.png)
A Urasawa Appreciation
Some stories entertain you.
Others stay with you.
Naoki Urasawa’s manga definitely belong to the second kind.
It actually took me a little longer to discover Urasawa. I’m not sure how I missed him at first. Maybe I was too deep into shojo at the time. But when I finally picked up Monster, something clicked. The pacing, the atmosphere, the way even side characters felt important... I was hooked.
Luckily, I was still early enough that finding his older series wasn't too painful. I even managed to grab Master Keaton without needing to go on a full-blown manga hunting quest. If you’ve ever tried chasing out-of-print volumes, you know what a win that is.
But, I really wish my high school French had stuck with me a bit better. Or that I could travel back in time and tell my past self, “Hey, maybe don’t forget everything right after the final exam.” Because wow, the French manga scene is Urasawa heaven. Yawara, Happy!, Pineapple Army — so many of his harder-to-find series are easily available there.
And since we’re already spilling secrets: there actually is one Urasawa volume I didn’t love. 20th Century Boys: The Spin-Off. I’m pretty sure it was never released as a single volume in the US, and honestly... I kind of understand why. Let’s just say it wasn’t what I expected.
Also, thank you to Daniel, whose blog post reminded me that I’ve actually been meaning to write this newsletter for months. If you enjoyed my fangirling over Hiromu Arakawa (and I know many of you did), chances are good you’ll love this one too.
So this month, I want to pass on that excitement or obsession, if we’re being honest to you.
My Urasawa shelf so far. Emotional damage: ongoing.So where do you start with someone like Urasawa?
Honestly, anywhere is good. But here are four of his most unforgettable works. Each one a masterclass in suspense, emotion, and storytelling.
20th Century Boys
It begins with a group of kids in the 1960s who spend their days drawing comics, listening to rock music, and dreaming up stories about evil organizations and heroic resistance groups. Totally innocent childhood fun. But decades later, parts of their imaginary tale begin to play out in real life. A mysterious cult rises. People vanish. History starts to bend. And the question slowly forms: What exactly did we create back then?
This manga is huge. Not just in length, but in scope and ambition. It moves through different time periods, jumps between generations, and weaves together science fiction, thriller, and emotional coming-of-age drama. It’s nostalgic and eerie at the same time. The kind of story that keeps layering new details just when you think you’ve figured it out.
And it’s personal for me too. I was so deep into the story, volume after volume, that I completely missed one pretty obvious detail. It took me years to realize that the spines of the volumes, when placed next to each other, actually form a complete illustration. Yes, I was that person who only noticed when someone pointed it out online. To be fair, spine art like that isn't really common in the US.
Anyway, if you love big stories that feel like puzzle boxes, filled with conspiracy, friendship, and the bittersweet weight of time, 20th Century Boys is absolutely worth diving into.
20th Century Boys Perfect Edition Urasawa Vol 01 TP
€20,69
€22,99
A deluxe bind-up edition of Naoki Urasawa's award-winning epic of doomsday cults, giant robots and a group of friends trying to save the world from destruction! Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have… read more
Monster
A brilliant young surgeon saves the life of a boy instead of a high-profile politician. Years later, that boy has become something far darker. And the doctor? He’s pulled into a long, chilling hunt for the truth and for redemption.
Monster is one of those stories that starts quiet and tight, but slowly grows into something massive and psychological. It made me pause more than once just to take it in. If you like slow-burn thrillers and morally complex characters, this one’s for you.
Monster TP Vol 01 Perfect Edition Urasawa
€20,69
€22,99
Everyone faces uncertainty at some point in their lives. Even a brilliant surgeon like Kenzo Tenma is no exception. But there's no way he could have known that his decision to stop chasing professional success and instead concentrate on his… read more
Pluto
Set in a future where humans and advanced robots coexist, Pluto begins with a series of mysterious deaths. The victims? Some of the most powerful AI beings in the world, along with the humans connected to them. A robot detective named Gesicht is assigned to the case. What follows is not just a mystery, but a deeply human story about war, grief, memory, and what it means to have a heart.
