Manga Mavericks Books has announced two upcoming releases for the North American market during its panel at Anime Los Angeles 2026. The publisher will release Divine Messengers and Demonic Guardians by the indie duo KOUKOKU BROTHERS and Vegetable Sandwich by Banjo Saitou later this year.
Divine Messengers and Demonic Guardians is described:
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…
The series is currently sold in Japan through independent events such as COMITIA, with Manga Mavericks releasing it in English as a digital-first title in April 2026. Volume 1 will be priced at $2.99 and run 76 pages.
In a statement shared during the panel, creators Takenami (writer) and Yoshino (illustrator) said:
“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. 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!”
The second title, Vegetable Sandwich, is a two-volume, 1980s-inspired action comedy that is described:
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!
The first volume will release in print and digital in September 2026, priced at $14.99 and $6.99 respectively.
Creator Banjo Saitou commented:
“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. Still, I hope that it’s the kind of manga that readers can relax and enjoy without thinking too much, 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!”
Both titles are rated for readers 13 and older. For more information, Manga Mavericks Books can be found at store.mangamavericks.com.
Source: Press Release
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