Overall Rating: A+
Summary: A seinen (manga that is targeted to an 18–30 year old male audience) science fiction/mystery series created by Naoki Urasawa, which follows Kenji Endō, who owns a liquor store and takes care of his infant niece. The story splits its time between the present day (which is 1997 in the story) and when Kenji was growing up with his friends in 1969.

As a young boy in 1969 Kenji and his friends build a “secret base” (little kids’ hideout) to read manga, look at stolen porn, and listen to a radio. In the present day, one the friends, Donkey, has apparently committed suicide, but there are clues that his death is connected to a series of murders. What’s stranger is that all of it seems to be tied to a symbol that Kenji recognizes, but cannot place. At Donkey’s wake, Kenji reunites with his childhood friends, and they reminisce about growing up together and their “secret base”. None of them can quite remember the strange symbol or its meaning, but all of them recognize it. What is the symbols connection to the group of childhood friends? Are the friends connected to the strange cult that is growing in popularity and uses the symbol? Most importantly, who is the enigmatic leader of the cult, known only as “Friend”, and what is their connection to Kenji? 20th Century Boys is the story of a group of childhood friends who have grown up, and are trying to save the world.

I really can’t recommend this one enough. The story and characters are well-developed and it does an amazing job of mixing fun/funny and dark elements in the plot. By the end of the first volume I was completely hooked, and now I’m eagerly awaiting volume 4 (it releases on August 18th). If you’re interested in a gripping, suspenseful manga, then run out to the store and pick up a copy. You won’t regret it.