Disney Manga: Descendants - Mal's Royal Challenge is a comic book. It came out on July 15, 2024.
A full-color, manga-style graphic novel telling a brand-new story in the world of Disney Descendants, Mal.
Summary[]
Opening the bridge between Auradon and the Isle was the easy part – bringing two disparate cultures together will be the real challenge that Mal must face. Realizing that she needs help, Mal brings on as consuls the two people who best personify their respective homes: Audrey for Auradon and Uma for the Isle of the Lost. They’re charged with helping Mal introduce their own cultures to a whole new audience… but how?
As far as Mal sees it, they can only really truly understand the issues that the people of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost will face by first experiencing it for themselves, which means that Audrey will need to live a day in Uma’s life on the Isle and Uma in Audrey’s shoes in Auradon. This experience – full of embarrassing missteps and unexpected situations – opens up Audrey and Uma’s eyes to just how inattentive they’d been to the challenges faced by those who’d grown up elsewhere and inspires them to join forces with Mal to find a better solution to truly integrate their cultures.
Plot[]
Chapter 1[]
Mal and Ben are observing the friendship market for the big day. Once it's complete, the people of Auradon and the Isle will finally have a place to come together and once a week they can show off their culture, sell food and crafts, and mingle. Ben is unsure if people will put aside their differences and come together, btu Mal hopes it can be done. Looking at one of the designs, Mal tells Ben if they really want to get people to come, they need to kick it off right. Ben suggest do something big and exciting, which Mal adds that makes people want to actually come and show the world what they're all about. Ben ask how is she going to do that, which Mal says she is working on that right now.
Outside, Mal and Evie are handing Auradon people the flyers. Mal starts by saying that everything in Auradon is so nice and beautiful but it might not fit the Isle of the Lost style, as kids could challenge each other to throw the Auradon plates as far as they can. The two then meet Jane and Ben who were discussing the plans for the big day. Jane ask if Mal find what she need, which Mal said both yes and no. Mal says she realized she is not the right person for this since she dosen't understand everyone's needs well enough.
Jane is confused since Mal grew up on the Isle and now she is the Queen of Auradon. Mal says that is the problem, her experience was too unique and she needs advisors who really understood what life in Auradon and life on the Isle are really like. Jane thinks of putting out an open call, which Mal and Evie already posted some fliers around Auradon and the Isle to look for cultural ambassadors, whether they join as Mal's advisors or just helped add cultural flair to the market, which will be a great contribution anyway. She and Evie reviewed all applications and narrowed them down to two, who were Audrey and Uma. All that is left now is to let them know they've been chosen, which is where both Ben and Jane come in.
The next day, Ben, Jay, and Dude are passing fliers on the Isle but many residents don't do fliers. Jay tells Ben that they would do better if they did word of mouth since the paper fliers dosen't work well here. Ben just wants the friendship market to go well since it means a lot to Mal and he also wants to see it succeed, which Jay admits he does to. Ben notices Jay sorrow face and deep in though, and ask if it feels strange to be back on the Isle, which Jay admits it is but it is also be a lot better if the whole gang was together. The two hear Uma shouting orders at her pirate crew. Ben gets her attention, and gives Uma an invitation to be Mal's advisor.
Meanwhile at Auradon Prep, Jane and Evie walk to the school to get Audrey. Evie says it feels funny to be back, but Jane tells her she haven't technically left and even after she graduates, she is pretty sure she'll be here volunteering at every opportunity. The two notice that people are so excited for Mal's upcoming friendship market. Evie comes up to a student, who is a big fan of Evie4Hearts but Evie ask if she has seen Audrey, which the student points to the supplies, where Audrey is looking at designs. Jane pulls out Mal's invitation, saying she request that she report to the castle since tomorrow is her new role as Auradon's advisor, if she is still interested in the job, which Audrey accepts.
The next day at Beast Castle, Audrey and Uma run into each other. The two are confused, but when they are both here for Auradon's advisor, Mal welcomes both of them.
