feat(comic): Mc1 — Character-Datenschicht (Iteration + Pinning)

Comic-Modul nutzte bisher rohe meImages direkt als Story-Refs:
gpt-image-2 / Nano Banana variieren zwischen Calls, Panel 1 sah
anders aus als Panel 4, User hatte keine Iteration vor der Story.
Lösung: Comic-Character als eigene Entität, einmal aufgebaut +
iteriert + gepinnt, danach Story-Anchor.

Datenschicht:
- Dexie v49 `comicCharacters` (space-scoped, indices createdAt /
  style / isFavorite / isArchived).
- types.ts: LocalComicCharacter mit name + style + addPrompt +
  sourceFaceMediaId + sourceBodyMediaId? + variantMediaIds[] +
  pinnedVariantId?, plus toCharacter + characterCoverVariantId
  helper (pinned > erste Variant > null).
- crypto/registry.ts: comicCharacters entry — name + description
  + addPrompt + tags encrypted; style + IDs + Variant-Liste +
  Booleans plaintext.
- collections.ts: comicCharactersTable.
- queries.ts: useAllCharacters, useCharactersByStyle, useCharacter
  via scopedForModule (alle space-scoped).
- stores/characters.svelte.ts: createCharacter (auto-pin first
  variant fallback), appendVariant (auto-pin if none yet),
  pinVariant, removeVariant (mit pin-fallback auf erste
  remaining), updateCharacter, toggleFavorite, archiveCharacter,
  deleteCharacter. Arrays werden via [...arr] entproxiet (Svelte
  5 $state defense).
- module.config.ts: comicCharacters in tables-Liste.
- picture/types.ts + queries.ts: comicCharacterId Back-Ref auf
  LocalImage + Image, mutually exclusive mit comicStoryId.
- 3 neue Encryption-Roundtrip-Tests (insgesamt 8 grün) für
  charakter-Row, Build-in-progress (no variants), Roundtrip.

Architektur-Entscheidungen (Plan-Doc §11 dokumentiert):
- **space-scoped**, nicht user-global: Source-meImages sind ja
  selbst space-scoped post-v40, sonst orphan-Refs nach
  Space-Wechsel.
- **Snapshot at story-create**, kein Live-Lookup: Stories
  speichern die mediaId der gepinnten Variant zum Erstellungs-
  zeitpunkt → re-pinning eines Characters lässt bestehende
  Stories unverändert.
- **n=4 fixes Variant-Count**: in einem gpt-image-2-Call
  parallel; sweet-spot für Auswahl ohne Decision-Fatigue.
- **Mutually-exclusive Back-Refs** auf picture.images:
  comicStoryId XOR comicCharacterId — Image ist Panel ODER
  Variant, nie beides.

Mc2 (UI: Builder + Variant-Grid + Routes), Mc3 (Story-Create-
Update + Soft-Migration), Mc4 (MCP/Catalog), Mc5 (Wardrobe-Hook)
folgen separat.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/crypto/registry.ts

@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ import type {
 	LocalGeneration,
 	LocalWritingStyle,
 } from '../../modules/writing/types';
-import type { LocalComicStory } from '../../modules/comic/types';
+import type { LocalComicStory, LocalComicCharacter } from '../../modules/comic/types';
 import type { LocalAugurEntry } from '../../modules/augur/types';
 
 export const ENCRYPTION_REGISTRY: Record<string, EncryptionConfig> = {
@@ -616,6 +616,19 @@ export const ENCRYPTION_REGISTRY: Record<string, EncryptionConfig> = {
 		'panelMeta',
 	]),
 
+	// ─── Comic-Characters (variant pool + pinned identity) ────
+	// docs/plans/comic-module.md §11. User-scoped sibling table to
+	// comicStories. Encrypted: `name` (display label), `description`
+	// (optional context), `addPrompt` (the user's free-text prompt
+	// add-on like "freundlicher Ausdruck"), `tags`. Plaintext:
+	// `style` (filter discriminator), `sourceFaceMediaId` /
+	// `sourceBodyMediaId` (FKs to meImages), `variantMediaIds` (FK
+	// array to picture.images), `pinnedVariantId`, booleans.
+	// Same encryption envelope as a wardrobe-outfit — name + free-
+	// text + tags travel encrypted, structural fields stay plaintext
+	// for query/sort.
+	comicCharacters: entry<LocalComicCharacter>(['name', 'description', 'addPrompt', 'tags']),
+
 	// ─── Augur (signs: omens / fortunes / hunches) ───────────
 	// docs/plans/augur-module.md M1. Single space-scoped table.
 	//

