21st Century Boys - Vol. 2 Ch. 16.5 - 20th Century Boy - Perfect Edition Ending

[MangaDex]

 

[phil777]

It took so long, and my memory is fuzzy about some of the details, but here we are... Thanks for this.

 

[ErikTheRed]

this brings back memories

 

[Doomroar]

It took so long, and my memory is fuzzy about some of the details, but here we are... Thanks for this.

Bro i am on the same boat here, i don't even know from where i should start re-reading, i feel like i have read 3 different endings to this series now

Edit: there's a pretty good resume on the comments of chapter 16 about things

So yeah, i guess we do have read 3 endings to this series actually, and the feelings wont change

 

[fight2live]

this is my sign to re-read 20th Century Boys again

 

[Doomroar]

this is my sign to re-read 20th Century Boys again

Please once you do come back here, and answer tell us what you manage to find out

According to Kenji in this chapter, Fukubei died as a child during the school holiday, which means he did die on the hanging prank at the science school

But that answers the question of how Katsumata fitted in the past, since in the past everyone thinks he died before the day of dissecting the carp, which leads to him living impersonating Sadakiyo, something he was able to do because Sadakiyo transferred schools without telling anyone else since he (because people mixed Sadakiyo and Katsumata) was being bullied as if he were dead (for the crime that Kenji comitted)

However once the teachers announce that Sadakiyo transfered schools, Katsumata had became unable to use Sadakiyo as his public front, presenting himself only to Fukubei and Yamane, who think that Sadakiyo came back to town after being bullied on his new school

So Katsumata has to live in the meantime as a ghost in his own town, then when Fukubei kills himself in the hanging prank, according to this version, Katsumata starts impersonating him, and everyone else contienues living with the idea that Sadakiyo transfered and that Katsumata died, but it truth it was Fukubei who was dead


But then... what about the future?

Before this chapter it was believed that Katsumata only starts replacing Fukubei as an adult, and before that he lived in the shadows while Fukubei operated openly as Friend, Fukubei seduces Kiriko, gets her pregnant, experiments on her in order to give his daugther real powers, and creates the cult, while talking to Katsumata who helps him from the shadows, and who eventually replaces him as the second Friend, after Yamane kills Fukubei in 2015

But if Fukubei has been dead all this time... who did all that stuff? Kenji implies that everything was being done by Katsumata, Katsumata was Kana's dad, Katsumata made the cult, Katsumata was Friend, but then...

Who was the Fukubei that died in 2015? a fake Fukubei, a fake Katsumata inpersonating Fukubei, the real Katsumata inpersonating Fukubei?

Similarly who was the second Friend that died with Sadakiyo? we assumed it was Katsumata, but Katsumata has been inpersonating Fukubei...

Katsumata has died at least 3 times, as a child from rumors, by being bullied for Kenji's crimes, and as an adult while being Friend, but did he died as an adult while being Friend or while being Fukubei?

 

[Bornz0r]

I have had an experience reading 20th Century Boys and then 21st Century Boys back-to back. It took me roughly 3 days to read all chapters.

I need time to think what that meant to me.

 

[ilusatus]

Please once you do come back here, and answer tell us what you manage to find out

According to Kenji in this chapter, Fukubei died as a child during the school holiday, which means he did die on the hanging prank at the science school

But that answers the question of how Katsumata fitted in the past, since in the past everyone thinks he died before the day of dissecting the carp, which leads to him living impersonating Sadakiyo, something he was able to do because Sadakiyo transferred schools without telling anyone else since he (because people mixed Sadakiyo and Katsumata) was being bullied as if he were dead (for the crime that Kenji comitted)

However once the teachers announce that Sadakiyo transfered schools, Katsumata had became unable to use Sadakiyo as his public front, presenting himself only to Fukubei and Yamane, who think that Sadakiyo came back to town after being bullied on his new school

So Katsumata has to live in the meantime as a ghost in his own town, then when Fukubei kills himself in the hanging prank, according to this version, Katsumata starts impersonating him, and everyone else contienues living with the idea that Sadakiyo transfered and that Katsumata died, but it truth it was Fukubei who was dead


But then... what about the future?

