this one :D
It's not licensed yet. Here's all the currently available volumes, scanlated. (http://host39.ipowerweb.com/~thehawks/hawks/bt/20th_Century_Boys/20th_Century_Boys_v01-15%5BHawks_MS%5D.torrent)
WabukiSensei
2004-04-23, 21:11
It's really interesting the that main protoganist of the whole story is actually dead for most of the series. Kinda makes him like a "legend," making him the main inspiration for his fellow comrads who continue to fight for his cause. Nice.
evil|plushie
2004-04-24, 07:42
It's really interesting the that main protoganist of the whole story is actually dead for most of the series. Kinda makes him like a "legend," making him the main inspiration for his fellow comrads who continue to fight for his cause. Nice.
Who said he was dead? He may be coming back to life soon *remembers the strange scene of this old hillbilly travelling witha guitar at the end of vol 15
WabukiSensei
2004-04-25, 13:15
Well from the looks of it, if that guy is indeed our hero, I would wonder what he's been doing all this time ( around 17 years I think ? ( including three years of Friend's Era ) )
Maybe he got amnesia or something but it would seem strange that he hasn't done anything for that duration, since his friends are all risking their lives to save the world.
Fighter Volk
2004-05-05, 07:54
Well, I have the first two volumes so far, and have read the first four chapters, and it's already fascinating. Very few manga/anime writers/directors could pull the whole time-switching thing off, but 20th Century Boys does it very smoothly and I barely even notice that the story isn't exactly moving linearly (as of now)...
Ahhh, I'm aching to read more! :D
JubeiYamazaki
2004-05-07, 06:04
OMG, 20th Century Boys so got me, instead of studying for my exams I'm caught up with what Kenji and company are up to, I've read up to 8 so far, its gotten SO good, Naoki is a manga master story teller, I love how he keeps bringing in and out characters from the story. It keeps it fresh, and lets you re-visit side characters you thought you'd never see again, wonderful stuff.
I also got a question...
Vol 5+ spoiler...
I know the twins sold Kenji out because of what he said to them over the radio, but do they ever reappear again? After what I said prior I should already know. :heh: But I'd like to confirm it. :heh:
Morrigan
2004-05-07, 12:25
I really love it. Yes, it's very complicated, but it does never get boring. ^__^
Unfortunately, the German version isn't selling very good so the 20thCB-fans here have to fight hard to keep it alive. >__< volume 9 is now coming as print on demand.
JubeiYamazaki
2004-05-07, 14:39
Anyone know a BT or direct download of Kenji's song?
I believe Volume 16 will come out soon, i heard from a reliable source that MangaScreener is working on it right now.
BTW, Kenji's song is my favourite anime song. I play it everyday.
///_^
Morrigan
2004-05-09, 16:57
Kenji's song? What's Kenji's song?
You don't mean the song he's playing on Kannas tape, do you? o_O (I can't imagine that it does exist ...)
Do you mean 20th Century boy?
Please tell me ^.^
Spoiler for vol. 15
I can't express HOW surprised I was to see Kenji again. I still can't believe it and I'm looking forward to vol 16 to be translated. (or do I have to say fanlated o_O)
Kenji's song? What's Kenji's song?
You don't mean the song he's playing on Kannas tape, do you? o_O (I can't imagine that it does exist ...)
Do you mean 20th Century boy?
Please tell me ^.^
Spoiler for vol. 15
I can't express HOW surprised I was to see Kenji again. I still can't believe it and I'm looking forward to vol 16 to be translated. (or do I have to say fanlated o_O)
The first press of Vol. 11 came along with a nice extra - Kenji's "Lost Tapes" of his song, "Bob Lennon" which he played just prior to the fated Blooded New Year's Eve.
The first press of Vol. 11 came along with a nice extra - Kenji's "Lost Tapes" of his song, "Bob Lennon" which he played just prior to the fated Blooded New Year's Eve.
Indeed.
You can get the song here (http://www.badcode.net/manga/20thcb/Endou_Kenji_-_Bob_Lennon_(20th_Century_Boys).mp3). It's a very good song in my opinion :D
Indeed.
You can get the song here (http://www.badcode.net/manga/20thcb/Endou_Kenji_-_Bob_Lennon_(20th_Century_Boys).mp3). It's a very good song in my opinion :D
When I heard about Kenji's Song I was trying to find it. Thank you Vicious-san for saving me the trouble! :bow:
It really is a good song and I like it already. The kind of music that Kenji would play, no matter what. ^_^
Morrigan
2004-05-10, 17:02
Wow ... ummm, but who is singing that?
So, that was an extra for volume 11? So, I hope it will be in the German version, too. ^.^
So, it is really the song Kanna is always playing on the tape, isn't it? Is there also an mp3 or ... I mean, just something you can burn on CD, too o_O; (I'm too bad at these things XD but I think this file you can't burn on CD, can you? o_O)
Or is that too illegal?
Wow ... ummm, but who is singing that?
So, that was an extra for volume 11? So, I hope it will be in the German version, too. ^.^
So, it is really the song Kanna is always playing on the tape, isn't it? Is there also an mp3 or ... I mean, just something you can burn on CD, too o_O; (I'm too bad at these things XD but I think this file you can't burn on CD, can you? o_O)
Or is that too illegal?
Indeed, you can burn it on CD. As far as I know, it's illegal to burn and sell it (that's piracy). Burning it only for yourself isn't illegal; at least I don't think so :)
And yes, it's the song Kanna's playing all the time. Who is singing it? I don't have a clue. But this "someone" should do Kenji's voice if there will ever be a 20th Century Boys anime :D
WO-HO! Volume 16 is out! Hawks/Mangascreener, we love you :D
brightman
2004-05-10, 20:27
Great volume that is typical of Urasawa... :)
So much about Friend is explained and it's done so well that it covers so much of the plotholes. It's a bit disappointing that nothing about Kenji is revealed though (and apparently Kanna's become the 'Ice Queen' and had a severe personality change? Or not...?) Oh well, another few months of wait until we (hopefully) know what's up. :heh:
Great volume that is typical of Urasawa... :)
So much about Friend is explained and it's done so well that it covers so much of the plotholes. It's a bit disappointing that nothing about Kenji is revealed though (and apparently Kanna's become the 'Ice Queen' and had a severe personality change? Or not...?) Oh well, another few months of wait until we (hopefully) know what's up. :heh:
Indeed...
It was very cool to find out the truth behind the Hanging Hill act, and Sadakiyo and Fukubei's background. "Who are you?", Fukubei said to himself. "I am 'Friend', the man who will destroy the world", the answer might be. But we'll get to see that at the end :D
I also got the feeling that the "Ice Queen" is Kanna too. Seeing Otcho again was also awesome :)
But I'm sad... I read volume 16 too fast :sad: Now I want more...
Does anyone know if there's a release date for volume 17 already? For instance, will it be released in June/July?
JubeiYamazaki
2004-05-11, 02:22
Indeed...
It was very cool to find out the truth behind the Hanging Hill act, and Sadakiyo and Fukubei's background. "Who are you?", Fukubei said to himself. "I am 'Friend', the man who will destroy the world", the answer might be. But we'll get to see that at the end :D
I also got the feeling that the "Ice Queen" is Kanna too. Seeing Otcho again was also awesome :)
But I'm sad... I read volume 16 too fast :sad: Now I want more...
Does anyone know if there's a release date for volume 17 already? For instance, will it be released in June/July?
Vicious thanks for the link man, I owe you, awsome folk song, as for volume 16, it was typical Urasawa, ending 15 with such a twist, then adding awhole new mini-plot to keep us on our seats even longer. :heh: Awsome volume, its good to know what really happened at Hanging Hill, and why Fukubei became "friend" also, I may have missed something but when and why did Yamane get "basnished" for?
Fighter Volk
2004-05-11, 07:45
I've only read through the end of volume 3 so far, so I'm wondering -- you guys who've read to the end of 16, do you think 20CB will end at volume 18, like Monster, or will it be longer?
A 20th Century Boys anime would be the best anime ever. Hands down.
comecomeparadise
2004-05-11, 08:40
I've only read through the end of volume 3 so far, so I'm wondering -- you guys who've read to the end of 16, do you think 20CB will end at volume 18, like Monster, or will it be longer?
A 20th Century Boys anime would be the best anime ever. Hands down.
Not that I want it to end soon, but I'm starting to wonder how much longer the story can go considering the timespan. So many of the first-generation Friend-fighters have gotten so old.... I'd hate to see them completely die off before the story concludes. Yes, there could be a second generation, but then Friend would be old too, unless... *hint* *hint* However, there are enough plot elements and characters in the storyline that it has the potential to be longer than Monster.
Actually I'd love to see 20th Century Boys as a live-action movie or drama. Being that the plot is mature enough for adults, it could reach a wider audience in movie or drama format. It beats out just about any movie plot I've ever seen. :)
Vicious thanks for the link man, I owe you, awsome folk song, as for volume 16, it was typical Urasawa, ending 15 with such a twist, then adding awhole new mini-plot to keep us on our seats even longer. :heh: Awsome volume, its good to know what really happened at Hanging Hill, and why Fukubei became "friend" also, I may have missed something but when and why did Yamane get "basnished" for?
Spoilers for volume 12:
Yamane got banished for betraying and "killing" Friend; and trying to stop the realization of the New Book of Prophecy. He got "banished" by Friend's men, in Kenji's old school (where he "killed" Friend).
For 20th Century Boys ending soon...
I'd say Urasawa needs 3-4 volumes to explain how Kanna became the "Ice Queen"; how Kenji survived; where's Yoshitsune, Yukiji and Keroyon; and more importantly: which exactly is Kiriko's position in this whole story. Is she the "real" Friend? Or is she the one to stop Friend?
But I really don't think Urasawa will make another cliff-hanger. I think that the story will end at "this" present, in the year 3-Friend. But, of course, he'll go back to the past to explain the story in the present (like he did in volume 16).
Well, we'll have to wait and see...
brightman
2004-05-11, 22:27
I've only read through the end of volume 3 so far, so I'm wondering -- you guys who've read to the end of 16, do you think 20CB will end at volume 18, like Monster, or will it be longer?
A 20th Century Boys anime would be the best anime ever. Hands down.
Actually, 20CB is ALREADY longer than Monster... Monster only got up to Chapter 162, while Vol 16 of 20CB ended at Chapter 181. (I guess the 20CB chapters are generally shorter, but neverthless... )
Bandersnatch
2004-05-11, 22:39
Bah, the one day I dont check the hawks website and they release it :p. Strange too, I almost went to the site then I thought, nah they wont release it today :twitch:. Downloading now, cant wait!! :D
Mason Proulx
2004-05-14, 11:17
Regarding the events at the end of volume 15
People here were asking about how Friend could come back to life at the end of volume 15. I just assumed that he faked his own death. He's been proven time and time again to be full of nothing but lies and deceit. So his death was probably staged by himself. Remember when he was laying there as a cadaver and that child tried to touch his face, he moved his arm to make the child stop. It seemed that just like what he did in the science room, fake his death and ressurrection to inspire fealty in his followers (at the time, just Sadakiyo and Yamane). Apart from his common trickery, he also seems able to put himself in a state of suspended animation. In other words, play dead. That's what it seemed he was doing at his wake, although it would take a lot of willpower to be able to keep it up for days like that.
This is what I had assumed. But reading volume 16 made me question this assumption.
We see that same flashback to the science room and once again Fukubei fakes his death by hanging. Donkey is chased off like before. But what happens after, Fukubei's trick backfires and slips, the noose seems to choke the life out of him for real. So are we saying Friend has been a ghost all that time? Or is the answer something more realistic? I feel I finally understand the mysteries surrounding Friend after reading vol. 16, but that part I still don't get.
Either way, Friend aggravates me so much. Apart from continually doing unfathomably evil things, Urasawa made him into such a liar that you can never believe anything says or does. Likewise you have to always question whether things that seemed to happen in the book actually happened or not.
Fighter Volk
2004-05-14, 11:52
Bandersnatch, I LOVE your sig!!
By the way, I've read through the fifth volume and the first two chapters of the sixth... no need to say that it's a drastic change to an older Kanna, as much as I like her. Can you guys assure me this new arc is as good as the Kenji one?
By the way...
Can anybody tell me whether or not we ever see the occurrences at the Bloody New Year's Eve in the manga, as it happened? The climax of the story, the arc conclusion I was waiting for... and here they leave it hanging and change EVERYTHING! GAHH! Anyway, no spoilers, just a simple yes or no would be nice :)
cornzilla
2004-05-14, 12:09
Ok for everyone who has read up to the second arc of the story. Go back to the first chapter and reread it you'll notice something very very very very very very strange. Its a spoiler to how the manga will end. I would like to tell you but I dont know how to do spoiler tags.
brightman
2004-05-14, 12:57
Can anybody tell me whether or not we ever see the occurrences at the Bloody New Year's Eve in the manga, as it happened? The climax of the story, the arc conclusion I was waiting for... and here they leave it hanging and change EVERYTHING! GAHH! Anyway, no spoilers, just a simple yes or no would be nice :)
No, Urasawa never leaves anything important like that hanging... :p
Ok for everyone who has read up to the second arc of the story. Go back to the first chapter and reread it you'll notice something very very very very very very strange. Its a spoiler to how the manga will end. I would like to tell you but I dont know how to do spoiler tags.
