is an ongoing Japanese seinen thriller manga

Manga

Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 series written by Naoki Urasawa

Naoki Urasawa

is a Japanese manga artist.-Early life:He graduated from Meisei University with a degree in economics. In 2008, Urasawa had a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he taught classes on manga.-Manga career:...

 and Takashi Nagasaki and illustrated by Urasawa. The series was announced in issue 45 of the Japanese manga anthology Weekly Morning

Weekly Morning

is a weekly Japanese seinen manga magazine published by Kodansha, aimed at adult men. It debuted in 1982 as and is also known as simply .- Series running every week :- Series running every other week :...

in 2008, and its first chapter was released in the next issue of Morning on October 16, 2008. Kodansha

Kodansha

, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...

 is collecting the individual chapters into tankōbon

Tankobon

, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...

volumes, and has released six volumes so far, on May 23, 2011. Volume 1 was the fifth best selling manga volume in its week of release, selling over 145,000 copies in that week.

The story is set in 1949 and follows Japanese-American

Japanese American

are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...

 comic book artist Kevin Yamagata as he draws the popular detective series "Billy Bat". 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. Kevin finds that The Bat is related to an ancient scroll which is said anyone who possess the scroll will take rule of the world.

Main characters

Kevin Yamagata

Kevin Yamagata in 1949 is a nisei

Nisei

During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...

 Japanese-American comic book artist drawing the popular detective series "Billy Bat." When he learns he may have unconsciously copied the character from an image he saw serving in occupied Japan, he returns to Japan to get permission to use Billy Bat from its original creator. Kevin's comics mostly about animal characters, e.g. Dog, Mouse or The Bat itself. Later his comic become a kind of propechy since events he drew on his comic will actually happen in the future. Japanese name is .

Jacky Momochi

A nisei Japanese-American University girl in New York who was unwillingly influenced by Billy Bat. She is descendant of Momochi Clan of Iga-ryū

Iga-ryu

Iga-ryū 伊賀流 is a historical school of ninjutsu. It became one of the two most well-known ninja schools in Japan, along with the Kōga-ryū. The Iga-ryū originated in the Iga Province in the area around the towns of Iga and Ueno...

. Later she goes to Japan to investigate Father Xavier's first discipline, Yajirō.

Agent Smith

Claims to work for the CIA. He is investigating the Shimoyama incident

Shimoyama incident

The was the disappearance and death of , the first president of Japanese National Railways. He disappeared on his way to work, July 5, 1949, and his body was found the next day....

. He helps Kevin to investigate The Bat. When trying to save Kevin from unknown assassin, his current circumstances is unknown, presumably already dead.

Mysterious character from "East Asian Industries". He later is known as Finney partner to search The Ancient Text. He and Finney presumably are the mastermind on Shimoya incident and JFK Assassination. He is the actual man that is mentioned in Zōfū's manga as "Karate Chop Man".

Captain Finney

Claims to work with GHQ Special Investigation Unit. He is in search for the Bat's Ancient Text. By the 1960's, he is apparently working for the fake Chuck Culkin.

Billy Bat

Ostensibly, a talking anthropomorphic bat that is the star of detective comic books. It's true nature and purpose is the central mystery of the book. Father Xavier once noted about The Bat, unsure if it is Angel or Devil, or maybe both.

Secondary characters

Chuck Culkin

Kevin Yamagata's Assistant in 1949. He was left in charge of Billy Bat series when he left to Japan.

"Chuck Culkin"

An imposter who has taken on the public persona of Chuck Culkin, and is the head of Chuck Culkin Enterprises, the company that owns the rights to Billy Bat. Has the real Chuck Culkin staying at his mansion, producing new work of Billy Bat which is largely famous and success.

Charlie Ishizuka

Japanese translator who works for GHQ as an interpreter for L.T. Colonel Chagnon in the Civil Transportation Section (CTS). He was Kevin's old friend. He owns the ancient text, it is not the original, but a copy which is made by Hattori Hanzo. After he is found dead, the ancient text has gone missing.

A Japanese manga artist who drew the Billy Bat character as "Bat Boy" since Taishō period

Taisho period

The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...

.

Tony and Diane Goodman

A mixed couple (Tony, a white heir to the Golden Cola Company and Diane, a black worker at the facility Tony supervised) they eventually married against the objection of both families, and overcoming Diane running away from the marriage thanks to a new York cabbie. Tony is a major fan of the Kevin Yamagata Billy Bat, because of that, he gave his son name Kevin.

Kevin Goodman

Tony and Diane's son. He plays role in JFK assassination, The little Kevin was saved by Kevin Yamagata from being shot and the bullet killed JFK instead. Like other characters, he can see The Bat, when Kevin sees his drawing, he drew JFK Assassination an a ninja dropped a scroll, implying the little Kevin has the exact ability to Kevin who is able to draw prophecy.

Randy Momochi

A issei

Issei

Issei is a Japanese language term used in countries in North America, South America and Australia to specify the Japanese people first to immigrate. Their children born in the new country are referred to as Nisei , and their grandchildren are Sansei...

