The Manga Pole of Trolls & Legends 2026 continues to reveal itself with four authors who embody the richness of Francophone manga: Ayaluna, Jeronimo Cejudo, Stéphanie Le Chevalier, and KiChii. Between stories of identity, post-apocalypse, dark fantasy, and reimagined mythology, their works show how “global manga” has become a privileged playground for fantasy and imagination.
Ayaluna – Identity, magic, and parallel worlds
Belgian author and illustrator, Ayaluna is a figure in Francophone manga with a global manga style, blending Japanese codes and European culture. She published The Pawns of the Gods in 2016, then developed Generation Y online and also collaborated on children's comics.
With She is Me, she delivers a powerful story about identity and the fantastic: two children exchanged between the human world and that of magical creatures, a heroine caught in a plot where the balance between worlds is at stake. An intense, moving, and decidedly modern adventure, the work explores the quest for self through fantasy and the transition from one universe to another.
Jeronimo Cejudo – Ripper, post-apocalypse, and the quest for Eden
French mangaka with a powerful line and remarkable graphic energy, Jeronimo Cejudo quickly established himself on the Francophone scene with Lil’Berry (Delcourt/Tonkam, 2019), then became in 2020 the first Frenchman awarded at the Tezuka International Prize.
With Ripper (Ankama), he plunges into a post-apocalyptic world where humanity sends fighters, the “Rippers,” in search of a new Eden. It is during this quest that a group encounters Junk, a young optimistic boy, surprisingly insensitive to the devastation of the world. Between action, survival, friendship, and betrayal, Jeronimo Cejudo delivers a dark, tense, and captivating narrative that confirms his talent for striking contemporary stories.
Stéphanie Le Chevalier – Ashes, cinders, and inner monsters
French author passionate about manga since childhood, Stéphanie Le Chevalier retrained and underwent training at EIMA before signing with Ankama. She established herself in the Francophone landscape with her series Ashes (Ankama, 2025), a dark and fantastic universe that reflects the rise of Francophone mangakas.
In Ashes, we follow Ben, a chimney sweep from sector 3, confronted with the mysteries of a ruined factory, an explosion of unclear causes, and clouds of ash monsters. Behind the post-industrial aesthetic, the series shines with its thematic depth and maturity, exploring trauma, resilience, and the gray areas between guilt and responsibility.
KiChii (Anaïs Eustache) – Azure, Circe, and the power of myths
French author born in Savoie, Anaïs Eustache, alias KiChii, is one of the rising voices in Francophone manga. She first took over the youth series My Mother and Me at Clair de Lune, then published Azure (2020) and Circe (2022), two fantasy mangas where magic, science fiction, and graphic sensitivity meet.
Her works question the place of the individual in the face of forces that surpass them. Azure follows the quest for truth and power of a young hero confronted with mysterious powers, while Circe reinterprets Greek mythology through the lens of manga, giving voice back to a figure long seen only as a witch or antagonist. Powerful and sensitive narratives that appeal to both fantasy enthusiasts and fans of reimagined myths.
The Manga Pole 2026 thus promises to be a true laboratory of drawn imagination, where identity, post-apocalypse, ashes, and reimagined deities intersect under the pen of Francophone authors to watch closely.
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