Co-created with Dominique Duran

Publishing July 14, 2026, from VIZ Originals

Champion of the Rose

An anti-colonial YA epic fantasy manga inspired by the Philippines during the Spanish colonization, with blood magic, swordfights, dances, and a queer coming of rage.

In a brutal tournament, Princess Rosa picks Rey, a trans swordsman, as her champion. Fighting for freedom, love, and revenge, he faces an arena where power is won in blood. Volume 1 releases Summer 2026.

Volume 1 follows Princess Rosa of Sagrada, a rebellious sixteen-year-old, half-blood whose hand-in-marriage is made the grand prize of her father's deadly tournament, and her champion Rey, a furious, seventeen-year-old trans swordsman who must battle his way through the arena to help Rosa take her hand back and win his freedom.

In this series about fighting for independence in the face of empire and what victory means when the entire game is rigged against you, Rey, Rosa, their friends, and their allies will unravel a secret that could take down the kingdom of Sagrada forever.

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