New Manga, Rok The World, and Mulan's Adventure Journal
From Manga Mavericks, Rebellion & Papercutz
It’s a new year, and the news continues! Here is the latest comics news and previews, including:
New manga from Manga Mavericks.
Rok returns in Judge Dredd Megazine.
And a new Disney & Papercutz graphic novel.
Manga Mavericks Books Announces 2 New Publishing Licenses at Anime Los Angeles 2026
At Animé Los Angeles, Manga Mavericks announced two new manga titles coming this year: Divine Messengers And Demonic Guardians and Vegetable Sandwich.
Manga Mavericks Books, a manga publisher serving the North American market from Manga Mavericks LLC, announced 2 newly licensed titles during its panel at Animé Los Angeles that will be added to its catalog later this year.
The latest releases include the adventure mystery series DIVINE MESSENGERS AND DEMONIC GUARDIANS by indie manga creator duo KOUKOKU BROTHERS, the first volume of which is scheduled for release in digital format in April 2026, and the 1980’s inspired action comedy VEGETABLE SANDWICH by Banjo Saitou (published in Japan by TWO VIRGINS), the first volume of which is scheduled for release in both print and digital formats in September 2026.
DIVINE MESSENGERS AND DEMONIC GUARDIANS, VOLUME 1, by KOUKOKU BROTHERS ∙ Digital SRP: $2.99 ∙ 76 pages ∙ eISBN: 9781968054311 ∙
For Readers 13+ ∙ Available April 2026 (Digital)
What lurks beneath?
The land is split between a heavenly realm where angels dwell and a lower realm made of wastelands. A band of angels is chosen to journey to the lower realm as an envoy from heaven, but the lower realm is fraught with danger. Luckily, they have masked demonic bodyguards to protect them. The two sides have a purely transactional relationship until one angel, Dori, curiously peeks under a demon guard’s mask, only to find that demons have feelings, dreams, desires, and the same visage as the angels.
Could the demons they have been told not to fraternize with have more in common with them than they thought? And if so, what is preventing them from creating relationships in the first place and why? As their journey commences, they find that the danger of the lower realm may come from a source close to them…
DIVINE MESSENGERS AND DEMONIC GUARDIANS is an ongoing indie manga that is being sold at independent comic markets in Japan such as COMITIA. Manga Mavericks Books intends to release the series in English as a digital-first title, with a print release to be determined at a later date.
DIVINE MESSENGERS AND DEMONIC GUARDIANS creator duo KOUKOKU BROTHERS provided the following message to share with convention attendees:
“Hello everyone, we’re the KOUKOKU BROTHERS, Takenami (writer) and Yoshino (illustrator). We’re a manga artist duo!
To have our manga Divine Messengers and Demonic Guardians introduced to the world here at Animé Los Angeles is a great honor! The theme of the manga is children experiencing personal growth and going on exciting adventures while befriending people of different cultures. We’re sure readers will be on the edge of their seats as they anticipate what mysteries will come next as they turn the pages! Our name “KOUKOKU” means “large bird”, so we’d like to invite you to soar on a flight of fancy into a new land of adventure via this story!
Thanks so much!”
VEGETABLE SANDWICH, VOLUME 1, by Banjo Saitou ∙
Print SRP: $14.99 / Digital SRP: $6.99 ∙ 192 pages ∙
ISBN: 9781968054366 ∙ For Readers 13+ ∙
Available September 2026
High school student Tsukushi has got the look of a thug, but he has one pressing issue: he’s a weakling through and through.
Sure, he has the earnestness to learn, but that can only take a person so far. Warabi, on the other hand, is a crazy strong elementary school student, but doesn’t have anyone she considers a friend. A chance encounter with a lion escaping from a zoo brings the two together, where they realize, despite their myriad of differences, they have plenty in common too. If anyone can be a student in the pursuit of strength, can anyone also be a teacher?
With art inspired by 80s shonen manga, this is a vegetable you’ll not only want to enjoy first but all the way till the last bite!
VEGETABLE SANDWICH is a complete series collected into 2 volumes in Japan by publisher TWO VIRGINS. Manga Mavericks Books will be releasing the series at A5 (5.83” x 8.27”) size.
VEGETABLE SANDWICH creator Banjo Saitou provided the following message to share with convention attendees:
“Nice to meet you!
I’m Banjo Saitou and I live in Okinawa, Japan.
