The Setting of ZARYA-3

ZARYA-3 takes place far away from Earth, inside a human-inhabited star cluster. No civilization there has any historical accounts regarding their original homeworld; instead, each holds a unique legend about where they came from and how they grew to conquer the stars.

Two worlds on opposite sides of the cluster simultaneously discovered a technology that allowed their space vessels to travel faster than light. The short era of peaceful interstellar exploration that followed this parallel discovery rapidly turned into a violent colonial expansion. Dozens of worlds had no choice but to either join the growing Federation or surrender to the rapidly expanding Empire.

This fast consolidation under two interstellar superpowers culminated in a devastating, all-out war for total dominance over all human-inhabited space. Because of the truly cosmic distances and immense resources possessed by both rival nations, the Grand War has lasted for multiple generations, becoming an everyday reality for people on both sides.

This historical period of an exhausting interstellar war of attrition, one that is slowly, but ruthlessly reshaping the borders and cultures of its participants, is when the main events of ZARYA-3 take place.

Since the humanity of ZARYA-3 did not inherit any of our current technological progress, but instead had to develop everything from scratch, their technology feels retro-futuristic, even as it coexists with highly advanced tech like interstellar propulsion and artificial gravity. Despite being able to traverse light-years in mere weeks, humans remain technologically and culturally bound to the tightly grouped star systems of their home cluster.

These limitations, and the apparent absence of sentient alien life, do not confine human existence in the universe of ZARYA-3 to tired old narratives. Instead, they fuel burning questions: What is out there, beyond human-inhabited space? Why does the Great War seem so perfectly symmetrical and seemingly endless? And how did humanity end up confined to this tight star cluster in the first place?

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ZARYA-3 is Like...

ZARYA-3 is like...

ZARYA-3 can be described as a grounded space opera about ordinary people confronted by events of a truly galactic scale. In terms of overall vibe, the project blends the epic grandeur of Star Wars with the realism and depth of The Expanse, finished with a dash of the mysticism found in Frank Herbert’s DUNE.

Aesthetically, ZARYA-3 lands in a period of spacefaring, analog retro-futurism with only rare glimpses of digital advancement – similar to ALIEN, but completely devoid of functional Artificial Intelligence or robotics. Despite channeling an ’80s and ’90s space-exploration fantasy, ZARYA-3 is not an alternate history like For All Mankind or Fallout; it takes place in the actual far future. Elements of low-tech and no-tech fantasy may also evoke the spirit of Heavy Metal Magazine or the Jodoverse (The Incal, The Metabarons), but in ZARYA-3, these elements are grounded, serious, and tonally consistent with the core science fiction genre of the saga.

Unfortunately, explaining here how humanity managed to settle dozens of different worlds only to suffer a complete cultural- and technological “reset” while completely forgetting their real origin, would be far too much of a spoiler.

The Development history behind ZARYA-3

ZARYA-3 is the third iteration of a comic series that began back in 2023. The first iteration was written by a human but illustrated using AI, serving as a successful proof of concept and market test.

The second iteration was intended to feature much more sophisticated writing and handcrafted, 3D-rendered elements to support its expansive world. However, following unfavorable market predictions, that version was canceled, paving the way for the launch of ZARYA-3.

Unlike its predecessors, ZARYA-3 is a 100% handcrafted experience. Everything from the logo on this website to the endless pages of text in the Database, and every single illustration or animation your eyes can see here was created by a human. One single human, in fact. This reality is both the project’s greatest strength and its biggest liability.

Having a single auteur behind everything means that every brushstroke, word, or curve of a spaceship’s hull are deeply interconnected. This is a unique type of magic when illustrations aren’t produced by hired artists constrained by strict client guidelines. Instead they are forged by the very person who wrote the centuries of lore behind them, gleefully thriving in the freedom of bringing their own vision to life.

Unfortunately, the key-person-risk is a real factor. When real-life challenges arise for the author, development may slow down significantly until those issues are resolved. But because there is no payroll to maintain, and no team can walk away form the project due to fatigue or creative conflicts, nothing can fully stop ZARYA-3 from being complete… except the death of the auteur. Fortunately, that risk remains minimal unless an all-out nuclear war breaks out in Europe, or something equally catastrophic happens.