Pluto is based on a single arc from Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, but Urasawa turns it into something entirely his own. It’s elegant, sad, and absolutely gripping. You don’t need to know Astro Boy to fall into it. I didn’t.
There’s a moment (I won’t spoil it) that caught me completely off guard. And yes, I cried. The story doesn’t ask for your tears, it earns them slowly. Through empathy, not drama. Through silence, not spectacle.
Pluto Urasawa X Tezuka GN Vol 01
€15,29
€16,99
Creator: Naoki Urasawa In a distant future where sentient humanoid robots pass for human, someone or some thing is out to destroy the seven great robots of the world.… read more
Asadora!
Asadora! begins in 1959 with a girl named Asa, one of many children in a growing post-war family. Often overlooked and misnamed by her neighbors, Asa feels invisible until a typhoon hits, and her life changes in a single night.
While searching for a doctor, she crosses paths with Kasuga, a desperate man and former pilot. What follows is an unexpected partnership built on survival, quiet trust, and shared pain from a war that still lingers in the background.
Urasawa uses this small story to explore big themes: memory, trauma, and resilience. There’s a touch of mystery, maybe even something supernatural, but at its heart, Asadora! is about people. Asa, brave and full of empathy, brings warmth to every page.
It’s not as loud as Monster or 20th Century Boys, but it stays with you.
Asadora GN Vol 01
€11,24
€14,99
When Asa's mother goes into labor yet again, Asa runs off to find a doctor. But no one bats an eye when she doesn't return-not even as a storm approaches Nagoya. Forgotten yet again, Asa runs into a burglar and… read more
And if you're between series...
If you're not quite ready to jump into one of Urasawa’s big epics, or you just need a breather between Monster and 20th Century Boys, his shorter works are absolutely worth a look. Sneeze is a lively and surprising collection, moving from psychic powers to Kaiju-obsessed tourists and even offering a few personal glimpses into Urasawa’s own life and love of music.
Then there’s Mujirushi: The Sign of Dreams, a full-length standalone that can been described as part mystery, part drama, and part theatre of the absurd. It’s full of twists and unexpected turns, layered with timely social commentary and a hint of dark humor. It may not reveal all its intentions right away, but by the end it clicks into place.
Secure your shelf candy now
Okay, there’s nothing new from Urasawa at the moment.
Honestly? Someone needs to give this man a deluxe edition already. Just imagine Monster in oversized hardcover with thick paper. But while we wait, there are a few really exciting preorders worth checking out.
First up: Witch Hat Atelier Manga Box Set 1. Beautiful art, emotional story, a little bit magic, a little bit Ghibli-feeling. If you haven’t started it yet, this box is kind of the perfect excuse. I’m personally a little tempted too... so far I’ve only read the digital volumes. But i really want them in my shelfes. Then there’s Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Deluxe Volume 1. It’s big, it’s hardcover, it’s mecha at its best.
Now something completely different: He Rolled Me Up Like a Grilled Squid. Wild title, right? Yoshiharu Tsuge is not for everyone. His work can be strange, raw, depressing, even disturbing. Definitely not your average feel-good manga. But if you’re into gekiga — those darker, more serious, grown-up manga from the late 50s and 60s — this is a rare gem.
And of course, Vagabond Definitive Edition Volume 3 is also open for preorder. These hardcovers are absolutely gorgeous. If you already love Takehiko Inoue’s samurai saga, this is the format it deserves. And if you’ve never read Vagabond before... You’re in for something special.
And since I’ve just spent way too much time talking about Urasawa ...
... there’s absolutely no room left to tell you about all the shiny new arrivals in the shop. Oops. But hey, feel free to check them out yourself right here (Psst, Vinland Saga Deluxe Volume 7 & Vagabond Definitive Edition 2):
👉 [New arrivals? Yes please]
A fun fact to end on
Naoki Urasawa doesn’t just write and draw everything himself, he also plays guitar in a rock band. Honestly, it makes sense. His manga has rhythm, movement, and timing like a great live performance. Also, love his Manben series. A documentary where he visits other mangaka. Super insightful. Highly recommend if you like seeing how the magic happens.
That’s it from me for now. Happy reading, and may your next manga hit you right in the feels!
Kerstin
