Tag Archives: naoki urasawa

Kana will release Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki’s entire 20 volume manga masterpiece Billy Bat in English

Posted on by

Kana, the dedicated manga imprint of Abrams ComicArts, has announced the highly anticipated English-language publication of acclaimed manga creator Naoki Urasawa and collaborator Takashi Nagasaki‘s historical conspiracy thriller, Billy Bat. Beginning in June 2026, Kana will publish Volume 1, kicking off an ambitious schedule of four volumes per year, ultimately releasing all 20 volumes. 

Billy Bat is an enthralling, genre-defying series that combines mystery, historical fiction, conspiracy theory, and metafiction, unfolding across multiple eras and continents. Set initially in America in 1949, it follows Japanese-American comics artist Kevin Yamagata, who returns home after serving under the Allied Forces in World War II. Kevin quickly becomes famous for his detective comic character, Billy Bat. However, his newfound success is soon overshadowed by a disturbing revelation—Billy Bat already exists in Japan. Fearing unintentional plagiarism, Kevin embarks on a journey to Japan to uncover the truth, only to find himself ensnared in a tangled web of murders, secret societies, and prophetic mysteries spanning millennia. 

Naoki Urasawa, widely recognized as a transformative force in contemporary manga, has been honored with numerous awards including three Shogakukan Manga Awards, two Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes, and a Kodansha Manga Award. His highly acclaimed series include Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto (recently adapted by Netflix). South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer, Parasite) hailed Urasawa as “the greatest storyteller of our time,” while Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz described him as a “national treasure in Japan.” 

Co-creator Takashi Nagasaki is an accomplished author and manga writer known for his collaboration with Urasawa on Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto. Nagasaki brings his expertise in storytelling and deep knowledge of the manga industry, having previously served as an editor at Shogakukan before transitioning into freelance writing. 

Billy Bat is celebrated for its riveting narrative, which blends historical events with surreal, suspenseful twists and a sharp sense of humor. The series features prominent historical figures including Albert Einstein, Walt Disney (reimagined as “Chuck Culkin”), John F. Kennedy, Neil Armstrong, Adolf Hitler, and even Oda Nobunaga. The series’ innovative approach places it perfectly alongside today’s popular historical fiction and speculative drama series like Bridgerton, Outlander, and All the Light We Cannot See, appealing to both dedicated manga enthusiasts and new readers eager to explore the medium. 

A perennial fan-favorite often listed among manga readers’ “Top 10 Manga That Need an English Release,” Billy Bat has achieved widespread success and critical acclaim internationally. Kana’s forthcoming publication ensures that English-speaking audiences will finally experience the full scope of Urasawa and Nagasaki’s ambitious storytelling. 

Look for Billy Bat Vol. 1 in bookstores and comic shops everywhere in June 2026. 

Billy Bat Vol. 1

Vault announces Sanji, a manga homage variant cover line with Angela Wu

Posted on by

Vault has announced Sanji, a new line of manga homage variant covers drawn by star artist Angela Wu and designed by Vault’s Executive Vice President of Branding & Design, Tim Daniel. 

The first Sanji variant cover will be for Barbaric: Wrong Kind of Righteous #1. It will be an homage to Berserk, honoring the work of the immensely influential and beloved late master artist, Kentaro Miura. Then in 2024, Angie Hewitt’s Lone #1 will feature an Uzumaki homage cover honoring the  master horror artist, Junji Ito. After that, a previously teased series from Peter Milligan and Amalas Rosa will launch with a Pluto homage cover, honoring the groundbreaking work of Naoki Urasawa.    

Each new Vault first issue in 2024 will release with a Sanji Manga homage variant which can be pre-ordered and purchased at local comic book stores everywhere. More Sanji manga homage variants will be announced in the coming months.

NYCC 2019: VIZ Media Announces New Manga, Novels, and More for 2020

Posted on by

VIZ Media expands its publishing catalog as it announced a wide range of new acquisitions set for summer 2020 release during its official panels held this past weekend at New York Comic Con.

New VIZ Signature titles arriving in summer 2020 include Maison Collector’s Edition, the definitive release of the classic Rumiko Takahashi series, Naoki Urasawa’s Mujirushi: The Sign of Dreams, and Ping Pong, the tale of two boys’ passion for table tennis from Eisner Award winner Taiyo Matsumoto. The inspiration for the Netflix Original series Kingdom, The Kingdom of the Gods, was also announced.

Shonen Jump titles announced at the Shonen Jump-dedicated panel include Masashi Kishimoto’s latest series Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachumaru; Act-Age, a gripping tale of an actor surviving her inner demons and Spy X Family, an action-packed comedy about a fake family that includes a spy, an assassin and a telepath. The official manga adaptation of the hit Rooster Teeth series RWBY: The Official Manga also receives a release as well as new novels from bestselling series Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece.

