What began as a conversation about mascot character design, grew into a year long collaboration, resulting in the creation of my role as the inaugural Resident Artist. By the summer of 2025, our efforts were focused on the creation of an original manga to be distributed on the occasion of the AniTOMO Convention. Centered around the mascot, TOMO-Chan, the 4 panel gag comic commemorated the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure cosplay/fashion show at Japan Village, Brooklyn. Later that summer, I was invited to share my work with hundreds of fans at AnimeNYC.