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/comic/collections.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 /**
- * Comic module — Dexie table accessor.
+ * Comic module — Dexie table accessors.
  */
 
 import { db } from '$lib/data/database';
-import type { LocalComicStory } from './types';
+import type { LocalComicStory, LocalComicCharacter } from './types';
 
 export const comicStoriesTable = db.table<LocalComicStory>('comicStories');
+export const comicCharactersTable = db.table<LocalComicCharacter>('comicCharacters');

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/comic/comic-encryption.test.ts

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import {
 	isEncrypted,
 } from '$lib/data/crypto';
 import { setCurrentUserId } from '$lib/data/current-user';
-import type { ComicPanelMeta, LocalComicStory } from './types';
+import type { ComicPanelMeta, LocalComicCharacter, LocalComicStory } from './types';
 
 const TABLE = 'comicStories';
 
@@ -167,3 +167,81 @@ describe('comicStories encryption registry', () => {
 		expect(row.description).toBe(null);
 	});
 });
+
+// ─── Comic-Characters ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const CHAR_TABLE = 'comicCharacters';
+
+function makeCharacter(overrides: Partial<LocalComicCharacter> = {}): LocalComicCharacter {
+	return {
+		id: 'char-1',
+		name: 'Manga-Me',
+		description: 'Mein Manga-Stil mit freundlichem Ausdruck',
+		style: 'manga',
+		addPrompt: 'Casual Outfit, freundliches Lächeln',
+		sourceFaceMediaId: 'me-face-99',
+		sourceBodyMediaId: 'me-body-77',
+		variantMediaIds: ['variant-a', 'variant-b', 'variant-c'],
+		pinnedVariantId: 'variant-b',
+		tags: ['casual', 'manga', 'standard'],
+		isFavorite: true,
+		isArchived: false,
+		...overrides,
+	};
+}
+
+describe('comicCharacters encryption registry', () => {
+	it('encrypts name + description + addPrompt + tags; leaves structural fields plaintext', async () => {
+		const row = makeCharacter();
+		await encryptRecord(CHAR_TABLE, row as unknown as Record<string, unknown>);
+
+		expect(isEncrypted(row.name)).toBe(true);
+		expect(isEncrypted(row.description)).toBe(true);
+		expect(isEncrypted(row.addPrompt)).toBe(true);
+		expect(isEncrypted(row.tags)).toBe(true);
+
+		// User-typed prose nicht im Klartext durchgerutscht
+		expect(String(row.name)).not.toContain('Manga-Me');
+		expect(String(row.description)).not.toContain('freundlichem');
+		expect(String(row.addPrompt)).not.toContain('Lächeln');
+		expect(JSON.stringify(row.tags)).not.toContain('manga');
+
+		// Strukturelle Felder unangetastet — Style-Filter, Source-FKs,
+		// Variant-Liste und Pin müssen im Index lesbar bleiben.
+		expect(row.id).toBe('char-1');
+		expect(row.style).toBe('manga');
+		expect(row.sourceFaceMediaId).toBe('me-face-99');
+		expect(row.sourceBodyMediaId).toBe('me-body-77');
+		expect(row.variantMediaIds).toEqual(['variant-a', 'variant-b', 'variant-c']);
+		expect(row.pinnedVariantId).toBe('variant-b');
+		expect(row.isFavorite).toBe(true);
+		expect(row.isArchived).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	it('roundtrips name / description / addPrompt / tags', async () => {
+		const row = makeCharacter();
+		await encryptRecord(CHAR_TABLE, row as unknown as Record<string, unknown>);
+		await decryptRecord(CHAR_TABLE, row as unknown as Record<string, unknown>);
+
+		expect(row.name).toBe('Manga-Me');
+		expect(row.description).toBe('Mein Manga-Stil mit freundlichem Ausdruck');
+		expect(row.addPrompt).toBe('Casual Outfit, freundliches Lächeln');
+		expect(row.tags).toEqual(['casual', 'manga', 'standard']);
+	});
+
+	it('handles a build-in-progress character with no variants yet', async () => {
+		const row = makeCharacter({
+			variantMediaIds: [],
+			pinnedVariantId: null,
+			addPrompt: null,
+			description: null,
+		});
+		await encryptRecord(CHAR_TABLE, row as unknown as Record<string, unknown>);
+		// addPrompt and description are null — no-wrap path
+		expect(row.addPrompt).toBe(null);
+		expect(row.description).toBe(null);
+		await decryptRecord(CHAR_TABLE, row as unknown as Record<string, unknown>);
+		expect(row.variantMediaIds).toEqual([]);
+		expect(row.pinnedVariantId).toBe(null);
+	});
+});

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/comic/index.ts

@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@
  */
 
 export * from './types';
-export { comicStoriesTable } from './collections';
+export { comicStoriesTable, comicCharactersTable } from './collections';
 export { comicStoriesStore } from './stores/stories.svelte';
+export { comicCharactersStore } from './stores/characters.svelte';
 export {
 	useAllStories,
 	useStoriesByStyle,
@@ -16,6 +17,9 @@ export {
 	useStoryPanels,
 	useStoriesByInput,
 	usePanelImage,
+	useAllCharacters,
+	useCharactersByStyle,
+	useCharacter,
 } from './queries';
 export { STYLE_LABELS, STYLE_ORDER, MAX_PANELS_PER_STORY } from './constants';
 export { STYLE_PREFIXES, composePanelPrompt } from './styles';

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/comic/module.config.ts

@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@ import type { ModuleConfig } from '$lib/data/module-registry';
 
 export const comicModuleConfig: ModuleConfig = {
 	appId: 'comic',
-	tables: [{ name: 'comicStories' }],
+	tables: [{ name: 'comicStories' }, { name: 'comicCharacters' }],
 };

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/comic/queries.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,15 @@ import { scopedForModule } from '$lib/data/scope';
 import { decryptRecords } from '$lib/data/crypto';
 import type { LocalImage, Image } from '$lib/modules/picture/types';
 import { toImage } from '$lib/modules/picture/queries';
-import { toStory, type ComicStory, type ComicStyle, type LocalComicStory } from './types';
+import {
+	toStory,
+	toCharacter,
+	type ComicStory,
+	type ComicStyle,
+	type ComicCharacter,
+	type LocalComicStory,
+	type LocalComicCharacter,
+} from './types';
 
 /** All non-archived, non-deleted stories in the active space, newest first. */
 export function useAllStories() {
@@ -100,6 +108,53 @@ export function useStoryPanels(storyId: string | null) {
 	}, [] as Image[]);
 }
 
+// ─── Characters ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** All non-archived, non-deleted comic-characters in the active space,
+ *  newest first. Characters travel with their source meImages, so they're
+ *  space-scoped. */
+export function useAllCharacters() {
+	return useScopedLiveQuery<ComicCharacter[]>(async () => {
+		const locals = await scopedForModule<LocalComicCharacter, string>(
+			'comic',
+			'comicCharacters'
+		).toArray();
+		const visible = locals
+			.filter((row) => !row.deletedAt && !row.isArchived)
+			.sort((a, b) => (b.createdAt ?? '').localeCompare(a.createdAt ?? ''));
+		const decrypted = await decryptRecords('comicCharacters', visible);
+		return decrypted.map(toCharacter);
+	}, [] as ComicCharacter[]);
+}
+
+/** Characters filtered by style — used by style-tabs in the picker. */
+export function useCharactersByStyle(style: ComicStyle) {
+	return useScopedLiveQuery<ComicCharacter[]>(async () => {
+		const locals = await scopedForModule<LocalComicCharacter, string>('comic', 'comicCharacters')
+			.and((row) => row.style === style)
+			.toArray();
+		const visible = locals
+			.filter((row) => !row.deletedAt && !row.isArchived)
+			.sort((a, b) => (b.createdAt ?? '').localeCompare(a.createdAt ?? ''));
+		const decrypted = await decryptRecords('comicCharacters', visible);
+		return decrypted.map(toCharacter);
+	}, [] as ComicCharacter[]);
+}
+
+/** A single character by id, live-updating. Null while loading / missing. */
+export function useCharacter(id: string | null) {
+	return useScopedLiveQuery<ComicCharacter | null>(async () => {
+		if (!id) return null;
+		const locals = await scopedForModule<LocalComicCharacter, string>('comic', 'comicCharacters')
+			.and((row) => row.id === id)
+			.toArray();
+		const [local] = locals;
+		if (!local || local.deletedAt) return null;
+		const [decrypted] = await decryptRecords('comicCharacters', [local]);
+		return toCharacter(decrypted);
+	}, null);
+}
+
 /**
  * Stories that were seeded by a given module entry (M4 AI-Storyboard
  * back-reference). Matches when *any* panel in the story has a

