The oppressive Empire of Sagrada's new tournament could shape its future, as long as it doesn't consume its mightiest fighter or his patron first.
Published Jul 13, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT
An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.
His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.
Some of the hardest-hitting new fiction stories are those that don't make it hard to decipher the historical oppression which inspired them. Such is true in the case of VIZ Media's latest new graphic novel from its Originals lineup, Champion of the Rose, in which the oppressive Empire of Sagrada sets up a tournament to decide who will take its crown princess Rosa's hand in marriage. It's a bitter gladiatorial contest starting with typical hand-to-hand combat, but quickly expands to incorporate blood magic, naval combat, and even Herculean labors teased by the final pages of volume 1.
It doesn't take much to understand the historical inspiration for Sagrada's worship of the Dying God and its clear inspiration by the Spanish Empire, with Princess Rosa of the Himalans meant to represent assimilation of Filipinos among their conquered nations. But as the tournament winds up, Rosa has a chance encounter with fellow Himalans, where she takes on Rey, a trans Himalan man, as her champion, despite him having no love for this empire or what it's done to his home. But thanks to VIZ Media, ScreenRant was able to get an early look at the brand-new series far enough in advance, while proudly debuting the brand-new trailer as Champion of the Rose drops on store shelves on July 14, 2026.
A New Champion Fights For Change In An Empire Built On Blood
Upon first glimpses, Rey is an innately fascinating character in Champion of the Rose. He's a highly proficient warrior, staunchly refusing to let go of his native traditions (including remembering his Escrima salute, another solid reference to the Filipino martial art) while continuously being pushed into a corner with his freedom on the line. The series doesn't tokenize Rey's identity, with characters like Rosa only briefly noting his chest binding, instead showcasing his fiery willpower as an act of defiance against an empire willing to erase his people and their identity. This includes refusing to use Blood Magic, or worshiping a god deemed to be empowered by others' suffering.
As is shown by the trailer, Champion of the Rose lays out the motives of its key players. Rosa wishes not to let her hand be some trophy to be fought over, deciding to "win it for herself" before ultimately selecting Rey as her champion. Rey, meanwhile, was a death row convict, once looked upon as a "weak little girl", with the call to stoicism, to "be a man", something which steadies him more than once throughout the series so far.
If this world is out to kill us...then we have to fight for a better one.
But just as Rey valiantly fights against the odds, even sparking a miracle mixing in liturgical body horror elements to earn him the epithet of "Rey the Revenant", he is continuously pushed deeper into this tournament, which reveals itself to be something far more sinister. The colonizers overseeing it are the very reason why Rey feels emboldened to fight, with the old ways of the Himalans being deemed "unhygienic." Rey finds himself being forced to kill fellow Himalans, who allowed their fates by believing it'd be Rey who would set them free. But as the first volume closes, it's certain such a liberation is a far taller order than anticipated.
Sagrada Thumbs The Scales For Himalan Freedom In Champion Of The Rose
Champion of the Rose does well to vary its combat challenges with each passing chapter, while its characters' actions more greatly reflect their resolve in the face of increasingly stagnant odds and the truth about the tournament coming to light. Rosa's decision to make Rey her champion is seen as almost saintly by spectators in "redeeming" a native. Yet Rosa simply wants to take agency for herself and affect real change in the Empire she'd soon once lead. Through seeing what the tournament is over time, Rosa's resolve to overtake the empire is challenged severely, while Rey is pushed past the brink, deciding it's best to burn it all down.
By the end of volume 1, Champion of the Rose lays out three key challenges ahead across the Sagrada Empire: claiming the heart of a legendary fire-breathing dragon, the water of life in a lost world, and the head of an evil god deep within a pagan labyrinth. Despite Rey recognizing the Dying God's inexplicable favor of him, thanks to the mysterious rose given to him as he joined the tournament, he vows to enable the mass blood sacrifice the tournament is turning out to be, with a new, understandable-yet-dark motive of his own for winning. It's a thrilling prospect to see more of what Champion of the Rose has to offer as it expands its dark world ever further.
Champion of the Rose is set to release on store shelves and online retailers starting July 14, 2026. The series is written by Cat Aquino and Dominique Duran, a Filipino writer and illustrator team
English (US) ·