Pluto is set in a more realistic version of the Astro Boy universe, so he had Osamu Tezuka to rely on, I think Tezuka's son might have helped as well. He likely also had stories about security agencies from the real world as well (and other fictional stories using them). Astro is in this, but only a bit character, with the main character having none of Astro's powers, and serving a different role.

I read his 20th Century Boys, and enjoyed it, but after 10 volumes, I gave up. The ending was probably good, but it's felt like it was trivializing prior events to pad its length, and there was another 12 volumes to go. Enjoyed Billy Bat as well, but I started to get the same feeling, so I abandoned it sooner.

For Nichijou, it was like you said, he asked for comic/manga recommendations. All the manga I listed aside from Heterogenia have good anime, with Berserk's only good anime being the 1997 OLM version. If it was just anime (with Super Hero theme), I could list more, like Darker than Black also known as "Chinese Electric Batman," though the sequel falls short. There's The Big O which was made by the same animators as Batman Adventures, and has a number of similarities, except for the Giant Robots. Was supposed to be 3 seasons, but cut at the last minute to 2. There's also Inuyashiki a fun, dumb 1 season super power anime about a youth and old man are that accidentally killed by aliens, then "revived" in alien war robot bodies. Astrofighter Sunred isn't officially translated, but it's a good parody on the villain of the week power rangers-type show aimed at an adult audience (those that have to work, and go grocery shopping). Worth watching if you have the means.

Nichijou also has a follow-up Helvetica Standard that is only in manga form.

Pluto is set in a more realistic version of the Astro Boy universe, so he had Osamu Tezuka to rely on, I think Tezuka's son might have helped as well. He likely also had stories about security agencies from the real world as well (and other fictional stories using them). Astro is in this, but only a bit character, with the main character having none of Astro's powers, and serving a different role.

I read his 20th Century Boys, and enjoyed it, but after 10 volumes, I gave up. The ending was probably good, but it's felt like it was trivializing prior events to pad its length, and there was another 12 volumes to go. Enjoyed Billy Bat as well, but I started to get the same feeling, so I abandoned it sooner.

For Nichijou, it was like you said, he asked for comic/manga recommendations. All the manga I listed aside from Heterogenia have good anime, with Berserk's only good anime being the 1997 OLM version. If it was just anime (with Super Hero theme), I could list more, like Darker than Black also known as "Chinese Electric Batman," though the sequel falls short. There's The Big O which was made by the same animators as Batman Adventures, and has a number of similarities, except for the Giant Robots. Was supposed to be 3 seasons, but cut at the last minute to 2. There's also Inuyashiki a fun, dumb 1 season super power anime about a youth and old man are that accidentally killed by aliens, then "revived" in alien war robot bodies.

Nichijou also has a follow-up Helvetica Standard that is only in manga form.