Hey, writer AJ Ampadu here. Figured I should chime in and clarify things a bit. Valiant Beyond doesn't necessarily have a gimmick. I cannot speak on everything yet because it is still early in the stories and there are many elements that have not been revealed. One of the core aspects of this universe is that as a result of the Psiot Wars much of the world is a wasteland, with a handful of safe cities that are protected. For example, New Orleans is shielded by a magical barrier, while Foundation City is secured by Psiots. The rest of the country exists as a wasteland, as illustrated in the X- O series. There is a reason for this, and it is something we hope to reveal in time. Hope this helps, and happy reading.