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Billy Kane

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"He'll bash anyone who gets in the way of his leader! Also known as The Emperor's Right-Hand Man! BILLY KANE."
—The King of Fighters XV

"It's not your lucky day. I'm in a rotten mood."
—Billy Kane (Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves)

Billy Kane (ビリー・カーン) is a character in both the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series. His official nickname is "The Emperor's Right-Hand Man" (帝王（こうてい）の片腕（かとうで）).[2][3]

Personality[]

Though Billy Kane operates within the criminal underworld, he isn’t inherently evil. His motivations lean more toward loyalty, ambition, and respect—particularly for his fallen boss, Geese Howard—than cruelty or malice. Much of his criminal activity stems from a desire for quick financial gain and his unwavering loyalty to Geese, rather than a desire to hurt others.

Billy’s more human side is often seen through his protective nature toward his sister, Lilly, and his camaraderie with fighters like Eiji Kisaragi and Blue Mary. His long-standing enmity with Terry Bogard has cooled over the years, evolving into more of a begrudging rivalry than true hatred.

However, his contempt for Iori Yagami remains intense. During the events of The King of Fighters '95, Iori brutally defeated and abandoned both Billy and Eiji, an act that left deep scars—both physical and emotional. Billy also harbors resentment toward Joe Higashi, who showed interest in his sister, sparking Billy’s overprotective instincts.

In the aftermath of Geese’s death, Billy began managing the remnants of his former boss's empire. As he stepped into this leadership role, his determination to avenge Geese's downfall rekindled his grudge against Terry. However, the bitterness is no longer personal—especially after discovering that Terry raised Rock Howard, Geese’s son.

With time, Billy has come to respect Rock and has even forged an alliance with the Heinleins, balancing his criminal ambitions with a newfound sense of responsibility and connection. Though still a tough and dangerous man, Billy Kane is no longer driven solely by vengeance—but by legacy, loyalty, and the future of the Howard name.

Abilities[]

  • Peak Strength - Billy Kane is stronger than he looks, capable of carrying and even brandishing very heavy weapons like his three-part staff.
  • Weapon of Fire - Billy can set his staff on fire to cause strong fire damage. He can spin his staff to create a powerful ring of fire and throw the ring within a small range. The staff cannot control other fires it didn't create and is not immune to other types of fire.
  • Copy Weapon - Billy can create copies of his staff as seen in his supers.
  • Hide Weapon - Billy has another staff that he hides underneath his jacket as seen in his KOF 2002 MAX2DM.

Skills[]

  • Pole Vaulting - Billy excels in pole vaulting, making use of such a sport as part of his combat techniques.
  • Musical Instrument - Billy plays the electric guitar very well and has a Heavy Metal band back in the UK.
  • Doing Laundry - Billy loves to do laundry, often helping his sister with the washing and expertly arranging items for the best wash and lasting freshness - something he picked up as an orphan fending for himself and his sister, Lilly.
  • Administration - Billy was left in charge of Howard Connection after Geese died.
  • Bo Staff Tricking - Billy is an expert with both the pole-staff and a three-section-staff, he is able to display amazing control and perform many tricks involved.

Fighting style[]

Billy fights with a three section staff that he somehow can ignite with fire and can be split into three parts connected with a chain. He uses bōjutsu as his primary art, but also mixes it with some kung fu in order either strike at his foes from long range, or to acrobatically assault from from the air. Pole-vaulting kicks and various forms of pole-staff-twirling attacks are also involved.

In Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, Billy can lose his staff by hurling it at the opponent after executing his Senpuu Kon. Once he does this, he will cower in fear before the player character leaving him vulnerable until he is thrown another staff by one of Geese's henchmen in the background. The player can prevent them from assisting him. In KOF '95, he drops his staff only when knocked out. His original cowering pose is also later referenced in his Liar Elemental MAX2.

Music[]

  • Hashi wo Arukeba, Bo ni Ataru (Walking on a Bridge, Striking with a Staff) - Fatal Fury
  • Arashi no Saxophone (Stormy Saxophone) - The King of Fighters '95
  • London March - Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special, Real Bout Fatal Fury Special, Real Bout Fatal Fury 2, The King of Fighters '97, '98~Ultimate Match, XIII
  • N.D.R. - Real Bout Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match (as EX Billy), Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (Remixed Song and Jukebox)
  • The Long Pole - Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition
  • Yuuwaki no Toki (The Alluring Time) - The King of Fighters 2002
  • Villainous - The King of Fighters 2003
  • Geese ni Katakori (A Stiff Neck for Geese) - The King of Fighters XIII (when the music is set to "Type B")
  • Soy Sauce for Koyadofu - The King of Fighters XIV
  • London March -KOF XIV ver.- - The King of Fighters XIV (as Hein's opponent)
  • Soy Sauce and a Dash of Sake for Geese - The King of Fighters XV
  • Masquerade - The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
  • N.D.R. -CotW ver.- - Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Voice Actors/Actresses[]

Japanese[]

English[]