Before this chapter it was believed that Katsumata only starts replacing Fukubei as an adult, and before that he lived in the shadows while Fukubei operated openly as Friend, Fukubei seduces Kiriko, gets her pregnant, experiments on her in order to give his daugther real powers, and creates the cult, while talking to Katsumata who helps him from the shadows, and who eventually replaces him as the second Friend, after Yamane kills Fukubei in 2015

But if Fukubei has been dead all this time... who did all that stuff? Kenji implies that everything was being done by Katsumata, Katsumata was Kana's dad, Katsumata made the cult, Katsumata was Friend, but then...

Who was the Fukubei that died in 2015? a fake Fukubei, a fake Katsumata inpersonating Fukubei, the real Katsumata inpersonating Fukubei?

Similarly who was the second Friend that died with Sadakiyo? we assumed it was Katsumata, but Katsumata has been inpersonating Fukubei...

Katsumata has died at least 3 times, as a child from rumors, by being bullied for Kenji's crimes, and as an adult while being Friend, but did he died as an adult while being Friend or while being Fukubei?

What if Katsumata indeed have the superpower, playing an alter-ego of Fukubei that is "friend", actually revived, and then show his trueself.

 

[juanan]

The ending was... shit. What about Kanna and Kenji? Are you really gonna leave the issue of Kenji dissapointment at her unclossed? What was that shitty reunion between Kanna and her mother? If that's it Kanna was an orphan all along basically, only judo girl and mafia guys cared for her.

 

[Ta123]

Please once you do come back here, and answer tell us what you manage to find out

According to Kenji in this chapter, Fukubei died as a child during the school holiday, which means he did die on the hanging prank at the science school

But that answers the question of how Katsumata fitted in the past, since in the past everyone thinks he died before the day of dissecting the carp, which leads to him living impersonating Sadakiyo, something he was able to do because Sadakiyo transferred schools without telling anyone else since he (because people mixed Sadakiyo and Katsumata) was being bullied as if he were dead (for the crime that Kenji comitted)

However once the teachers announce that Sadakiyo transfered schools, Katsumata had became unable to use Sadakiyo as his public front, presenting himself only to Fukubei and Yamane, who think that Sadakiyo came back to town after being bullied on his new school

So Katsumata has to live in the meantime as a ghost in his own town, then when Fukubei kills himself in the hanging prank, according to this version, Katsumata starts impersonating him, and everyone else contienues living with the idea that Sadakiyo transfered and that Katsumata died, but it truth it was Fukubei who was dead


But then... what about the future?

Before this chapter it was believed that Katsumata only starts replacing Fukubei as an adult, and before that he lived in the shadows while Fukubei operated openly as Friend, Fukubei seduces Kiriko, gets her pregnant, experiments on her in order to give his daugther real powers, and creates the cult, while talking to Katsumata who helps him from the shadows, and who eventually replaces him as the second Friend, after Yamane kills Fukubei in 2015

But if Fukubei has been dead all this time... who did all that stuff? Kenji implies that everything was being done by Katsumata, Katsumata was Kana's dad, Katsumata made the cult, Katsumata was Friend, but then...

Who was the Fukubei that died in 2015? a fake Fukubei, a fake Katsumata inpersonating Fukubei, the real Katsumata inpersonating Fukubei?

Similarly who was the second Friend that died with Sadakiyo? we assumed it was Katsumata, but Katsumata has been inpersonating Fukubei...

Katsumata has died at least 3 times, as a child from rumors, by being bullied for Kenji's crimes, and as an adult while being Friend, but did he died as an adult while being Friend or while being Fukubei?

Wait a minute. Now you mention it that katsumata had died three times..... 3 times.... An imitation of imitation.....