 Japanese-American New York cabbie, he helped re-unite Tony and Diane on their wedding day. A fan of the Kevin Yamagata's Billy Bat, he is also Jacky Momochi's father. Japanese name is .

He is ninja of Iga, and serves Momochi Clan. When the land of Iga is attacked by Oda's army, he was ordered to bring The Ancient Scroll to Momochi Sandayū. To accomplish his mission he is forced to kill his childhood friends and later he meets the original owner of the scroll, Yajirō, who is Xavier's discipline. Shortly, Yajirou is killed and in desperation of murders he committed, Kanbei decides to bury the ancient scroll and hides it from Momochi Sandayū.

Historical Characters & Places

Bureaucrat of Ministry of Transport (former Ministry of Railways), was appointed the first president of JNR when it was established on June 1, 1949. Under the Dodge Line policy of the government, Shimoyama was responsible for drastic personnel cutbacks of JNR, as a part of which on July 4, 1949 he released a list of about 30,000 employees to be fired.

Japanese diplomat and politician who served as interpreter and negotiator in the talks between the Japanese government and Douglas MacArthur

Douglas MacArthur

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...

's GHQ, on account of his education in Cambridge. In the manga, Shirasu is a mysterious character who helps Kevin in one occasion.

Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...

One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, best known for betraying Jesus. He sees Jesus heal someone, asks him if he was "the appointed one", then asked him "if you've seen God before, what is his shape?". Jesus then drew the Billy Bat symbol.

Francis Xavier

Francis Xavier

Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...

(7 April 1506, Javier, Navarre (Spain) – 3 December 1552, Shangchuan Island, China). He led an extensive mission into Asia. At age 10 he become the carrier of the "Ancient Text" until his death.

Lee Harvey Oswald

Lee Harvey Oswald

Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...

(October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was, according to four government investigations, the assassin of President of the United States John F. Kennedy, who was fatally shot in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. When working at "Billy Land" he had a vision of the Bat asking him if he wanted to be this Country's Next Hero. The Bat ordered him to protect Kevin for the sake of mankind. Later in JFK Assasination he actually wasn't the murderer. At the time JFK was shot he was at the library building with Jackie, but in the end he accepted to become scapegoat instead.

Iga Province

Iga Province

was an old province of Japan in the area that is today western Mie Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Iga bordered on Ise, Ōmi, Yamato, and Yamashiro Provinces.-Geography:...

An old province of Japan in the area that is today western Mie Prefecture

Mie Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....

. It is particularly famous for its clan of ninja. Both the Iga and Kōka

Koka, Shiga

is a city located in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture, Japan....

 provinces are considered the birthplace of ninjutsu. It was also the birthplace of haiku poet Matsuo Bashō

Matsuo Basho

, born , then , was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as a master of brief and clear haiku...

. It is said that Iga was controlled by three ninja families; Hattori controlled the middle, Fujibayashi the north, and Momochi the south.

Nagato was a ninja jonin active around the same period as Momochi Sandayu. He worked quite a distance away from the main area of Momochi Sandayu's activities (North Iga as opposed to Momochi at the South), and was feared almost as much. However, it is believed that Momochi Sandayu and Fujibayahi Nagato were in fact the same person, as Momochi Sandayu was mentioned in a journal describing Oda Nobunagas invasion of Iga province in 1581 for his courage and gallantry, but there is no mention of Fujibayashi Nagato.

Arguably the most famous ninja in history, the tales of Hattori Hanzō are still told in Japanese History books. He sent Gonosuke to kill kanbei and retrieve the scroll, When Iga is attacked by Oda's army, he let Kanbei to bury the ancient scroll and choose not to kill him because he already makes a copy of the ancient scroll and passes it to Akechi Mitsuhide

Akechi Mitsuhide

, nicknamed Jūbei or called from his clan name and title, was a samurai who lived during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan.Mitsuhide was a general under daimyo Oda Nobunaga, although he became infamous for his betrayal in 1582, which led to Nobunaga's death at Honno-ji...

.

In 1581, two years after a failed invasion led by his son, the warlord Oda Nobunaga launched a massive invasion of Iga, attacking from six directions with a force of 40,000 to 60,000 men. After ruthlessly slaughtering great numbers of the inhabitants of the Iga region, Oda Nobunaga then declared a cease-fire which allowed some of the Iga ninja to escape. It was, however, the end of the independent Iga Republic.

George de Mohrenschildt

George de Mohrenschildt

George de Mohrenschildt was a petroleum geologist and professor who befriended Lee Harvey Oswald in the summer of 1962 and maintained that friendship until Oswald's death two days after the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. He had personal acquaintance with the Bush family,...

(April 17, 1911 – March 29, 1977) was a petroleum geologist and Professor who befriended Lee Harvey Oswald in the summer of 1962 and maintained that friendship until Oswald's death two days after the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. He had personal acquaintance with the Bouvier family, including Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, the president's wife, when she was still a child.

John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....

(May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States until his assassination in 1963. There is mystery surrounding his Death.

Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....

The first person to set foot upon the Moon and discovered Bat Symbol on there.