Archive for November 5th, 2010
#5 The Nameless Sadhu
The Nameless Sadhu wanders the streets of Mumbai, chattering endlessly. No one can be certain why, as Nameless never engages in conversation – but it can be reasonably assumed that this is his chosen path to Moksha, the endless cycle of death and rebirth.
He has been observed to be chattering even while eating, and more miraculously – while sleeping. In recent years, he has attracted many followers who believe him to be communicating directly with the divine. They record his chattering and attempt to transcribe it and give it meaning.
#5 Papa
This creature lives in the basement of Salvatore Price. After his return to fame, the writer took to collecting exotic things, most of which came from the depraved recesses of his own twisted imagination. Papa is no exception, and he is very protective of his little baby, Muk Muk (see yesterday’s post). Also, keep your whole self away from his mouth.
#5 Christopher and Kristine Paley aka The Khrises
From Lilly’s Blog
In 1997 the abandoned factory on the outskirts of Ephton Valley burned to the ground. By all accounts the fire was spectacular and continued for hours. The local fire department had to call in help from the next town over just to get it under control. The culprits never strayed far from the scene of the crime. They stood by watching what they told reporters was “the coolest thing we’ve ever seen! So much cooler than we expected!†They were 7 year old cousins Christopher and Kristine Paley. The article went on to explain that they claimed to be practicing a July 4th “extravaganza!†for their friends. They thought practicing in the warehouse was a good idea because there was plenty of space and no one would see them. Little Christopher and Kristine didn’t want to spoil the surprise.
Christopher and Kristine began going by “the Khrises†practically since birth. No one in Ephton Valley could keep them apart if they tried. And god knows they have tried. Every school put them in different classrooms. Their parents tried setting curfews and limiting family reunions. And yet all these attempts always fail because containing these two is like trying to contain a hurricane. If I had to describe them, I would say they’re Kiekegaard’s knights of faith crossed with an A-bomb by way of Albert Einstein.
Oh yes, they’re absolutely brilliant. They both skipped third and eighth grades. The teachers hoped by challenging their intelligence they would buckle down. Fat chance.
Truthfully, until recently I knew the Khrises by reputation only: the immature 20 year olds who still acted like they were 7 and whose talent was causing trouble. In the short time I have known them as actual people, I can say without reservation, they are awesome. It’s rare to meet one person with an unquenchable thirst for life, a heart big enough to fill a house, unwavering loyalty and a keen sense of justice. Meeting two of them is a special thing for which I am grateful.
One of my favorite stories of theirs takes place in high school. Robert Quibral caught some of the Khrises’ friends smoking a joint behind the bleachers — while he was standing guard for his own friends drinking in the parking lot. Being the hypocrite that he is, Robert ratted out the Khrises’ friends and got them suspended. Tired of injustices, the Khrises took matters into their own hands. The next day Robert came in to find his locker crazy glued shut. He had to pry it open. Prying it open, though, cracked open the stink bombs that were expertly hidden inside. Robert should have know: when you play with fire you’re going to get burned.
These days the Khrises work for Tim Grant at The Disaster. He is the only person who can keep them in line. Unsurprisingly, few people in town seem to get it. But it’s simple, really. He treats them with respect and they would go to the ends of the earth for him.
The thing with fire is that it’s essential for humanity’s prosperity and growth. It just needs to be harnessed properly. I wish the locals spent more time getting to know the Khrises and less time judging their eccentricities. They would find two people that could give back so much more to the community than they’re being allowed to.
Copyright © 2010, Rolando Garcia.
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#6 Pax Mundi
I’m going to go ahead and post my sixth (!) entry a day early because I have KingCon tomorrow (thank God for Hero Machine). If you’re around the Brooklyn/NYC area, please come out! I have a panel at 12:30 PM called “Collaboration Counseling” with a host of guests. Should be fun!
Ok, here’s my attempt at creating a team.
