20th Century Boys

A sprawling, paranoid thriller from the early 2000s, 20th Century Boys follows a group of childhood friends who must confront a sinister cult that eerily mirrors a game they invented as kids. Published by Panini France across 22 issues, this series is the defining work of Naoki Urasawa, weaving a dense, decades-spanning mystery that blends nostalgia with apocalyptic dread. Its intricate, slow-burn plot and deeply human characters have made it a landmark of manga storytelling, celebrated for its ambition and emotional weight.