A comic book from
Cory Sandhagen

Launching on September 2026
Cover of Gnos and The Dervies: Gnos stands in a shirt and tie in front of the Earth Sim sign, his family and the Arbiter behind him.
The book

The gods have a prison. We call it Earth.

On the holy world of Sanctara, the gods walk among their people. Since the beginning, their followers have lived in peace, comforted by the certainty that the gods know best. But when Gnos' father is unjustly sentenced to Earth Sim —a prison where the aliens of Sanctara are sent as punishment for their sins— everything Gnos believes begins to crack.

Consumed by grief and doubt, Gnos finds refuge among a secret underground rebellion that questions the very foundation of their society. Together, they devise a plan to break into Earth Sim and rescue his father.

What follows is a fun, thought-provoking, and wildly entertaining adventure filled with rebellious teenage aliens, underground revolutionaries, an oracle baby, and the Arbiter —an ancient creature who enjoys bribery far more than justice. Beneath the adventure lies a deeper exploration of reincarnation, spirituality, free will, love, purpose, and the strange mystery of what humanity actually is.

Cory Sandhagen holding a printed copy of Gnos and The Dervies and pointing at the cover. He is saying: in between UFC fights I really love writing comic books, this is my first completed piece.
“In between UFC fights I really love writing comic books - this is my first completed piece!” Cory Sandhagen
The rewards

Get first dibs on the Kickstarter exclusive first edition

Plus rewards from limited tiers that are bound to sell out fast.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Kickstarter go live?

September 2026. Register and you get the exact date and time before it is announced anywhere else.

What is it going to cost?

The reward tiers are being finalized against print quotes right now. There will be a digital edition, a signed and numbered First Edition, and a small number of collector tiers. This list gets the real numbers first, at a price the public page does not show.

Is this for kids or for adults?

Cory wrote it for both, and has said he was aiming at adults and at older kids rather than small ones. The story deals with death, grief, and religion honestly, and there is some crude humor. If you would let a twelve year old watch a PG-13 movie, they can handle this.

What actually is it, physically?

A 64 page full color graphic novel. The Kickstarter First Edition is signed and hand numbered, with a cover badge and a backer credits page that the later store edition will not have.

Do I have to pay anything to register?

No. There is no deposit and no card. Registering puts you on a list and nothing else. You can unsubscribe at any point.

Can I back it from outside the US?

Yes. Kickstarter takes backers worldwide and shipping is set per country. The digital edition is free of shipping everywhere.

Who drew it?

Juan Paz, an Argentine cartoonist who has been drawing comics since he was eight. Every page in the book is his.

A surprisingly thoughtful story from someone who gets punched in the head for a living.
Cory's mom
Gnos and The Dervies Kickstarter, September 2026