Hot Tropiks is Heading to LAcon V: Worldcon 2026!
Hot Tropiks will be exhibiting at LAcon V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), August 27–31, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hilton Anaheim, and Anaheim Marriott.
Worldcon hasn't been in the Los Angeles area in 20 years, with the last one being L.A.con IV back in 2006. Running since 1939 and home to the Hugo Awards, it’s the oldest global gathering for sci-fi and fantasy fans, creators, and publishers.
Along with a heavy lineup of Pinoy sci-fi and fantasy, all of our featured titles below are exclusive new releases making their official US physical debuts at the convention. We'll also be stocking a wide selection of hard-to-find titles directly from Philippine publishers and independent creators that are usually difficult to pick up outside the Philippines.
Where to Find Us
- Booth: D07B-T8
- Location: Hall 100 (Anaheim Convention Center North)
- Dates: August 27–31, 2026
Featured Lineup & Debuts
Maharlika Compendium (Volumes 1–3)
Created by Rexy Dorado and illustrated by John Ray, Maharlika is an alternate-history graphic novel series set in a timeline where the Philippines defeated Spanish forces using advanced technology and grew into a high-tech global superpower. The story follows Mal, a burnt-out former war hero, who gets pulled into a high-stakes mercenary job by his childhood friend Yari. Together, they navigate state secrets, political corruption, and dangerous conspiracies across a neon-lit Manila along the Pasig River. Previously available only through Kickstarter, the Maharlika Compendium collects these story arcs into a single omnibus for its official US physical debut.
Gimo Jr. and the Aswang Clan
Making its US physical debut, this fast-paced supernatural mystery follows 13-year-old Danny, whose life changes on his birthday when he develops strange powers and discovers his town is full of shapeshifting monsters from Visayan folklore. Written by podcast producer Andrew Jalbuena Pasaporte, the book features raw, energetic artwork by Manila street artist Auggie Fontanilla. Together with his two best friends, Danny has to uncover the town's secrets and stop a hidden clan of bloodthirsty creatures.
Night Gate Vol. 1
Hot Tropiks Press and Raygun Press are bringing Lucia Asul’s breakout urban fantasy-horror comic, Night Gate Vol. 1, to the US in physical format for the first time. Written and illustrated by award-winning Ilonggo painter Lucia Asul, Night Gate is a dark story set against a civil war in Balaan City. As the city falls apart, a portal opens into total darkness, forcing a survivor named Sinta and her family to choose between staying in a warzone or stepping into the unknown void. Drawn in high-contrast black-and-white, it’s a grounded story about survival and fear.
Trinity
Our friends at @KnightStudiosPh air-freighted us exclusive copies of Trinity straight from the Philippines for its US debut! Written and drawn as a dark urban fantasy and superhero noir, the graphic novel follows Detective Ben Acana, who makes a pact with the ancient deity Agasi to rescue his abducted wife. Possessed by godlike power, Ben must navigate divine influence while uncovering a dark conspiracy behind a sudden surge of local superhumans. Grab this exclusive Philippine import in person at the Hot Tropiks booth!
More Featured Titles
Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1
In a brutal gladiatorial arena where spectacle rules, Rey must decide how far he'll go to survive and win.
Josefina
A haunting graphic novel about a monster who became human when humans became monsters, set in Philippine history.
D.I.E. Department of Irregular Elimination Vol. 1
In a dystopian Philippines split into Regulars and Irregulars, Mavelin Diaz joins an elite unit hunting deadly threats.
Tales for a Rainy Season
Wincy Aquino Ong delivers distinctly Filipino horror stories that hit like an incoming storm, set across the archipelago.
Maloles: The Reckoning Vol. 1
A dark Filipino fantasy graphic novel by artist Ebony Soy that shatters tradition and reimagines the underworld's keeper.
Mythica Obscura (Vols. 1–4)
Karl Gaverza's deep dive into 44 mythological beings from across the Philippines, richly compiled across four volumes.
Salamangka Vol. 1
Ian Sta. Maria's visionary graphic novel invites readers into an unforgettable world of magic and striking original art.
Sixty Six Book 1
A heartwarming supernatural adventure following Celestino Cabal, from writer Russell Molina and the Anino Comics team.
The Indio and the Impaler
Set in 1893 Dapitan, Wincy Aquino Ong blends Philippine history with classic gothic terror in this haunting tale.
Makina
A memory-less machine embarks on a quest to record history, encountering a vagrant who reshapes its journey.
The Fireflies of Crimson Ashes
In a post-apocalyptic world where darkness prevails, Crimson Ashes stands as the last bastion of nature and humanity.
Elmer
Gerry Alanguilan's acclaimed graphic novel imagines a world where chickens gained human intelligence, exploring identity, family, and belonging.
Creators from the Philippines at Worldcon
Author Cat Aquino (Champion of the Rose Vol. 1, co-created with Dominique Duran) will be participating in LAcon V virtually from the Philippines!
Cat will be joining convention panels to speak on speculative fiction, anime, and queerness in comics and manga. Make sure to tune into her virtual sessions during Worldcon, and drop by our booth to pick up a physical copy of Champion of the Rose Vol. 1!
"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! I’m currently based in the Philippines so both of my sessions will be virtual. I’m really glad virtual accommodations mean writers from the Global South like me can participate... See you at the end of the month!" — Cat Aquino
Author and editor Gabriela Lee will be participating in LAcon V virtually!
Gabriela will be joining convention panels to speak on speculative fiction and game narratives. Make sure to tune into her virtual session during Worldcon!
"Gabriela Lee is the author of the short story collection Instructions on How to Disappear: Stories (Visprint, 2016), Cely’s Crocodile: The Art and Story of Araceli Limcaco-Dans (Tahanan Books, 2020), and A Playlist for the End of the World: Short Stories (University of the Philippines Press, 2022). She is the co-editor of the Philippine National Book Award and World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Mapping New Stars: A Sourcebook on Philippine Speculative Fiction (University of the Philippines Press, 2024). She received her PhD in English literature from the University of Pittsburgh and currently teaches creative writing and children’s literature at the University of the Philippines-Diliman."
We have more announcements coming before the event. This is our first time running a booth at Worldcon, and we’ll keep updating this page with creator signing schedules, panel times, and booth deals as everything gets locked in.
Stay tuned!