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/comic/stores/characters.svelte.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+/**
+ * Comic-Characters store — mutation-only service.
+ *
+ * A character holds an unbounded `variantMediaIds: string[]` of
+ * generated picture.images-rows plus a `pinnedVariantId` that
+ * picks one as the canonical look. Variant generation itself
+ * lives in `api/generate-character.ts` (Mc2.1) — this store only
+ * mutates the row.
+ */
+
+import { encryptRecord } from '$lib/data/crypto';
+import { emitDomainEvent } from '$lib/data/events';
+import { comicCharactersTable } from '../collections';
+import { toCharacter } from '../types';
+import type { ComicCharacter, ComicStyle, LocalComicCharacter } from '../types';
+
+export interface CreateCharacterInput {
+	name: string;
+	style: ComicStyle;
+	sourceFaceMediaId: string;
+	sourceBodyMediaId?: string | null;
+	description?: string | null;
+	addPrompt?: string | null;
+	tags?: string[];
+}
+
+export const comicCharactersStore = {
+	/**
+	 * Create a fresh character row WITHOUT any variants yet — the
+	 * builder calls this first to obtain an id, then runs N variant
+	 * generations and pushes each through `appendVariant`. The user
+	 * pins one once they're happy.
+	 */
+	async createCharacter(input: CreateCharacterInput): Promise<ComicCharacter> {
+		const trimmedName = input.name.trim();
+		if (!trimmedName) {
+			throw new Error('Character braucht einen Namen');
+		}
+		if (!input.sourceFaceMediaId) {
+			throw new Error('Character braucht ein Face-Bild als Quelle');
+		}
+		// Spread incoming arrays to break any Svelte 5 $state proxies
+		// the form might pass through. Same defense as comicStoriesStore.
+		const newLocal: LocalComicCharacter = {
+			id: crypto.randomUUID(),
+			name: trimmedName,
+			description: input.description ?? null,
+			style: input.style,
+			addPrompt: input.addPrompt ?? null,
+			sourceFaceMediaId: input.sourceFaceMediaId,
+			sourceBodyMediaId: input.sourceBodyMediaId ?? null,
+			variantMediaIds: [],
+			pinnedVariantId: null,
+			tags: input.tags ? [...input.tags] : [],
+			isFavorite: false,
+		};
+		const snapshot = toCharacter({ ...newLocal });
+		await encryptRecord('comicCharacters', newLocal);
+		await comicCharactersTable.add(newLocal);
+		emitDomainEvent('ComicCharacterCreated', 'comic', 'comicCharacters', newLocal.id, {
+			characterId: newLocal.id,
+			style: input.style,
+		});
+		return snapshot;
+	},
+
+	/**
+	 * Append a freshly generated variant to the character's variant
+	 * list. Called by the builder after each gpt-image-2 / Nano Banana
+	 * call lands a picture.images row. The first variant auto-pins
+	 * (build-in-progress fallback) so the character has a cover even
+	 * before the user explicitly chooses.
+	 */
+	async appendVariant(characterId: string, variantMediaId: string): Promise<void> {
+		const existing = await comicCharactersTable.get(characterId);
+		if (!existing) throw new Error(`Character ${characterId} not found`);
+		const nextIds = [...(existing.variantMediaIds ?? []), variantMediaId];
+		const patch: Partial<LocalComicCharacter> = {
+			variantMediaIds: nextIds,
+			updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+		};
+		// Auto-pin the first variant so the cover isn't blank during
+		// build. User can re-pin afterwards.
