Exclusive: Kana to release Naoki Urasawa & Takashi Nagasaki’s BILLY BAT in English

Kana, the manga imprint of Abrams ComicArts, has announced the long-awaited English release of Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki’s Billy Bat. The first volume will arrive in June 2026, launching an ambitious plan to publish the complete 20-volume series at a pace of four volumes per year.

Originally serialized in Japan from 2008 to 2016, Billy Bat is a sweeping historical thriller that follows Japanese American comics artist Kevin Yamagata. After creating a hit detective comic about a bat, Kevin discovers the character may already exist in Japan, drawing him into a global web of conspiracy, murder, and mystery that spans centuries.

Urasawa, acclaimed for Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto, is widely regarded as one of the greatest storytellers in manga. His collaborator Takashi Nagasaki, who also worked with him on those titles, brings editorial expertise and sharp narrative vision.

Kana Editor Kristiina Korpus called the release “a dream project for the Kana team,” noting the excitement of finally making the series available in English.

Billy Bat Vol. 1 will be available in bookstores and comic shops everywhere in June 2026 for $13.99. It is also available for pre-order directly through Abrams.

Source: Kana