Concept: The idea here is a group that is so dedicated to peace, they are ready (and more than willing) to cross the line. Think of the small American militias but on a global scale. But these aren’t just religious zealots or NRA enthusiasts… Pax Mundi is a group comprised of many nations, beliefs and people from all walks of life. The difference between them and us is they are killers with a righteous cause. I’ll be honest, I don’t know if they’re heroes or villains. It would really depend on who they were fighting. If this were Dungeons and Dragons, they’d be “chaotic good” with the exception of being disorganized. They exist purely for the sake of world peace and creating Utopia.
Design: The two colors that dominate their uniforms are white and a light blue (powder or baby are good hues). They are comprised of different “jobs,” like GI Joe, different specialties. You have a paramilitary branch, an administrative branch (political lobbyists, etc), and, to put it bluntly, the average Joe that signs up because he/she believes in the cause.
Art by Uriel Duran!
I’d probably add an Earth logo with a peace symbol super-imposed over it (similar to this) with a lightning bolt behind it as their logo.
Copyright © 2010, Vito Delsante.
#5 – Randall
Character was designed as an “extra” for a pool of background or random characters for my main webcomic, P.S.I.: A Pessimistic Sense of Inadequacy. My Twitter | My Project Hub
#5 Mac Roth
Ok, here is the first of my preliminary designs for the comic I am developing.
This is Captain Mac Roth, the puppet leader of the Connacht Fleet.
The uniform is still undergoing some changes.
The basis of the clothing is ancient celtic/irish modernized for space.
Please give construstive criticism on the costumes. I am eager to hear from you!
#4 – Marid
I’m a day behind but I wanted to take a little extra care on this picture because I got really into it. This is a marid — that is, a water genie — noble that dwells in the plane of water. He’ll be an important character in a later story arc of Metamorphosis, so I took the opportunity of 30 Characters to design him.
I know I’m behind a day but I plan to catch up over the weekend 😉
Smoking Girl
Smoking Girl
She gets up before you do, and lights up a cigarette to start the day off right.
You can still taste her last night lipstick on your tongue. Along with the the intoxicating perfume she will leave behind on you.
Last night was a first for her… to sleep with the one she intends to kill! You didn’t know you were the target.
You didn’t see her unbotton her holster as she is putting on your shirt.
Say good night Charlie… 🙂
#05 Mama Hertz
Have you lost weight? Don't worry, we'll fix that.
Married to Papa Hertz, Mama Hertz has a special table she was saving just for you. That’s the kind of sweet old lady she is. She’ll want you to bundle up so you don’t catch a chill, eat a lot so you’ll grow big and strong, get married, and have lots of babies.
Why does she wear Victorian style dresses in the 1940’s setting? … I dunno, just felt like she should.
#5 Jennifer “Lady JayJay” Ardor
Jennifer Ardor is an 8 year old diva. She considers herself a triple threat- sing, act, dance- all she needs is a stage or a camera and she’s good to go. Her latest persona is “Lady JayJay.” Her mom, Mrs. Ardor, a best-selling author on child-rearing, tolerates her eccentricities and fashion sense…to a point. She had to draw the line when she found Lady Jay sewing together pieces of bologna to make her own “meat dress” after watching a clip from the VMAs on YouTube.
Little does Jenny Ardor know, she’s not the only member of the household who has an alter ego and wears a costume. Her big brother Eric…yeah, he’s a superhero.
Fleshing out the supporting characters in EPIC, the superteen comic I’m working on with fellow 30 Characters Challenger Matt Zolman. Our main character has a large and colorful nuclear family, something I’m trying to have some fun with. “Lady Jay Jay” is an example of that. Check out the EPIC website for more on the comic.
5 – Thoth
Thoth is the head Librarian/Historian in the Mythoscape. Too bad he’s got the brain of a bird and can only remember things like, “what kind of bird seed is his favorite” or “how superior he is to everyone else”.