On the Shojo Beat side, new titles include Fushigi Yûgi: Byakko Senki, the final installment of the popular fantasy series and Not Your Idol, a thriller about a former idol dealing with a psychotic stalker.

Last but not least, the roster of titles includes How Do We Relationship?, a rom-com about two college women in a “fake” relationship, and the massive, full-color guide Monster Hunter: World – Official Complete Works, a must have for fans of the video game franchise.

Summer 2020 New Acquisitions:

ACT-AGE
Story by Tatsuya Matsuki, Art By Shiro Usazaki

Kei Yonagi must delve deep into her psyche to succeed in the cutthroat world of acting, but can she keep her sanity while doing so? Is there a method to Kei Yonagi’s madness when it comes to acting? The young actor has a family of siblings to feed, but she finds herself struggling with her psychological demons when playing a role. Her desperate acting catches the eye of a famous director, Sumiji Kuroyama, who’s looking for raw talent to mold. Can he help Yonagi navigate the cutthroat world of acting without losing her sanity?

BLEACH: CAN’T FEAR YOUR OWN WORLD
By Ryohgo Narita, Original Concept by Tite Kubo

The bestselling paranormal action adventure manga series BLEACH continues in novel form as an all-new threat arises! The Quincies’ Thousand Year Blood War is over, but the embers of turmoil still smolder in the Soul Society. Tokinada Tsunayashiro, elevated to head of his clan after a slew of assassinations take out every other claimant to the title, has a grand plan to create a new Soul King. His dark ambitions soon sow the seeds of a new total war across the realms, but all is not lost. There is one unlikely Soul Reaper who holds the key to defusing the conflict—Shuhei Hisagi, Assistant Captain of the Ninth Company and reporter for the Seireitei Bulletin! 

FUSHIGI YÛGI: BYAKKO SENKI
By Yuu Watase

The final FUSHIGI YÛGI story in the Universe of the Four Gods begins! The year is 1923. Suzuno Osugi’s father Takao warns her to stay away from The Universe of the Four Gods, telling her it’s a book that only men can touch. Takao worked with late Einosuke Okuda, who translated its text. He knows that in order to enact its story, the book needs one last heroine: the priestess of Byakko!

HOW DO WE RELATIONSHIP?
By Tamifull

A romance of convenience between two college women soon becomes the real thing. Shy Miwa has always dreamed of finding love, but living in small-town Japan made finding the right match difficult—especially since she likes girls! Even going away to college didn’t seem to increase her romantic odds until one day her outgoing classmate Saeko suggests they might as well start dating each other since it’s not like either of them have other options. At first it seems like things won’t work out as their personalities clash and misunderstandings abound. But when their casual friendship starts to become something more Miwa begins to wonder—can a pragmatic proposal lead to true love?

MAISON IKKOKU COLLECTOR’S EDITION

MAISON IKKOKU COLLECTOR’S EDITION
By Rumiko Takahashi

Acclaimed author Rumiko Takahashi’s classic romantic comedy about finding a path in life. Yusaku Godai didn’t get accepted into college on the first try, so he’s studying to retake the entrance exams. But living in a dilapidated building full of eccentric and noisy tenants is making it hard for him to achieve his goals. Now that a beautiful woman has moved in to become the new resident manager, Godai is driven to distraction!

MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD – OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS

Dive into this monstrously massive guide and explore all of the hunting fields, monsters, weaponry and lore that turned Capcom’s beloved Monster Hunter franchise into a global hit! Monster Hunter: World is one of the biggest games to hit shelves in years, and an epic game deserves an epic book! This 560-page tome features all of the lore, myths and monster designs that made Monster Hunter: World such a hit. Get all of the details on the ecosystems of the hunting grounds, find out just what makes a Rathalos such a ferocious predator and explore the New World!

MUJIRUSHI: THE SIGN OF DREAMS

MUJIRUSHI: THE SIGN OF DREAMS
By Naoki Urasawa

From award-winning author Naoki Urasawa comes a tale of crushing debt, a broken marriage, and the painting that can fix it all—if Kasumi and her dad can manage to steal it. Kamoda will do anything to earn a quick buck, even if it means skipping out on his taxes to take his wife on a luxury cruise. But when a random tax audit bankrupts his family, Kamoda soon discovers his wife has taken that cruise after all—only without Kamoda or their daughter Kasumi. Desperate to provide, Kamoda invests in a scheme to mass-produce masks of controversial American presidential candidate Beverly Duncan. But a lackluster election kills their sales potential, burying Kamoda under a mountain of masks and debt. On the verge of despair, Kamoda discovers a sign that leads him to the Director, an art fanatic who vows he can make all of Kamoda and Kasumi’s dreams come true.

