Naoki Urasawa is one of the most beloved mangakas around. His unique style of writing and characterization, added to his captivating way of telling and revealing a story, is unique. One of his famous works is Monster, which was on par with its anime adaptation, which is loved by Naoki Urasawa and anime fans in general. In the manga space, Naoki Urasawa has a lot on his catalogue that people consider classics, from Master Keaton to Billy Bat, but there is one manga that stands out above the rest and can even rival Monster's “Perfect” status, and that is 20th Century Boys. ***

__Part 1 A Believable Fantasy__

20th Century Boys has a surprisingly simple plot. We follow the main character, Kenji, and his friends, who discover that the symbol that they made when they were kids was used by a cult that plans to take over the world. A pure and simple story about people saving the world with the kindness of their hearts against the evil that faces them head-on. However, a simple plot line such as 20th-century boys can have an issue where readers would find it difficult to be attached to the current events, especially with the child-like fantasy creations. But Naoki Urasawa’s unique writing and the vibe it sets in starting from Chapter one pushes you to this building threat that only a child can find adventurous fantasy to being an adult being scared for the cost of that fantasy. Recontextualizing the fantasy in a reality setting is already a pretty unique take on the genre, but fully committing to the tense, grounded take on the male battle fantasy is a huge and respectable commitment that hooks you from beginning to end. ***

__Part 2 A Deep Rabbit Hole__

The believable fantasy of 20th Century Boys can be enough to keep readers hooked in the series, but Naoki Urasawa’s signature style of writing and elevating the mystery is a perfect pair for this manga series. On paper, the mystery of the series can be easily deductible because of the contained nature of the story. But as you keep reading and get closer to the mystery, two more mysteries open. It is a smart move for a mystery series to keep the readers hooked, but 20th Century Boys uses this trick and cranks it up to 11. Once you get closer to the mystery, five more mysteries open with a deep rabbit hole that has little hint of its end. It can be exhausting when executed poorly, but Naoki Urasawa managed to carefully put out the mystery in a consistent way despite its chaotically beautiful downhill.

For a mystery series, this one will really keep you second-guessing and doubting the information that you have, even with the one where the series has already been revealed as fact or the ones who are explicitly shown to be a plot jump. ***

__Part 3 Who is Friend?__

In the series, there is only one mystery that carries it from start to finish. “Who is a friend?" ”. The series does eventually get to that mystery in a way that's grandiose than what it sets out to be and satisfying amidst the thin line of success of hitting it right. But one thing that got glossed over by people's minds—and understandably so with how chaotically amazing this series is—is, "Why does a friend do this? ”. The answer is pretty simple: “Friend” just wants to have world dominance, but why are we captivated by a character who has a blunt reason for his villainy?. The answer simply lies in the dynamic between our heroes and “Friend”.

For instance, from the perspective of our main heroes, they actively look back on the days when they were children and reflect on their memories and the actions they took. Some look back at it in reminiscence, but there are moments from all where they felt regret and sorrow with their actions. As the story goes back in time, the characters in the present learn from that mistake. It might take an instant, and some might take a decade to fully face it, but the arc of redemption is by far one of the most satisfying moments, both for the characters and readers alike. "Friend,” however, is the opposite of that. The character of “Friend” represents the idea that you've never grown up from the bitterness of the past, carrying that petty fantasy just to ruin someone's life all because of what happened in your early years. It's a simple contrast between the hero and the villain in a simple story of revenge from the villain’s perspective. ***

Conclusion

The works of Naoki Urasawa are one of the most sophisticated and well-developed stories in manga. It gives respect to the character building and keeps them grounded, despite the suspension of disbelief the series takes you in. However, there can be a divisive nature among readers in regards to the ending. In the case of 20th Century Boys, there will be readers who feel betrayed because the highs that they felt suddenly ended without having a proper conclusion, even with the core characters and even the mystery itself. Luckily, there is 21st Century Boys, a sequel to the series that continues where the main series left off and tied up loose ends and the left-overs the main series left for this sequel.

If you are a person who loves reading mystery-driven or character-driven shows and are willing to let yourself fall into a deep rabbit hole that you can't easily get out of, 20th Century Boys is truly a one-of-a-kind series and an absolutely gripping and unforgettable reading experience from start to finish. ***