TOKAN, despot of Mars
Tokan is taken from the names of Alex TOth and Gil KANe. I wanted to do a robot character, and when I drew the face it had a 1950s look to it, so I ran with that. Since he’s a robot I’d blow off one hand so I wouldn’t have to draw it, which gave me the idea to render him as a sort of “Silver-Age Terminator.” Yeah, sure saved a lot of time creating custom Illustrator brushes for the wires, sparks and smoke. *smacks forehead* I hope you like it! 🙂
#2. Soul Sister
Voodoo Super-Killer Extraordinaire
Ayesha St. Croix only ever wanted to be like her big sister Ayana. Like her late mother before her, Ayana was chosen to lead her close-knit Haitian village as the High Priestess, and was gifted with her mother’s mystical abilities. Ayesha was always jealous of the favored Ayana, and struck a deal with a demon to take her sister’s powers for herself. The pact worked—Ayesha gained mastery over the living and the dead, as well as intimate knowledge of universal secrets. The transfer also happened to kill Ayana, which Ayesha had hoped to avoid. She is now forever haunted by her actions, and the voices of the dead will never let her rest. She now travels the globe, seeking redemption for her sins and meting out the judgment of the wicked.
But it’s not all misery and torment–Ayesha now possesses some powerful abilities. She is able to sense the supernatural, from demons and ghosts to the auras of a person’s soul. She can speak to the dead (and undead) and bid them to do as she commands. Her hellfire bolts are effective against living enemies, but her rather large and jagged knife is pretty effective, too.
#4 Lionaire
LIONAIRE
Lionaire: Is it the suit, or the man who wears it? Regardless, Iif you see him over your shoulder then its all ready too late. You can’t run fast enough, fight hard enough, or locate a local exotic enough to out maneuver Lionaire. To him your a paycheck, and he never misses.
NOTE:
Lionaire is heavily influenced by a particular DC Comics Character, any ideas who that is?
#3 “Crazy” Jim Cox
Appearance:
“Crazy†Jim has an outward appearance that one would think typical of his profession. He’s got a large build, with broad shoulders and powerful arms, but a large, round belly. He wears his blond hair long and tied back into a ponytail. He’s typically wearing a beaten flannel shirt without sleeves and a ball cap.
Equipment:
Jim’s pride and joy is Sasha, his ultra-customized semi. He’s customized everything about the truck, from the police scanner in his radio, to the heavy armor plating of his trailer, to the massive, personally customized engine under the hood. Some other modifications include puncture-resistant tires, the electrified skin of the trailer, and a number of traditional chase movie options. Oil slicks, caltrops, smokescreens, things like that.
One other piece of equipment is a high-powered handgun stored in the glove box of his truck, for those situations when things get a little hairy.
Personality:
“Crazy†Jim is not actually crazy, though there are some to debate that. He enjoys risks and loves the thrill of speed. Of course, he’s rational enough to realize when those things put his current job in danger. He’s quiet and withdrawn, rather businesslike, though if you can get him to start, he’ll tell you the craziest stories you’ve ever heard. Tales of government agencies and experiments, conspiracies and cover-ups.
Backstory:
Jim was born in the south, though he doesn’t really talk much about his childhood. To those who know him, it would seem his life started in the army. The truth is he doesn’t speak of his childhood because he was an orphan. He grew up in a terrible orphanage and as soon as he was old enough, he joined the army. That was where what could be called a ‘life’ started.
He served in the army for ten years, getting very good at his job. He was a transporter, delivering weapons, ammo, supplies, and heavy equipment to the front lines though dangerous territory. He earned a number of awards for skill and bravery in performing his tasks. Eventually, he was recruited from the army into a secretive branch known as the Post Office. That’s what the cover was, at least. They were the ones you called when it absolutely HAD to get there. Maximum security. Top secret. Those two never go together. Since you couldn’t just drive whatever it was in a camouflage convoy or a limo full of black suits and expect it to go unnoticed, they went the other way, hiding the materials in plain sight.