Appearances[]

Games

Mobile

Comics

Anime

Cameos

Trivia[]

  • Billy, Ryo Sakazaki, Terry Bogard and Rock Howard are the only characters to win a KOF tournament outside the KOF universe.
  • Billy's family name, Kane, is meant to be pronounced like "Kon" or "Kaan" (as in James Caan, an American actor), rather than the word "cane".
  • In an interview for Real Bout Fatal Fury, the staff comments on the "NO SMOKING" print on the back of his jumper. It's not to say Billy doesn't smoke, it's just something he found randomly in the city. He did not pay for it either.[5]
  • There are times where Billy has his head completely shaven, though in some forms of media after that period he lets it gradually to grow back per installment. In some games like KOF 2003, his hair is shown to be very long and stick out of his bandana which gives him an appearance similar to a rock star.
  • His appearance in Fatal Fury 2 seems to be modeled after the former English pro-wrestler, Dynamite Kid. In every other game, his overall character takes inspiration from both musicians Billy Idol and later on Axl Rose.
  • Axl Low from the Guilty Gear series, whose character also takes inspiration from Axl Rose and his band Guns N’ Roses in general, shares many similar character traits with Billy:
    • They both hail from London.
    • They both share the same birthday (December 25th), same blood type (B) and are also the same exact height and weight: 179 cm (5’10”) and 78kg (172 lbs).
    • They both have blonde hair and blue eyes.
    • They both also utilize a fighting style of Asian/Japanese origins revolving around a long ranged weapon that they’re able to ignite with fire.
    • Both of their designs are heavily influence by the grunge aesthetic, which was extremely popular during the 90’s.
    • Axl’s seiyuu, Keiichi Nanba, also voiced Billy in Fatal Fury 3 and the Fatal Fury Dengeki Bunko drama CD. Though primarily in the SNK games, Nanba was also originally the voice for Andy Bogard (until KOF XIII).
      • Axl, Billy and also Andy are all non-Asian blonde-haired practitioners in Asian-based martial arts, with their techniques all being entirely written in Japanese as well.
  • In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Billy was voted as the staff's fourth favorite character. In the Neo Geo Freak's 1997 Volume 8 character poll, he was voted as the twentieth favourite character with a total of 493 votes. Also, In the character popularity poll on Neo Geo Freak's website, he was voted as the seventeenth favorite character with a total of 757 votes.
  • In Neo-Geo Freak 1998, the characters in KOF '98 have their own interviews. Here are Billy's responses to the questions:[6]
    • What is your aspiration in this competition? - "Do you want me to kill you first?"
    • Who would you like to fight the most? - "Fighting ...? Kukuku - kuku ... I wish I could do such a thing, but ...!"
    • Who would you like to team up with? / Who would you not like to team up with? - "That was decided. Who is there besides him?
    • What is "KOF" for you? - "You're too loud, you...!"
    • Finally, please give a word to your fans. - "Eyes hurt, turn it off. Or this time I will actually kill you...!"
  • For his KOF XIV design, his shirt says "Know your enemy" and the back of his jacket says "Warning. Beware of the dog". [7]
  • Billy's birthday, December 25, falls on the Christmas Day. He also shares his birthday with Robert Garcia and Eiji Kisaragi, from the Art of Fighting series.
  • In CotW, one of his winposes references the artwork made for Real Bout Fatal Fury Special. This artwork was drawing for Shinkiro.

Similar Characters[]

Gallery[]