You're referring to the older Kanna looking out and seeing that giant robot right? Heh, not sure if that is the ending though, could be.
Regarding the events at the end of volume 15
People here were asking about how Friend could come back to life at the end of volume 15. I just assumed that he faked his own death. He's been proven time and time again to be full of nothing but lies and deceit. So his death was probably staged by himself. Remember when he was laying there as a cadaver and that child tried to touch his face, he moved his arm to make the child stop. It seemed that just like what he did in the science room, fake his death and ressurrection to inspire fealty in his followers (at the time, just Sadakiyo and Yamane). Apart from his common trickery, he also seems able to put himself in a state of suspended animation. In other words, play dead. That's what it seemed he was doing at his wake, although it would take a lot of willpower to be able to keep it up for days like that.
This is what I had assumed. But reading volume 16 made me question this assumption.
We see that same flashback to the science room and once again Fukubei fakes his death by hanging. Donkey is chased off like before. But what happens after, Fukubei's trick backfires and slips, the noose seems to choke the life out of him for real. So are we saying Friend has been a ghost all that time? Or is the answer something more realistic? I feel I finally understand the mysteries surrounding Friend after reading vol. 16, but that part I still don't get.
Indeed, there are three high possibilities:
1. Fukubei faked his own death again
2. It's another Friend
Refer to Manjoume Inshuu in chapter 167: "The imposter... is going to become genuine"; menaing that it's another Friend. As for Fukubei being the real Friend, I'm almost certain of that, since this can be prooved by reading volume 16. But anything is possible on an Urasawa manga, so we'll have to wait and see. Maybe the real Friend can be even Kiriko...
What bugs me the most now is the "real" ghost of the Hanging Hill. The ghost can be the solution to Friend's identity mistery. In other words, the answer to the "Who are you?" question that Fukubei asked himself.
I started reading this manga on Wednesday. I swear....... this is seriously one of the best manga in the world. It's very engaging, the plot is so wildly mysterious and intriguing, THE CHARACTERS ROCK (I can't emphasize this enough), the plot twists are MAD...
I started reading around 4pm on Wednesday, and read on until 12:15 am. Even though there was school on THursday... This is the most genuine case ever of "not realising the time has passed" - I just kept reading and reading and reading....
I only finished halfway, and I read the rest on Thursday, and then read Chapter 16 yesterday. It's awesome. Truly awesome.
Anyway, (spoilers up to chap 16)
Did you notice how the character profile thingies (for books after Friend was identified as Fukubei) say under Friend: "His identity is Fukubei" ... That might be a clue. But it's all just too freakin' confusing...)
And Vicious,
Perhaps the death thing is that mysterious "Lie of 1970"? It's very very intriguing.
BTW, does anyone know when Kenji and Shouhei (you know, the grandson of that famous detective Chou-sama...) were born? And Kanna?
And on another offtopic thing, I'm having problems downloading the torrent for Monster..... how do you get it on IRC...
Morrigan
2004-05-15, 06:34
Well, in 2014 Kanna is 17, so she was born in 1996/97. Kenji might be born in 1960 or somewhat around that ... I don't know at which age you get to school in Japan, but I think, he was in 5th class in 1970 ...(?)
We don't know how old Chono is exactly, do we? I think he looks like somewhat around 20 in 2014. ^^
Well, we do know Chouno was a small kid when his grandfather appeared in the VERY beginning of the manga. You know, when his grandfather was supposed to buy "Peekaboo" for his grandson.... who is Chouno Shouhei...
Hehe, I just have this perverse, nasty, shameful tendency to like to imagine... feelings between people (but not in that kind of manner)... And Shouhei really is a nice kind of guy :D
Ah, and I just thought of some things I want to make clear.... (spoilers for... well I dunno, lots of chapters?)
As far as we know, Sadakiyo, Fukubei and Yamane are in the same... "organization", right? And Fukubei is the one that wants to be called "Friend" and he only befriends both just to make use of them... And Fukubei fakes his own death... and then we don't know whether he really died or not. "Friend" at some point of time probably was Sadakiyo, Fukubei, Yamane, or hell, even Kiriko, we wouldn't know at all.
So.... in the end Sadakiyo and Yamane betrayed Fukubei (if you say Fukubei is "Friend").
Sadakiyo was forced to kill Mon-chan and do all sorts of stupid things in order to keep a "friend", and in the end said he had enough, after seeing Otcho and Kanna's bravery in the Shinjuku church gathering...
Yamane was made to produce viruses, viruses and viruses, but only realised how evil this was and that it was no longer a game, and when Kiriko told him to stop in... 2002 or 2003, he stopped, IIRC? And later he got killed in that science room - along with whoever "Friend" was... (But "Friend" didn't die?! Could it be a robot or a fake? Note that Sadakiyo was... supposed to be dead at this time. The newspaper never said that Sadakiyo was dead, did they?)
But there were still viruses that had no vaccies made and Kiriko went to make them... Kiriko did go out to give working vaccines for those cases in Michigan and so on (the biker dudes, Keroyon, Billy...) When was that? Because 2015 they managed to give vaccines to SOME people... So do they still have Kiriko's stuff? Do they still have contact with Kiriko?
And isn't it really really sad that Sadakiyo, who stuck with Friend because he had nobody to turn to, who thought that he was unknown and never remembered, was remembered by everybody? And even though he never appeared in photographs, his teacher still took one for him?
And that Fukubei doesn't seem to ahve a face... He kept asking himself as a child, "Who are you?" and never acted like a child... Indeed, I believe he's possessed... and sometimes he looked in the mirror and never saw a face (this is also reflected in his decision to make the teru-teru bozu have no face...). And he was somehow never in class photographs either... and nobody remembers him.... nobody seems to see him at all - even somebody said, when they thought of Fukubei, "why did we ask someone we don't evene remember to join our group?" ... And that's worse than Sadakiyo. Does Fukubei ever exist? Could he have ever died if he never existed? And isn't it even more ironic that Tomodachi World is created (supposedly) out of Fukubei's memories... and he doesn't even have a child picture of Sadakiyo, who he framed to be Friend? (Of cousre you can never be sure of this.)
Also, why does Fukubei seem to hate Kenji so much?
Ah yes, and does anyone know Fukubei's other name? (I dunno if Fukubei is his surname or first name or nickname...)
EDIT: Also, you know that guy who picked up.... picked up.... picked up Kiriko (or was it Yukiji??? Or some school girl) in the very early parts of the series after the train she was going on was wrecked and she was 20 minutes late for her exam and later she met that guy.....
Remember that guy? He said something about "It's easy to seduce a woman" or something like that.
Is he the same guy who in vol 13 chap 3 is the guy who tied back his hair, and received that award for "saving the earth"?
EDIT2: When I checked that thing again, it seems that Shouhei is minimum 3 years old in 1997, because he keeps saying he wants to be with gwampy, meaning he can speak and he knows his grandfather is cool... Yeah, I guess Shouhei is around 20 or 21 in 2014. Dang.
JubeiYamazaki
2004-05-17, 05:35
Ah yes, and does anyone know Fukubei's other name? (I dunno if Fukubei is his surname or first name or nickname...)
EDIT: Also, you know that guy who picked up.... picked up.... picked up Kiriko (or was it Yukiji??? Or some school girl) in the very early parts of the series after the train she was going on was wrecked and she was 20 minutes late for her exam and later she met that guy.....
Remember that guy? He said something about "It's easy to seduce a woman" or something like that. .
I believe he wanted to be called Hatori? Which I believe (correct if I'm wrong) was the name of a famous ninja known for disguises and such, so in a way Hatori never had a face either, since he used "tricks" and kept hidden with those tricks, just like Fukubei. So maybe that's why Fukubei wanted to be called Hatori, I think the full name was Hatori Hanzo he's in Samurai Showdown that's how I remember. :heh:.
And if I remember correctly the person the guy he seduced was the professor's daughter. I think his name was Ishikawa? (the professors name that is.) The guy in charge of making the Bloody New Years Eve robot.
Fighter Volk
2004-05-17, 15:28
No, Urasawa never leaves anything important like that hanging... :p
Alright, good :D I was getting scared there for a moment...
YoshiYoshi
2004-05-21, 16:04
Sorry to bring this thread back again, but I thought I'd clarify, Fukubee did indeed wish to be called Hattori, but Hattori was his real name. But the 'Hat' bit in Japanese kanji can read fuku, and 'tori' = 'bu' or 'be', :twitch: so his schoolfriends called him Fukube. On page 23 of vol. 13, you can see Yoshitsune slowly realise that Fukube=Hattori, who as Jubei said was a famous ninja, but also a popular Japanese TV character (a ninja kid), whose famous face you will all recognise as the 'Tomodachi's. :twitch:
YoshiYoshi
where can I get vos. 1-9? I can only find 10-16.
You didn't misread 1 - 16 as 10 - 16, did you?
You can see the Bittorrent links http://www.mangascreener.com/project.php?id=8 there... under "Packaged Bit Torrents".
Ah, and when I meant Fukubei's other name... I mean, Fukubei can't be his only name - for example Naoki Urasawa: that's two names, his surname and his given name. Fukubei is the family name, I assume? What's the given name then? Can't be that his parents actually called him Fukubei Hattori?
Can't wait for the next release of course... Is it oging to be in July or so? I might start check if they have the magazine it's published in in Kinokuniya...
Urasawa is currently on a two-month break until mid-July. Chapter 188 is the latest that has been published, so mostly likely we won't see Volume 17 until September.
liQuidfire
2004-06-02, 06:16
I have to admit this series is the best manga that I have read, and time does really fly when you are reading it. I wonder will it ever get licensed? After the whole thing has been released that is :). I would really like own this in a book format.
volume 17 released in september? That seems so long away.
YoshiYoshi
2004-06-03, 08:30
Ah, and when I meant Fukubei's other name... I mean, Fukubei can't be his only name - for example Naoki Urasawa: that's two names, his surname and his given name. Fukubei is the family name, I assume? What's the given name then? Can't be that his parents actually called him Fukubei Hattori?
Fukubei is just a nickname, neither of his names is Fukubei. If you read my post again, I said that Hattori is his family name, and in Japanese 'Hattori' can read 'Fuku-be' as well, so that:s why his friends made up that nickname.
My IRC and BitTorrent aren't working (AAAAAAARGH) can't take it.
liQuidfire
2004-06-04, 13:15
Does anyone know of any sites where there's wallpapers of 20th century boys? And how many more volumes is there going to be? Im currently on volume 16 and it seems like its only a bit past half way through the whole story.
Does anyone know of any sites where there's wallpapers of 20th century boys?
Theres some kinky site ya'know? http://www.mangascreener.com !.!
And how many more volumes is there going to be? Im currently on volume 16 and it seems like its only a bit past half way through the whole story.
How the hell do you think anyone besides mangaka would know how long manga will be running? Huh?
I recently downloaded the manga and I must say.. I'm hooked! I can't wait for more. This is really a great series. Perhaps I should check out Monster.. ^_^
Fighter Volk
2004-06-27, 21:20
Well... at this point I've read through most of Volume 7 (everything but the last two chapters) and 20th Century Boys has risen to its new position as my favorite, number one manga. Granted, I don't read nearly as much manga as I do anime but this is undoubtedly on top of the list.
And hey, September isn't THAT far away... especially not for me - I still have nine chapters of wonderful, wonderful things before I have to sink into a constant state of suspense! :D
Fukubei is just a nickname, neither of his names is Fukubei. If you read my post again, I said that Hattori is his family name, and in Japanese 'Hattori' can read 'Fuku-be' as well, so that:s why his friends made up that nickname.
My IRC and BitTorrent aren't working (AAAAAAARGH) can't take it.
Er... okay, so if Hattori is his family name, it has'nt ever been revealed what his given name is, right?
I still am so hooked on 20th Century Boys. Can't live without finishing it... But anyway, it's closer to July now so September should be coming soon! I really wonder how who that person at the end of chapter 15 is... Couldn't be that guy, but if it was, how...
hi i'm new here, just to say that i LOVE 20th century boys. it's so addicting ><. i'm wondering if anyone can find the lyrics to Kenji's song. i saw it once translated in the manga but i can't find it anymore .__. :help:
hi i'm new here, just to say that i LOVE 20th century boys. it's so addicting ><. i'm wondering if anyone can find the lyrics to Kenji's song. i saw it once translated in the manga but i can't find it anymore .__. :help: Okay, the lyrics can be found on Volume 8 chapter 79 page 53 to 58.
This is the translation:
The sun goes down, and I can smell
curry cookin', somewhere.
How long will we have to walk
before we get home?
Will the croquettes from my favorite shop
still taste the same,
waiting for me? Night comes down upon the earth,
and I'm hurryin' home.
They say
the ogres will be laughing next year.
And I say
let 'em laugh all they like.
I'll keep talkin' about
5 or 10 years in the future.
And 50 years later, If I'm still with you,
night comes down upon the earth,
and I'm hurryin' home.
WELL THE RAIN MAY FALL
AND THE STORMS MAY COME
And the spears may fall.
Let's all go home.
They can't stop us.
NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO STOP US
Night comes down upon the earth,
and I'm hurryin' home.
Night around the world,
the entire world is hurrying home. And I pray that
these days will
continue for you,
forever and ever.
These are the Japanese romaji:
Hi ga kurete doko kara ka curry no nioi ga shiteru
Dore dake aruitara ie ni tadori tsukeru ka na
Boku no o-ki ni iri no nikuya no croquette wa itsumo doori no aji ga mattete kureru ka na
Chikyuu no ue ni yoru ga kuru
Boku wa ima ieji wo isogu
Rainen no koto wo iu to oni ga warau tte iu nara waraitai dake warawasetokeba ii
Boku wa iitsuzukeru yo gonen saki juunen saki no koto wo
Gojuunen go mo kimi to koushite iru darou to
Chikyuu no ue ni yoru ga kuru
Boku wa ima ieji wo isogu
Ame ga futte mo
Arashi ga kite mo
Yari ga furou to mo
Minna ie ni kaerou jama sasenai
Dare ni mo tomeru kenri wa nai
Chikyuu no ue ni yoru ga kuru
Boku wa ima ieji wo isogu
Sekaijuu ni yoru ga kuru
Sekaijuu ga ieji wo isogu
Sonna mainichi ga kimi no mawari de
Zutto zutto tsuzukimasu you ni
Translation and romaji are slightly different, as the romaji is from the song on the CD which is slightly different from that in the book (translation comes from that).
I happen to have the mp3 of the song myself.
Fighter Volk
2004-07-06, 13:50
Bob Lennon is my favorite anime song ever, and it's not even from an anime :heh:
Alright, I finally (FINALLY!) read all the way through to Volume 16. Some comments follow...
Arrrgh, I always get so mad when a new arc starts, because it always starts out really slow compared to the awesomeness of the conclusion of the previous arc (an unfinished Bloody New Years' Eve 2000 and the Expo 2015 come to mind, of course)... gwargh. But then the arc always becomes awesome.
Even though the first few chapters of the new arc frustrated me a little, the flashback sequences at the beginning of 16 were excellent. I wonder what it is Kenji and Otcho saw... also, I wonder what Yoshitsune, Maruo, Yukiji, Kyoko, and of course Kenji are doing now, in 3F. And what Kanna / Ice Queen is donig. So many questions.
One thing I've been wondering about... everybody remember the first volume? Remember that in his first appearance (I think) in front of all his fanatical followers, Friend showed that he could float? I can't access my first volume right now (otherwise I would check), but did he enter the stage first and then begin floating or did he lower himself from the ceiling? Because if he lowered himself from the ceiling, I presume that he, once again, 'hanged' himself. Anyone also wonder about this?
AzrielBlack
2004-07-14, 17:04
Loving this manga...only read up to vol14 so a couple more chapters till im upto date. I love the twists ad turns this story take. Id never thought some of the stuff would happen. Some of its also chilling as well such as the whole tomodatchi land brainwashing thing. I really like Otcho/Shogan character he reminds me of some one out of metal gear solid or something. Even when hes older hes still cool. Some of the story is really sad like the whole Sadakiyo incident with his teacher who was always looking out for him...and the picture was pretty sad as well. Cant wait to read the rest of the manga its really good.
I have also recently discovered the greatness that is 20CB. :D It's amazing to me how Urazawa can create such a diabolical plot that is not easily predictable. I can't believe in a span of about 6 days I read what someone has been spending years creating. It almost seems unfair in some way. Does anyone have word on when Volume 17 will be released in Japan? I need to satisfy my craving for more. :)
Fighter Volk
2004-07-14, 18:39
I have also recently discovered the greatness that is 20CB. :D It's amazing to me how Urazawa can create such a diabolical plot that is not easily predictable. I can't believe in a span of about 6 days I read what someone has been spending years creating. It almost seems unfair in some way. Does anyone have word on when Volume 17 will be released in Japan? I need to satisfy my craving for more. :)
Yay! Welcome aboard the bandwagon! Volume 17 will be out in September, and you can rest assured that Mangascreener will be on it like fur on a weasel.
XenWarrior
2004-07-17, 00:11
If it's licensed, please close my topic. Anyway, is there an http or bit torrent site to download? I abhor using IRC for manga...
http://www.thehawks.org/hawks/bt/index.php?dir=.%2F20th_Century_Boys
20th Century Boys is liscenced :nono:
This thread should be close!
AzrielBlack
2004-07-18, 16:51
No it's not.
When if it did...did it get licenced?
I don't understand your question. I just said, it is not licensed. There is no question of "when" unless you are including the future in your realm of speculation, but the past tense of your question leads me to believe that is not the case.
this manga is a good product..
But i think i felt in love with monster more than it
maybe it's because i didnt get some part of it??
okey~ by the way can someone repost the link(or bittorrent link) to the song Kanji played??
I really want to hear it once LOL ^_^
Morrigan
2004-08-11, 15:19
Indeed.
You can get the song here (http://www.badcode.net/manga/20thcb/Endou_Kenji_-_Bob_Lennon_(20th_Century_Boys).mp3). It's a very good song in my opinion :D
Is it possible that this link doesn't work anymore or do just I have problems? >__<
if no: where did my favorite song go? T___T
News Update: Volume 17 will be released on October 30th.
AzrielBlack
2004-08-17, 15:35
News Update: Volume 17 will be released on October 30th.
Cant wait...<<gets all giddy>>
When i read the beginning of this thread a month ago i said "uhm, i'll give it a try"...
now i realize why you people think is one of the best mangas ever...what a great story and characters i can't wait for volume 17 :)
AzrielBlack
2004-08-21, 07:00
When i read the beginning of this thread a month ago i said "uhm, i'll give it a try"...
now i realize why you people think is one of the best mangas ever...what a great story and characters i can't wait for volume 17 :)
Ahh you have been brainwashed by friend as well? ;)
Ahh you have been brainwashed by friend as well? ;)
yes and i love it ;)
AzrielBlack
2004-08-23, 15:14
yes and i love it ;)
<<Drags J´GLF off to tomodachi land>> hehe.
Nine Devil
2004-08-25, 19:38
This manga just rocks nothing more. I need volume 17 -_-
AzrielBlack
2004-09-30, 14:50
1 Month today! Ahh i thought Vol 17 would be out today but seems i was wrong gotta wait 1 more month. I miss 20thCB. :(
Morrigan
2004-10-03, 12:45
It's so damn long to wait. I read through all vol. 1-16 ... what should I do one more month? :D (I know ... read them again XD)
An unimportant question: When the Manga is coming out 'soon' (if you're hooked to it, it can seem long, although), does it mean that all chapters have already been published in Japan? (and ... where does 20thCB get translated? o_O)
Oh, and for coming back to my first questions, asked some 100 years ago (why's everybody ignoring me? T__T): The site with Boblennon seems to be down since long. Nobody ever knew where it came from and where it went to, I mean, who made this song?! And how could he/she dare to put it down? (I want to listen to Kenji *__*)
I would also like to listen to Kenji's song.
ChainLegacy
2004-10-04, 19:51
Oh man... I'm starting to become rabid waiting for the new volume. Well, we'll have to expect it to be near perfect after all this time ;)
AzrielBlack
2004-10-05, 06:40
Oh man... I'm starting to become rabid waiting for the new volume. Well, we'll have to expect it to be near perfect after all this time ;)
Im sure it will be. The rest of the Manga has been perfect but the new vol is gonna be even better than perfect.
I just finished reading all of it in three days :twitch: :twitch:
WOW! I didnt think it would be that good but it just grabs you and never lets go. Though, I do think the end is in sight :sad: :sad:
I agree it should be over in about 5-ish volumes. He has to explain how Kanna becomes the Ice Queen, how the new group defeats friend and reveal the whole Mars plotline.
Next Vol. comes out in Japan in three days people!!!!
So that means like two weeks-ish until we can read it:D:D
Spoileriffic avatar time!
Aargh you're kidding!!! WHY do I have to be working this weekend?!! ...mutter... gotta finish up the last 2 volumes..mutter mutter
Aaaahhh!!! No!!! We didn't need that T________T stephen, I'm going to SHOOT you once you finish translating!
Thank goodness it's the holidays now, eh...
Kotonoha
2004-10-30, 12:45
http://s03.imagehost.org/0231/20thCB17.png
Sometimes, I wonder why I keep reading this. I swear I'll write a very mean mail to Mr. Urasawa once this series breaks the 20-volumes-limit. ;)
Okay that was just sheer evilmindedness :frustrated:
Yeah thanks for spoiling the hell out of this volume for us asshole :fingers:
Actually, assuming the above spoiler was true I was cussing several pp :heh: - stpehen for ?mocking us his faithful leechers ^^, and Urasawa-san who's taking deep dark pleasure in messing around with us I admit it'd be pretty cheap to have Kenji resurrected after he's become such a heroic martyr to his gang, BUT! I mean, how would Urasawa-san like it if he were reading LOTR:The 2 Towers and JRR Tolkein got this Gandalf-like figure to appear in Fangorn only to have him say MY NAME'S JOE YABUKI :nono:
Nvm don't mind me i'm just seriously sleep-deprived^^'
As long as that picture isnt the end of the volume I'll be happy. If not then this guy deserves to die
:fingers: :fingers:
Fighter Volk
2004-11-02, 17:55
Kinokuniya is definitely one of the best places ever. I stopped by after lessons ended today and picked up Pluto v. 1 (finally! I've been waiting much too long to get that one) and 20th Century Boys v. 17. They are both beautiful. I flipped through the volume, seeing as I cannot read Japanese, and saw lots of wonderful things, even if only in passing.
Summary on front cover/first page:
Darkness covers the earth.
The world is under control of the Evil...
The "Friend" becomes the president of the world.
And he reigns in the wall of Tokyo city.
Most of the people believe the "Friend",
But the resistance begins to move below the surface...
"The Queen of Ice", the leader of the resistance,
She is going to rise in arms on August 20th.
It seems nobody can stop this nightmare.
From where the ray of hope is sent out...
Kite -- as to your concern --
Joe Yabuki does, indeed, introduce himself on the last page of the volume. Urasawa Naoki is undoubtedly the greatest cliffhanger-maker EVER. Arrrrrgh.
EDIT: I just realized, all of a sudden, that Yabuki Joe is the main character of Ashita no Joe. That definitely adds a new dimension to all this...
Cover is...
Young Kenji with a toy gun in his hand and a toy sword over his back. He is saying something in Japanese and grinning, rather maliciously. The background picture on the front cover is the road 'Joe Yabuki' is riding down at the end of Volume 15...
I can't wait for Stephen's translations!
It'll be on my site probably tomorrow, though I plan to finish up the volume tonight.
Fighter Volk
2004-11-02, 21:59
We love you Stephen!
I hope, at least, that you like 20th Century Boys as much as we do...
Objectively speaking, it's a good volume. It's entertaining to read. But when compared to the stunning brilliance of (say) the first 5-8 volumes, it honestly pales.
When Urasawa started the story for the second time, in 2014, I was initially put off. The climax for the first part of the story was left rather hazy, and I was more interested in what happened then than what was happening in the new setting. I wanted to find out what happened to all the characters, and though it took a while, he did manage to explain a lot of things and still work up to a climax in Volume 15 that was quite gripping. However, by not ending the whole story there and continuing onward to do the same thing he did in Volume 5 is starting to stretch my nerves thin. We've seen him do this before, but unlike then, this time the story is much more aimless. Many of the loose threads from the 2000-2014 switch have been wrapped up. The 2015-F3 switch was more all-encompassing. Most issues have been resolved and many things have changed. So now, not only does Urasawa have fewer items of intrigue to keep readers interested, he has to simultaneously explain an entire new world situation that is a lot different than the 2000-2014 jump. But because the story is running a little long in the tooth, he doesn't have a whole lot of room to slowly and naturally build up information. Instead, he has to rush to explain what's happening in the story, which comes off as forced and very simplified to me. On top of all this, the jump in the story is only 3 years. Unlike the 15-year jump, everyone looks the same and they've barely changed at all, so Urasawa can't even keep readers guessing what their favorite sub-character looks like now. All in all, it's a very weak deja vu, a feeling that you've seen him do this before, and better.
No doubt the uncritical and accepting Urasawa fans will read this volume and love it, perhaps proclaim it the best one yet, right above of the last volume, which was better than the previous, etc. Perhaps they'll think I should take the stick out of my ass and enjoy the story, but I have a feeling that a lot of discerning readers feel the same way as me.
Nate RFB
2004-11-03, 12:25
Well, hi guys...first post...I've been browsing these forums for a while, just reading up on what so-and-so had to say about certain anime or manga. Reading this thread though wanted me to get involved in it! For I am a huge, huge 20th Century Boys fan.
Anyways...I don't have much more add at the moment that hasn't already been said about the previous volumes. I read Volumes 1-16 in the span of about three days, so I got into it all very, very fast. Brilliant and gripping to say the least, it at least has tied Monster and Nausicaä in my book for favorite manga of all time, but I'd like to finish 20thCB before I pass any final judgments.
