The story is set in 1949 and follows Japanese-American comic book artist Kevin Yamagata as he draws the popular detective series "Billy Bat" for "Marble Comics." When he learns he may have unconsciously copied the character from an image he saw while serving in occupied Japan, he returns to Japan to get permission to use Billy Bat from its original creator. Upon arriving there, however, he becomes embroiled in a web of murder, cover-ups, and prophecy that all leads back to Billy Bat.
It is soon evident, however, that the truth of Billy Bat's nature is far larger than Kevin could ever guess, spanning millennia and across the world.
Billy Bat has finished publishing and it has 165 Chapters. It is also Known as: BILLY BAT, Billy Bat
Genres: Fantasy , Cops , Historical , Drama , Psychological , Mystery
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Top 10 Manga Like Billy Bat [2024 List]
- 10. Eden: It's an Endless World!
- 9. Kurokoochi
- 8. Old Boy
- 7. Death Note
- 6. Solanin
- 5. Opus
- 4. Mujirushi
- 3. Ore to Akuma no Blues
- 2. Monster
- 1. 20th Century Boys
10. Eden: It's an Endless World!
In the panic surrounding a worldwide pandemic which kills 15 percent of the population and cripples many more, a secret organization, the Propater, topples the UN and seizes control of much of the world. A boy and a girl, raised in an abandoned virology research center, immune to the virus, are attacked by the Propater and escape. 20 years later the boy is the most powerful drug lord in South America. He aids his son from behind the scenes as he evades and eventually with the help of mercenaries from Nomad (some of them former Propater operatives) fights the Propater. As the plot develops focus shifts away from the main character and develops many sub-plots dedicated to terrorism, Human-improvement, the struggle of the developing countries and the power battles between the drug cartels and Propater.
Based strongly on Gnostic mythology, all major characters are named after gnostic deities, and have analogous roles.
Warnings: Eden contains a lot of very graphic violence and some sex scenes.
Eden: It's an Endless World! has finished publishing and it has 127 Chapters. It is also Known as: EDEN ~It's an Endless World!~, Eden: It's an Endless World!
9. Kurokoochi
Kurokouchi Keita is the black sheep of the police force. He works alone, and doesn't think twice about extorting money from the dirty politicians by getting hold of their achilles heels. Using the money and whatever bits of information acquired through underhanded means, he gets closer and closer to the ultimate unresolved crime of the Showa era (1968); the 300 million bank heist.
One day, the new rookie Seike Mayo, is assigned as Kurokouchi's partner. Excellent, but naive, she is the exact opposite of Kurokouchi, but nonetheless, the duo combi relentlessly chase down the criminals.
Kurokoochi has finished publishing and it has 224 Chapters. It is also Known as: クロコーチ, Kurokōchi, Kurokouchi, Kurokochi, Inspector Kurokochi, Inspector Kurokouchi
8. Old Boy
Ten years ago, they took him in. He doesn't even know who. And for ten years, he has been confined in a private prison. He doesn't know why. For ten years, his only contact with the outside world has been a television set and the voices of his jail mates. In time, he lost himself. He changed...transformed himself into something else...something hard...something lethal. Suddenly, one day his incarceration ends, again without explanation. He is sedated, stuffed inside a trunk, and dumped in a park. When he awakes, he is free to reclaim what's left of his life...and what's left is revenge.
Old Boy has finished publishing and it has 79 Chapters. It is also Known as: Loose Senki: Old Boy, ルーズ戦記 オールドボーイ, Old Boy
7. Death Note
Light Yagami is a brilliant 17-year-old student, one of the top scorers on his exams in all of Japan. One day as he leaves school, he finds a mysterious black notebook on the ground with "Death Note" written on it. The first thing written inside: "The human whose name is written in the notebook shall die." Light decides to use this to cleanse the world of evil by killing all the criminals. On the scene comes L, ace detective, who's determined to find Light—who the world now calls "Kira"—and track him down, thus bringing us an epic psychological thrill ride.
Death Note has finished publishing and it has 108 Chapters. It is also Known as: DEATH NOTE, Death Note
6. Solanin
After graduating from college, Meiko went straight to work as an office lady, but she can't help feeling there should be something more to life. Determined to find a worthier goal, she quits work, but can she actually make her neubulous dreams come true- and how will her sudden decision affect her relationship with her boyfriend Taneda?
(Note: Solanin received an epilogue chapter (ch 29) in 2017 that is included in the chapter count.)
Solanin has finished publishing and it has 29 Chapters. It is also Known as: ソラニン, Solanin
5. Opus
The ordinary life of a mangaka, until the real world is mixed with the world of his work.
Satoshi Kon's Opus has finished publishing and it has 19 Chapters. It is also Known as: OPUS, Opus
4. Mujirushi
A man and his daughter meet a mysterious man who has more than a few secrets and tall tales to tell about France and The Louvre Museum. What awaits for those who dare to follow their dreams?
Mujirushi has finished publishing and it has 9 Chapters. It is also Known as: 夢印-MUJIRUSHI-, Le signe des rêves, The Sign of Dreams
3. Ore to Akuma no Blues
A combination horror story and re-telling of the mythologies of the American South, "Me and the Devil Blues" features RJ, a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for the devil teaching him to play the blues. The story features many elements familiar to American readers but not much featured in Japanese comics, including the practice of lynching and the sharp racial divisions in the south around the time of the story.
Me and the Devil Blues: The Unreal Life of Robert Johnson is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 俺と悪魔のブルーズ, Me & the Devil Blues
2. Monster
Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a renowned young brain surgeon of Japanese descent working in Europe. Highly lauded by his peers as one of the great young minds that will revolutionize the field, he is blessed with a beautiful fiancé and is on the cusp of a high promotion in the hospital he works at. However, all of that is about to change with one critical decision that Dr. Tenma faces one night – whether to save the life of a young child or that of the town's mayor. Despite being pressured by his superiors to perform surgery on the mayor, his morals force him to perform the surgery on the young child, saving his life and forfeiting the mayor’s. All of a sudden, Dr. Tenma’s world is turned upside down by his decision leading to the loss of everything he previously had. A doctor is taught to believe that all life is equal; however, when a series of murders occur in the vicinity of Dr. Tenma, all of the evidence pointing to the young child who he saved, Tenma’s beliefs are shaken.
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is a tale full of mystery, suspense and intrigue as Dr. Tenma journeys to find out the true identity of the young child. In turn, the fate of the world may depend on it.
Monster has finished publishing and it has 162 Chapters. It is also Known as: MONSTER, Monster
1. 20th Century Boys
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.
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.
20th Century Boys has finished publishing and it has 249 Chapters. It is also Known as: 20世紀少年, 20 Seiki Shounen, Nijuu Seiki Shounen, Nijuusseiki Shounen, 20thCB