+		if (!existing.pinnedVariantId) {
+			patch.pinnedVariantId = variantMediaId;
+		}
+		await comicCharactersTable.update(characterId, patch);
+		emitDomainEvent('ComicCharacterVariantAdded', 'comic', 'comicCharacters', characterId, {
+			characterId,
+			variantMediaId,
+			variantIndex: nextIds.length - 1,
+		});
+	},
+
+	/** Pin a different variant as the canonical look. Stories generated
+	 *  AFTER the re-pin get the new variant; existing stories are
+	 *  unchanged because they snapshot the mediaId at story-create. */
+	async pinVariant(characterId: string, variantMediaId: string): Promise<void> {
+		const existing = await comicCharactersTable.get(characterId);
+		if (!existing) throw new Error(`Character ${characterId} not found`);
+		if (!(existing.variantMediaIds ?? []).includes(variantMediaId)) {
+			throw new Error(`Variant ${variantMediaId} not in this character`);
+		}
+		await comicCharactersTable.update(characterId, {
+			pinnedVariantId: variantMediaId,
+			updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+		});
+		emitDomainEvent('ComicCharacterVariantPinned', 'comic', 'comicCharacters', characterId, {
+			characterId,
+			variantMediaId,
+		});
+	},
+
+	/** Remove a variant from the character's pool. Doesn't touch the
+	 *  underlying picture.images-row (user can keep the render in their
+	 *  Picture gallery). If the removed variant was pinned, falls back
+	 *  to the first remaining variant; if none remain, pin = null. */
+	async removeVariant(characterId: string, variantMediaId: string): Promise<void> {
+		const existing = await comicCharactersTable.get(characterId);
+		if (!existing) return;
+		const nextIds = (existing.variantMediaIds ?? []).filter((id) => id !== variantMediaId);
+		const patch: Partial<LocalComicCharacter> = {
+			variantMediaIds: nextIds,
+			updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+		};
+		if (existing.pinnedVariantId === variantMediaId) {
+			patch.pinnedVariantId = nextIds[0] ?? null;
+		}
+		await comicCharactersTable.update(characterId, patch);
+	},
+
+	async updateCharacter(
+		id: string,
+		patch: Partial<Pick<LocalComicCharacter, 'name' | 'description' | 'addPrompt' | 'tags'>>
+	): Promise<void> {
+		const wrapped: Record<string, unknown> = { ...patch };
+		if (Array.isArray(wrapped.tags)) {
+			wrapped.tags = [...(wrapped.tags as string[])];
+		}
+		await encryptRecord('comicCharacters', wrapped);
+		await comicCharactersTable.update(id, {
+			...wrapped,
+			updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+		});
+	},
+
+	async toggleFavorite(id: string): Promise<void> {
+		const existing = await comicCharactersTable.get(id);
+		if (!existing) return;
+		await comicCharactersTable.update(id, {
+			isFavorite: !existing.isFavorite,
+			updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+		});
+	},
+
+	async archiveCharacter(id: string, archived: boolean): Promise<void> {
+		await comicCharactersTable.update(id, {
+			isArchived: archived,
+			updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+		});
+	},
+
+	async deleteCharacter(id: string): Promise<void> {
+		const nowIso = new Date().toISOString();
+		await comicCharactersTable.update(id, {
+			deletedAt: nowIso,
+			updatedAt: nowIso,
+		});
+		emitDomainEvent('ComicCharacterDeleted', 'comic', 'comicCharacters', id, {
+			characterId: id,
+		});
+	},
+};

