Baki the Grappler Manga Finally Gets Global English Release!
After years of waiting, Baki the Grappler is finally getting an official full English release! Kodama Tales, a new publishing label from Kyodo Printing Co., Ltd., has announced that it will publish the Baki the Grappler Complete Edition in English, both digitally and in print, starting October 2025.
This marks the first time the entire manga series will be available in English worldwide.
What’s Included?
The Complete Edition will collect the original 42-volume series—which ran from 1991 to 1999—into 24 volumes. This means fans will finally be able to read the full story of Baki Hanma from the beginning in one cohesive collection.
The translation is being handled by David Evelyn, and the lettering will be done by Rafael Zaiats, ensuring a professional, high-quality English edition. Pre-order details will be announced in the coming months.
A Long-Awaited Release
While this is the first time the entire manga is being released in English, a portion of it was previously available. Between 2002 and 2004, the first 46 chapters were serialized in the now-defunct Raijin Comics magazine by Gutsoon! Entertainment. Since then, fans have had to rely on fan translations or watch the anime to follow the series.
Baki’s Global Popularity
Baki the Grappler is the first entry in Keisuke Itagaki’s long-running Baki franchise. Known for its brutal martial arts battles, larger-than-life characters, and wild fight sequences, it’s become one of Japan’s most iconic action manga. As of May 2024, the franchise has sold over 100 million copies worldwide.
There have been multiple sequels to the original manga, including Baki, Baki Hanma, and Baki-Dou. The story continues to thrive through anime adaptations, the latest of which (Baki Hanma) is available on Netflix.
Kodama Tales isn’t stopping with Baki. The publisher also teased future titles from a wide range of Japanese publishers, including Asahi Shimbun Publications, Coamix, HERO'S, Nihonbungeisha, and more. This move signals a major push to bring more high-quality Japanese manga to global audiences in English.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to dive into the world of underground martial arts, insane power-ups, and wild fights, Baki the Grappler Complete Edition might just be the perfect starting point.