Billy Bat by Naoki Urisawa (20th Century Boys, Monster)
 

Searched and didnt find a thread.

From the author of 20th century boys and Monster comes a new mystery. Set post world-war II. The summary from one manga:

Billy Bat is a comic-in-a-comic and the real protagonist is a Japanese-American artist named Kevin Yamagata who draws Billy Bat for "Marble Comics".

Shortly after they transition to the artist in his studio as two actual detectives, who look like Laurel and Hardy in Dick Tracy era suits and trench coats, knock on the door and appropriate Kevin's room for the purpose of conducting surveillance on a room in an adjacent building. One of the detectives, the skinny “Laurel”, sees Kevin's work and it turns out he's a Billy Bat fan. The other chubby "Hardy" detective picks up a page and says that the characters look familiar and accuses Kevin of translating an old "Jap" comic.

As Hardy remembers the comic he thinks Kevin is ripping off, the story jumps off to 1949 Tokyo.

So far the first 13 chapters are available scanlated.

It bears many of the same traits Urisawa's previous works did, An intriguing plot, a confused main character running around mostly useless and playing into the enemy's hands until the very end(at least that's what i think). I dunno i just feel that this is going too similar in the way of his previous works, And i can just tell that many plot points wont be explained at the end, like they weren't in 20th century boys and monster.

But ill still keep reading it because not many mangakas can create a suspenseful story as Urisawa and the pace so far has been great. I'd definitely recommend it if you were a fan of monster and 20th Century boys.

Dang what the hell is going on in the latest chapters??

Man i love the crazy tangents urisawa keeps taking the story to.

Brilliant manga. It is reminiscent of 20th century boys which is not a bad thing.

I'm surprised there are so few posts in this thread tbh.

I suspect that is because most are not aware that this manga is by urasawa, In hindsight i should have put his name in the original thread title.

I read some chapters of Billy Bat, I must continue to read it! I finished Monster, 20th/21st century boys and Pluto, these mangas are awesome.
What I read about Billy Bat was good, so I will continue, for sure!

Urasawa powa!

New chapter is amazing, man the way urasawa weaves together these characters and their tales is so masterful and impressive, Cant wait for the next one to come out.I hope the viewpoints will continue to alternate.

New chapter out

Three new chapters out after a month long hiatus.

So far I am not enjoying this manga as much as I did with 20th Century Boys but it's pretty damned addicting nevertheless. I am not much of a manga reader but I read al lthe available chapters in a few days. I think the problem is that it skips from a character to character a bit too much without developing them much. It was better at first when it was mainly from Kevin's PoV, then in the latter half it started to jump timelines and change PoVs too often. I know that Monster and 20CB had many, many characters, I just don't see the Billy bat ones as early that well developed. Yet. :)

Urisawa is really trolling walt disney with these latest chapters. :heh:

I've only now realized there's been quite a few new releases: 15 chapters of Billy Bat, here I come! :)

Just caught up with volume 8 released. I'm loving the story and characters so far, the only thing I feel lacking compared to Urisawa's earlier work is a strong villain character.

Every time I catch up with this manga, when I read a batch of chapters I'm loving it, I really am, and yet at the same time I'm thinking WTH is going on?

^^A usual Urasawa manga trait, Speaking of which seems like he's incorporating every conspiracy theory in history now. First the JFK assassination and now the moon landings.

It's like Jojo now, focusing on a new character with the same name.

So basically the kid Kevin saved at the JFK assassination will somehow end up saving the world. Its 81 now so Yamagata will have gotten a lot older.

I'm not sure how i feel about the new characters, Sometimes i feel like Kurosawa just over extends the plot for the twist factor.

you don't read much of urasawa? Keaton is a good start. then Monster, then Pluto then 20-21st century boy now this. Billy Bat.

try to read Keaton also . pity that i only managed to read the first 10 volume. though the new keaton is good.

Billy Bat seems to mix the fun part of all his previous series. i enjoy the part of mock walt disney and mickey mouse and lee harvey oswald. then the 2 chapter marriage.

remind me of vampire of Bayern part of monster and blue friday of keaton.

I know that's his style. I've read Monster and 20th century boys. It was tolerable then because the series was already finished. :heh: