Root Mandrake: Mud Monster Mayhem #1 Debuts at Thought Bubble 2026

Mister Hope’s Root Mandrake: Mud Monster Mayhem #1 is set to debut at Thought Bubble 2026, giving attendees at the Harrogate comic festival a first chance to find the new comic in person. The book will be available in Bubbleboy Hall at table B13 during the convention weekend of November 14 and 15 at Harrogate Convention Centre.

The premise is direct, playful, and appropriately messy: Root Mandrake is a dedicated mischief-maker, with Stanley Snail at his side. The pair intend to create as much havoc as possible, only for a Mud Monster to threaten to disrupt the plan. That setup puts the apparent antagonistic force in an unusual position. Root and Stanley are not introduced as heroes trying to stop chaos; they are the ones actively pursuing it. The question is whether the Mud Monster can put an end to their antics—or whether it simply becomes another part of the mayhem.

A new comic built around cartoon chaos

Root Mandrake: Mud Monster Mayhem #1 centers its appeal on a compact comic-book formula: a troublemaking lead character, a reliable companion, and an outsized obstacle. A mud monster is an especially fitting complication for a story about characters seeking disorder. Mud is difficult to control, difficult to clean up, and visually suited to slapstick escalation. The title itself signals that the monster is not merely a background threat, but the engine of the issue’s central conflict.

Root Mandrake and Stanley Snail’s relationship is also the key premise to watch. The supplied description identifies Stanley as Root’s trusted pal, making the comic a duo-driven story rather than a solo adventure. In comics aimed at energetic, comedic scenarios, a two-character pairing can create room for contrasting reactions: one character pushes the bad idea forward, while the other helps, questions it, or is swept along by it. The available details do not establish exactly how the pair divide those roles, so readers will have to discover that on the page.

The wording around “maximum havoc” suggests a broad, all-ages-friendly comic sensibility without confirming a formal age rating. What is clear is that the story’s emphasis is mischief rather than grim monster horror. The Mud Monster functions as a potential spoiler of Root and Stanley’s plans, framing the conflict as a comic collision between competing kinds of disorder.

Where to find Mister Hope at Thought Bubble

Mister Hope will be located at Bubbleboy Hall, table B13. Alongside the new Root Mandrake issue, the creator is expected to bring other comics and stickers. Previously named works include The Mouse, The Bird And The Sausage, Rebel Rebel, Milo And Rex, and Pig Cop.

For attendees, the table location matters because Thought Bubble’s convention component is designed around creators and independent publishers. In this setting, a table is more than a retail point: it is the place to browse a creator’s wider body of work. Someone drawn in by the Mud Monster premise may find that it serves as an entry point to Mister Hope’s other comics, while returning readers can pick up the newest issue directly from its creator.

“Small press” is a useful term here. It generally refers to comics made outside the biggest corporate publishing structures, often with creators retaining close involvement in the writing, art, printing, and direct sale of their books. That does not describe a single style or format; rather, it reflects a publishing ecosystem in which readers can encounter unusual concepts and distinct creator voices at events. A new issue such as Root Mandrake: Mud Monster Mayhem #1 is the kind of release that benefits from that face-to-face convention environment.

Thought Bubble’s 20th convention edition

The release arrives during Thought Bubble’s twentieth show. The wider festival runs across Yorkshire and celebrates comics, illustration, animation, and related creative work, culminating in the November 14–15 convention at Harrogate Convention Centre. Thought Bubble is described as the United Kingdom’s largest comic art festival, with an emphasis on the people who make comics—particularly artists and writers—and strong support for small press creators.

The event began in 2007, founded by Yorkshire artist Lisa Wood, also known as Tula Lotay, as part of the Leeds International Film Festival. Its first event took place on November 10, 2007, in the basement of Leeds Town Hall and attracted a couple of hundred people. The festival later expanded substantially. Its convention originally operated across Leeds, before moving to Harrogate in 2019 because more space was needed and following issues with Leeds City Council.

That history gives the twentieth edition added context. What began as a comparatively small local gathering has developed into a major destination for comic creators and readers. For new work such as Root Mandrake: Mud Monster Mayhem #1, appearing at the event places it in a setting where independent comics are not a side attraction. They are a core part of the experience.

Why a convention debut can matter

A convention debut means the earliest stated availability is tied to a particular place and weekend: Harrogate, November 14–15, 2026. The information provided does not confirm a wider release schedule, a digital edition, a print run, a cover price, or any online ordering options. Readers should avoid assuming details beyond the in-person debut at table B13.

Still, the format has practical advantages for a creator-led comic. Visitors can locate the issue, see the rest of the table’s stock, and make their own assessment of which titles appeal to them. Stickers will also be part of Mister Hope’s table offering, providing a smaller-format option for people who want to support the work or take home a piece of its visual identity alongside a comic.

For collectors, it is worth separating confirmed information from assumptions. The fact that an issue debuts at a convention does not, on its own, make it a convention exclusive, variant cover, signed edition, or limited release. None of those details have been established here. The confirmed point is simpler: Root Mandrake: Mud Monster Mayhem #1 will be at Mister Hope’s Bubbleboy Hall table during Thought Bubble’s 2026 convention weekend.

More Thought Bubble comics to watch for

Thought Bubble’s appeal is its range: major names and publishers may be part of the broader comics landscape, but the festival’s creator-focused structure gives smaller projects substantial room to be discovered. Visitors looking beyond Root Mandrake can also keep an eye on other work appearing around the event, including Plant Knight Chapter One, another comic connected with the Harrogate weekend.

For Mister Hope, the important pitch remains pleasingly uncomplicated. Root Mandrake wants to cause trouble. Stanley Snail is coming along. A Mud Monster is in the way. Whether that creature can restore order—or winds up enabling an even bigger disaster—is the hook waiting inside issue #1.