References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Billy Kane". SNK Playmore. Archived from the original on July 1, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Official character profile from KOF Maximum Impact Regulation "A" website.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Official character profile from KOIII website.
  4. ↑ ビリー・カーン (in Japanese). SNK Playmore. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  5. ↑ http://shmuplations.com/realboutfatalfury/
  6. ↑ Neo Geo Freak 1998-08 archive The King of Fighters '98 character interviews.
  7. ↑ THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV Premium Art Book, p.058
Fatal Fury characters
FatalFury Terry Bogard • Andy Bogard • Joe Higashi • Richard Meyer • Michael Max • Duck King • Tung Fu Rue • Hwa Jai • Raiden • Billy Kane • Geese Howard
FF2 logo Kim Kaphwan • Mai Shiranui • Cheng Sinzan • Jubei Yamada • Big Bear • Axel Hawk • Laurence Blood • Wolfgang Krauser
FFS logo Ryo Sakazaki
FF3 logo Blue Mary • Bob Wilson • Franco Bash • Hon-Fu • Sokaku Mochizuki • Ryuji Yamazaki • Jin Chonrei • Jin Chonshu
RBFFS logo Nightmare Geese • Shadow Andy • EX Blue Mary • EX Billy Kane • EX Tung Fu Rue • Iori Yagami
RBS Dominated Mind logo White
RBFF2 Logo Rick Strowd • Li Xiangfei • Alfred
Fatal Fury - First Contact Lao
Fatal Fury - Wild Ambition Logo Touji Sakata • Tsugumi Sendo • Mr. Karate II
Gmotwlogo Rock Howard • B. Jenet • Lillien Knights • Kim Dong Hwan • Kim Jae Hoon • Hotaru Futaba • Itokatsu • Gato • Tizoc • Marco Rodrigues • Hokutomaru • Kevin Rian • Freeman • Grant • Kain R. Heinlein
Fatal Fury - City of the Wolves Logo Preecha • Vox Reaper • Cristiano Ronaldo (Guest) • Salvatore Ganacci (Guest) • Fallen Rock • Ken Masters (Guest) • Chun-Li (Guest) • Mr. Big
Fatal Fury - Legend of the Hungry Wolf Logo Lily McGuire
Fatal Fury 2 - The New Battle Logo Tony
Fatal Fury - The Motion Picture Logo Sulia Gaudeamus • Laocorn Gaudeamus • Panni • Hauer • Jamin
The King of Fighters characters
KOF '94 Logo Sprite Kyo Kusanagi • Benimaru Nikaido • Goro Daimon • Terry Bogard • Andy Bogard • Joe Higashi • Ryo Sakazaki • Robert Garcia • Takuma Sakazaki • Ralf Jones • Clark Still • Heidern • Athena Asamiya • Sie Kensou • Chin Gentsai • King • Mai Shiranui • Yuri Sakazaki • Kim Kaphwan • Chang Koehan • Choi Bounge • Heavy D! • Lucky Glauber • Brian Battler • Rugal Bernstein
Kof 95 logo Iori Yagami • Billy Kane • Eiji Kisaragi • Saisyu Kusanagi • Omega Rugal • Nakoruru (Game Boy only)
Kof 96 logo Leona Heidern • Mature • Vice • Kasumi Todoh • Geese Howard • Wolfgang Krauser • Mr. Big • Chizuru Kagura • Goenitz • Mr. Karate (Game Boy only)
KOF '97 Logo Shingo Yabuki • Yashiro Nanakase • Shermie • Chris • Blue Mary • Ryuji Yamazaki • Orochi Iori • Orochi Leona • Orochi Yashiro • Orochi Shermie • Orochi Chris • Orochi
KOF '99 Logo Sprite K' • Maxima • Whip • Bao • Li Xiangfei • Jhun Hoon • Kyo-1 • Kyo-2 • Krizalid
KOF '99 Evolution Logo Vanessa • Seth • Syo Kirishima • Alfred • Fiolina Germi • Gai Tendo
Kof2000logo Ramón • Lin • Hinako Shijo • Kula Diamond • Clone Zero • Foxy • Candy Diamond • Another K' • Another Iori • Another Benimaru • Another Robert • Cosplayer Kyoko • Kang Bae Dal • Smart Chang • Cool Choi • Kaoru Watabe • Baitang • Duck King • Lilly Kane • Kim Jae Hoon • Kim Dong Hwan • Unknown • King Lion • Kim Sue-il • Kaede • Duke Edwards • Rocky • Athena • Neo & Geo • G-Mantle
KOF 2001 Logo May Lee Jinju • K9999 • Ángel • Zero • Ron • Glugan • Igniz • Misty • Nests
KOF EX Logo Moe Habana
KOF 2002 Logo Kusanagi
KOF EX2 Logo Reiji Oogami • Jun Kagami • Miu Kurosaki • Sinobu Amou
KOF 2003 Logo Ash Crimson • Duo Lon • Shen Woo • Tizoc • Gato • Malin • Maki Kagura • Adelheid Bernstein • Mukai
KOF MI Logo Alba Meira • Soiree Meira • Lien Neville • Mignon Beart • Chae Lim • Duke • Rock Howard
KOF XI Logo Oswald • Elisabeth Blanctorche • Momoko • B. Jenet • Shion • Magaki • Silber • Sho Hayate • Jyazu • Hotaru Futaba • Itokatsu • Tung Fu Rue
KOF MI2 Logo Luise Meyrink • Nagase • Jivatma • Ninon Beart • Hyena • Hanzo Hattori • Kyo Kusanagi Classic • Wild Wolf • Mr. Karate II • Armor Ralf • Richard Meyer
KOF MIRA Logo Xiao Lon • Makoto Mizoguchi
KOF '98UM Logo Nightmare Geese
KOF 2002UM Logo Nameless
KOF XII Logo Raiden
KOF XIII Logo Hwa Jai • Big Bear • Saiki • Evil Ash • Honki ni Natta Mr. Karate
KOF XIV Logo Shun'ei • Meitenkun • Gang-il • Luong • Xanadu • Sylvie Paula Paula • Kukri • Mian • Nelson • Zarina • Bandeiras Hattori • King of Dinosaurs • Hein • Nakoruru • Mamahaha • Mui Mui • Love Heart • Alice Garnet Nakata • Antonov • Verse • Najd (Aila)
The King of Fighters XV Logo Isla (Amanda) • Dolores • Krohnen McDougall • Re Verse • Otoma Raga • Haohmaru • Darli Dagger
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