Now, I haven't read Volume 17 yet of course...and may not for a while, since I dilgently wait for scans rather than online scripts. BUT! I think this time it's different from what happened in 2014. That was a huge span, yes, and much of the fascination for the reader became what happened to each of the characters from 2000. What would they look like, how would they have changed, etc. I think 3F is different, or at least I get this feeling. Although similiar I get the distinct feeling that Urasawa is not going to follow the same formula as before. It took volumes 5-15 to really explain and develop what happened from 2000-2016, but I think this is something brief and spur of the moment. Rather than focusing on what happened to each character, the spotlight seems to be shifting to...who else?...our lovable former protagonist Kenji. What has HE been doing for nearly 20 years? I get the feeling Urasawa is going to develop this more than anything else, which is pretty different all things considered. 14 years before, but you had tons of characters to wonder about. Now it's down to just Kenji in 3F, so the direction the story takes I don't think will reflect the second arc nearly as much as stephen thinks it will. If it did it would obviously be kind of a let down since we have "seen this before." I have faith, though, in both the story and author to trip us up yet again. I didn't believe in 2014 until I started seeing the old characters flock together, and I fully believe that once Kenji gets re-involved in 17 and beyond that everyone will believe once again. Chances are Urasawa is going to use him as the final plot device to push this all towards a conclusion. Kenji is the x-factor...we don't know what he'll do or his role! So I say just sit back and enjoy the story, Urasawa has something planned with our motorcycle-riding guitar-playing friend.
So, in the meantime...yeah, just chill and enjoy the story ^_^ Don't worry about "I've seen this before" because Urasawa probably knows it better than we all do.
it should have ended on 16. I think the author is milking the story
Nate RFB
2004-11-03, 21:13
How could it have ended though with still so much left out in the open and unresolved? I mean, I pretty much knew in Volume 14 or 13 that there was no way it was going to all be wrapped up by 16...and even now there's plenty left to go well beyond it. So yeah, ending it on 16 seems pretty unrealistic ^^;
I've been wondering whether the story'll end with volume 18. Probably not. I'm guessing with 21.
of course there is going to be still much left if every volume keeps adding to the mystery. When I say it should have ended on 16 I mean friend should have died instead of getting resurrected again. If they had killed him it would all have been wrapped in up by 16 or 17, but friend doesn't die so we can expect 10 more volumes until he escapes death again and the cycle repeats.
Fighter Volk
2004-11-04, 18:37
Volume 17...
Thanks a lot, Stephen, for your translations. Now I can both read my volume and be happy that I'm supporting Urasawa Naoki at least a little by buying the original. I read the first five chapters, but I'll have to wait for chapter 6 in scanlations or skip it since Stephen hasn't transated it yet. Thank you again, though, for the chapters that are up!
So far, I'm enjoying this volume, moreso than the latter half 16, but of course this isn't as good as some earlier volumes. The two chapters with Kanna were great, and I'm beginning to like the two kids more. God is great as always. The highlight so far was definitely the fifth chapter, that moves from heartwarming to heartbreaking. Well, not so extreme as heartbreaking, but the ending of the chapter was extremely depressing...
I agree with a lot of what you wrote, Stephen, probably most of it in fact, but I do have hope that Urasawa Naoki will come up with a stunning conclusion. I don't know whether the rest of volume 17 will change my opinions, but his storytelling in most instances so far has been superb. I especially agree with your thoughts about the Bloody New Years' Eve being interrupted in volume 5 by the beginning of the Kanna arc. I was really disappointed, and it took me a long time to get through Volumes 5 and 6. Once the rest of Bloody New Year's was shown, I became much more open-minded and started to really enjoy the story. The Rabbit Nabokov volume was what did it for me and kept me hooked until 15...
While I was disappointed reading 16 as well, I don't think that it will be as Hunterx says. Seems like this will be the last arc, to me, especially with the return of Kenji (well...). I don't know how many volumes it will take, but I hope Urasawa does not recycle many more plot points, especially not ones as major as Friend's "death".
I have a feeling that this post is really unorganized, but oh well...
Whoops, I typed a dash instead of an equals sign in the html source. Should work right now.
Nate RFB makes a good point, which is that Urasawa still does have one big trick up his sleeve, and that is Kenji. And there certainly is a lot to be told about his absence in the story. There's still more to tell about Friend too, but Urasawa hasn't even touched on him since the time shift. The man at the end of v17 who introduces himself as Yabuki Joe is clearly supposed to make you think he's Kenji. But he looks awfully young. Look at Otcho now, he looks like Father Time. In comparison "Joe" looks like he's still in his 30s. Moreover, according to blogs I read online and the next volume preview, he is still being called "Yabuki." Which makes sense, since that's what he introduced himself as, but it continues to reinforce suspicion in my mind. Based on the 5 summaries I've read (Urasawa is currently 9 chapters past v17 now) the next volume will continue to deal with the two pressing issues... Kanna's armed uprising and Yabuki Joe.
Fighter Volk
2004-11-06, 23:57
Thanks a lot, Stephen, one more time, for putting up those translations. It felt really nice to be reading 20th Century Boys again.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed this volume. One should keep in mind, however, that I read volumes 1-5 in the course of a few days, then 6-9 similarly two or three weeks later, and finally 10-16 in about two days. The break between those nice batch-readings and Volume 17 made me appreciate this newest volume more.
I think the high points of this volume were Chapter 5, which still disturbs me whenever I think about it, and then Chapters 8 through 11. For some reason, the two Chouno chapters really appealed to me. Maybe it was the 'edge of the world' feel, or perhaps something else, but some aspect of the two chapters really made me sit back and appreciate them for a bit. As for the two very last chapters, well... I think my reasons for liking the mare obvious. Yukiji meeting the guy from Eroim Esseims, and then the discussion that followed with Maruo and Haru... wow. Of course, the very ending itself was spectacular as well.
Overall, I felt that this volume was a pleasant, relaxing read, contrary to the really dark vibes I got from volume 16. The two children receive some great character development, especially Sanae. We learn more about Kanna and her role as the Ice Queen, but I feel (and you, Stephen, confirm) that this mini-plotline will be getting a lot more development in the next few volumes.
You bring up a really good point, Stephen - why in the world does "Joe Yabuki" look so young? As you say, Otcho's appearance gives away his age immediately, as does Yoshitsune's. Maruo seems to hold out better in comparison, but "Joe" really does appear to be in his 30's or, at worst, early 40's. And what in the world has he, if he is indeed Kenji, been doing all this time? What in the world could have happened?
Seems to me that Urasawa has created a situation in which he can come up with any explanation he wants - with the exception of Yoshida's story, everything for the last eleven volumes has pointed to Kenji being dead. I think that we should brace ourselves for anything, and since this is Urasawa we are talking about, I really mean anything...
I can't wait for the Scanlations:)
Vol 17 scanslations out??!?!
http://www.manganews.net/
omg...I have an exam tomorrow...this is bad...
Vol 17 scanslations out??!?!
http://www.manganews.net/
omg...I have an exam tomorrow...this is bad...
Yup it was released not too long ago tonight. It took about 15 mintues for me to download the LQ version. I was gonna go to bed but I couldn't resist the awesomeness of this series.
Now I have to wait for the next volume:( Which should be out in January/February if my math serves me right.
Haha! Luckly I finished my last exam tonight just before this came out, so it was perfect timing for me. I just finished reading it and just....wow. It feels like its been forever since I read 20th CB so I forgot a lot of things, but once again I get sucked into the story as if I was a poopie being flushed down the toilet. (for lack of a better analogy :heh: ). But wow, now I'm already waiting impatiently for Volume 18. :(
Thanks to stephen, the Hawks, and mangascreener for brining us this masterpiece in such a timely fashion. :D ときに浦沢直樹様にどうも有難うございますと言ってほし。まさに伝説な漫画かである。
This made my day. Thank you.
l33tchr1s
2004-11-18, 22:09
I was real impressed with this volume. By the last page, I couldn't wait for more. Heh, right after finishing, I ordered the complete Robert Johnson cd thing.
First impression after finishing volume 17:
WHAT KIND OF FSCKING ENDING IS THAT?!!!
In other words: Damn you Urasawa, for keeping us on hooks with this Kenji lookalike and then not doing anything with him!
But yes, it was an enjoyable volume: I especially liked the way the 5 people seemed so good and worked together so well, they even bothered leaving money for taking the food... but then when it came to the vaccine they turned on each other like MAD. If I were Otcho I'd be horrified too.
Fighter Volk
2004-11-18, 22:45
But yes, it was an enjoyable volume: I especially liked the way the 5 people seemed so good and worked together so well, they even bothered leaving money for taking the food... but then when it came to the vaccine they turned on each other like MAD. If I were Otcho I'd be horrified too.
Definitely the most disturbing part of the volume, as I mentioned before... Urasawa really knows how to weave a good story and keep us in tension throughout.
Already said it at the MS board, but thanks again for bringing this out, MS & Hawks!
Definitely the most disturbing part of the volume, as I mentioned before... Urasawa really knows how to weave a good story and keep us in tension throughout.
Personally I had half expected something like that to happen... maybe not directly a massacre and not too soon, but the way those side characters were all so pleasantly happy and were giving off the finest examples of comradeship... I sensed something bad would happen. Urasawa got me so far that each time someone is happy after long bad times, something much worse will follow..... death, for example. Yeah, it was a disturbing part, a dark take on human fear.
What touched me was the story with the guy who killed those village people and the little girl. Almost made me cry.
I agree that this volume was a very pleasant read. And I'm not dissapointed in how the book ends. If I was the writer of this story I prolly would've ended it right there myself. :D
WabukiSensei
2004-11-19, 07:00
I really agree with the whole arc transition thing. I really didn't enjoy the first transition from Kenji's death to the Kanna Arc and i can't say that i like the whole transition that happened between volume 15 and 16....although i must admit by doing this, Urasawa is keeping us hooked to the story.
Regarding chapter 5 of volume 17, don't you guys think it's kinda strange that a mailman would suddenly appear out of nowhere and suddenly say that one of those guys has a package for him? I mean, those guys just escaped from a prison/detain camp/whatever, so how could that person with the parcel know the guy's name and have a parcel for him? Either there's something wrong here or Friend was always aware of their escape and that's why he got the parcel.....just my 2 cents...
I really agree with the whole arc transition thing. I really didn't enjoy the first transition from Kenji's death to the Kanna Arc and i can't say that i like the whole transition that happened between volume 15 and 16....although i must admit by doing this, Urasawa is keeping us hooked to the story.
Regarding chapter 5 of volume 17, don't you guys think it's kinda strange that a mailman would suddenly appear out of nowhere and suddenly say that one of those guys has a package for him? I mean, those guys just escaped from a prison/detain camp/whatever, so how could that person with the parcel know the guy's name and have a parcel for him? Either there's something wrong here or Friend was always aware of their escape and that's why he got the parcel.....just my 2 cents...
im calculating here
the mailman...were looking for the guy to give him the anti virus thing....
since there arent many people around in da world..specially that part of the world
its natural that the mailman stopped and ask if there's the person he looking for..
crushproof
2004-11-29, 19:42
just curious as to what people think....
you guys think that was really kenji at the end of volume 17, or just someone that looks like him...personally i think it is him cuz we never see him get blown up in bloody new years, everyone just assumes he's gone....and wtf how the hell did fukubei come back to life...he's human right? died once by yamane, and second by sniper, i prolly missed something
just curious as to what people think....
you guys think that was really kenji at the end of volume 17, or just someone that looks like him...personally i think it is him cuz we never see him get blown up in bloody new years, everyone just assumes he's gone....and wtf how the hell did fukubei come back to life...he's human right? died once by yamane, and second by sniper, i prolly missed something
Yeah.. i think is him... because the meaning of God saying that he will need the laser gun in the final battle remains unknow by now...
Diedrupo
2004-12-01, 22:19
I think it's Kenji simply because near the beginning of the manga, Kenji himself states that they wouldn't know what Donkey saw until it was too late. Given that they didn't find out what Donkey saw until well past Kenji's "death", how would Kenji have known?
The other possibility is that the character is Spider, since they have the same haircut.
BTW did anyone else see #13 for the first time and go "I wonder where i've seen him before?" Rereading 20th Century Boys made me realize that he was that kid in the beginning of the manga, Masao. It's awesome how this series keeps bringing back old characters like that.
crushproof
2004-12-01, 22:39
anybody got any theories on fukubei? it's driving me nuts, we see him as a child grow up with everyone else, so i assume he's human, but he died once and came back(yamane shot him), then he was shot by the sniper and died twice and came back wth.....
Diedrupo
2004-12-02, 05:17
IMO, Fukubei clearly has some sort of supernatural powers that allow him to live even after death. His mental spoon bending should've been proof enough of it. i'm sure it'll somehow be explained in a later chapter.
Yeah... most probably he has some sort of supernatural power... like Kanna... or it could be a trick explained in a later chapter...
Diedrupo
2004-12-02, 21:41
he IS Kanna's dad after all ;)
Sheriff lobo
2004-12-05, 16:40
i hope it isnt supernatural powers...it wont really fit with the style of the manga imo. anywho is there any idea when the next volume comes out?