The original katsumata died in the front of jijibaba store although his body still alive his mind is not. Then imitated as fukubei he died in the school lab "Imitating" How real fukubei died. And then the died for third time infront of the school by the flying saucer that had explod because #13(sorry forgot his name maybe matsuo??) followed katsumata plans which's actuaally imitation of imitation from the original book of propechy




Arrgh this is imiception

 

[dsid2814]

The ending was... shit. What about Kanna and Kenji? Are you really gonna leave the issue of Kenji dissapointment at her unclossed? What was that shitty reunion between Kanna and her mother? If that's it Kanna was an orphan all along basically, only judo girl and mafia guys cared for her.

You didn’t get the series at all man.

 

[juanan]

You didn’t get the series at all man.

What exactly didn't I get? The ending was shit through and through, specially regarding all that had to do with Kanna.

 

[dsid2814]

What exactly didn't I get? The ending was shit through and through, specially regarding all that had to do with Kanna.

its okay man. dont worry, just go back to Boruto

 

[juanan]

its okay man. dont worry, just go back to Boruto

No thanks, I don't share your tastes man. I'm more

 

[eirianrobotto]

fin

 

[YW_Rokakaka]

Nice clarification. But now that I think about it... What the hell was up with Takasugi???? So much build up for her to just go "I'm good now" at the end. Oh well, is not like she's the only character who doesn't really go anywhere.

 

[Salmonskin]

I've seen many YouTube videos talking about how manipulative Friend is. So I don't know if it's a hot take or not, but Friend is not the greatest manipulator in the slightest. The reason he gained such followers is make no sense.

He performed magic trick and vague preaches and people just believe him? Sure it's the 1980-1990 when he first started it, but still.

The Budokan thing is more of a entertainment performance rather a religious gatherings. He literally hire a rock band to sing on stage.

Friend's teaching is so vague that it's lame. Becoming one with the cosmos, really?

It's not that Friend is super smart, it's his followers that are super gullible. How even after 2015 Expo virus catastrophe people still somehow believe Friend will save them while literally living in the most oppressive governments ever. Friend's main building even looks like Ryugyong Hotel North Korea.

Giving him the title of President of the World after saving the Pope from assassination attempt? The UN should ban Friend from holding international event due to its useless security measure in handling world leader visit.

People literally just believe about alien invasion and migrating to Mars. In the chapter there's someone trying to refute the idea of colonizing Mars yet the plan has to keep going because Friend said so.

How is no one in Friend's cabinet (except Yanbo Mabo) know that he's been constructing flying saucer under their own building!!! At least when he's constructing the 2000 giant robot there was a Friend's Party meeting with Dr Shikishima.

Friend only has 4 devout followers who're willing to sacrifice themselves to carry Friend's mission. The long hair guy, #13, Takasugi, and Shikishima daughter.

Friend doesn't really fit as a religious leader or a political leader. He didn't do much, he just followed the Book of Prophecy. So in a sense, the book is the actual leader that leads the way, not Friend. When the event deviates from the book, he can't do anything he even got killed twice.

Kenji's song is better propaganda than Friend is. Kenji has the radio DJ and the schoolgirl as the messenger spreading his song to as many people as possible. What did Friend do to counter Kenji's influence? Nothing, he did nothing and just waited until the next prophecy.

The only interesting thing about Friend manipulation tactic is when he's trying to wrote a religious textbook based on Book of Prophecy. Printing and spreading it as much as possible until it become the most copied book that ever exist surpassing the Bible.

 

[Salmonskin]

Speaking of cult, I also read Smiley by Hattori Mitei. This Hattori actually has more convincing cult unlike the Friend cult run by Hattori Fukubei. The cult in Smiley is actually scary and pretty believeable in a way that a cult might use to brainwash their followers. Not just playing video game and call it brainwashing. Chanting, prayers, rituals, that sort of thing.