everybody says it's just like rock n' roll

[elspeth_vimes]

And now, another installment of "things Orly should have posted about months ago."
Today's episode- 20th Century Boys and 21st Century Boys (the latter is really just the last two volumes of the former) by Urasawa Naoki!

...Have I mentioned I love Urasawa? I love Urasawa.

The setup of 20th Century Boys is that, when they were kids, a group of

Comments

[bookelfe]

OH MAN DO THAT CHARACTER FANGIRLING POST SO I CAN FANGIRL SOME MORE

Not . . . that I'm not fangirling now . . . um.

Also, I think I agree with your point about the plot - I can tell it's going to be a bit more sprawly and not as tight as Monster's, even from the point I'm at in the story. Though while I love the Monster characters too, the characters in 20th Century Boys have SUCH A HOLD on my heart that I don't even care, it shoots way up to 'favorite' status. Kenjiiiiiii!

Also also, I continue to be amazed at how Urasawa can depict character continuity from childhood to old age just by keeping the same eyebrows.

[elspeth_vimes]

I AM TOTALLY GOING TO DO IT, BECAUSE MAN DO THOSE CHARACTERS DESERVE TO BE FANGIRLED OVER. And at every possible opportunity. So.

The characters are the real reason that I understand why many people like 20th Century Boys the most. They're such beautifully realized individuals, and so many of them work incredibly as an ensemble (which is something that 20th Century Boys has over Monster). It's kind of interesting to me that I prefer Monster, since I've always sort of considered myself more character than plot oriented. I guess it's that I love the characters in Monster enough that loving its plot more manages to put it above 20th Century Boys. (I also seem to be becoming a bit of a sucker for thematic cohesion, and Monster is somewhat stronger in that department as well. Though Pluto is probably even better than Monster in that department.)

EYEBROWS ARE DEEPLY IMPORTANT.

[bookelfe]

I vote picspam! Because people should see their dorky faces. *helpful*

They really are - and I am a total sucker for ensembleness, and for ordinary people who are shoved into the middle of an epic story and still manage to be completely ordinary and real, and 20th Century Boys hits those buttons hard for me. And I also love the genre-play, and how it's commenting (and poking fun at) how things work in sff stories at the same time as it's totally using those same tropes. Monster also takes itself a bit more seriously, I think - which it should, because it's an amazing story and the themes deserve that kind of attention. (That is because thematic cohesion is awesome!)

TEN OUT OF TEN URASAWA CHARACTERS AGREE.

[elspeth_vimes]

PICSPAM IS A MUST. How can one appreciate Kenji properly without seeing his dorky face? It is impossible!

I love the ensemble in this series so much. And I adore how Urasawa can make me cheer for the Standard Action Trope I totally saw coming, and then promptly follow it with one of his "haha, you actually thought you had the plot figured out? Of course you don't!" moments. And yeah, while completely justified in it, Monster definitely takes itself more seriously. 20th Century Boys knows it's goofy in many ways, but is going to be epic anyway!

...I lol'd. XD

[bookelfe]

Fair warning: when this goes up, you are likely to get a comment that is pretty much entirely composed of "KENJI'S DORKY FAAAAAAAAAACE *_*"

I know! It's pretty impressive. (The whole dramatic race to the airport TO STOP THE BOMB is still one of my favorite scenes ever. "WRONG AIRPORT, IDIOT.") Yessss. Much like Kenji himself! Whereas Monster, like Tenma, is very patently intelligent and accomplished and determinedface and just so good that little birds come to sit on its shoulder in the forest and it can't bring itself to kill there because then the little birds would never trust it again. Metaphorically.

- I feel like I will probably be able to extend this Grand Theory of Urasawa to fit Pluto and Gesicht too once I finish reading Pluto . . .

[elspeth_vimes]

That is a perfectly valid response to such a post, and I will accept it as such.

(YES. I must also admit to being particularly fond of Kenji's Inspiring Imitation of Donkey which...totally fails and results in him being mocked by college students.)
...That is very much what Monster is, yes. XD

Pluto, I believe, is in fact a great deal like Gesicht! It is determined and responsible in a terribly heartbreaking way.

[bookelfe]

Excellent! Then I will feel no shame. (Well. Maybe a little shame.)

(*cracks up* That is ALSO pretty awesome. And, I mean, I love Kenji a lot, but every time he is mocked by random bystanders/minor characters my heart grows three sizes. Possibly this makes me a terrible person?)

This is the impression I am getting so far! I have volumes 2 and 3 waiting for me at the library so I will soon be able to report back further, also.

[elspeth_vimes]

No shame should be felt!

(But so much of what makes him Kenji is his dorky persistence in the face of such adversity! It is no wonder you heart grows three sizes.)

Ah, I look forward to it!