NARUTO: NARUTO’S STORY – FAMILY DAY
By Mirei Miyamoto, Original Concept By Masashi Kishimoto

The ninja adventures continue in these stories featuring the characters of NARUTO and BORUTO! In this first of three new stand-alone tales set in the BORUTO timeline, the village of Konohagakure has established a new holiday, Family Day. In an attempt to celebrate, Naruto and his daughter Himawari race around looking for a must-have item that just keeps eluding them. Hinata wants to make the day memorable for her father Hiashi, her younger sister Hanabi and her son Boruto. Even Sasuke makes time to do something special with his daughter Sarada and his wife Sakura! When all is said and done, will the new holiday be considered a success?

NOT YOUR IDOL
By Aoi Makino

A psychological suspense series about a girl who has given up her life as an idol after being assaulted by a fan. In the wake of an assault, Nina Kamiyama, a former idol in the group Pure Club, shuns her femininity and starts dressing as a boy. At high school she keeps to herself, but fellow student Hikaru Horiuchi realizes who she is. What secrets is she keeping? The shocking drama starts.

ONE PIECE: ACE’S STORY
By Sho Hinata, Original Concept by Eiichiro Oda

Get the backstory on Luffy’s brother Ace in this first of two prose stories that continue the high seas adventure ONE PIECE! This volume contains the origin story of Luffy’s adopted brother Ace, and tells of his thrilling quest for the legendary One Piece treasure.

PING PONG
By Taiyo Matsumoto

Ace high school table tennis players push their passion to the limit in this story of self-discovery, told by Eisner Award winner Taiyo Matsumoto and later adapted to anime by Masaaki Yuasa (Devilman Crybaby). Makoto “Smile” Tsukimoto doesn’t smile even though he’s got a natural talent for playing ping pong. As one of the best players in school, all hopes are on him to win the regional high school tournament, but winning is not what Smile really wants to do. Will the fierce competition to be number one bring out his best or drive him away from the game? PING PONG is Taiyo Matsumoto’s masterwork reflection on friendship and self-discovery, presented here in two volumes, featuring color art, the bonus story Tamura and an afterward by the original Japanese series editor.

RWBY: THE OFFICIAL MANGA
By Bunta Kinami, Based on the Rooster Teeth Series Created By Monty Oum

Experience the Beacon Academy arc of the international smash hit animated series RWBY in a whole new way—manga! In the world of Remnant, monsters known as Grimm wreak havoc. They’re kept in check by Huntsmen and Huntresses, highly-skilled warriors experienced in monster extermination who utilize special abilities in battle. Ruby is a ferociously talented young girl who comes to Beacon Academy to hone her skills and serve as a Huntress herself. Alongside her sister Yang Xiao Long, rival Weiss Schnee and newfound friend Blake Belladonna, Ruby leads Team RWBY, the coolest new group at Beacon!

SAMURAI 8: THE TALE OF HACHIMARU
Story by Masashi Kishimoto, Art by Akira Okubo

A futuristic tale of samurai adventure from the creator of NARUTO! Becoming a samurai seems like an impossible dream for Hachimaru, a boy who can’t even survive without the help of his father. But when a samurai cat appears before him, his whole life changes. A legendary manga creator and a rising star come together to bring you this science fiction samurai epic!

SPY X FAMILY

SPY X FAMILY
By Tatsuya Endo

An action-packed comedy about a fake family that includes a spy, an assassin and a telepath! Master spy Twilight is the best at what he does when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions in the name of a better world. But when he receives the ultimate impossible assignment—get married and have a kid—he may finally be in over his head!

THE KINGDOM OF THE GODS
Story By In-Wan Youn, Art By Kyung-Il Yang, Original Concept by Eun-hee Kim

Discover the comic that inspired the Netflix Original zombie series Kingdom! Years of war and famine and have plunged Joseon into chaos. Young Prince Yi Moon, after losing all his bodyguards to an assassination attempt, has no choice but to turn to the mountain bandit Jae-ha for help. But as the unlikely pair race to find safety in a world gone mad, it becomes horrifyingly clear that humans aren’t the only thing they must fear! In a bonus story, a secluded island becomes a private battlefield as the notorious Japanese criminal Juu and the infamous Korean felon Han face off against each other. But they aren’t the only ones on the island…

Review: 20th Century Boys Perfect Edition Vol. 1

Posted on by

It’s Wednesday which means it’s new comic book day with new releases hitting shelves, both physical and digital, all across the world. This week we’ve got a new edition of the modern classic manga, 20th Century Boys.

