Manga Mavericks Licenses Horon of the Closed Country, Sinbad

Manga Mavericks Books used its panel at New York Comic Con 2025 to announce two new licenses: the indie fantasy Horon of the Closed Country and the 1980s series Sinbad. Both are set to join its print and digital catalog in 2026.

Horon of the Closed Country, written and drawn by the creator Sen, leads the news. It is a complete indie series of four volumes, arriving digitally in early winter 2026 and in print that summer at a larger A5 size.

The story is a haunting fantasy. A forest deity guards an ancient land from outside enemies, but its protection demands sacrifices, and what it takes never returns. As the deity presses further into human lives, an unlikely trio, each having lost something precious, set off to uncover its secrets, slowly realizing that their losses, the deity, and the sacrifices are all bound together.

In a message to fans, Sen shared that the series grew from a wish to draw the kind of fantasy she would have loved as a child, and expressed real joy that readers around the world will soon be able to experience it.

Joining it is Sinbad, a classic 1980s manga by Atsuji Yamamoto, also slated for 2026, giving the publisher’s lineup a nice blend of fresh indie work and vintage adventure.

My take: I have a real soft spot for smaller, self contained fantasy series like Horon, and Sen’s heartfelt message made me even more curious. It is lovely to see a publisher championing both indie creators and older classics.