Tag Archives: monday recover

Small Press Expo 2026 announces more International Special Guests

Small Press Expo has announced Carol Tyler as a Special Guest, along with International Special Guest ILYA, and for the first time, International Special Guests from Taiwan for SPX 2026.

SPX 2026 is the first stop for the Taiwan Comics Showcase. A ee mi, Ding Pao Yen, Monday Recover, Crystal Kung, and Rio are part of a special D.C. area showcase organized by Fantom Comics and sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.

The show takes place on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, with programming and workshops about the amazing world of independent comics as well as an exhibitor floor featuring over 450 creators.

Carol Tyler

We are thrilled to announce that Carol Tyler is a Special Guest at SPX! Carol Tyler is a cartoonist who bridged underground and alternative comics with her debut in Weirdo magazine in 1987. She is a CXC Master Cartoonist and a Slate Studio Prize winner and was just inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame. Her latest book, THE EPHEMERATA: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief has been nominated for an Eisner Award, a Harvey Award, and a Ringo Award.

The show takes place on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, with programming and workshops about the amazing world of independent comics as well as an exhibitor floor featuring over 450 creators.

Additional Special Guests will be announced over the next few weeks.

ILYA

British writer and artist ILYA is an award-winning graphic novelist, author of ROMO THE WOLFBOY (SelfMadeHero, 2026), ‘How to Draw Comics’ (in comic strip format!) and the ‘The End of the Century Club’ book series. ROMO’s globetrotting adventures and diverse, eccentric casting make it a Tintin or Asterix for the new age… and All Ages! In an unmissable workshop, lifelong comics practitioner ILYA takes you on an eye-popping journey through both time and space, using his latest graphic novel series ‘ROMO the WolfBoy’ as the prism. Don’t miss ‘Romo the WolfBoy: A Walk on the Wild Side’ at SPX.

A ee mi

A ee mi debuts two new titles making their North American premiere after releases in Taiwan in 2025 and 2026: MEOWNIVERSE and MEOWMEOWBAKERY. Originally serialized online in both Chinese and English, these comics explore the full range of human emotion & experience through the lives of A ee mi’s idiosyncratic characters meowmeowbug and lazylazydog. A surrealist mix of humor and melancholy.

Ding Pao Yen

NOT READY FOR REAL LIFE is Ding Pao Yen’s English debut, a collection of 4 short stories clustered around the idea of young adulthood in a futuristic yet nostalgic world. Vampires, kaiju, ancient fish eggs, and silent underwater cities, all overlapping with the vicissitudes and precarity of starting to find your way in the world.

Monday Recover

SEE YOU THERE, BEYOND THE OCEAN is her first U.S. release. Drawn by Monday Recover and written by Chiao Meow, See You There Beyond the Ocean is about a third grade girl, class outcast Wu Hsiao-jung—an introverted girl who hates going to school. So of course she’d have nothing in common with her cheerful, outgoing classmate Tung Ko-wei…right? As it turns out, both girls have a passion for drawing comics, and their shared love of creating brings the unlikely pair closer together. Thus begins the story of a beautiful, bittersweet friendship, the ups and downs of childhood, and a project left forever unfinished…

Crystal Kung

Crystal Kung‘s new full-color collection FOUR IN LOVE is her first U.S. graphic novel release–four short stories seeking to answer the question, “What is ‘love’ to you?” Is it the determination to find your soulmate, guided by the red thread of fate? Is it an ideal dream quashed by the pains of reality? Is it a quest to seek companionship in a virtual world? Or is it the bravery to hold hands when facing adversity?

Rio

UNEMPLOYED KILLERS SUPPORT GROUP is Rio’s debut English release: a razor-sharp, darkly hilarious noir-esque manhua–not your average self-help group. Selected by Taiwan Pavilion as a featured work to be showcased at the 2023 Angoulême International Comics Festival.

Yen Press Signals the Start of Summer with Nine New Licenses

Yen Press has announced nine new acquisitions to kick off the summer season, ranging from mecha-packed action, tender and tragic slice-of-life manga, heart-pounding romances, and more.

Releasing in June 2026, the debut list includes eight manga (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury—Vanadis HeartSee You There, Beyond the OceanA Timid Lady was Turned into an Ugly Cat, but on the Verge of Fainting Is Picked Up by the Most Fearsome Military DukeThank You for Taking Care of Our Boy BanriThe Daughter of the Demon Lord Is Too Kind!Sentenced to Be a Hero; and Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san Complete Omnibus), one light novel (Melody of the Boundary),and one tabletop companion rule book (Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! TRPG Advanced Rule Book).