20th Century Boys is by Naoki Urasawa and this “perfect edition” contains two complete volumes of the original 22-volume epic manga series in a deluxe omnibus edition featuring new cover art and select pages in their original color presentation.

Get your copy in comic shops and book stores today. To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon/Kindle/comiXology or TFW

 

VIZ Media provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

20th Century Boys Gets a New Omnibus Perfect Edition from VIZ Media

Posted on by

VIZ Media has announced the release of Naoki Urasawa’s award-winning manga 20th Century Boys in a deluxe new omnibus edition on September 18th.

20th Century Boys: The Perfect Edition Vol. 1 will be published exclusively in print and includes two complete volumes of the original 22-volume epic manga series in a deluxe omnibus edition featuring new cover art and select pages in their original color presentation. A final volume titled 21st Century Boys: The Perfect Edition concludes the two-time Eisner winning story. Volume 1 will carry a print MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $26.99 CAN. Future Perfect Edition releases of the series will be published by VIZ Media on a quarterly basis.

As 20th Century Boys begins, humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren’t for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns. This is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world.

Viz Media Launches Naoki Urasawa’s Master Keaton Manga Series

Posted on by

VIZ Media delivering celebrated manga creator Naoki Urasawa’s tense post-Cold War detective suspense – Master Keaton – on December 16th.

The 12-volume manga (graphic novel) series has never been released in English before, and each volume will receive a deluxe treatment featuring approximately 18 pages of full-color artwork. Master Keaton was created and drawn by the award-winning manga artist Naoki Urasawa with story co-produced by Hokusei Katsushika and Takashi Nagasaki. It will be published quarterly under the company’s VIZ Signature imprint and will be rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.

Master Keaton introduces Taichi Hiraga Keaton, an archeology professor and part-time insurance investigator known for his successful and unorthodox methods of investigation. The son of a Japanese zoologist and an English noblewoman, educated in archaeology at Oxford and a former member of the SAS, Master Keaton uses his knowledge and combat training to uncover buried secrets, thwart would-be villains, and pursue the truth. The manga series was originally published in Japan between 1988 and 1994 in Big Comic Original magazine and also inspired a popular 39-episode anime adaptation.

MasterKeaton-GN01-3D

Viz Media’s Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys Wins a 2011 Eisner Award

Posted on by

Official Press Release

Manga Masterpiece Recognized With The Comic Book Industry’s Most Prestigious Award

San Francisco, CA, July 28, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce that NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS was recognized with an Eisner Award in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asia category during award ceremonies held at the recent Comic-Con International event in San Diego, CA. NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Signature imprint. Volume 17 of the series will be released in August.

20th CENTURY BOYS is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world. Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren’t for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns.

For Kenji, a simple convenience store manager who once dreamed of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll musician, a host of memories from his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that’s been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.

“We’re elated to have NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS recognized by the comic book industry such a prestigious award,” says Andy Nakatani, Editorial Director at VIZ Media and editor for the title. “Urasawa‘s tense and dramatic storylines have firmly established him among the very top echelon of manga creators. With this, and other acclaimed series such as NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER and PLUTO: URASAWA ´ TEZUKA, Naoki Urasawa continues to push the boundaries of the manga genre, and we look forward to this award bringing his work to the attention of many new fans across North America.”

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry and are named for renowned cartoonist Will Eisner (creator of The Spirit and several award-winning graphic novels). The awards are handed out each year in a gala ceremony at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the largest and oldest comic book convention in the United States.

Naoki Urasawa’s career as a manga artist spans more than twenty years and has firmly established him as one of the true manga masters of Japan. Born in Tokyo in 1960, Urasawa debuted with BETA! in 1983 and hasn’t stopped his impressive output since. Well-versed in a variety of genres, Urasawa’s oeuvre encompasses a multitude of different subjects, such as a romantic comedy (YAWARA! A FASHIONABLE JUDO GIRL), a suspenseful human drama about a former mercenary (PINEAPPLE ARMY; story by Kazuya Kudo), a captivating psychological suspense story (NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER), a sci-fi adventure manga (NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS), and a modern reinterpretation of the work of the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka (PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA; co-authored with Takashi Nagasaki, supervised by Macoto Tezka, and with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions). Many of his books have spawned popular animated and live-action TV programs and films, and 2008 saw the theatrical release of the first of three live-action Japanese films based on NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS.

No stranger to accolades and awards, Urasawa is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award, a two-time recipient of the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize, and has received the Kodansha Manga Award. Urasawa has also become involved in the world of academia, and in 2008 accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he teaches courses in, of course, manga.

For more information on NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS and other VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.viz.com/manga.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan’s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like Naruto, Bleach and InuYasha, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

20th Century Boys #1 Cover