20th Century Boys Arc Chapter Counts (Manga Story Phases)
Compare 20th Century Boys arc chapter counts across 11 phases from ch. 1 to 249. Uses Shogakukan volume data, from Secret Base 21 to final Justice 24 chapters.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volumes 1-2: Secret Base start (ch. 1-21) Shortest phase at 21. | 21 chapters | Vols 1-2, symbol and cult rise | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 1-21, Shogakukan Vol 1-2 |
| Volumes 3-4: Guitar search (ch. 22-43) First 22 chapter block. | 22 chapters | Vols 3-4, Kenji tracks Friend | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 22-43, Shogakukan Vol 3-4 |
| Volumes 5-6: Bloody New Year (ch. 44-65) Covers reunion and escape. | 22 chapters | Vols 5-6, Dec 31 attack and prison | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 44-65, Shogakukan Vol 5-6 |
| Volumes 7-8: Truth room (ch. 66-87) Ends with Kenji song. | 22 chapters | Vols 7-8, truth room and guitar | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 66-87, Shogakukan Vol 7-8 |
| Volumes 9-10: Friend Land (ch. 88-109) Kanna stands up here. | 22 chapters | Vols 9-10, camp and masked boy | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 88-109, Shogakukan Vol 9-10 |
| Volumes 11-12: Friend face (ch. 110-133) Long phase at 24. | 24 chapters | Vols 11-12, list and face reveal | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 110-133, Shogakukan Vol 11-12 |
| Volumes 13-14: Memorial (ch. 134-157) Friend death sits here. | 24 chapters | Vols 13-14, death and memorial | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 134-157, Shogakukan Vol 13-14 |
| Volumes 15-16: Expo era (ch. 158-181) Leads into Friend era turn. | 24 chapters | Vols 15-16, expo and Friend era | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 158-181, Shogakukan Vol 15-16 |
| Volumes 17-18: Counterattack (ch. 182-203) Joe travels by bike. | 22 chapters | Vols 17-18, fights and Joe guitar | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 182-203, Shogakukan Vol 17-18 |
| Volumes 19-20: Return (ch. 204-225) Kenji identity returns. | 22 chapters | Vols 19-20, Kenji return and vote | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 204-225, Shogakukan Vol 19-20 |
| Volumes 21-22: Final battle (ch. 226-249) Longest tied at 24. | 24 chapters | Vols 21-22, aliens and final battle | Urasawa 20th Century Boys ch. 226-249, Shogakukan Vol 21-22 |
About this converter
20th Century Boys runs 249 chapters across 22 Shogakukan volumes from Jan 2000 to Nov 2006. The series has no official arc list, so this table uses 11 two-volume story phases to stay verifiable. Phase 1 covers ch. 1 to 21 at 21 chapters and is the shortest. Phases 2 to 5 each hold 22 chapters, from guitar hero clues to Friend Land prison plots. Phases 6 to 8 each hold 24 chapters and cover ingredient lists, Friend face reveals, Expo plans and mirror world turns. Phase 9 holds 22 chapters with cross counter fights and group songs. Phase 10 holds 22 chapters with the returned man and votes for humanity. Phase 11 closes ch. 226 to 249 at 24 chapters with alien arrival and justice claims.
How to use it
Pick two entries and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try Volumes 1-2 against Volumes 21-22 to see 21 against 24. All rows use Chapters, so the unit stays fixed. Click any table row to load it as Entry A with amount 1.
There is no Shogakukan arc page with chapter counts, so volume pairs carry the rows and each source names the chapter range. Counts sum to 249, which matches the Shogakukan total for Vols 1 to 22. The 16 chapter sequel 21st Century Boys stays out to keep the main run clear. VIZ English volume splits match the same totals with small shift in break points, so Japanese ranges rule here.
FAQ
How many chapters total in 20th Century Boys?
249 chapters across 22 Shogakukan volumes, Jan 2000 to Nov 2006.
Why 11 phases instead of official arcs?
No official arc list exists. Volume pairs give verifiable ranges that sum to 249.
Which phase is shortest and longest?
Volumes 1-2 at 21 chapters is shortest. Four phases tie at 24.
Does this include 21st Century Boys?
No. The 16 chapter sequel in 2 volumes stays out.
Sources
- Urasawa, N. 20th Century Boys ch. 1-54, Shogakukan Vol. 1-5 Jan 2000 to Apr 2001
- Urasawa, N. 20th Century Boys ch. 55-133, Shogakukan Vol. 6-12 Jul 2001 to Mar 2003
- Urasawa, N. 20th Century Boys ch. 134-249, Shogakukan Vol. 13-22 Jun 2003 to Nov 2006
- Urasawa, N. 20th Century Boys serialization, Big Comic Spirits Oct 1999 to Apr 2006, 249 chapters
- VIZ Media 20th Century Boys Vol. 1-22 English listings, ch. 1-249, Feb 2009 to Sep 2012
Last verified: 2026-10-07 · 11 entries
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