Billy Bat Volume 1 by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki

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Book Name: Billy Bat Volume 1

Author: Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki

Comic Series: Billy Bat

Original Story, Adaptation, or Something Else: Original Story

Published Date: Expected publication June 2, 2026


Official Synopsis: 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 Urasawa 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.


Review: I have read hundreds, if not thousands, of comics and graphic novels; however, I have never read a manga before. I've been looking to change that, and when I saw Billy Bat Vol 1, I knew it was the one for me, with its mixture of post-World War 2 mystery and questions concerning comic art and plagiarism.


The story begins with a full-color issue of the Billy Bat comic, a noir starring a bat in an anthropomorphic world. This hooked me from the beginning, and I wanted more of this section as I was getting hooked on the story. Then the book transitions from gray to black and white as the true storyline picks up and follows Kevin Yamagata, a young Japanese American comic creator and the writer of the Billy Bat comic. After finding out he may have plagiarized the Billy Bat character, Kevin travels to Japan, and the real mystery begins.


After arriving in Japan, Kevin takes a job with the US Government as an interpreter, and in his available time, searches for the answer to the potential plagiarism question that is plaguing him. After a drunken night with his friend/coworker, did the two worlds become intertwined, and more questions were raised? Of course, and the story improves for it as the paranoia and tension are heightened. I will say no more for risking potential spoilers, but I loved the finale.


The character of Kevin is well written and is fully captured by Urasawa. You can see the driven and questioning nature that led him to success as a cartoonist can also lead him deeper into the mystery as the story develops. I am also impressed by how this book could have three mystery stories that I loved. The beginning one with the Billy Bat character, Kevin in his professional world, and then the driving mystery of finding the original art.


What Works: Urasawa does a great job of capturing Kevin's character and emotions.


What Doesn’t: No complaints! This is a great story.


Final Thoughts: I love this story, and Billy Bat Vol 1 made for a perfect first manga for me to read.


Rating: 4 out of 5 Post War Mysteries



MISC

Version Read: Electronic

How Acquired: Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley

Special Notes: This was an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Abrams Comic Arts but my opinions are my own.


 

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