Jim drove for the Post Office for another ten years, a good soldier, transporting whatever was asked of him and asking no questions. But on one long trip, he glimpsed into the back, thinking he heard something loose. What he found was indeed an ‘experimental organism’ like they told him, but they had failed to elaborate that, strapped down in his trailer, was a fifteen-foot-tall woman. And what a woman at that! She was beautiful! He quickly untied her and she told him her story. She was a small-town beauty queen. When she was offered a career in modeling in the big city, she took it. But they took her, instead. Then ensued the usual for this sort of story, experimentation, parents given a tragic accident story, and finally culminated in her being loaded into this truck to be moved to a research station in the desert.
Jim may have been a good soldier, but this offended every one of his sensibilities as a man. He tore the tracker units out of his truck and drove for days, vanishing into the myriad interstates and rest stops, hiding in plain sight. Eventually, once the heat was off, he and Zoe (that was her name) drove into the desert, found a nice, secluded canyon and set up something that resembled a home for the two of them.
Now, Jim drives mercenary, transporting the exotic, the dangerous, the illegal and the important to whoever can pay for it. The Post Office still hunts him, trying to catch his bride and bring Jim in, but he’s ready for them, and he‘s not giving up without a fight.
Desires:
Jim just wants to live a quiet life in the Canyon with Zoe. But he can’t quit working, he needs to make money to put food on the table and gas in the tank. So, he lives’ the trucker’s life, only able to see his dear wife every few weeks.
Fears:
Jim’s main fear is that he’ll pull into the canyon someday and he’ll just find Zoe gone. Or, even worse, he’ll lead the Post Office back to the canyon and it’ll be his fault.
Secret:
Jim’s got a lot of secrets, including his work for the Post Office, the fact that he’s married to a fifteen-foot blond bombshell, the location of the canyon…
#5 War-Maker
This is another retooling (I’ll probably have a few of these) of a past project. This one, however, didn’t start as a creator owned project, but a pitch for DC Comics’ Peacemaker.
Concept: WM is to war what DC’s Major Disaster is to chaos (the two are almost synonymous). WM can, with ease, sow discord among any two people, whether they disagree on something or not. For instance, he knows exactly what to say to break to people up, but further than that, he knows exactly where to place a pebble that can cause an international incident. He can create conflict from a personal to galactic level.
Design: The first thing I wanted was a symbol, one that would contrast the Peacemaker’s dove. WM has a crow/raven, a bird that is associated with war in Celtic, Native American, and to a small degree, Norse myths. I like the idea of a t-shirt (which lends itself to branding) as his costume. The rest is modern military, even the bandanna. I can’t remember who said it, but someone brought up the fact that while WW2 inspired the creation of many heroes, the Gulf Wars didn’t. I see WM as a vet of both Gulf Wars, and as a companion to the character I created with Dean Trippe, the Red Cross.
So, as you can see, I did an initial drawing that…has elements I wanted to represent (the bandanna, the backpack), but my abilities, as limited as they are, just couldn’t swing it.
Art by Uriel Duran!
Copyright © 2010, Vito Delsante.
#5 Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl is the feathered serpent deity that featured prominently in the belief systems of Mesoamerican pre-Colombian cultures such as the Maya, Aztec, and the civilization of Teotihuacan. The deity was important to several cultures, and therefore has various associations. Among other things, and depending on the culture, the feathered serpent deity has been associated with the morning star, the dawn, knowledge, the arts, fertility, maize, warfare, culture and civilization.
#5 Muse
At the turn of the century spiritualism is at a all time popularity. Guru’s of the time were used as advisers and confidants for the rich and famous. Jacobean Malcolm Muse was an adviser to many stage actresses in 1905-1908. One of the most famous clients was actress Sara Bernard. She said that Muse could make her fly and swoop around the stage with no use of wires or pulleys.
But Muse disappeared after a confrontation with Bernard. Bernard claimed that Muse was becoming obtrusive in her life. That he was changing her performances and influencing indecent behavior after hours.
(This is the only picture of Jacobean Malcolm Muse in the archives.)
