A highly requested title from Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki, the in-demand manga Billy Bat is a historical conspiracy-thriller meta-manga spanning multiple millennia following a Japanese American comic artist’s search for the truth regarding the origins of his character “Billy Bat.”

This is the first thrilling volume in the sci-fi mystery by Naoki Urusawa and Takashi Nagasaki, beautifully packaged and available for the first time in English.

It’s 1949 Los Angeles, and Kevin Yamagata, a Japanese American comic book author, is drawing his bestselling character, Billy Bat: a quick-witted detective who is, unsurprisingly, a cartoon bat.

Everything is going well for Kevin until he discovers an unfortunate truth: He may have unintentionally plagiarized his beloved character from a drawing he once saw in Japan. Devastated by the news, Kevin returns to war-torn Japan to find the drawing’s original artist . . . but the character’s origins turn out to be far older and more perplexing than he had ever imagined.

Details

ISBN13: 9781419780080
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 200
Edition:
Publication Date: 04 Jun 2026
Publisher: Abrams
Publication City, Country: United States
Dimensions (cm): 19.1(H)x12.7(L)x2.2(W)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

Naoki Urasawa is a master manga artist described to have changed the history of contemporary manga. He has won numerous awards, including the Shogakukan Manga Award three times, the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize twice, and the Kodansha Manga Award. He is known for authoring Monster, 20th Century Boys, Billy Bat, and Pluto (which was adapted by Netflix). Takashi Nagasaki is an author and manga writer known for titles such as Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto. He worked as editor at Shogakukan before leaving to work as a freelance artist.

Reviews

The story, full of intrigue, conspiracy, and mysticism, and set against the backdrop of the nascent comics industry in the U.S. and Japan and the early days of the Cold War, plays to all of Urasawa's strengths as a storyteller who can meaningfully comment on history while infusing it with thrilling high concepts and genre elements. -- Harry Kassen * Booklist, starred review *
This should be of strong interest to fans of Urasawa's multilayered narratives, manga history, or sprawling metafictional mystery stories. * Library Journal, starred review *
Billy Bat is far from a conventional shonen-style manga that's become synonymous with the medium. The 20-volume series folds many of Urasawa's defining fascinations into one sprawling conspiracy thriller, weaving together the moral ambiguity of Monster, the historical entanglements of Pluto, and the generational paranoia of 20th Century Boys into a story fixated on the unstable boundary between narrative and reality. For longtime readers and critics alike, Billy Bat represents one of Urasawa's boldest achievements in metafictional puzzling. * POLYGON *
"Fascinating... A mind-bending journey.... Truly unforgettable." * SCREENRANT *
Naoki Urasawa is a major force in the world of manga. * IGN *
I'm always in awe of the elegance of Urasawa's comics. * Matt with 4 T’s *
"Naoki Urusawa is the closest Japan has to an Alan Moore, and his most ambitious manga epic, Billy Bat, is finally getting an English edition." * BLEEDING COOL *
Showcases Urasawa's pristine cartooning.... a sprawling conspiracy rooted in ... fear and paranoia. * AV CLUB *
Urasawa is widely regarded as one of manga's most influential modern creators. * ANIME CORNER *
Urasawa and Nagasaki are the masterminds behind Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto, three of the most lauded works of manga of all time. * COMIC BOOK CLUB LIVE *
Urasawa is a master of mystery, and Billy Bat is one of his best works, delivering an outstanding, intricate plot that spans centuries before bringing everything together. * COLLIDER *
One of The Greatest Manga of All Time * COMICBOOK *
One of manga's most ambitious conspiracy thrillers. * GEEK VIBES NATION *
"Long-awaited."  * COMICS BEAT *
Billy Bat Vol. 1 is exactly the kind of ambitious, unpredictable storytelling that has made Naoki Urasawa one of manga's most celebrated creators. Every new revelation opens another door, every twist feels earned, and the constant shifts in perspective only deepen the intrigue. Backed by outstanding artwork and a premise that grows more fascinating with every chapter, this first volume establishes a mystery that is as entertaining as it is inventive. * AIPT COMICS *
"If you like Urasawa and Nagasaki's brand of confident conspiracy thriller, you'll adore this comic... This rollercoaster has no brakes!" * YATTA-TACHI *
Urasawa fans have eagerly awaited this manga's English publication for years. They won't be disappointed. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *
Kevin's personal story and the images of post-war Tokyo are gripping enough to make me want to read on in the series and find out. * Historical Novel Society *