Chapter 2[]
Both Audrey and Uma start to fight, with Audrey telling Uma that she was chose for her impeccable draft application, which Uma laughs saying writing big words dosen't make her qualified for anything and King Ben came to him personally and appointed her as Court Consul. Audrey tells her that both Jane and Evie begged her to help Mal out. Mal breaks up the pair and tells them why they are both here was a good reason why she choose both of them. Since she came from the Isle and soon will be the Queen of Auradon, let's calm down and she has seen the best and worst that both place have to offer. Uma ask what she need them for, which Mal says her experience was very unique and she is too close to both places now. The way both reacted so passionately proves she made the right choice and where the two of them come in. Since the friendship market is opening soon, Mal will need both of their insights in both Auradon and the Isle culture to create an inviting atmosphere to create a place for people from Auradon and the Isle to come together and get to know one another. Mal ask who goes first which Uma and Audrey do sword, fire, and cauldron, which Audrey wins and goes first. Uma is surprised by Audrey's plan setting up. As Audrey begins she starts by saying survey respondents the people of Auradon value beauty, elegance, and tradition. So in order to ensure visitors satisfaction and maximize engagement her proposal is to create unique areas for all nineteen states of Auadon. Uma's turn and she says that they sure they have fancy dreams about the place but how is she going to do it. What people on the Isle want is food and entertainment, not how if a place looks nice if there is nothing to no and no one will come to something like that so Uma proposals they shut down the Isle business on the day of the Friendship Market to make them come out and take part, then all they need is some agressive leadership to build up all the stalls and be in business. After the two finishes, Mal says they have interesting ideas but neither Audrey dosen't have a plan to make people from the Isle feel welcome and Uma dosen't know how to welcome people from Auradon. Uma is confused since the Isle need to think about Auradon since everything so perfect and easy here, and people are going to fall in place here while Audrey says the Isle can't be different which she thinks the Isle people miss the days when they lived in the beautiful kindgom of Auradon and would love to see them again. Mal says she heard enough and made up her mind. Both have great ideas about their respective homes but she want both to get more insights on the other side lives. So Uma and Audrey are going to spend a day living in the other's shoes to get a sense of what it's like to live on the other side of the bridge. Both Uma and Audrey are surprised but Mal leaves and declares both will be leaving first thing tomorrow so the two might want to start getting ready and exchanging schedules.
After Mal leaves, Audrey says both need to compare notes, which Uma says that she is not going to dress like her, which Audrey reassure her she wouldn't need to worry. As the two are in their respective rooms, the both wonder what they got themselves into.
Chapter 3[]
The next day, Audrey takes the limo to the Isle of the Lost. She tries to be nice but the people on the Isle just avoid her. Uma had drawn her a map but Audrey can't read it since it is like simple pirate treasure map so she tries to find her way herself. Walking through the street market, Audrey sees the Frienship market flier, and thinks they are excited for the market. She tries to get something to eat but her bag get stolen. After getting her bag, Audrey comes to Uma's post starts to get her crew to work, assigning them jobs, which several of them didn't have before. Then Gil comes over and he tells her Harry Hook sent him so Audrey can do her shift at Ursula's Fish and Chips.
At Ursula's Fish and Chips, Harry gives Audrey a rundown, which is take orders from customers, get the food from the chef and bring it to the customers. Audrey ask what if the chef mess up an order, which Harry tells it is common here and don't make eye contact with the chef cause he hates it. Harry also tells Audrey to ignore the customer's complains. Harry tells her not to call for the manaser since they don't have one and he defiantly dosen't want to get betrothal. Audrey then serves food but runs into Gil a few times and cleans up. Mal shows up to check on her progress. She tells Audrey to sit down and take a break, while she takes care of the next table. Mal calls to the last order to get their food or leave. After Mal closes the shop, she tells Audrey she saw some of the stuff she did back there today and she is doing all right. Mal is looking forward to hearing what she come away with and stumbled on her bags on the way. She left them outside, as she left. After Mal leaves Audrey, she decides to do the last job which is Uma's snack menu for the market. Looking at the cookbook, Audrey find they cannot feed to people so she brought some proper ingredients ad a few substitutions would be good.
Chapter 4[]
Uma heads to Auradon Prep. She rings the bell and Jane lets her in and tells her to go to the Administrative office and the two can talk about her day. Uma gets a look at the inside and wonders how Auradon think like they make things big for the shake of it but on the Isle you really learn to appreciate space. Uma tries to head to the Administrative office, thinking it is in the back building to keep away intruders but ends up getting lost. Noticing two students. She ask where the Administrative office which one of the student tells her it is right next to the entrance, and she can't miss it which Uma gets angry and scares them. Jane comes up to her and though she was doing a tour, but was worried she got lost. Uma says she as trying to get familiar with the place first and has Jane lead the way. In the Administrative office, Jane goes over her taks of the day, which sis first joining the Junior Cheering squad in their practice secession, which Uma is surprised. Jane ask is she wants to take a pass, and she dosne't have to do it but Uma is willing to do it. At the practice session, one of the cheerleaders notice Uma and greet her. Uma impresses the other cheerleaders as practice is over. Uma sits on the ground and Jane comes up if she is done with cheerleading, which Uma says she didn't want to be hard on the others for the first time and all. Jane tells Uma she has to go to Audrey's next activity, which Uma dosen't know because she didn't read Audrey's schedule because it had too many instructions like she was trying to control her and claimed to drop it somewhere but it was on the desk. As Jane and Uma walk, Jane tells Uma Audrey was in the middle of helping build a large stage for entertainment to preform during the friendship market, so Uma will be taking her supervisory duties, which excites Uma.