Day 4: Kerry
Kerry is Sebyn’s mom. She works two jobs, one as a tutor and the other as a barista at a bar & grill establishment. Despite having two jobs and working hard to support her family, Kerry is always in great spirits. She is always patient and willing to listen, especially to children (or drunk citizens who act like children!)
#5 Ruttlefucces
dispite having a tapeworm skinned body and protoplasmic regenerative hands, one would think that she would not be that powerful. however shes one of the smartest and most devious demon lords. she also has a fear of being flushed down a drain that rivals a sick goldfish
#5 Mama Houdoo
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Some folks happy with a shack on a dry patch, but others want mo’ than what God see fit to give’em. Take Mama Houdoo, f’instance. She hitched up to be ole lady fo’ the head man of the Gatorbait Motorcycle Club – Crawdaddy they called him. Now Crawdaddy, he was content with just his woman, their boys and his road dogs, but for Mama, that just didn’t get it. She use the magicks of her ole’ pointy-nose granny and gave her left hand to spell Crawdaddy – hollowed out his soul and filled it up again full’a demon essence. And that just ain’t right! These days, she run Gatorbait through that devil shell – send’em on her b’ness, stealing and killing for whatever tickle her fancy. That woman think she own the whole wide world, and she might…if she could ever get rid’a that rascal duJour.
#3. Hercules
For tonight’s posting I decided to create my own version of the Greek demigod, Hercules (seen here wearing the Nemian lion skin). Time was limited, so I went with a simple headshot with some quick digital airbrushing added over the pencils. Enjoy!
#5 – Sidh
It never fails. I always end up being influenced by Lovecraft. Characters that have to deal with their own mental instability and inner demons as well as physical monstrosities are very interesting to me.
Sidh is a character from my book entitled; “Full Black”. Sidh is an inhabitant from deep below the surface crust of Earth. His purpose is to warn the remaining people that live on the surface of the impending destruction in the form of the great ancient ones which destroyed and enslaved his people.
I did the layouts and drawing and character creation here and my good friend JME Wheeler did the colors. I love what Jme did with the ghosts. Made me very happy!
Copyrights Ethan A. Slayton and Jme Wheeler 2010 yadda yadda yadda, yakkity smackity!
#4 – Extier
Extier is a new character in the world and story of Art Geek Zoo.
In times almost forgotten by the race of mystical instruments a celestial force tried to completely control their world of Musica. The celestial being used only one soldier… Extier.
During that prolonged and difficult battle, Extier was a force of nature. He seemed to only live to consume mystical instruments and was immune to sound-based attacks. This being is the sole reason why the society and culture of the instruments incorporated physical martial arts into The Way of Sound. To this day the mystical instruments commonly use their rough and faded memory of Extier as the archetype for all that is evil and to be utterly feared.
Aside from never controlling urges to destroy and consume mystical instruments, Extier tries to be a personable guy. He has a streak of perfectionism and constant physical self improvement. Recently he’s taken up studying simple joke telling as a way to interact with other species besides fighting and eating. He’s quite bad at it which often leads to him feeling inadequate which leads to him destroying the being that didn’t appreciate his attempt at humor.
#5 – Ginger
I mostly wanted to try some different stuff. Not sure if i’ll ever use her for anything. Anyhow, keeping this short–should be sleeping!
#5 Cave-Man
This Grog. Grog see Krunk try to smash Ook Ook. Grog put on costume and smash Krunk. Grog now “Cave-Man”.
#5 Break A leg Bruce
(Read this in your thickest Brooklyn accent) . You got a problem with the neighbor hood bully ? Ya call Break a leg Bruce. Are the bitches holdin out on ya ? Ya call Break A leg Bruce. Â Legs, femurs ,skulls, Knee caps , Fingers. you name it Bruce can break it. No Job is to big or to small for Break A Leg Bruce. So s the Next time your score is a little light and you need to send a message ……..You Know who to charge with the job.
#30Characters Chatter…