Sometimes you have to ask yourself which is harder: facing a three-headed hydra, or living up to your father’s expectations?​ Maverick has announced The Three Beasts Vol. 1, a daring and emotionally charged fantasy about legacy, rebellion, and the courage it takes to define yourself.

An exciting 256-page epic written, illustrated, and colored by Grovey Pascasio, with lettering by Buddy Beaudoin and Chas! Pangburn, The Three Beasts unfolds in an alternate historical, late-19th-century Philippines, drawing from multiple Philippine cultures, including Kapampangan, Tagalog, Tausug, and Meranaw. Blending cinematic dragon battles with intimate emotional stakes, the story reflects Grovey’s love of queer romance, complicated family dynamics, and mythic creatures, with a fantastical setting inspired by the lands around the Pampanga River and her favorite legend from Philippine mythology, woven with subtle personal touches throughout.

Ten years ago, the Great Tamers saved the people of Punong Panday from a giant hydra, turning the once savage beast into a peacekeeper. Now, these three men are known across the land as legends. But for Dima, Espie, and Keris, the Great Tamers are more than legends… They’re their fathers. And to become worthy successors, the young friends must each prove themselves in a physical contest against the hydra, Matutum.

Dima is too meek and untalented, especially compared to the short-tempered Espie. Even their cool mentor Keris never stood a chance at winning. When their dreams become a deadly game of pride, they have to find a way out together—with their blades drawn, and their fathers’ legacies burnt to ashes.

Draconic action, intimately written friendships, and a lush setting all come together in The Three Beasts, from debut author-illustrator Grovey Pascasio.

With expressive character design, woodcut-inspired art direction, and a diverse lesbian and trans cast at its heart, The Three Beasts delivers a fantasy that is as intimate as it is explosive. Perfect for readers of Nimona, Prince and the Dressmaker, Witchy, and The Well, The Three Beasts blends action, folklore, and queer coming-of-age storytelling!

The Three Beasts Vol. 1 goes on sale October 27, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545827635 | $14.99) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545836026 | $21.99) formats, and is now available for preorder.