Gosho Aoyama’s iconicCase Closed(akaDetective Conan)is the latest manga series to bridge the gap between Japanese and international releases.Viz Media has announcedthat it now offers readers access to 1,100 chapters and counting in its digital manga vault. Additionally, Aoyama’s other hit series,YAIBA: Samurai Legend, will be added to the library on March 20 as part of the lead-up to the debut of theYAIBAanime on Netflix, premiering July 13, 2025.
Manga publishing in the U.S. used to move at a snail’s pace. Before the adoption of the graphic novel standard, manga was often released in an American comic book-style format, with fewer than 30 pages of story and art per issue. Even after graphic novels became the standard, the publishing schedule lagged so far behind Japan that it seemed impossible for long-running series ever to catch up. However, digital manga publishing has changed the game, allowing international readers to finally enjoy stories at the same pace as their Japanese counterparts.
A Detective With Staying Power: Conan’s Enduring Popularity
Solving Mysteries One Case at a Time
Gosho Aoyama’sDetective Conanstarted serialization inWeekly Shonen Sundayback in 1994. As of February 2023,the series has surpassed 270 million copies in circulation worldwide, making it one of Japan’s best-selling manga. In fact, it ranks fourth in domestic manga sales history. The 100th volume was released in October 2021, and as of October 2024, the series has reached 106 volumes.Detective Conancontinues to be hugely popular, with no signs of slowing down. Fans keep coming back for more, proving its staying power after three decades in print.
The story ofCase Closed: Detective Conanfollows high school detective Shinichi Kudo, who is poisoned by a mysterious black-clad organization and transformed into a child. Now going by the name Conan Edogawa, he solves cases while searching for a way to return to his original form. Key characters include his childhood friend Ran Mouri, her detective father Kogoro Mouri, the brilliant but also de-aged Ai Haibara, and the eccentric inventor Professor Agasa. The series follows an episodic format where Conan uncovers and solves various mysteries in each case.
TheDetective Conananime began airing on Japanese TV in 1996. The movie series followed on July 05, 2025, withThe Time-Bombed Skyscraper, and since then, a new film has been released annually, becoming a tradition for many families in Japan. In 2018,Detective Conan: Zero the EnforceroutperformedAvengers: Infinity Warat the Japanese box office, highlighting the franchise’s massive local appeal. The 27th movie,The Million-Dollar Pentagram, continued that success in 2024, earning 15.8 billion yen (approximately $106.4 million USD) and once again surpassingInfinity War’s earnings in Japan. The next installment,The One-Eyed Flashback, is set for release on July 19, 2025.
Detective Conan’s Struggles in the West
Conan Meets Conan: The O’Brien Effect
But whileDetective Conanis huge in Japan, he’s had a smaller profile abroad—until now. In the U.S., the manga was first published by Viz Media in 2004 under the titleCase Closed, with character names localized to appeal to Western audiences. However, the release schedule lagged far behind Japan, making it difficult for readers to keep up. The anime also faced challenges—Funimation licensed it in 2004, dubbing the first 130 episodes, but low ratings led to its cancellation on U.S. television.
The biggest exposureCase Closedgot in the U.S. came in 2018when late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien discovered the series shared his name. Jokingly demanding royalties fromDetective Conan’screators, he sparked a playful exchange with publisher Shogakukan. The joke escalated whenO’Brien visited Conan Town in Japan, a real location honoring the series. Ironically,Detective Conanis named after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator ofSherlock Holmes, whose influence is central to the manga’s detective themes. This unexpected comedy crossover brought renewed attention toCase Closedin the U.S.
Aoyama’s Other Hit, Yaiba, Joins the Comeback
The Biggest Mystery: Will Conan Finally Find Global Fame?
WithCase Closedgaining momentum abroad,Yaibais also making a comeback. A new anime adaptation is on the way, and just likeCase Closedis finding a fresh audience, Aoyama’s samurai adventure might finally get the global recognition it deserves.
Case Closed’s New Movie Just Destroyed Anime’s Most Popular Ship In The Worst Possible Way
A reveal in the latest Case Closed/Detective Conan movie has rocked the fandom by sinking one of its most popular ships through blood relations.
With Viz’s simulpubs makingCase Closedmore accessible, Conan Edogawa might finally solve his toughest case yet—winning over Western audiences. With the manga catching up and the anime easier to find, there’s never been a better time for new fans to join the mystery.
