Kenji and his friends start to notice a series of odd occurences related to their childhood. A mysterious cult-leader named “friend” is out to destroy the world, and it has something to do with Kenji’s childhood memories.
20th Century Boys (20世紀少年, Nijyusseiki Shōnen) is a science fiction mystery manga created by Naoki Urasawa. It won the 2001 Kodansha Manga Award in the General category, an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival, and the 2003 Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category.
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Urasawa wrote 20th Century Boys along with another popular title, Monster, for 2 years (Monster ended in 2001). It was licensed by VIZ Media in 2005; however, at Urasawa’s request, it has been rescheduled for release after Monster finishes its English serialization due to a change in art style over time.
20th Century Boys seems to have been inspired in parts of the story by the works of Stephen King, containing allusions to It and The Stand. However, the story draws allusions mostly from rock and roll, with its title based on T. Rex’s famous song, “20th Century Boy”.
The last chapter of the story is being serialized under the name 21st Century Boys. Also, a live action movie adaption is planned to be released in August of 2008, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi.
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