Legendary Martial Arts Manga Baki Is Finally Coming in English (And Scarily Fast)

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For decades, the acclaimed and peculiar “Baki the Grappler” series hasn’t received a suitable English publication, despite being one of the best-selling manga globally (with over 100 million copies circulating) and being accessible in languages like French and Italian. However, this is now set to change starting this Fall as a relatively new yet high-quality publisher has taken up the challenge of bringing Keisuke Itagaki’s eccentric work to fans worldwide. Remarkably, they plan to do so at an impressive pace that will see the English version match the ongoing part of the series in just a few years.

At this year’s San Diego Comic Con, KodamaTales, the publisher who announced their plans to publish the Baki series in English a few months ago, has unveiled an aggressive publishing strategy. They aim to release two volumes of Baki each month, with each volume containing two Japanese volumes combined. Essentially, this means that Kodama will be putting out the equivalent of four Japanese Baki volumes every month. This rapid publication schedule is rare among English manga publishers, but fans need not worry about quality issues. The first two volumes of Baki Grappler, set to be released by Kodama, boast high-quality content and exclusive bonuses.

Baki Is Finally Getting The Release It Deserves

PRE-ORDER BAKI THE GRAPPLER VOL. 1 & 2 NOW

Links in thread below!

— Kodama (@KodamaTales) May 30, 2025

Although the anime adaptation of this series has gained immense global popularity on Netflix and enjoys significant success worldwide, the original manga has yet to receive a complete English publication. The only physical English release was Part 1, titled “Grappler Baki,” which included 46 translated chapters in 2002; however, no volumes have been published since then. The digital version of “New Grappler Baki” was released between August 2018 and 2019, but there are currently no physical editions available, with the digital release only covering the second part of the franchise.

Baki is an exceptional manga that hides its remarkable storytelling prowess beneath its eccentric features. Although it portrays the title character embarking on numerous thrilling journeys, including tournaments and battles to the death with a variety of characters (some based on real individuals like Barack Obama, Miyamoto Musashi, and Muhammad Ali), it consistently adheres to its central theme as a narrative exploring the intricate bond between father and son. The series showcases some of the most spectacular fights in the medium, and its distinctive art style, outrageous humor, and poetic dialogue have kept it popular even after more than 1000 chapters in the ongoing Baki Rahen.

KodamaTales’ release plan includes a new segment of the series “Baki” being unveiled annually, given that each part typically consists of 25 to 30 volumes, with “Bakidou” being the shortest at just 17 volumes. A notable addition to these releases is the inclusion of foil in the initial print runs, and the covers will showcase stunning artwork from Keisuke Itagaki’s art style at its finest – a feature that was not present in earlier parts of “Baki”. Preorders for the first two volumes are now open, with this collection scheduled for release in October 2025. Fans of battle shonen manga should find the journey through “Baki” an unforgettable experience.

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2025-07-28 22:40