Is Do I Know You From Somewhere? worth it if you’re shopping in Comics & Graphic Novels?
Quick answer
| Best for | Promare fans who want a tangible, monochrome art piece featuring Galo and Lio in a modern AU, plus the raw creative process behind it. |
| Skip if | You are looking for a full-color digital comic, a physical print, or a story that follows the original anime’s sci-fi timeline rather than a college setting. |
| Price | $2 |
| Format | 31-page A5 PDF + high-resolution cover spread image |
| One-line take | A sharp, low-cost entry into aj’s Promare fanzine series that rewards readers who appreciate monochrome aesthetics and behind-the-scenes sketch notes. |
What you’re actually buying
If you’ve been hunting for Promare fan art that feels more like a curated zine than a random social media post, this $2 drop is a surprisingly dense package. You aren’t just getting a story; you are getting the full 31-page monochromatic experience of Do I Know You From Somewhere?, formatted in a standard A5 size (5.8 x 8.3 inches) that reads well on both tablets and desktops. The narrative itself is a specific slice of the fandom: an Alternate Universe where Galo Thymos and Lio Fotia navigate a modern college setting, dealing with mutual pining and the strange, magnetic feeling of having been soulmates before.
What makes this particular entry in the PROMARE FANZINE series stand out is the inclusion of the initial thumbnail sketches and notes. Most digital fan comics hide the messy, iterative process, but aj includes these raw materials, giving you a look at how the pacing and character dynamics were mapped out before the final ink. It’s a rare touch for a $2 digital good, turning a simple read into a small study in sequential art. You also receive a high-resolution image of the cover spread, which is perfect if you want a crisp desktop wallpaper or a clean file to share in a community without worrying about compression artifacts. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
The monochromatic style isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it’s a deliberate constraint that heightens the emotional tension of the “stranger who feels familiar” premise. By stripping away color, the focus stays entirely on the line work and the spatial relationship between Galo and Lio. For a piece that centers on the uncanny valley of recognition between two characters, that visual restraint does a lot of heavy lifting. It’s a compact, self-contained story that doesn’t drag on, making it an easy weekend read that still feels substantial because of the extra creative context provided in the back. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
Why it’s on our radar
This is on our radar because it solves a specific gap in indie digital comics: the lack of “process transparency” in low-cost fan works. At $2, you get a complete 31-page narrative plus the thumbnail sketches and notes that usually stay in the artist’s private files. That mix of finished product and creative scaffolding is unusual for a single-issue fanzine. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
The specificity of the “Modern, College Setting” AU also matters. It’s not just another generic “what if” scenario; it’s a grounded take on the Galo/Lio dynamic that relies on the tension of mutual pining and past-life echoes. If you’ve been following aj’s PROMARE FANZINE series, this #04 entry is a strong example of how the creator balances a tight plot with a distinct visual identity. The A5 format is also a smart choice for digital consumption, ensuring the pages feel like a physical book when you flip through them on a screen. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
What actually matters
Before you check out, keep these three points in mind to make sure this matches your current reading mood: (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
- The Monochrome Commitment: The entire 31-page PDF is black and white. If you are looking for vibrant, color-heavy Promare fan art, this won’t hit the same way. It’s a line-art and shading piece, best appreciated if you enjoy the texture of ink and paper. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
- The AU Specifics: This is strictly a Modern/College AU. The characters are in a contemporary setting, not the dystopian future of the anime. If you are looking for canon-adjacent stories or specific sci-fi plot points, this is a divergent path. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
- The “Sketches” Bonus: The inclusion of thumbnail sketches is a major plus for art enthusiasts. If you are just here for the plot, it’s a nice extra, but if you study sequential art, it’s a valuable look at aj’s planning process. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
Mid-check
If the monochrome aesthetic and the college AU setting sound like your kind of read, View on Gumroad to grab the PDF and the high-res cover image.
FAQ
Is this a full-color comic? No, Do I Know You From Somewhere? is a monochromatic piece. The 31 pages are rendered in black and white, which emphasizes the line work and the emotional tone of the Galo/Lio dynamic.
Does this include the original anime storyline? No, this is an Alternate Universe (AU) story. It places Galo Thymos and Lio Fotia in a modern college setting, exploring their relationship through the lens of mutual pining and a sense of past-life connection, rather than the sci-fi plot of the anime. (Do I Know You From Somewhere?)
What exactly do I get for $2? You receive a 31-page A5-sized PDF containing the full comic, the initial thumbnail sketches and notes, and a separate high-resolution image file of the cover spread. It’s a complete digital package from the PROMARE FANZINE series.
Bottom line
For $2, Do I Know You From Somewhere? is a no-brainer if you are a Promare fan who appreciates monochrome art and wants a self-contained, emotionally driven story. The addition of the thumbnail sketches makes it more than just a comic; it’s a small window into the creator’s process. If you want a quick, high-quality read that doesn’t require a long time commitment but still feels substantial, this is a sharp pick.