iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Liam McGuire @liammcguire.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I was let go from BOOM! Studios this afternoon. If you are looking for someone well-connected in the comic industry (in both media and PR), with experience in graphic design, audio and video editing, and much more. Please reach out. Email: Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com.

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Arthur Riel @artiodaktyl.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

son of hades [v2]

Digital artwork of transmasc OC Lance as his younger femme-presenting teen self, wearing a white dress over ripped jeans and boots. He holds a black electric guitar and looks over his shoulder as the three heads of Cerberus snarl behind him.

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Sophie Labelle @assignedmale.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It takes a toll.

4 frame comics. first frame shows espresso in a portafilter. second shows a coconut milk carton and a cup to foam milk with a thermometer. 4rd frame shows a small espresso machine making espresso. 4th frame shows a foamy cappuccino in a promotional Frozen the Musical coffee cup. The text, spread over the four frames, reads :
I wish that I could give cis
people a glimpse of what it
feels like.
to be villainized and
dehumanized in the media
every day.
to see your existence
being legislated against all
around the planet.
to see friends and
family members vote for
politicians who promise to
make the lives of people
like you worse.

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MalakaiXED @malakaixed.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

worked on this

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Cat Aquino (they/them) @cataquino.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

the animated teaser trailer for CHAMPION OF THE ROSE: VOLUME 1, the 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇭 epic fantasy manga i’m co-creating with Dominique Duran! 🌹⚔️ animated by Venz Rebadulla, MalakaiXED, Ronalyn Olivares, and Ganii scored by Jerome Isip available in bookshops and comic stores! www.viz.com/manga-books/...

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Liam McGuire @liammcguire.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

New on Comic Frontier: @cataquino.bsky.social and #DominiqueDuran talk Champion of the Rose Vol. 1 and centering a Filipino trans hero in a fantasy story! @viz.com www.comicfrontier.com/p/cat-aquino...

Dominique Duran tells Comic Frontier about Champion of the Rose: Trans kids have definitely been around forever, and the lack of historical references and the genre of fantasy has given us the freedom to speculate. With Rey, we wanted to imagine how a Filipino trans boy would have grown up in a dark fantastical world not too far from our own Philippine past and present, which is influenced by a culture of machismo and impunity. But we also wanted him to be a badass kid fighting tooth and nail for everything he loves, like so many trans folks do in order to live as who they are.

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plotandplanet.bsky.social @plotandplanet.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I can’t get over how good Champion of The Rose (written by @cataquino.bsky.social and Dominique Duran, published by @viz.com) truly is. I finished Volume 1 back in June but it’s still front of mind for me. The plot, pacing, & characters all felt so alive and so intentional. I can’t wait for more.

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Cat Aquino (they/them) @cataquino.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I’m so excited to speak at LAcon V (Worldcon 2026) this year! This is my third Worldcon in a row, but my first one with my debut manga/graphic novel finally out and published 🥳

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Sydney Paige Guerrero (she/her) @sydneyficant137.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

the portal (and this link) is calling you! spirit-stolen names, reverse culture shock, complicated relationships, and copious amounts of arroz caldo await you on the other side 👀✨

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Baylee Renee 🏳️‍⚧️ @thebayleerenee.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I picked up Champion of the Rose yesterday and it is absolutely fantastic. Very complex anti-colonial fantasy, with a badass trans swordsman. I really hope we get more!

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VIZ Media @viz.com · 17/07/2026

In the arena, where life is cheap and spectacle is everything, Rey must decide what kind of game he’s willing to play. Read a free preview of Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1: bit.ly/4vtE9Tu

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Roan | S&T Rewrite: 143.4/150k @faindriart.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Philippines inspired graphic novel with trans man protagonist my beloved.

Photo of CHAMPION OF THE ROSE by Cate Aquino and Dominique Duran.

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VIZ Media @viz.com · 14/07/2026

Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1 is now available in print and digital! Read a free preview: bit.ly/4vOaLrP

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Cat Aquino (they/them) @cataquino.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The manga @artominique.bsky.social and I have been making for the last 6 years will be out in the US and Canada TOMORROW!

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Tasha Suri @tashasuri.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

I love when the agony and doubt of editing gives way and you suddenly realise what the hell the novel IS, underneath all the words you've already written.

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Thomas Ha @thomasha.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Hey there. Here's a favorite SFFH magazine of mine focused on immigrant and diaspora stories. They're doing interesting work and in the midst of a fundraiser. 11 days left and still a ways to go. What better way to support creators from across the globe, especially now.

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bones 💀 @riotbones.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Art for @cataquino.bsky.social and Dominique Duran’s Champion of the Rose, a queer anti-imperialist manga coming out this month!! ⚔️❤️‍🔥

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Lisa Cowan Pineo @lisacowanpineo.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I'm splitting up my posts about 2026 LGBTQ fantasy because there are so many releases each month, so here is the July bunch. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Book lists in ALT text. #fantasybooks #lgbtqfantasy #fantasy2026 #2026publication #lgbtqbooks #bookpost #bookrecs #postseries #booksky #books

MIRRORWOVEN by Bori Cser
SHE'S MY ETERNITY by Valerie Hunter
THE REVENANT OF SUROLIFIA by Florence Chien
BRIDES by Charlotte Cross
MOSS'D IN SPACE by Rebecca Thorne
LADIES OF THE KNIGHT by Fiona Marchbank
THE LAST SOLDIER OF NAVA by Yejin Suh
THE RED SACRAMENT by Sara Hinkley
TWELVE BOUND BY FATE by M.N. Bennet
THE DRAGON HAS SOME COMPLAINTS by John Wiswell
MISERY'S WIFE by Joan Tierney
RUINOUS ENDS by I.V. Marie
THE LAST RITES OF BABY-BLUE by L.A. Barron
CHAMPION OF THE ROSE VOL 1 by Cat Aquino & Dominique Duran
THE DEFECTIVES BOOK III by Priest
UNRAVEL ME by Eden West
THE CASE OF ELMWOOD RANCH by Deanna Grey
SHIFTER OMEGAVERSE AU by D.C. Emerson
REMNANTS: DISRUPTION by Mourning Star
MATCH ME IF YOU CAN by Milena McKay