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury—Vanadis Heart

By Chika Tojo

It has been five years since the Vanadis Incident, in which all Gundams became forbidden… These mobile suits were deemed “curses,” but now they’re running amok on Earth. From Chika Tojo, the artist behind the manga adaptation of The Saga of Tanya the Evil, comes The Witch from Mercury’s first official spin-off manga!

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury—Vanadis Heart 

See You There, Beyond the Ocean

By Chiao Meow
Art by Monday Recover

In third grade, Wu Xiaorong was the class outcast, an introverted girl who hated going to school. But all that changed when she met Tong Kewei, the cheerful and outgoing popular girl. The two couldn’t be more different, and Wu Xiaorong assumed they’d never interact—but to her surprise, they began bonding over their shared love for drawing comics. Thus begins the story of a beautiful, bittersweet friendship, the ups and downs of childhood, and a project left forever unfinished…

See You There, Beyond the Ocean

A Timid Lady was Turned into an Ugly Cat, but on the Verge of Fainting Is Picked Up by the Most Fearsome Military Duke

By otori
Original Story by Ema Okadachi
Art by Kou Kusaka

Marie’s life as a viscount’s daughter is snatched away when her own sister curses her to become a cat…and then steals her betrothed!  Forsaken, she collapses from hunger, when tender hands reach out—and on the other side is the undefeated duke with a reputation for being cruel and unfeeling?! Marie’s turn from misfortune to a comfortable cat life begins here! 

A Timid Lady was Turned into an Ugly Cat, but on the Verge of Fainting Is Picked Up by the Most Fearsome Military Duke

Thank You for Taking Care of Our Boy Banri

By Chitose Kaido

When trend-chasing college girl Nanase got the offer from her sister, she could hardly believe her ears! A chance to work at the same talent agency as THE Banri Narita—as his temporary manager, no less—is absolutely, completely a dream come true! That is…until she meets the man behind the stan. Alluring, amicable Banri is a cruel tyrant, incredibly demanding, and uncaring that he’s working her into the ground! However, now that she’s seen the star without his twinkle…are the embers of her celebrity crush igniting a new fire in her heart?

Thank You for Taking Care of Our Boy Banri

The Daughter of the Demon Lord Is Too Kind!

By YUUYA SAKAMOTO

The fearsome Demon King who seeks to conquer the entire world has abruptly put a pause on his campaign. The reason: His daughter is so kind that he’s worried she’ll stray from the path of demons! Determined to turn her into a merciless and fearsome heir worthy of the throne, he enlists the help of his trusted aide. World domination can wait, for a parent’s duties come before a king’s! And so begins a devilishly cute and heartwarming comedy!

The Daughter of the Demon Lord Is Too Kind!

Sentenced to Be a Hero

Art by Natsumi Inoue
Original Story by Rocket Shokai Gakuto Coda
Original Character Design by MEPHISTO

Hero: a title that carries the most severe punishment a criminal can earn. Why? Because these “heroes” are the front line in humanity’s war against the Demon Blight. Driven mad by centuries of fighting, the penal hero forces are made up of the most morally bankrupt to exist throughout history. They fight without hope of redemption, driven mad at the helplessness of their mission as the fallen are resurrected to continue struggling for all eternity. It is to this chaos that Xylo Forbartz—former captain of the Order of Holy Knights—is sentenced for his crime of deicide. But after he encounters Teoritta, an unknown goddess of swords, the two will forge a pact with the power to change the course of history, and maybe save the world from annihilation…

Sentenced to Be a Hero

Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san Complete Omnibus

By * Honda

Ever wonder what it’s like to sell comics at a Japanese bookstore? Honda provides a hilarious firsthand account from the front lines! Whether it’s handling the store, out-of-print books, or enthusiastic manga fans, Honda takes on every challenge. And now, all the observations and shenanigans have been collected into one complete volume!

Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san Complete Omnibus

Melody of the Boundary

By Toshiya Miyata

Kyousuke and Kai are two up-and-coming musicians. However, the day before their big debut, Kai passes away in a terrible traffic accident. Three years later, Kyousuke has all but given up music when his supposedly deceased partner appears before him as if nothing happened. Kai reminds his friend of the magic of music, encouraging him to start playing again. Can Kyousuke overcome his past and bring the color back into his world once more?

Melody of the Boundary

Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! TRPG Advanced Rule Book

Adapted by F.E.A.R.
Original Story by Natsume Akatsuki
Original Illustration by Kurone Mishima

At long last, the advanced rule book for the tabletop role-playing game in the world of Konosubahas arrived! Discover new elements in addition to detailed explanations of advanced classes, such as the brand-new Demon King’s Army, that will allow you to enjoy this wacky world even more. It’s time to get out of Axel, the Town of Beginnings, and have a truly high-level adventure! 

Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! TRPG Advanced Rule Book