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Once again I'm directing people to the Manga Traders website. This time to read the fabulous series 20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa who is more well known for his other manga series, Monster. This is a HUGE recommendation for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
oneiric22 who I know has a special fascination for the crazies in cults.
The series focuses around the character of Kenji who I can really relate to. He had big dreams of making it in a band and has so much creative energy but somehow everything he does creatively never quite takes flight and he ends up running a convenience store with his mother. One day his sister returns home and begs him and his mother to take care of her daughter for her then she runs off. Just a week later one of his childhood friends commits suicide by jumping off the roof of the high school he teaches at. When Kenji returns from the funeral he receives a letter from the dead friend asking him if he recognizes an odd symbol.
Soon Kenji unravels a secret society run by someone referred only to as "Friend" and strangely enough, everything "Friend" talks about Kenji remembers as being a plotline to a fantastic story he and his friends made up as children together. Soon "Friend" and his followers take notice of Kenji and he has to go on the run, never sure of who to trust as "Friend's" power and influence grows more and more great and his followers begin to make the story Kenji created as a child become a reality. No matter how terrible and destructive those ideas are.
It's a seriously awesome read. I couldn't look away and better yet it has a sequel 21st Century Boys which is currently being translated so yay about that. Honestly, I recommend any manga by Naoki Urasawa. He's simply a genius when it comes to crafting a truly well written story. His plots might be a bit strange but they're so intricate and his characterization is so thoughtful that he could quite possibly make anything seem feasible.
Big time thumbs up for 20th Century Boys.
oneiric22 who I know has a special fascination for the crazies in cults.The series focuses around the character of Kenji who I can really relate to. He had big dreams of making it in a band and has so much creative energy but somehow everything he does creatively never quite takes flight and he ends up running a convenience store with his mother. One day his sister returns home and begs him and his mother to take care of her daughter for her then she runs off. Just a week later one of his childhood friends commits suicide by jumping off the roof of the high school he teaches at. When Kenji returns from the funeral he receives a letter from the dead friend asking him if he recognizes an odd symbol.
Soon Kenji unravels a secret society run by someone referred only to as "Friend" and strangely enough, everything "Friend" talks about Kenji remembers as being a plotline to a fantastic story he and his friends made up as children together. Soon "Friend" and his followers take notice of Kenji and he has to go on the run, never sure of who to trust as "Friend's" power and influence grows more and more great and his followers begin to make the story Kenji created as a child become a reality. No matter how terrible and destructive those ideas are.
It's a seriously awesome read. I couldn't look away and better yet it has a sequel 21st Century Boys which is currently being translated so yay about that. Honestly, I recommend any manga by Naoki Urasawa. He's simply a genius when it comes to crafting a truly well written story. His plots might be a bit strange but they're so intricate and his characterization is so thoughtful that he could quite possibly make anything seem feasible.
Big time thumbs up for 20th Century Boys.