The Preferred Medium for ZARYA-3

Regarding the final medium of choice, ZARYA-3 will meet its audience as a series of graphic novels first. This approach was chosen for its accessibility – unlike a traditional book, comics can be experienced as both high- and low-commitment entertainment by either reading every word on a page or skimming the whole thing over few minutes, of doing both of these things.

Also, unlike a video game or animation, creation of comics can be plausibly executed at the high quality tier by a one-person team without any support from hired competence or AI tools.

For this project though, a solo development method is not just an accessible approach – it is a true necessity. Because everything in this universe evolves and iterates at a breakneck pace, bringing additional people on board too early would only lead to the frustration of constantly tweaking elements, while introducing unnecessary financial and creative risks.

Executing at least the first three graphic novels single-handedly is paramount to solidify the core vision of ZARYA-3, and will allow this project to attract future funding through the release of finished products.

Production and Release of ZARYA-3

As outlined in the timeline on the front page, the creator behind ZARYA-3 is currently studying 2D artistry to prepare for illustrating the series’ first graphic novel. Concurrently, a vast library of 3D assets is being polished to completion. These assets are vital to the final pipeline: stylized 3D graphics will streamline the 2D illustration process and prove crucial for creating animated trailers.

Barring any major setbacks, the first graphic novel of the series is slated for release by late 2027 or early 2028. Following its debut, the project will transition into a scheduled release cadence until the final installment of the planned 20-novel saga is published.

The average target development time for each 80+ page graphic novel is six months. This rapid pace will be supported by a staggered release strategy: each completed novel will be published as six monthly issues, buying a six-month window to illustrate the next book.

Furthermore, certain narrative arcs may naturally expand beyond the six-issue format, organically extending the release window and granting additional development time for upcoming books.

While such an intense production and release model might seem risky for product quality, this lack of buffer time is mitigated by an extensive pre-production phase that solves complex creative hurdles upfront.

By the time the first novel hits screens, first drafts for all 19 sequel scripts and some key concept art pieces for them will already be complete. The same rigorous preparation applies to the artistic language governing the universe’s technology, cultures, and architecture.

This strategic approach guarantees that a tight monthly and yearly release schedule will never compromise the quality of the final product.

Potential Future of ZARYA-3

While ZARYA-3 is strictly scope-locked as a series of graphic novels for its initial release, its deeply layered lore and rich visual narrative mean that future expansions into video games or film are already being highly considered.

However, because maintaining absolute creative control is a core priority, these adaptations will only be pursued if the IP becomes successful enough to entirely or in part self-finance its own expansion.

Growth strategies like attracting external investors or selling the IP after it accumulates X amount of audience are completely off the table. The creative compromises that are inevitable under those funding models would risk turning ZARYA-3 into yet another sterile, corporate sci-fi franchise ruining years of hard work and diluting what makes this unique universe special in the first place. So funded by readers and made for the readers it is the only way to roll in this case!

So, WHO makes ZARYA-3?

Hello! My name is Architect-Creator, but unlike the most architects or creators I have a relatively small ego and literally feed from ANY kind of feedback. (Pun intended!)

Ever since my early childhood I have been passionate about mysteries of space and wanted to become a writer, but the high school forced me to “grow up” pretty fast. After ten years on a governmental job, where jumping out of a helicopter in the middle of nowhere was just-another-day-in-the-office, I enrolled in college. Boredom there made me write again. I kicked off that creative journey with producing few short films and developed a treatment for a limited series.

Thereafter while procrastinating on my thesis, I began to read comics and got hooked on INCAL by Jodorowsky/Moebius and other independent European graphic novels. So, with a bit of screenwriting experience I decided to make my first comic. Three of them actually. They were not so special and illustrations in them were made with AI, but I immediately found an audience and started making a modest income from my work. (Say what you want, but writing there was mine!)

When my first graphic novel came out and numbers began to grow exponentially, the decision was made – making an original comic series will become the meaning of my existence, my personal jihad! Back then I was not a fan of my story though – it felt lacking in narrative potential. To make things right I have spent whole 2024 on learning more about the writing theory and rebuilding/expanding my growing fictional Universe.

Unfortunately, as my stories became more cinematic and complex, AI tools started to show their restrictive side – they simply could not depict my ideas with tolerable quality. This friction prompted me to spend the whole 2025 on learning 3D modeling. Unlike before I chose to venture in this new discipline unassisted by AI – to be proud of making completely handcrafted visuals.