Diedrupo
2004-12-19, 11:33
i hope it isnt supernatural powers...it wont really fit with the style of the manga imo. anywho is there any idea when the next volume comes out?
er how do you explain Kanna's powers then? She clearly inherited them from her father.
crushproof
2004-12-21, 00:45
anybody hear about when the next chaps are suppose to be released? i hope they don't wait until a whole volume is done to release
Well now the manga is licensed and probably have to wait several years before the latest volumes are released I have a request to those who read the raws...what happened? ^^
The manga - at least the chinese translation published - is up to volume 20 over here.
There's a group scanlating it in chinese as well, but I can't track down all the chapters I have missed, so...
The mysterious man is indeed Kenji - apparently, he lost his memory after the explosion and lived in anonymity till he recovered his memory.
Anyway, the whole story seems to be coming to a close since the illusion that 'Friend' (at least the one who apparently rezzed) created seems to have backfired upon him. The human race is obviously not extinct - survival rate seems to be 50% across the whole world.
Meanwhile, Kanna attempts to assassinate Friend - who may not be her father (i.e. Fukubei), merely someone pretending to be him.
I lost track of the chapters after this, since volume 20 ends with Kanna confronting this 'Friend' while the chapters I've seen since then seems to be a race for Kanna and the gang to gain control of a radio station in order to contact the American government to stand down and not nuke what remains of Japan.
Apparently, the gig is up - the U.S gov knows it was 'Friend' who was behind the epidemic. (Again, this might not necessary be true since this piece of info comes from a third source and there's no actual scene where we see some U.S official screaming in outrage, etc, etc. Don't trust the mangka. :D )
Ironically, it seems Fukubei (or whatever his name) - i.e. Kanna's real dad, etc - seems to have really died that night in the school lab when he was shot. This 'Friend' seems to be 'not' Fukubei. Spooky...
As of now:
Friend announced on TV that he was responsible for everything, and would destroy the world in a week, just as God had created it in a week. Within the Wall around Tokyo, the virus will be dropped everywhere around the city except for the Expo fairgrounds, because according to the "prophecy" that will be the only place left. So now the good guys are trying to get as many people to the Expo as they can.
Not sure what is happening in the last 1-2 chapters as I haven't seen them on Winny yet, despite other things from Spirits popping up here and there. Sigh...
IMSabbel
2006-02-10, 19:39
Hm
Seems like things really start wrapping up...
But i wonder...
look back to chapter 1, the second scene. Kanna is waking up, only to find another killer robot in the night. This scene doesnt look like a dream, or an haluzination. It seems not to have happened yet... I wonder how it will integrate into the timeline
Thanks guys for the information.
IMSabbel
The robot thing appears again in Volume 20
Diedrupo
2006-02-15, 23:53
so... who is this new friend?? has it been revealed yet? i've only read up to vol 20. :(
WabukiSensei
2006-02-25, 06:32
Arghhh it sucks not to be able to read japanese, I wanna know too!
Anyone think there is a connection between God and Fukubei....I mean, we know the ESP can be passed down because Kanna has it....
Dreamgazer_X
2006-03-18, 15:38
Anyone think there is a connection between God and Fukubei....I mean, we know the ESP can be passed down because Kanna has it....
during their small lunch conversation in vol 20, Friend suggested to kanna that he has "messed" with her mother to endow her with that little ESP gift. It's still a question if Friend actully had anything himself.
javiermancebo
2006-03-20, 18:28
Hello, My name is Javier, I´m from Spain and my english is not very good but maybe you can excuse me for that.
Here we had read to volume 15 and I think maybe we have discovered who is Friend, so I think it is a big spoiler:
Ok, first of all I think we have 2 Friends, first is Fukubei of course but the other cant be him, if we read again the 14th volume we can see 3 guys in the science room: Fukubei, Yamane and another with a mask, but urasawa dot want that we saw his face ¿why? because he isn´t sadakiyo, he is the new friend.
If you read again the second volume, detective Cho say he had discovered who amigo is and what was him school, and there is a moment when Cho was readind an old school album and he read the studients name list, the last are Kenji Endo y Nagaharu Ochiai, and them he said: "and there was Friend", so if you know something of japanese language he is reading in alphabetic order, the japanese alphabet is a, i, u, e, o, ka, ki, ku, ke, ko, sa... so friend must start with KA or maybe KI, so it can´t be Hattori, Sadakiyo or Shimon, the last name of Donkey is Kido, but he stay in the cscience class so he cant be Friend.
¿have we somebody who start with KA? yes we have it: Katsumata. Katsumata is the boy who died in this class the day before the disection.
So Katsumata is Friend, really I think he is Fukubei brother, and both look very similars. so this explain how so many people can see Fukubei after his dead and how both guys have this supernatural powers to bend a spun or to levitating.
I´m so sorry for my bad english, I can explain this much better in spanish, what do you think about this that I have told you?
Hello, My name is Javier, I´m from Spain and my english is not very good but maybe you can excuse me for that.
Here we had read to volume 15 and I think maybe we have discovered who is Friend, so I think it is a big spoiler:
Ok, first of all I think we have 2 Friends, first is Fukubei of course but the other cant be him, if we read again the 14th volume we can see 3 guys in the science room: Fukubei, Yamane and another with a mask, but urasawa dot want that we saw his face ¿why? because he isn´t sadakiyo, he is the new friend.
If you read again the second volume, detective Cho say he had discovered who amigo is and what was him school, and there is a moment when Cho was readind an old school album and he read the studients name list, the last are Kenji Endo y Nagaharu Ochiai, and them he said: "and there was Friend", so if you know something of japanese language he is reading in alphabetic order, the japanese alphabet is a, i, u, e, o, ka, ki, ku, ke, ko, sa... so friend must start with KA or maybe KI, so it can´t be Hattori, Sadakiyo or Shimon, the last name of Donkey is Kido, but he stay in the cscience class so he cant be Friend.
¿have we somebody who start with KA? yes we have it: Katsumata. Katsumata is the boy who died in this class the day before the disection.
So Katsumata is Friend, really I think he is Fukubei brother, and both look very similars. so this explain how so many people can see Fukubei after his dead and how both guys have this supernatural powers to bend a spun or to levitating.
I´m so sorry for my bad english, I can explain this much better in spanish, what do you think about this that I have told you?
Woa, woa, that's good! I doubt it's plastic surgery that is responsible for the other friend looking just like Fukubei. If it were, I don't think you can change someone voice to have it be like another person's. My best bet is that they are both twins (which would provide yet another parallel to 'Monster'). But I think then Katsumata would have to be the last name of both Fukubei and his twin. Do we know Fukubei's last name yet?
Katsumata "dying" would also be a lot similar to Fukubei making up the rumor that Sadakiyo died. I wonder how this would tie up with Fukubei having identity problems.
Another thing. In the science room, when Donkey said that Fukubei not dying must be a trick, the masked kid said something like, 'Yeah, I was thinking that too'. That sounds like something Sadakiyo would say...but we don't know whether the science room incident happened AFTER Sadakiyo tranferred or before it. Right before that scene we learn that Sadakiyo has changed schools, so when we came to the science room scene, I was like, "Hmm, how did Sadakiyo get here? I thought he'd been banished?". If it is not Sadakiyo, then I guess we can say that the new freind isn't as...crazy...as Fukubei (?).
TechRock
2006-03-21, 17:01
Hi, i currently from vol 17-20 in a chinese manga store, so i was able to rent it out during the March Break..so here is some stuff i remember
vol21 have no release date yet
so if someone can teach me how to do spoilers tag then i will be able to post osme information =)
javiermancebo
2006-03-22, 16:23
you must click in "wrap (QUOTE) tags around select text, and them you must change the word QUOTE by the word SPOILER.
This is all.
Dreamgazer_X
2006-03-22, 16:49
vol 21 for chinese HK version released.
Anyway, no big dal for those already read the japanese raw
but once again here's the cliffhanger ending:
Our new "Friend" revealed to the world that everything is his doing, and that just as God created the world in 7 days...he will also destroy the world in 7 days.
"let's play together...kenji"
Interesting to see some parallels in 20th century boys and Monster:
-Both have villains are out to destroy humanity
-Both have a female blood connection on the good side
-The evil-ness in both villians was decided by events in their youth
-The villains have a creepy kind of fasination with the good guy even since they were kids (Johann met Tenma when he was a kid, same with Friend and Kenji)
-Both villains have SERIOUS identity problems, and derive their existence from stuff written on paper--For Johann it was the children's story book, and for Freind it's the children's prophesy book.
- (possibility) Both have twins
Difference: Tenma is a brain surgeon while Kenji...has no job....
And Friend is lot less scary than Johann. Right now, anyways, since we know a lot about his past and we've also been inside his mind. Johann was pretty much a mystery throughout the entire story.
But Fukubei is still a very interesting character. Let's just see what "this" friend turns out to be like.
Fighter Volk
2006-03-25, 21:47
Hello, My name is Javier, I´m from Spain and my english is not very good but maybe you can excuse me for that.
Here we had read to volume 15 and I think maybe we have discovered who is Friend, so I think it is a big spoiler:
Ok, first of all I think we have 2 Friends, first is Fukubei of course but the other cant be him, if we read again the 14th volume we can see 3 guys in the science room: Fukubei, Yamane and another with a mask, but urasawa dot want that we saw his face ¿why? because he isn´t sadakiyo, he is the new friend.
If you read again the second volume, detective Cho say he had discovered who amigo is and what was him school, and there is a moment when Cho was readind an old school album and he read the studients name list, the last are Kenji Endo y Nagaharu Ochiai, and them he said: "and there was Friend", so if you know something of japanese language he is reading in alphabetic order, the japanese alphabet is a, i, u, e, o, ka, ki, ku, ke, ko, sa... so friend must start with KA or maybe KI, so it can´t be Hattori, Sadakiyo or Shimon, the last name of Donkey is Kido, but he stay in the cscience class so he cant be Friend.
¿have we somebody who start with KA? yes we have it: Katsumata. Katsumata is the boy who died in this class the day before the disection.
So Katsumata is Friend, really I think he is Fukubei brother, and both look very similars. so this explain how so many people can see Fukubei after his dead and how both guys have this supernatural powers to bend a spun or to levitating.
I´m so sorry for my bad english, I can explain this much better in spanish, what do you think about this that I have told you?
That's *brilliant!* I bet you're right. I keep telling myself, I really need to reread the whole series and get all the possible hints... it does pay off, clearly :)
LordAshram
2006-03-31, 01:17
Hello, My name is Javier, I´m from Spain and my english is not very good but maybe you can excuse me for that.
Here we had read to volume 15 and I think maybe we have discovered who is Friend, so I think it is a big spoiler:
Ok, first of all I think we have 2 Friends, first is Fukubei of course but the other cant be him, if we read again the 14th volume we can see 3 guys in the science room: Fukubei, Yamane and another with a mask, but urasawa dot want that we saw his face ¿why? because he isn´t sadakiyo, he is the new friend.
If you read again the second volume, detective Cho say he had discovered who amigo is and what was him school, and there is a moment when Cho was readind an old school album and he read the studients name list, the last are Kenji Endo y Nagaharu Ochiai, and them he said: "and there was Friend", so if you know something of japanese language he is reading in alphabetic order, the japanese alphabet is a, i, u, e, o, ka, ki, ku, ke, ko, sa... so friend must start with KA or maybe KI, so it can´t be Hattori, Sadakiyo or Shimon, the last name of Donkey is Kido, but he stay in the cscience class so he cant be Friend.
¿have we somebody who start with KA? yes we have it: Katsumata. Katsumata is the boy who died in this class the day before the disection.
So Katsumata is Friend, really I think he is Fukubei brother, and both look very similars. so this explain how so many people can see Fukubei after his dead and how both guys have this supernatural powers to bend a spun or to levitating.
I´m so sorry for my bad english, I can explain this much better in spanish, what do you think about this that I have told you?
Also responding to Uzumaki's question with this:
http://ourworld.cs.com/SSJ%20Raditz451/20th+Century+Boys+v16c173p045+copy.jpg
As you can see in this link, in vol. 16, after Friend went around wearing Sadakiyo's mask, he came home and held it in his hand, looking into the mirror. Having seen his face blank already on the way home earlier, he notices he -does- have a face now... Asking first if he is Sadakiyo, THEN if he is, Katsumata! Why else would Urasawa bring him up? He also wore the mask!
It's also interesting to note that later when Sadakiyo runs out of the house on hanging hill in fright, he screams "Nopperabo!" meaning "faceless ghost/demon/goblin", Fukubei often finding himself faceless in mirrors. It's also interesting to note their fake ghost resembles "faceless" Fukubei.
http://www.mangascreener.com/stephen/20cb/tcb-01-005.txt
Search for "katsumata" on that document. As you see, Katsumata was deeply in love with science before his "death" - Yamane and Fukubei were, too. How much more could he fit in with this misfit trio? Not to mention there is a connection between he and Fukubei here - it is rumored Katsumata's ghost haunts the science room due to his anger at missing the dissection, and Fukubei seems himself as a faceless ghost, as in the night at hanging hill mansion.
Uzumaki, you were right about the "miracle" happening after Sadakiyo's transfer:
http://ourworld.cs.com/SSJ%20Raditz451/20th+Century+Boys+v16c176p105+copy.jpg
However, after Sadakiyo returns he does not talk. At all.
