At New York Comic Con 2025, Baki fans were treated to a special panel by Kodama in Room 408 dubbed “Beyond Baki: Cosplay, Editing & New Challenges.” The panel invited fans into Baki’s world like never before, with the stage set by MC Seb Baik and panelists Pierre Dubost, Sullivan Rouaud, Logan Chitwood, and Michael Lacerna. There was an hour full of conversations, behind-the-scenes looks, and exclusive announcements for the Baki franchise.
The panel began with greetings from the panelists before heading right into the main event: the 35th anniversary of the Baki series in 2026. The official anniversary logo was revealed for the first time, along with a trailer for the long-awaited global English release of the Baki the Grappler manga and other celebrations.
After the anniversary reveal, the panelists shifted the discussion to the series itself and why Baki continues to be a must-read manga. Baki editor Michael Lacerna shared his initial reaction to discovering he would work on the manga’s English translation. Logan Chitwood, a renowned Yujiro Hanma cosplayer, also shared how Baki changed his life and helped him pursue his dreams.
Lacerna said, “It’s a huge honor to work on this title, knowing how much it means not only to everyone on this panel, but to you, the fans. Coming from a fighting game background, it’s impossible not to see Baki’s influence everywhere, from anything involving underground arenas to unexpected places like a horse girl racing simulator.”
Chitwood said, “Baki, for me, is motivation. At first, it pushed me to hit the gym more, but over time, it became motivation and inspiration to change my life. There are so many characters people cosplay, but getting to embody Yujiro Hanma and have others recognize you as a character you love is incredible. Especially with Yujiro, I’ve been able to humanize him in my own way and bring my own style to the role.”
The panel closed with an audience Q&A, where fans asked about Baki’s 35th anniversary, Kodama’s upcoming titles, and Logan’s journey in becoming Yujiro Hanma. The panelists also took a commemorate photo with attendees, thanked fans for their support, and encouraged them to look forward to more updates and announcements.
The new BAKI-DOU anime series will premiere in 2026, exclusively on Netflix. Fans can catch up with the Baki anime, along the collaborative anime special Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura, on Netflix as well.