EIGHT TASTES OF TREACHERY by Ryan Rose
TAKE IT TO YOUR GRAVE by LoUangie Bou-Montes
CTRL - ALT - ORC by M.A. Wardell
NULL ENTITY by Seth Haddon
THE LORD OF THE WOOD by E.M. Anderson
A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING by Sarah Hawthorn
COFFEE SHOP MONSTER AU by K.C. Carmine
LOVE AND CLOCKWORK by Essie Sloane
THE HARPY KNIGHT by Sara Omer
AWKWARDLY EVER AFTER by Lindsay Maple
ENCHANTED by Lark Taylor
THE DEMON STAR by Jesse Aragon
THE FELICITY COMPLEX by August Clarke
KNOTS AND CROSSES by Abby Hunter
WARRIOR AND MAGE AU by A.J. Sherwood
THE LOVE SCHEMATIC by J.S. Harker

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Rye Hickman @ryehickman.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

OKAY MAYBE I YELL NOW A LITTLE it’s looking colonialism dead in the eye and it’s body horror and it’s trans and it’s a goddamn shonen TOURNAMENT ARC ORDER IT OKAY I PROMISE YOU WILL LOVE IT: bookshop.org/p/books/cham...

bookshop.org

Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1

Check out Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1 - <B>In the arena, where life is cheap and spectacle is everything, Rey must decide what kind of game he’s willing to play.</B><BR><BR>As the largest kingd...

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Rye Hickman @ryehickman.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I’m gonna yell louder in the coming days but y’all do NOT want to miss this. It’s fucking brilliant

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Cat Aquino (they/them) @cataquino.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

HI PHILIPPINES! We'll be giving a special live preview of CHAMPION OF THE ROSE: VOLUME 1 at Komiket Pride this Saturday, June 13, 3 PM! 🇵🇭🌈 Come over for a reading, a sneak peek into our creative process, and a Q&A! 🏳️‍⚧️✨

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M.R. Robinson @mruthrobinson.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

If you have ever emailed a writer to let them know you enjoyed something they wrote, you are among the noblest and best and most saintly in this entire world, and I hope you sleep really well tonight.

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Cat Aquino (they/them) @cataquino.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

i can’t believe our manga/graphic novel is on the VIZ Media website, along with Detective Conan, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, and many other manga releasing with us this July! www.viz.com/manga-books/...

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Sydney Paige Guerrero (she/her) @sydneyficant137.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Contract signed! So excited that my post-portal quest story "Remade, Reshaped, Remembered" will be in @othersidespec.bsky.social! If you like aftermath stories & complex mother-daughter relationships, this is for you! At Clarion, Alyssa Wong said the story's so tender, it's the "wagyu of emotion"🥩🫀🖤

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Cat Aquino (they/them) @cataquino.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

US manga and graphic novel readers, CHAMPION OF THE ROSE: VOLUME 1 pre-orders are now 25% off for Barnes & Noble members until March 26! ✨✨ this is our first pre-order sale and we can’t wait for you to meet our angry trans swordsman son and our dear sweet princess soon 🗡️🍷

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VIZ Media @viz.com · 30/10/2025

Pre-order Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1 now: buff.ly/6tKHUER

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Ritesh! @riteshwriter.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

We've never been so back.

Viz Media announcement:

Announcement: 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. Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1, by @cat_aquino
and @artominique
, releases Summer 2026. 🇵🇭

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MangaAlerts @mangaalerts.com · 17/10/2025

Viz Media announced through their Viz Originals Line Champion of the Rose by Cat Aquino & Dominique Duran for a physical and digital release

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Cat Aquino (they/them) @cataquino.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

CHAMPION OF THE ROSE will be at #WorldCon! 🌹🗡️ Dominique and I are so excited to reveal some Volume 1 pages and chat queer Southeast Asian comics on the virtual program! Come join us this Friday, 9 PM (Seattle time) 🍷✨

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komiks.space @komiks.space · 09/05/2025

🔔 NOW AVAILABLE on komiks.space: “A Space for Komiks,” a community zine by @komiks.space 📚 Read for free: read.komiks.space/a-space-for-... #readkomiks

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Sydney Paige Guerrero (she/her) @sydneyficant137.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Our book is out! Mapping New Stars: A Sourcebook on Philippine Speculative Fiction is a groundbreaking collection of essays tracing the history & practice of speculative fiction in the country, featuring celebrated spec fic writers & scholars and published by the University of the Philippines Press!

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Christina Orlando @cxorlando.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Happy to share with you my picks for the most anticipated sci-fi, fantasy, horror, gothic, and romantasy titles coming in the first half of 2025! I always love making this list and there are definitely some forever favorites on here. Let me yell at you about books! reactormag.com/30-sff-title...

reactormag.com

30 SFF Titles to Look Forward to in 2025 - Reactor

Here are 30 standouts to put on your TBR for the first half of this year!

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kouga! @usernameiskouga.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

hai Im kouga! author of upcoming stories like Blood Ink Daydream & Hindsight Romantic! i rlly like making comic/manga #art! especially stuff evoke bittersweet and grungy vibes—heres some of em! ive got a patreon u could check out as well: patreon.com/usernameiskouga lets all have a blast here !

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