Another thing to note: The day Kiriko sees Fukubei, Yamane, and the other "Friend" playing, as she and Sadakiyo watch... They're wearing the same clothing as the day of Fukubei's "miracle"! As for the final most interesting part of the "miracle" linked to this mystery...
Remember in volume 14 when everybody went in the simulator to see "the miracle"? After "Friend" and Manjoume left, Koizumi wants to pull off "sadakiyo"'s mask. The boy begs and begs her to stop, and when the mask is finally lifted, she lets out a scream and wakes back up in reality without memory of what happened. So Sadakiyo definitely was not present at "the miracle". Additionally, the second this happened, both of the other's signals disappear from the stage to prevent them from seeing "Sadakiyo's" real identity.
And, lastly, Uzumaki, you are right about "Sadakiyo" commenting that he too, like Donkey, thought the "miracle" is a trick but is too afraid to say. If Katsumata loved science so much as Donkey once did, then he would know that the it's all a mere trick, meaning he was the "sadakiyo" present that night.
Also responding to Uzumaki's question with this:
http://ourworld.cs.com/SSJ%20Raditz451/20th+Century+Boys+v16c173p045+copy.jpg
As you can see in this link, in vol. 16, after Friend went around wearing Sadakiyo's mask, he came home and held it in his hand, looking into the mirror. Having seen his face blank already on the way home earlier, he notices he -does- have a face now... Asking first if he is Sadakiyo, THEN if he is, Katsumata! Why else would Urasawa bring him up? He also wore the mask!
It's also interesting to note that later when Sadakiyo runs out of the house on hanging hill in fright, he screams "Nopperabo!" meaning "faceless ghost/demon/goblin", Fukubei often finding himself faceless in mirrors. It's also interesting to note their fake ghost resembles "faceless" Fukubei.
http://www.mangascreener.com/stephen/20cb/tcb-01-005.txt
Search for "katsumata" on that document. As you see, Katsumata was deeply in love with science before his "death" - Yamane and Fukubei were, too. How much more could he fit in with this misfit trio? Not to mention there is a connection between he and Fukubei here - it is rumored Katsumata's ghost haunts the science room due to his anger at missing the dissection, and Fukubei seems himself as a faceless ghost, as in the night at hanging hill mansion.
Uzumaki, you were right about the "miracle" happening after Sadakiyo's transfer:
http://ourworld.cs.com/SSJ%20Raditz451/20th+Century+Boys+v16c176p105+copy.jpg
However, after Sadakiyo returns he does not talk. At all.
Another thing to note: The day Kiriko sees Fukubei, Yamane, and the other "Friend" playing, as she and Sadakiyo watch... They're wearing the same clothing as the day of Fukubei's "miracle"! As for the final most interesting part of the "miracle" linked to this mystery...
Remember in volume 14 when everybody went in the simulator to see "the miracle"? After "Friend" and Manjoume left, Koizumi wants to pull off "sadakiyo"'s mask. The boy begs and begs her to stop, and when the mask is finally lifted, she lets out a scream and wakes back up in reality without memory of what happened. So Sadakiyo definitely was not present at "the miracle". Additionally, the second this happened, both of the other's signals disappear from the stage to prevent them from seeing "Sadakiyo's" real identity.
And, lastly, Uzumaki, you are right about "Sadakiyo" commenting that he too, like Donkey, thought the "miracle" is a trick but is too afraid to say. If Katsumata loved science so much as Donkey once did, then he would know that the it's all a mere trick, meaning he was the "sadakiyo" present that night.
Amazing! Great post. You have convinced me. The only thing left now is to get the answer to the relationship b/w Fukubei and the character in question.
Part in bold: that makes sense, especially since the the 'new freind' (most likely Katsumata) was also present during the VR miracle. He would've ended the program to preserve his identity from being revealed.
OK, I recently bought volume 1 of 20th Century Boys. Well not recently, today.
Yeah, I'm just wondering, how many volumes are out already in Japan?
I'm kinda having problems finding the middle volumes...
Volume 21 was released like one month ago. And it's not over yet. I actually was wondering about how far Urasawa could go.
Anyways, no spoiler meant, the story is sort of coming to its conclusion. But as it is still serialized i don't want to sound to sure. There are so many "open doors" i don't think it would be possible to close them all in the end, if you know what i mean...
How great Urasawa may be, i guess everyone has limits when it comes to trying to keep up with the maze he or she has been extending for years...
LordAshram
2006-04-03, 20:15
Oh yes, I found a final piece of evidence on who Friend ISN'T yesterday, from volume 19...
Remember when Rena's boyfriend, the "evil" guy, was given his mission to kill Kiriko's fiance? The "Friend" ordering his mission is likely the same imposter/not-Fukubei one we see today due to his mask and avoidance of any question about who he really is.
Anyway, here's the final proof... Remember how Sadakiyo constantly asked Kyoko Koizumi whether she was good or evil, and whether he was as well? He seemed to believe that goodness came only in black or white. When Rena's boyfriend asks fake-"Friend" if killing Kiriko's fiance would make him evil, he states "There is no good or evil within my cosmos"... I highly doubt Sadakiyo's opinions on such things would change from now to then, especially since he said "I'm not a good person" a few times before death.
And looking through volume 21, while I was unable to read it, I did get some interesting information out of the images in the last chapter:
The fake "Friend" has a flashback to high school, where walking down the halls he sees Yukiji, Kenji, and Yoshitsune... He then walks upstairs, puts on a mask, and walks out of a door onto the school's roof. Not only that, but he seems to start his final announcement with T-Rex's "20th Century Boy", so for sure he went to Kenji's high school... And this pretty much eliminates any suspicion people had for Donkey or Sadakiyo being fake-"Friend", because the latter transferred out after one semester of elementary school and IIRC the former was split up with the rest of Kenji's group in the move over to secondary schools.
Well, i think i couldn't try to prove you're on a wrong lead, as i don't know a thing about what's going on but...
anyway i'm gonna have to read it all again sooner or later...
Just let me warn you, as you say you can't read japanese ( though i'm sure you guessed already), that what Friend says at the very end of this 21st volume is quite important and may make you change your mind :cool:
javiermancebo
2006-04-27, 15:58
Well I have a new theory about Friend indentity. I´m very sorry again cause my bad english, maybe you can forgive me.
I think Mon is awfully suspicious, because:
1. In the first volume Kenji and company did´t remember any untill Mon say "we buried something" then, they dug up the friends flag. So Mon is who started all, if he didnt have this great memory, maybe the Kenji´s faction never had fighted against Friend.
2. Mon get to bring Donkey to the sciences clasroom to turn on the fishbowl, in spite of this was on, just the same day os Fukube´s miracle. Why he did it if he really turned on the fishbowln?
3. Mon is the only character who remember Katsumata and in which class did he staid. Again, what a great memory¡
4. We didnt saw Mon´s death. Sadakiyo tell us, but Sadakiyo has the same emotional stability than Norman Bates in Psicosis. Must we belive Sadakiyo?
5. We had never seen Mon into the secret base. we saw Kenji, Yositshune, Otcho, Maruo, but ... Mon? Why did he left his work, to fight with the others, living in the sewage system, and them he gave out his life for get the "new prophecy´s book" if the other boys seems they never permit him to came into the secret base?
6. When Yositshune (adult) ask to Mon (children): "Where is Yositsune?" he answered he didn´t know it, but he didnt seem Yositsune´s friend. I only see they were friends in the future.
Oh yeah. I just started reading 20th century boys, chinese translated, a few weeks ago. Got hooked. Onto volume 10, but well, I just can't control myself and I spoiled myself quite abit all over the place. There goes the suspense T_T.
Well, I must say, the story, and the way it unfolds, is DEFINITELY awesome. Urasawa did it once again... And requesting for anyone with Kenji's song... I'm interested to hear it.
Diedrupo
2006-05-01, 02:06
Well I have a new theory about Friend indentity. I´m very sorry again cause my bad english, maybe you can forgive me.
I think Mon is awfully suspicious, because:
1. In the first volume Kenji and company did´t remember any untill Mon say "we buried something" then, they dug up the friends flag. So Mon is who started all, if he didnt have this great memory, maybe the Kenji´s faction never had fighted against Friend.
2. Mon get to bring Donkey to the sciences clasroom to turn on the fishbowl, in spite of this was on, just the same day os Fukube´s miracle. Why he did it if he really turned on the fishbowln?
3. Mon is the only character who remember Katsumata and in which class did he staid. Again, what a great memory¡
4. We didnt saw Mon´s death. Sadakiyo tell us, but Sadakiyo has the same emotional stability than Norman Bates in Psicosis. Must we belive Sadakiyo?
5. We had never seen Mon into the secret base. we saw Kenji, Yositshune, Otcho, Maruo, but ... Mon? Why did he left his work, to fight with the others, living in the sewage system, and them he gave out his life for get the "new prophecy´s book" if the other boys seems they never permit him to came into the secret base?
6. When Yositshune (adult) ask to Mon (children): "Where is Yositsune?" he answered he didn´t know it, but he didnt seem Yositsune´s friend. I only see they were friends in the future.
Interesting, however I don't believe its Mon-chan simply because Mon-chan is a pretty big guy and this new Friend looks to be the same as Fukubei. In fact, after reading vol 21 i'm pretty convinced that it is still Fukubei, and he managed to survive somehow. There is a panel where you see the back of his hair, and it's the same as Fukubei's hair.
Stephen or anyone else, has anything new happened since the last chapter of vol21? I am really hoping 20th Century Boys is wrapped up in the next volume, cause its just time for it to end.
javiermancebo
2006-05-01, 04:32
Interesting, however I don't believe its Mon-chan simply because Mon-chan is a pretty big guy and this new Friend looks to be the same as Fukubei. In fact, after reading vol 21 i'm pretty convinced that it is still Fukubei, and he managed to survive somehow. There is a panel where you see the back of his hair, and it's the same as Fukubei's hair.
Stephen or anyone else, has anything new happened since the last chapter of vol21? I am really hoping 20th Century Boys is wrapped up in the next volume, cause its just time for it to end.
I read this 21 volume too and I think then man who you are talking about when you see the back of his hair seems more Sadakiyo that fukubei.
I read in many webs Urasawa will take a long break:
http://www.comipress.com/post1145942851a1146460588.html
http://joglikescomics.blogspot.com/2006/04/manga-ketchup.html
Whhhhhhhat! Ah! >_>. This news is breaking me.
I've got scripts for all the chapters up through v21 and then about half of what will be v22 (including the "final" chapter) on my site. Still missing a few here and there, but they don't seem to be floating around online. Unless someone scans them and puts them up. That's all I have on the subject...
Diedrupo
2006-05-02, 00:27
I read your scripts...
Holy shit, Konchi!!! Haha Urasawa rocks
Ah, nevermind, I found all the rest. I'll do them this week.
I just want to say that this manga is insanely good. I know you have heard but I had to say it. I can't wait to see how it all ends. If I have had to wait for every chapter from the beginning that would have been really, really hard. :)
I found the story to be less interesting after volume 15 but considering how brilliant it was in the first 15 volumes that's not really suprising. Prior to reading this I had read very little manga and I really didn't expect to become so addicted to 20th century boys, despite loving the anime version of Monster.
One of the few things I didn't like is the way the "good" characters almost miraculously survived so many dangerous situations. First you think almost everyone died in the Bloody New Year's Eve then one by one they all come back into the story. Well, except Mon-chan, that is. And Kenji's return and amnesia was the icing on the cake so to speak. I think I preferred him as just an inspirational figure. And if the "new" Friend turns out to be some character introduced in volume 21 or even 22, I will be really disappointed. I love plot twists but sometimes they are just too many even for me.
You know what, I read the 2 last chapters in "Big Comic Spirits" and now I regret it, cause I actually missed the whole first part of what will become vol.22...
argh...:upset:
I think I ruined the most interesting part... so frustrating.
:heh:
I think I'll live, anyway...
So my advice would be : Magazine, or books, choose well and don't change your mind!
:p
Oh god nooo! Why does Urasawa have to take a break NOW? Can't he...finish the series first...?(grumbles selfishly).
Matrim, same here, I barely read much manga before, but ever since I saw Monster I knew I had to read more by Naoki.
I tried to read Berserk while waiting for 20CB, and the first arc was somewhat enjoyable because we get to see Griffith, the charismatic and somewhat psychotic leader at work, but after the end of the first arc things got so boring and repetitive.
Maybe I'll read some Pluto now.
(Why Urasawa?!)
One of the few things I didn't like is the way the "good" characters almost miraculously
The series this long tend to slowly become more and more...trivial. Look at Berserk, for example...or even Monster. Tension builds and builds, and then overblown baloon pops and glides slowly to the ground level.
20CB is still somewhat interesting, except this stupid "Gutalala" deal...oh, God, just imagining hordes of people singing this crap is scarier than "Night of the living dead".
Well, I don't think Monster (the anime) became trivial but generally speaking you are right. And I agree that the whole "gutalala" madness is annoying as hell.
Diedrupo
2006-05-08, 22:37
Argh I can't believe we have to wait til next year to find out who the hell Friend is!
All right, any theories? :)
I'm on volume 12... Sigh... If only I have more $$$ to buy the next few volumes...
One thing we can be sure who friend isn't, he isn't Maruo lol <_<. Unless he has some 1337 liposuction and reverse liposuction thing <_<. LOL. >_>.