Uma begins by splashing a bucket of water onto two students and ordering them to shine the stage. Uma then ordered another to hammer faster. As the day goes by, Uma gets the stage ready, which Mal comes and sees she is making some good progress but it is a little chaotic. Uma yes yes but Mal tells her the stage isn't just for the Isle or Auradon, it is also for anyone to perform on it. Uma ask Mal what does she mean and Mal tells her to put one of the stars, which Uma calls junk but Mal tells her it is not about the looks but the meaning behind it. Mal says to find a good pale to hang it up. As Mal leaves she tells Uma to look at the big picture and ask for help if she needs it.
Uma decides to add paint to make it bright and flashy. Uma tells the students not to hold back and grab a different color so the stage can shine. Uma dismisses a centerpiece star, telling them to toss it and start putting up a huge octopus symbol. After finishing Uma notices the plans, Audrey had and realized she messed up.
Chapter 5[]
The next day, Uma and Audrey are waiting where Mal ask them about their days. As silence continues, Mal tells them not to keep her suspended, which Audrey grabs Uma and leads her out. Once they are out, Audrey tells Uma she had some problems following her recipe and may have substituted some ingredients and it didn't come out the best, which surprised Uma. Uma confesses that she went a little wild in decorating her stage and didn't follow her directions. Audrey ask if it is bad and Uma says it is really bad. Audrey says they both messed up and we can put that behind them but the need to fix this somehow before Mal finds out, which Uma agrees.
At Ursula's Fish and Chips, the two run into Harry who tells her that the unique Isle dishes she made for the market is gone and trashed, but Uma tells him, she already knows and they go into the kitchen. In the kitchen, Uma tells Audrey she was picked because she was passionate about the Isle and their culture and she is not letting Mal down, so they need to make something new. It is going to be tight, especially without the right ingredients but I think we got this. Audrey ask how can she help. Which she shows with eggs, carrots, fish, tomatoes. Uma told her to stay aways from the recipe for starters, so Uma will cook and Audrey will decorate and plate, which Audrey agreed. Audrey and Uma made the dishes, which after they finished, they made something even better than what Uma had planned. After fixing one problem, Audrey and Uma look to the stage, where Audrey sees what Uma did. Audrey isn't going to let Mal down either with the stage or bad attitude but she also picked her because the two are going to make something better she she originally envisioned. Audrey tells Uma to get her pirates and she is going to rework this. After Uma gathers her pirate crew, Audrey has them decorate the stage to match Auradon style and the Isle style. After finishing, Uma admits this is not what she had in mind, which Audrey agree but it is what Mal was looking for, making the good and bad together.
The two head back to Mal's office, where before they open the door, Audrey admits that the people on the Isle aren't too different from Auradon and certainly don't need to be shown how things are done. But some need help with design direction. Uma admits that Audrey always doen something isn't necessarily the best way but the best way is to get outside perspective an help make something better. Except when it comes to already perfect recipes. As the two enter, Mal ask if the two took care of everything, which Uma and Audrey relied yes. Mal says the goal is to make a palce that joins both cultures together and encourages everyone to mingle. She then has one last job for the two of them, she wants the Absolute Perfect Promediatr for the Friendship Market. Mal has Audrey to travel througout Auradon and the Isle to convince vendors to bring the best wares that draw people in while Uma is going to go cut and find musicians on both sides of the border to come and play the music to get people to stay and talk. Audrey and Uma did their parts without any issue this time.
At the Friendship Market, Mal hugs Uma and Audrey, which marks the start of a new era for Auradon and brand new discoveries of the Isle.
Trivia[]
- This takes place after Descendants 3 and before Descendants: The Royal Wedding, as Mal states to Uma and Audrey, she will be the queen of Auradon soon.
- This is the only content that came after The Royal Wedding that feature some of the original cast.
- Jay indirectly mentions Carlos while being on the Isle with Ben and Dude. Showing that Carlos died before the manga.
- Jane revealed she hasn't yet graduated from Auradon Prep.
Gallery[]
