
Part of Series
The Friend, an enigmatic cult leader who plans to destroy the world, declares, "The cosmos has begun choosing those who are true friends." Meanwhile, horrifying incidents are taking place: the emergence of a mysterious virus, the revelations of a man on the run... Kenji tries to find out who this Friend is, but the answer is still far ahead. The footsteps of doom slowly creep closer and a shadow falls over the city... Yukiji remembers who came up with their group's enigmatic symbol: Otcho. She also discovers that, nine years earlier, Otcho had been working in Thailand but mysteriously vanished. Could Otcho be the mysterious Friend? Also, a legendary detective is hot on the trail of the Shikishima kidnappers, but the clues he uncovers lead him dangerously close to the Friends cult. Is his life now in danger as well?
Author

Urasawa Naoki (浦沢直樹) is a Japanese mangaka. He is perhaps best known for Monster (which drew praise from Junot Díaz, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner) and 20th Century Boys. Urasawa's work often concentrates on intricate plotting, interweaving narratives, a deep focus on character development and psychological complexity. Urasawa has won the Shogakukan Manga Award, the Japan Media Arts Festival excellence award, the Kodansha Manga Award and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. In 2008 Urasawa accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University. Series list (not including short stories collections): - Pineapple ARMY (パイナップルARMY) 1985-1988, written by Kazuya Kudo; - YAWARA! 1986-1993; - Master Keaton (MASTERキートン) 1988-1994, written by Hokusei Katsushika; - Happy! 1993-1999 - MONSTER 1994-2001 - 20th Century Boys (20世紀少年) 1999-2006 - 21st Century Boys (21世紀少年) 2007 - PLUTO 2003-2009, based on Tezuka Osamu's Tetsuwan Atom - BILLY BAT 2008-2016 - Master Keaton Remaster (MASTERキートン Reマスター) 2012-2014 - Mujirushi (夢印-MUJIRUSHI-) 2017-2018, collaboration with Musée du Louvre - Asadora! (連続漫画小説 あさドラ!) 2018-ongoing