Kurapica
2006-05-30, 18:39
I've searched for it, but there is no 20th Century Boys anime right?
Nope, no anime. Although I think it'd be good if there was an adaptation like Monster.
Anyway, heres a strange question that I'm pondering on my head, regarding Vol 15 and 16. I've only read until there, so if my answer is answered in the later book, then tell me that and dont' spoil me >_>. I've been spoiled for a hell load in 20thCB <_<. Don't want to be spoiled more.
Well, you see, in Vol 16, we figured that Friend, AKA Fukibi, can die. Well, according to his flashback, he almost killed himself back at 1970(I think, or was it 1971) in the physics lab when he, sadaiyo and the other guy i can't remember the name because I'm reading the chinese translation, and Donkey came about. That part. It showed he could die because he was shocked when the safety feature in the noose spoiled and he was about to be choked. So this proves that he can die... But... How did he not die then? Or is it left a mystery?
One more thing, I mean its kinda... illogical for his "ressurection" not get any suspicion from anyone, can it? Its just plain weird ressurection and no one suspects a thing.
I still have a few questions piled at the back of my head but I can' recall them now...
Oh and for the Kenji song, is there only 1 song? Because I just got my hands on it. Heeeee! Nice song!
I've searched for it, but there is no 20th Century Boys anime right?
Like Ratix said, none that I know of. And I think it's not be announced yet either. Monster (anime) isn't over yet, is it?
Monster (anime) isn't over yet, is it?
Actually, it is over. The fact that its forum here is in the "older series discussion" category should have given you a hint about this fact, I think. :)
Ratix, the things you are asking about are revealed to an extent in later volumes and it seems that there will be some explanation in the end, so I guess would not want to know more details in order to avoid spoilers.
Nope, no anime. Although I think it'd be good if there was an adaptation like Monster.
Anyway, heres a strange question that I'm pondering on my head, regarding Vol 15 and 16. I've only read until there, so if my answer is answered in the later book, then tell me that and dont' spoil me >_>. I've been spoiled for a hell load in 20thCB <_<. Don't want to be spoiled more.
Well, you see, in Vol 16, we figured that Friend, AKA Fukibi, can die. Well, according to his flashback, he almost killed himself back at 1970(I think, or was it 1971) in the physics lab when he, sadaiyo and the other guy i can't remember the name because I'm reading the chinese translation, and Donkey came about. That part. It showed he could die because he was shocked when the safety feature in the noose spoiled and he was about to be choked. So this proves that he can die... But... How did he not die then? Or is it left a mystery?
One more thing, I mean its kinda... illogical for his "ressurection" not get any suspicion from anyone, can it? Its just plain weird ressurection and no one suspects a thing.
I still have a few questions piled at the back of my head but I can' recall them now...
Oh and for the Kenji song, is there only 1 song? Because I just got my hands on it. Heeeee! Nice song!
Yeah, it is a mystery. There is some more talk related to it later on, but mostly it is a mystery.
Hooo! I can't wait to find out what happened/happens.
Ah thanks. Gah, I still have some questions which I was pondering about since many volumes ago but can't remember. >_>.
Actually, it is over. The fact that its forum here is in the "older series discussion" category should have given you a hint about this fact, I think. :)
Argh, my bad. I only read the manga, so I was completely unawared of what was happening in the "older series discussion" forum over Monster. Sorry sorry. :heh:
Then I have great great news : You know what? 20th Century boys is over!
Ah, you knew... :(
lol
A question that I recalled upon reading vol 16...
Spoilers for volume 16
Fukibi uses Sadakiyo's mask right? When they're going to that house with the spirit thingie. I mean, wouldn't they find it strange that its fukibi behind the mask instead of sadakiyo? I mean, its a little exerggerated to totally ignore fukibi, even just to notice that hes wearing a mask and is mistaken to be sadakiyo originally by kenji. Isn't it weird?
Heh, I noticed that I've spent quite a bomb over the past 2 months, or hell, the past week. Just a week alone, I've bought 5 volumes >_>. 15 - 20. Ow for my wallet. For 2 months, its 1 - 20.
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7039/dsci00017fg.jpg
Hehehe >_>. I'm sure a broke now.
Anyway, I have some question upon reading till here...
Yamane didn't die at the end of 2014 did he? That day when Fukibi was shot by him..? Since he is at the lab in one of Kiriko's Flashback where the factory where the vaccine is made in the US is being set on fire...?
So, it seems like Fukibi died, and an imposter is now the identity of friend? Or shoul I not say imposter, friend is both Fukibi and him? Because the "Evil-est guy" commented that he seem to be different from the one before, back at 1990+. Meaning there has been 2 person who is "Friend" since the beginning? So at the end of volume 20, there is a mystery kid. One who wears Sadakiyo's mask and hangs out with Fukibi's clique? Quite confused at that part too...
Ratix, I don't think both of them have been Friend since the beginning, but their plans were definitely intertwined. The rest of your comments are what I think.
I think that this new Friend has a lot to do with the previous's identity problems. I also think that they share the same face, i.e, they must be twins. Naoki had twins in Monster and I wouldn't be shocked if they're in 20 cb as well.
Ratix : Which version is this? Sorry to ask, it may be obvious, but not for me... :heh: I just bought Japanese and French versions and they are much alike, darker than this blue cover. I saw German covers are much flashier. And then I don't know where you could find these Japanese titles... Is this Chinese? American?
:confused:
Chinese Version, by Chuang Yi.
So far I've seen 2 different chinese ones, one by Youth one by Chuang Yi. I reckon the Youth one is definitely better. Better translation. Chuang Yi is quite known to not have that good translation, well, I kinda realise it when reading 20th CB by Chuang Yi... Names change numerous times even in volume 10+, and stuff. I read the one by Youth, well, on the net, and the translation seem more consistant and better.
Well, sadly, the one by Youth is in Traditional Chinese(Taiwan) wherelse Chuang Yi is a Singapore company so its in Simplified Chinese. Not too good at reading Trad Chinese lol.
And regarding friend's identity(Spoilers for Volume 21)
Yep, i just bought and read it in less than an hour <_<. Anyway, seem like Sadakiyo is the new friend! Wtf? Or is it? Doesn't seem to explain how we see 2 kids with Sadakiyo's mask. And it says from Kiriko that Fukibi seem to be discussing something with someone around his age through the phone all the time. Sadakiyo?
Or another interesting thought...
THERE ARE 2 SADAKIYO! Twins! Why not? The masks... Or... Its THE one and only sadakiyo who poses as friend at the end of volume 21! Which before that(During FE) it wasn't sadakiyo perhaps? Just for that short moment when he annouced it, I'm quite certain its Sadakiyo. Though that sounded a little far fetch. Then again, fukibi posed as Sadakiyo before by wearing his mask, I wouldn't be surprise if Sadakiyo posed as fukibi by wearing the "friend" mask
Oh and, some things I've been wondering about. Notice in Volume 5...
The last page of the original book of prophecies seem to be torn off. And it wasn't spoken about at all after it. Thought it would have some stuff to that page being missing... Hmmm?
Edit: Sorry for making the new thread ... I didn't find it when I searched for it.
hmmmm the ending was pretty disappointing... seemed rushed considering how long the manga is.
Speaking of which, the beginning of the final arc starts within a week.
Diedrupo
2006-12-21, 03:43
sweet, can't wait! hopefully they will reveal Friend's identity and not make it too absurd.
and the chapter is out!
titled, "21st Century Boys"
:D
(p.s. If you plan to search for it enter "21th" instead of "21st", as there seems to be a mistake with the name of the t......)
Diedrupo
2006-12-27, 12:28
holy crap!
fukubei all along!
No, Fukubei is dead. It's someone who had plastic surgery to look exactly like Fukubei.
Diedrupo
2006-12-27, 21:07
No, Fukubei is dead. It's someone who had plastic surgery to look exactly like Fukubei.
let me guess, they still didn't reveal who it was? although it appears that Kenji knows.
Cooldude
2006-12-28, 02:26
I thought there's still another chapter to be released that wraps it all up? Or is it a new arc, so that it's not ending yet?
i guess there is going to be another chapter.......
(SOMEONE PLEASE TRANSLATE THE CHAPTER FOR ME, I CAN'T READ JAPANESE, SO HEEEELP!!!)
Im starting to get lost with this new chapter...
How in the world did:
Number 13 get there so quickly? And get pwned by the space ship. And the helicopter? Doesn't seem to flow...
http://www.20thboys.com/
Omg wtf is this? Itsa Movie!!!
EDIT:
OK I just realised there has been a volume 22 <_<. Im now lost. Has 22 acctually been released in Japan? Then whats 21st century boys then? The conclusion Arc?
http://www.20thboys.com/
Omg wtf is this? Itsa Movie!!!
It will probably suck ... The story is way too big to be handled in 2h.
I wish they rather did a long anime like Monster
I am hoping it won't. Or it can be multi parted... first arc in the first movie?
Volume 22 was released ages ago in Japan.
21st Century boys is the last part of 20th CB and it is meant to be an explanation of everything that has happened
as vol 22 ended without revealing ANYTHING
Renegade334
2007-01-02, 15:13
Im starting to get lost with this new chapter...
How in the world did:
Number 13 get there so quickly? And get pwned by the space ship. And the helicopter? Doesn't seem to flow...
That's because, in v.22, when the hijacked robot started wreaking havoc hither and yon and Friend v.2.0 was holding Kanna 'hostage' (he was threatening to crush the apartment complex she was sleeping in), n.13 took the helicopter he used to fly the DJ guy to the Tokyo radio sation and headed for Friend's position.
And since Otcho had already disposed of two of the three remote-controlled flying saucer, he 'became one with the cosmos' by colliding with the remaining drone. What you see in the first 21st Century Boys chapter is the direct continuation of v.22's end, after the helicopter kamikazed the UFO and crashed to the ground.let me guess, they still didn't reveal who it was? although it appears that Kenji knowsWhile Kenji reminisces part of his past and is finally reunited with Kanna, he seemingly doesn't have any memory of who Friend v.2.0. is. The only clue to who the guy (who had plastic surgery to resemble Friend v.1.0 (Fukube) and apparently was a 20th Century Boy) resides in two persons now.
- the wounded Sadakiyo (don't remember if he survived. I deleted the chapter to make some room on my hard drive >_<), who might reveal Fukube's other associate's identity.
- officer Chouno, whose father had learned the identity of Friend v.2.0 and written in in a hidden document. Chouno was last seen carrying his injured former superior towards the document's location.Oh, by the way,it seems that Kenji will use that dream machine to go back in the past and come to terms with what happened right then - and the "traumatic" circumstances that gave birth to Friend.
By the way, I or someone else may have mentioned this already in this thread (not going to reread all of it) that the current Friend's name has already been mentioned in the story. If you've really been paying attention, you should know who it is by now.
I see... I was under the impression that Vol 22 hasn't been released and that urasawa is taking a haitus after Vol 21 <_<.
Now when will they release vol 22 chinese translated... WHEN?! T_T
Omg. This is god! I didn't know theres a vol 22... I just read it. And its about time I re-read 21st century boys.
And Kanna is just so adorable!
Hmm... I wonder what this could be all about...
『20世紀少年』の監督が『トリック』や『明日の記憶』の堤幸彦監督に決定！
2008年全国東宝系で公開になります！さらに、本日発売のスピリッツ誌上で堤監督×浦沢直樹 特別対談掲載！
お見逃しなく！
http://www.20thboys.com/images/26.jpg
And I found 21st Century Boys serialized into 2 volumes... I found the first in original Japanese at some bookstore... Together with the full 20th century boys from Big Comics Spirits...
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7262/21stml1.jpg
Pics are up. On a side note, upon returning there yesterday, 21st century boys is... MISSING! OH NOES!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c4/Oronamin_C_Enamel_Billboard.jpg/180px-Oronamin_C_Enamel_Billboard.jpg
Oh I see!
http://www.20thboys.com/images/26.jpg
This is a parady of Oronamin's advertisement with Kon Omura!
Rotton the Wizard
2007-08-08, 03:20
I'm really surprised that no one is discussing this manga after the final chapter of 21st Century Boys came out. From reading forums, I get the impression that towards the end of the manga after Kenji comes back opinions changed from "OMG, 20th CB is awesome!" to "this is pretty lame", and that a lot of people stopped reading the manga completely after that point. Still, I thought the last few volumes of the manga were pretty good even though some plot revelations were pretty cheesy.
I thought 21st CB had some really interesting plot points such as Sadakiyo helping out Kenji's group, Manjoume's ghost existing in the VR machine even after he died in real life, and the revelation that Friend #2 was "a copy of a copy".
I was pretty disappointed with how some characters weren't fleshed out well by the end, mainly Shikishima's daugther, her "evil" boyfriend, Takasu, and Katsumata at the end. Katsumata seemed like Sadakiyo but with even less of a personality. They seemed rather simple compared to the amount of depth Urasawa usually gives his characters. Plot develoment with these characters at the end of the manga seemed quite rushed to me.
