Book: Superhumanity Vol 1: The SuperAustralians
Chapter Title: “Djiniri”
Djiniri Chapter & Script: Julie Ditrich
Djiniri Chapter Pencils: Marcelo Baez
Djiniri Chapter Colours: Marcelo Baez
Djiniri Chapter Letters:  Marcelo Baez
Djiniri Pin Up: Marcelo Baez
Other Contributors: Various Australian writers and artists on other characters
Cover: Jan Scherpenhuizen
Editor: Christopher Sequeira
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: Across Australia, twelve extraordinary heroes rise to confront a coordinated assault unfolding across the nation. Drawn from every corner of the country—and from every walk of life—they must face powerful enemies whose attacks are part of a far greater plan. As an unseen mastermind moves the pieces into place, these extraordinary champions find themselves drawn into a game whose stakes are nothing less than the future of Australia. Alone they may survive, but only united can they hope to uncover the truth behind a conspiracy that threatens the very nation they have sworn to protect. Featuring an all-star team of Australian writers and artists, Superhumanity Volume 1: The SuperAustralians introduces twelve original heroes in an epic adventure that stretches across Australia’s vast and varied landscapes.

The Story Behind the Story: When editor Christopher Sequeira invited me to contribute to Superhumanity Volume 1: The SuperAustralians, the concept was wonderfully ambitious. Twelve Australian writers and artists would each create an original superhero chapter set in a different part of Australia, with every story connected through an overarching narrative spanning twelve locations, twelve months, twelve astrological signs and a lightning rod.

Before creating the character, I chose the setting. I had previously travelled through the Pinnacles in Western Australia’s Nambung National Park and had never forgotten their extraordinary presence. They felt timeless, mysterious and unlike anywhere else I had visited. I knew this was where my story needed to begin.

Artist Marcelo Baez and I were equally enthusiastic about collaborating, and as we began exploring ideas together, something unexpected happened. Almost instantly, the idea of a genie appeared. Marcelo immediately embraced the concept, and together we began asking a simple question: how might an ancient Middle Eastern being find her place in contemporary Australia?

That single idea transformed everything. Rather than treating the genie as a visitor from mythology and folklore, I began exploring her as an immigrant carrying the weight of another culture into a new homeland. As my research deepened and Marcelo’s visual interpretation brought the character vividly to life, the story began growing beyond its original six pages. Even while writing the anthology chapter, I found myself quietly planting seeds for a much larger journey.

Looking back, I now realise that The SuperAustralians gave me something far greater than a single superhero story. It introduced me to Djiniri. From the moment she appeared, I sensed there was a much larger story waiting to be told. Sometimes a character doesn’t simply arrive to fulfil a brief—they arrive carrying the seeds of something far greater.