When a bulk of these 3D vehicles, interiors and props were completed, I have realized that use of AI for illustrating characters is the ONLY thing that may hold my work back from the real greatness! Because of that, under 2026 I chose to kill the project in its old iteration and re-launch it as a completely handcrafted IP. Learning the new craft means one more year in pre-production, but just like with the writing and 3D modeling years before – I’m aiming for greatness, and I’m confident in my ability to make things right! 

It is important to note that I’m deliberately keeping ZARYA-3 as a one-person project. Simply because I want to have freedom to move in my own pace, have full creative control and keep expenses lean at least for the first few novels of this project. These benefits come with a cost though – mastering all needed disciplines is a demanding job and unexpected life events (I’m a young parent of one!) can lead to delays. I have committed myself to treat this project as a long game, so while some parts of it will take time to complete, only death of may prevent me from finishing ZARYA-3.

Any Questions left? Scroll down to find the answers!

ZARYA-3 is deep in development, with a vast library of stories and worldbuilding already complete and visuals fully in production. Below is a brief FAQ regarding the project.

Please note: These questions and answers may evolve alongside the project. While the information presented here shouldn’t be regarded as set in stone, these lines perfectly reflect the vision behind ZARYA-3 at this exact moment.

Q: Why “ZARYA-3”?

A: This is the third iteration of a project that began back in 2023. Zarya means “dawn” or “sunrise” in Russian making this the third beginning, or the “third dawn,” of the sci-fi Universe in question. I chose the Russian word because it carries a beautifully brutal, cosmic vibe. Please note that ZARYA-3 is a working title and may change by the time the final trademark is registered for the official release.

Q: What is ZARYA-3, exactly? Is it a movie or a game?

A: While the pipeline relies heavily on custom, handcrafted 3D assets, ZARYA-3 will debut as a series of graphic novels featuring hand-drawn characters. Each release will be accompanied by a limited selection of animated marketing materials. While no feature films, animated series, or games are actively planned for the launch, the source material is intentionally built to adapt seamlessly into those mediums down the line.

Q: Who is making ZARYA-3?

A: ZARYA-3 is forged by a single, anonymous creator based in Europe. Everything from the branding and design to the 3D models, illustrations, and lore articles is written, modeled, and drawn by the exact same person. Right now, ZARYA-3 highly benefits from growing out of a single mind, because it allows for rapid experimentation and creative growth. As the project matures and generates revenue, additional creatives may be brought on to expand the art style and narrative under this established vision.

Q: How is ZARYA-3 financed?

A: The project is currently self-funded and supplemented by donations from people who believe in the vision. A crowdfunding campaign is considered for the time when the first graphic novel nears completion. Following the initial release, future funding will transition to a mix of subscriptions and individual graphic novel sales.

Q: What are the risks of investing my time and attention in ZARYA-3?

A: The fact that this is the third iteration is actually the best insurance policy. It proves the creator isn’t overly precious about any single draft and is entirely willing to “kill their darlings” to ensure the broader project thrives. Furthermore, because ZARYA-3 does not rely on external corporate investors or contractors, market fluctuations cannot kill it. Development may occasionally slow down due to real-life hurdles, but it will never stop.

Q: Where can I follow the development progress?

A: This website and the official Discord server are the primary hubs for production updates. While other social media channels exist to extend brand’s reach, they are not updated nearly as frequently.

Q: Is Generative AI used to speed up production?

A: No. Every single visual or narrative element of ZARYA-3 is fully handcrafted. No AI is utilized at any stage of pre-visualization/concept art creation either. The same applies to the narrative: nothing is written or brainstormed using AI. The only exception is when Google’s native AI tools are used for basic grammar correction and standard internet research. While previous, early iterations of this project experimented with AI-assisted visuals as a market test, experience has proven that nothing can compete with real human craftsmanship.

Q: At its core, what is ZARYA-3 really about?

A: Despite its massive, space-opera scale, ZARYA-3 is fundamentally about ordinary, everyday people who through sheer grit, determination, and willpower reshape the massive universe around them. That’s it!

Have more questions? Come chat and ask me anything directly on Discord!