Note: Sanjo is a Work In Progress.
What if the only way to save your sister... was to risk becoming the thing that took her?
Sanjo is a sci-fi graphic novel for teens about a girl with no magic in a world where magic means everything. When her sister disappears without a trace, Sanjo discovers a connection to the high-stakes virtual reality arena known as The Ring.
To uncover the truth, she’ll have to step into a world designed to strip her of everything.
This action-charged story weaves futuristic tech, hidden power, and the rise of a fearless Black girl hero on a mission to bring her sister home.
Follow the journey. Be the first to know when the story launches.
The idea for Sanjo started when I asked myself:
What would the Land of Ethonia look like in the future?
I imagined a world where magic still existed alongside of tech. A place where magic had become currency. Where power meant access. And where not everyone had it.
I didn’t want my main character to want to be a warrior. I wanted her to have to be one.
That’s how Sanjo came to life—a girl born without magic in a city that runs on it. She never asked to fight. But when her sister Ceela disappears—and the only clue leads to a dangerous VR world called The Ring—Sanjo must risk everything to bring her back.
In the first book of the Sanjo series, you’ll meet Sanjo and Ceela, and glimpse the Upper Level of Zumia. But their quiet world doesn’t stay quiet for long.
Sanjo is set in the future of the Anyia universe (no spoilers!). If you’ve read those stories, you might catch a few echoes. But this is Sanjo’s fight. And it’s just beginning.
Mystery, Magic, and Epic Virtual Reality Battles
Bringing the world of Anyia into the future was one of the most exciting parts of creating Sanjo. I wanted to keep the warrior spirit alive—but this time, in a city powered by tech and pulsing with magic.
In Zumia, magic is currency. Power is digital.
That’s how the concept of VR Battles came to life. For me, it was the perfect merge of old magic and new tech.
You can see it in the scene above: Ceela and Benyin watching Vam take the stage at a VR Club. The screen shows the virtual world. The crowd sees the avatars. But on stage, the real players are pushing their limits—for power, for pride, and for survival.
I think the most fun part of any story is creating the characters. I’ll create a new one whenever I get the chance. For me, characters are what make the world feel real—they give it depth, richness, and life. It’s the characters who bring the world alive.
Below, you’ll meet some of the cast of Sanjo. For those who compete in VR battles, you’ll also see their Avatars—digital reflections of who they are inside The Ring.
Who’s your favorite character design so far?
Welcome to Zumia—a city split by power, divided by design.
Sanjo takes place in Zumia, a split-level city divided by more than just height.
The Upper Level is sleek, wealthy, and powered by high-end technology.
The Lower Level feels closer to the old ways—its streets echo the cities from the Anyia series, alive with rhythm, tradition, and raw magic.
The divide runs deeper than infrastructure. In the upper level, technology does everything. Magic? It’s obsolete.
But in the lower level, magic is everything. It's power. It's currency. And for some, it’s the only way to survive.
That’s where the VR battle world was born—a virtual arena built to monetize the magic still alive below the surface.
This city is full of tension: progress vs. tradition, wealth vs. struggle, tech vs. magic.
And Sanjo? She’s caught in the middle.
The illustration gives a glimpse into her world—and her hover bike, one of the few things that gives her freedom in a city divided by power, class, and control.
I love the design of the VR Shop.
Fun Fact:
This illustration only took 2 rounds to get right.
Now that you know the concept behind the story I’m creating, I hope you enjoy some of the line art we’ve been working on. It’s been an exciting process bringing this world to life.