The ending itself wasn't bad, but it was neither epic nor exciting. It seemed almost realistic with how bland the ending is compared to Kenji's exciting childhood vision of saving the Earth. All of the main characters just look very tired, old, and completely sick of fighting. The ending just had a sobering "life goes on" vibe to it, like people waking up from a nightmare while feeling groggy.
Even with all that said, 20th Century Boys is still one of my favorite manga, with some of the best moments out of ANY story I've read before. Rabbit Nabokov and the end of Vol 15... talk about plot twist!
I can't believe it's over! :(
Hey guys. I just started reading this amazing manga. I'm already on Volume 9. I was wondering if you guys could help me find a link to download Kenji's song because the previous links are not working anymore. Thanks.
Rotton the Wizard
2007-08-08, 07:04
I don't know any working direct download links for it now, but at least there's a decent quality youtube vid of it here: Kenji's song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6fMWguYVME&mode=related&search=)
I don't know any working direct download links for it now, but at least there's a decent quality youtube vid of it here: Kenji's song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6fMWguYVME&mode=related&search=)
Thanks. I hope a direct link comes up soon. Is this manga almost done? How many volumes does it have?
Rotton the Wizard
2007-08-08, 12:51
The manga just finished very recently. It's a total of 22 volumes plus 2 more for the ending (only one is out right now but all of the chapters have been published). The two extra volumes are called "21st Century Boys".
I don't remember where I got it from, but here it is:
http://rapidshare.com/files/47918043/Endou_Kenji_-_Bob_Lennon__20th_Century_Boys_.mp3
Has volume 22 been fully translated already?
Yeah, it is as far as I know.
The question is though has anyone translated 21st Century Boys...
The question is though has anyone translated 21st Century Boys...
obxist has translated the first 7 chapters so far.
End of Volume One will hit on October 20th :/
Rotton the Wizard
2007-10-13, 10:16
The question is though has anyone translated 21st Century Boys...
All of 21st Century Boys has been translated a long time ago here:
http://www.mangascreener.com/stephen/20cb/20cb.html
What I did was just read the translations alongside the raws when they first came out.
If you could point me to the raws that would be amazing. :)
Okay, well I just finshed off 21st CB and How does Katsumata being friend make sense? Wasn't he a "ghost'?
Hmm... I've read the first volume of 21CB, waiting for the 2nd half to be translated into chinese...
The last part felt a little confusing, but its pretty good IMO... Well, I didn't expect a really epic ending, considering urasawa tends to end his stories in a, more of a "life goes on" manner, considering monster was about that level too after a climax.
Hoping for stuff to get explained, and things sure build up to quite a fortune with quite a lot of ends waiting to be tied by the very last volume.
On another note, Im quite worried with the 20th CB movie. If im not wrong, its going to cover the first arc of the story, the kenji's arc, which, well, coming from the makers of Death Note, Im afraid they'll rape its storyline to quite a big extent like what they did with Death Note.
syoyocool
2007-12-02, 03:33
I believe that Yukiji and kirko (I think that's how you spell it) should of got more plot time in. I think the were really underused. BTW, I think the number one thing I hate about the Friend is the fact that he seduced kenji sister to have his child. Ever since I found out he was Kannas father, it has been slowly eaten away at me. I think friend got off too easy.
I think that was biggest wronged he inflicted against kenji.
Also, this is probably one of the most detailed manga I ever read and also it is my all time favorite. It actually made hard for me to read trigun after finishing it. Now, I hope to finished 21st century boy to get the closure for my life.
One last thing, did this manga inspire anyone to rock out to the oldies rock they were listening too? I know I did and 20th century boy became the soundtrack of my life for the duration of the time I spent reading it. Now, I just to have to listen to Flash jack thompson.
karumofin
2007-12-03, 19:48
i really hope there will be an anime version, like monster... faithfull, long and epic...
i really hope there will be an anime version, like monster... faithfull, long and epic...
There is going to be a 3-part live action movie with the first part releasing in this coming August.
Also, for the rest of the Urasawa fans, 21st century boys has finally been fully subbed.
darkdarkasian
2008-02-20, 17:50
I hope the movie doesn't ruin the manga. Japanese live-action films don't do so well. I don't bother watching them. But "Battle Royale" is an exception. That's a pretty damn good live-action film to watch.
I just finished the 2nd half of 21st Century Boys... Great ^_^. I love it.
Im praying for the movie to come quick but not a slaughtered version of the original...
omg.. such a terrible ending.. and after all that build up!
the last chapter makes about as much sense as a flying eggplant. Thanks urasawa for making me read through 24 volumes of complete crap. (yes its crap after you finish it, no matter how good the first 20 books were)
just had to somehow squeeze in one last random resurrection of a dead character who nobody even gives a S*** about. then not even try to attempt to explain how it came to be? and that someone somehow happens to look identical to fukube? okay so... are they suppose to be twins or something? or did he have surgery? OR WHAT GODDAMMIT!?
and where the hell does the laser gun come into play? yes let's say that its gonna be crucial for the final battle in the first couple volumes, then completely blow it off, never mention it again and hope nobody notices?
Urasawa is laughin his way to the bank right now after selling this load of crap for 8 years.
Coulda been a masterpiece; instead its just complete bullcrap. /end vent
I agree that the manga went to utter crap by the last third of the story or so, but I also don't think you read it very carefully, because you're complaining about things that were explained very clearly.
mrsticky005
2008-04-15, 16:48
anyone know where i could a french scanlation of 20th century boys?
yezhanquan
2008-04-16, 01:14
omg.. such a terrible ending.. and after all that build up!
the last chapter makes about as much sense as a flying eggplant. Thanks urasawa for making me read through 24 volumes of complete crap. (yes its crap after you finish it, no matter how good the first 20 books were)
just had to somehow squeeze in one last random resurrection of a dead character who nobody even gives a S*** about. then not even try to attempt to explain how it came to be? and that someone somehow happens to look identical to fukube? okay so... are they suppose to be twins or something? or did he have surgery? OR WHAT GODDAMMIT!?
and where the hell does the laser gun come into play? yes let's say that its gonna be crucial for the final battle in the first couple volumes, then completely blow it off, never mention it again and hope nobody notices?
Urasawa is laughin his way to the bank right now after selling this load of crap for 8 years.
Coulda been a masterpiece; instead its just complete bullcrap. /end vent
Well, given his talent at writing characters which are VERY good at manipulating, it wouldn't be at all wrong to say that you/those who bought the series fell for it (that is assuming that your rants have merit).
There was another controversy over his "Master Keaton" (see the wiki page for details). Urasawa is definitely a man who's more than meets the eye.
2H-Dragon
2008-04-16, 17:39
omg.. such a terrible ending.. and after all that build up!
the last chapter makes about as much sense as a flying eggplant. Thanks urasawa for making me read through 24 volumes of complete crap. (yes its crap after you finish it, no matter how good the first 20 books were)
just had to somehow squeeze in one last random resurrection of a dead character who nobody even gives a S*** about. then not even try to attempt to explain how it came to be? and that someone somehow happens to look identical to fukube? okay so... are they suppose to be twins or something? or did he have surgery? OR WHAT GODDAMMIT!?
and where the hell does the laser gun come into play? yes let's say that its gonna be crucial for the final battle in the first couple volumes, then completely blow it off, never mention it again and hope nobody notices?
Urasawa is laughin his way to the bank right now after selling this load of crap for 8 years.
Coulda been a masterpiece; instead its just complete bullcrap. /end vent
PLASTIC SURGERY!!!! Ok next to that I agree... >_> <_<
coolerweb
2008-05-11, 16:45
Hi guys,
sorry bumping an old thread, but I just read 20th century boys and 21st century boys, and man I was hooked... It was a really good manga that keeps you wanting to read more & more....
Anyway, after I finished reading it, I think there are several things that are not yet answered (or maybe it already has but in a subtle way)... Anyone care to help?
The following questions is only for those who have read the whole books, because it contains spoiler!!!
1. Back in the New Year's Eve, Fukubei fell down to his death. How was he able to stay alive and show up in front of Kenji afterward? And before Fukubei fell down, he also opened up the 'masked man' and said "it's not sadakiyo"... Who is it then? just Fukubei's underlings?
2. It was also revealed that Fukubei was able to bend all of the spoon in the cafetaria. But since the spoon bending and the levitation are tricks (just like his 'miracle' hanging suicide), how in the world he was able to bend all of the spoon?
3. The laser gun was implied to be useful for the final battle, but unless I missed somethin, I didn't see how it was useful for Kenji to bring the robot down...
4. Kenji somehow hated the way Kanna was brought up, and he decided to give her the cold shoulder (on the concert). What's with that?
That's all.... Any reply are appreciated. Cheers
I just finished it too. Disappointed by the last third of the story. I didn't like how it took 24 volumes for us to be told that a barely known character was behind it all, with an equally flimsy and ordinary motivation. Since I'm convinced that Urasawa tried to make something like a manga version of Moore's Watchmen (similar elements: comic book/manga fantasies coming back to haunt as reality, nostalgia for past times, both start out with a friend from the past having fallen to their death, and both contain a villain who knew them from the past, etc), I think 20CB could really have been slimmed down, un-deux-exed, and tightened up into a masterpiece. Oh well.
It was the same with Monster too: Urasawa falls into the trap of his own skill: he builds up so much suspense and convinces the reader that they are about to be told something sooooooo extraordinary and horrible, that when the revelation finally comes you are like, Whatt? That's what I've waited 75 episodes/ 22volumes for! You stink Urasawa!!!
Diedrupo
2008-06-16, 01:06
I thought Monster's climax was pretty chilling. I can't think of any way it could have ended better. IMO Monster was pretty much perfect.
I really liked 20th century boys though, the first half or 2/3rds of it was just pure brilliance. it's a shame that it ended so poorly and so contrived.
yezhanquan
2008-06-16, 05:53
Agreed about Monster.
Hm movies out!
Woot!
Need to find sources now =\.
Ooph! More Urasawa fans in Singapore. Thats AWESOME O!
Nervous Venus
2008-09-05, 12:23
I really don't agree with the assessment of Monster, but I'll keep my mouth shut about it, as this is a 20CB thread. >_>;;
2. It was also revealed that Fukubei was able to bend all of the spoon in the cafetaria. But since the spoon bending and the levitation are tricks (just like his 'miracle' hanging suicide), how in the world he was able to bend all of the spoon?
I had this very same question ages ago. Nobody seemed to be able to answer it :/
mouhitori
2008-09-06, 10:31
I feel the first movie was pretty good, if you already read the manga. Otherwise, I doubt it would attract new fans...
Any opinion from anyone who have seen it too?
First movie impression (http://mouhitori.blogspot.com/2008/09/20th-century-boys-movie-1.html)
On the topic of the ending to the manga not being very good. I have to say that I agree. The followup with 21st century boys also didn't really tie up any loose ends there may have been.
The main problem with the series is that it constantly builds up and has nothing exicting after.
Monster is better because it's shorter and therefore when it builds up there's some nice revelations.
20th Century has it's revelations but after almost 8 times they had tried to build up to them, also the series kept on switching around who friend was and it just got kind of annoying after a while.
I agree Diedrupo: Monster's climax was chilling. I like how it was a standoff (I had sort of hoped it would be).
Nervous Venus
2008-09-08, 17:16
Just to clarify, when I said I disagreed with the sentiments expressed for Monster, I meant the negative ones. I agree with Diedrupo and Avisch :)
I have yet to see the film. I was kind of " Eh?" to some of the actors that were chosen, but I"ll have to see for myself.
I have to say I really liked the childhood part of the story. I didn't care much for the "Friend" era. It wasn't very interesting and seem dragged out.
So let me get this straight, Kenji created Friend and Friend2? Friend wanted to join Kenji's group by getting on their good side with manga but they didn't give a damn about him then Kenji stole all the attention with his ghost on Hanging Hill story when they should be asking Friend about the Expo that he never went to. As for Friend2, he wanted to get back at Kenji for stealing the badge while Friend2 was accused of stealing it the day he "died." I wish someone would explained everything about their childhood like the reason Sadakiyo and Katsumata wore the same mask or the faceless Fukubei.
mrsticky005
2008-09-11, 10:23
I actually liked the ending.
The only that disappointed me is that
We never actually see what Katsumata-kun actually looks like. We only see his face AFTER he gets the Fukubei plastic surgery. Though even though I say I'm disappointed about this it's also kind of cool in a frustrating type way. (like how in Monster we don't know if Johan is alive or not)
I reread the manga after seeing the live action movie (a good movie, despite the typical Japanese overacting) I don't think the final part of the manga along with 21st century boys was crap nor anti-climatic after the reread. Don't get me wrong I do think the third part of the story is the slowest and weakest out of the three arcs but not having a ridiculous high expectations this time around helps.
End (last chapters of 20th and whole 21th) was good... Couldnt be better then this...
ellifeedn
2012-02-03, 19:12
I recently read and finished this series. I thought this was a really clever series with a lot of good moments. There were also bad parts, mainly in the third act. Everyone's already talked about them (it was rather slow, the revelation of Friend at the end was weak) and the series left a few questions that I don't think were adressed, most of which were brought up by coolerweb. One question that wasn't was how Kenji survived that explosion in 2000.
@coolerweb: Throughout the series, it's been shown that there is some sort of special power that Friend and Kanna had. Maybe that can explain one or two of those questions.
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