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/comic/types.ts

@@ -140,3 +140,93 @@ export function toStory(local: LocalComicStory): ComicStory {
 export function storyCoverPanelId(story: Pick<ComicStory, 'panelImageIds'>): string | null {
 	return story.panelImageIds[0] ?? null;
 }
+
+// ─── Character ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/**
+ * A reusable comic-style stand-in for the user. Generated once, refined
+ * across N variant renders (gpt-image-2 / Nano Banana edits over the
+ * raw face/body meImages with a style-prefix), and pinned to one
+ * variant that becomes the character's canonical look. Stories then
+ * reference the pinned variant's mediaId rather than the raw face-ref
+ * — that's how a "Manga-Me" stays consistent across many stories.
+ *
+ * One character → many variants (all kept in `variantMediaIds[]`).
+ * The pinned variant is the cover + the ref every story-create
+ * snapshots into the new story. Re-pinning later doesn't touch
+ * existing stories (those snapshotted at story-create time).
+ *
+ * Variants are written into `picture.images` with a `comicCharacterId`
+ * back-ref so the gallery can show "all renders of Manga-Me" if the
+ * user ever wants that view.
+ */
+export interface LocalComicCharacter extends BaseRecord {
+	id: string;
+	name: string;
+	description?: string | null;
+	style: ComicStyle;
+	/** Optional add-on prompt the user typed during character-build,
+	 *  e.g. "freundlicher Ausdruck", "casual outfit", "action pose".
+	 *  Re-used as default when the user clicks "Mehr Varianten" later. */
+	addPrompt?: string | null;
+	/** Source meImages that fed every variant generation. Pinned in the
+	 *  character so re-generating later keeps the same identity anchor. */
+	sourceFaceMediaId: string;
+	sourceBodyMediaId?: string | null;
+	/** All generated variant images (mana-media ids on `picture.images`).
+	 *  Newest-first by convention; a future "regenerate" appends to the
+	 *  end. Unbounded but rendered as a paginated grid in the detail view. */
+	variantMediaIds: string[];
+	/** Which variant IS the character — used as the cover and as the
+	 *  ref every story-create snapshots. `null` if the user hasn't
+	 *  picked one yet (build-in-progress). */
+	pinnedVariantId?: string | null;
+	tags: string[];
+	isFavorite?: boolean;
+	isArchived?: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface ComicCharacter {
+	id: string;
+	name: string;
+	description?: string;
+	style: ComicStyle;
+	addPrompt?: string;
+	sourceFaceMediaId: string;
+	sourceBodyMediaId?: string;
+	variantMediaIds: string[];
+	pinnedVariantId?: string;
+	tags: string[];
+	isFavorite?: boolean;
+	isArchived?: boolean;
+	createdAt: string;
+	updatedAt: string;
+}
+
+export function toCharacter(local: LocalComicCharacter): ComicCharacter {
+	return {
+		id: local.id,
+		name: local.name,
+		description: local.description ?? undefined,
+		style: local.style,
+		addPrompt: local.addPrompt ?? undefined,
+		sourceFaceMediaId: local.sourceFaceMediaId,
+		sourceBodyMediaId: local.sourceBodyMediaId ?? undefined,
+		variantMediaIds: local.variantMediaIds ?? [],
+		pinnedVariantId: local.pinnedVariantId ?? undefined,
+		tags: local.tags ?? [],
+		isFavorite: local.isFavorite,
+		isArchived: local.isArchived,
+		createdAt: local.createdAt ?? '',
+		updatedAt: local.updatedAt ?? '',
+	};
+}
+
+/** Cover variant for a character — pinned variant if set, otherwise
+ *  the first variant in `variantMediaIds` (so a build-in-progress
+ *  character still shows something). `null` if no variants generated. */
+export function characterCoverVariantId(
+	character: Pick<ComicCharacter, 'pinnedVariantId' | 'variantMediaIds'>
+): string | null {
+	return character.pinnedVariantId ?? character.variantMediaIds[0] ?? null;
+}

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/picture/queries.ts

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ export function toImage(local: LocalImage): Image {
 		wardrobeGarmentId: local.wardrobeGarmentId ?? undefined,
 		comicStoryId: local.comicStoryId ?? undefined,
 		comicPanelIndex: local.comicPanelIndex ?? undefined,
+		comicCharacterId: local.comicCharacterId ?? undefined,
 		createdAt: local.createdAt ?? new Date().toISOString(),
 		updatedAt: local.updatedAt ?? new Date().toISOString(),
 	};

apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/picture/types.ts

@@ -76,6 +76,16 @@ export interface LocalImage extends BaseRecord {
 	 * the canonical order is never wrong even if this drifts.
 	 */
 	comicPanelIndex?: number | null;
+	/**
+	 * Back-reference to `comicCharacters.id` when this image was produced
+	 * as a character-variant render (docs/plans/comic-module.md §11).
+	 * Lets the Picture gallery show "Variant of <Character>" without
+	 * loading every character row, and keeps the variant identifiable
+	 * in cross-module embeds. Plaintext FK. Mutually exclusive with
+	 * `comicStoryId` — a single image is either a panel OR a variant,
+	 * never both.
+	 */
+	comicCharacterId?: string | null;
 }
 
 export interface LocalBoard extends BaseRecord {
@@ -149,6 +159,7 @@ export interface Image {
 	wardrobeGarmentId?: string;
 	comicStoryId?: string;
 	comicPanelIndex?: number;
+	comicCharacterId?: string;
 	createdAt: string;
 	updatedAt: string;
 }