I’m extremely honored that my manga Vegetable Sandwich will be published in English, as it’s been a dream of mine to have my manga translated into English and read by overseas fans. This is so awesome! Vegetable Sandwich is a manga I wrote when I wasn’t as accomplished as I am now, so there are a few parts that aren’t as polished as my current work. Still, I hope that it’s the kind of manga that readers can relax and enjoy without thinking too much about it, and it’d bring me so much happiness if it brings just a bit of levity to readers daily lives.
I look forward to seeing readers’ impressions!”
Rok The World Races into Judge Dredd Megazine this January!
Rok The World, the final story arc, begins in Judge Dredd Megazine #488 from Rebellion.
As exclusively revealed by downthetubes today, Rok The World, the third series from the "Rok Of The Rovers" team of John Wagner and Dan Cornwell, begins in Judge Dredd Megazine 488 - out on the 21st January!
Originally published in two volumes by the trio of Wagner and Cornwell, alongside the late great Alan Grant, Rok of the Reds is a black comedy about revenge, redemption, and relegation. It follows Rok of Arkadi, an alien who seeks refuge on Earth after his homeworld is destroyed by bounty hunters. However, his attempts to hide under the radar are complicated when he has a chance meeting with arrogant young footballer Kyle Dixon, a bad boy who has been causing problems for his struggling team.
Assuming Kyle’s identity, Rok finds himself thrust unexpectedly into the spotlight: not only does he have to keep himself safe from ruthless alien bounty hunters – but he’s got games to win! Rok is going to have to learn to love the beautiful game if he’s going to keep his cover intact, or he’ll risk being captured by his enemies… or worse, relegated!
"Rok - the character and story - is particularly dear to me," explains Wagner. "Partly because it’s been so much fun to do, but also because of the long, often difficult but ultimately rewarding process of birthing it, putting together the creative team (including the wonderfully talented Dan Cornwell), financing it and foisting it on an often sceptical public. Its popularity with those who have got on board with it is gratifying. I’d dearly love for some outfit like Pixar or Aardman to pick it up. What an animation it would make."
Cornwell adds: "Rok 3 was always on the cards, and something we both wanted to do. Just how that was going to happen was anyone's guess. Self publish, Kickstarter, mystery benefactor? We had faith.
Then Rok signed up with Rebellion - which probably goes down as one of the biggest transfers in history. Ronaldo to Real Madrid? Bah!"
"John had a story brewing, and I was itching to return to the streets of Radford and beyond. Once episode one's script arrived from John I couldn't wait to start- and once I did it was like putting on those comfy slippers or warm winter jumper. It's just a wonderfully warm, familiar, unexpected and thrilling world to return to. And this series just takes it to another (deadly) level."
The first two Rok of the Reds stories, "Rok of the Reds" and "Rok The God" were republished in Judge Dredd Megazine across the last year, and Wagner describes this new run as the third and final part of the trilogy.Having already thrilled readers of the Megazine across 2025, it's time to Rok the World by completing this hat-trick of modern classic stories -- and kick off a whole new adventure from the team!
Rok The World begins in Judge Dredd Megazine 488, out 21st January - which also starts a new Judge Dredd story, alongside the latest instalments of Megatropolis, Judge Anderson, Armitage, Dreadnoughts and more! Subscribe now to guarantee your copy!
Mulan’s Adventure Journal is now up for preorder.
The collaboration between Disney and Papercutz continues with a new original graphic novel in Mulan’s Adventure Journal.
Disney Mulan: Mulan’s Adventure Journal is now up for preorder from comic shops (FOC: January 26, 2026), bookstores, and the Papercutz website. It arrives at bookstores on February 17, 2026, and in comic shops on February 18, 2026.
DISNEY MULAN: MULAN'S ADVENTURE JOURNAL
(W) Rhona Cleary (A) Agnese Innocente, Ilaria Urbinati (C) Gaia Cardinali (L) Alta Fedelta
(CA) Paulina Ganucheau
An unseen enemy lurks in the Imperial Palace—and only Mulan can stop it. But with court politics and rising doubts, even she isn’t sure she belongs. Can Mulan rise to the challenge and save China once more? A bold graphic novel adventure starring Disney’s legendary warrior!
An invisible enemy is threatening the Emperor’s life inside the Imperial Palace walls and Mulan is the only one he trusts to help him. But among all the unspoken rules of the court, Mulan feels discouraged and hopeless. Can she rise to the Emperor’s expectations, defeat the dark threat, and save China once again?An original graphic novel that stars Mulan from Disney’s Mulan! Perfect for middle-grade readers who love graphic novels and the Disney Princesses!
On Sale: February 17, 2026
