North American publisher Manga Mavericks announced the acquisition of two new manga licenses, Chlona’s indie series FISHGOD and Takafumi Adachi’s BALLET HERO FANTASY: DAN’S ADVENTURE FEAT. STEVEN MCRAE, during its panel at Otakon 2025. Both titles are slated for release in 2026, with FISHGOD arriving digitally in January and in print in May, while BALLET HERO FANTASY will debut in both formats in February.
FISHGOD: A Pop Art Revenge Action Series
FISHGOD, an ongoing indie series by creator Chlona, plunges readers into a world terrorized by “Kaigyo” – fish that have evolved to walk on land, consume concrete, and demolish structures. The narrative follows Jaytle Nish, who, a decade after witnessing his parents devoured by Kaigyo under the command of a mysterious figure, dedicates himself to exterminating these creatures while searching for answers. His quest takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a peculiar woman who consumes poisonous Kaigyo flesh, leading the unlikely duo to confront deadly fish and enigmatic cultists in a revenge-fueled, pop art-inspired action saga.
Chlona expressed her dedication to the project, noting that she poured her soul into creating this long-form manga as a single mother. She described FISHGOD as an “exhilarating buddy action manga” featuring a mismatched male and female protagonist pair, inviting readers to immerse themselves in its “dark pop world caught in a vortex of vengeance and passion.” In Japan, FISHGOD initially launched digitally on LINE Manga in July 2022 and has since released three compiled volumes, which are also available in print at Comitia events and via Chlona’s website. Manga Mavericks plans to release the print edition in an A5 size.
Ballet Hero Fantasy: Dan’s Adventure Feat. Steven McRae
From Takafumi Adachi, known for his work on Beyblade: Metal Fusion, comes BALLET HERO FANTASY: DAN’S ADVENTURE FEAT. STEVEN MCRAE. This action-adventure manga blends the worlds of ballet and tokusatsu, following Dan, a passionate dancer whose skill doesn’t quite match his ambition. He looks up to his upperclassman, Steven McRae, a principal dancer, who travels to a fantastical “Danceworld” using a magic mirror and acts as a “Ballet Hero.” When Dan accidentally follows him into this other world, McRae quickly realizes Dan’s presence is no coincidence. The series promises a unique fusion of dance, fantastical elements, and Adachi’s distinctive art style.
The first volume of BALLET HERO FANTASY: DAN’S ADVENTURE FEAT. STEVEN MCRAE is set to launch simultaneously in both print and digital formats in February 2026.
