Author Archive: Marc McKenzie
Hello everyone, I'm Marc McKenzie, and this is my second year taking part in of this challenge. I've been a freelancer for the past few years, working in animation and creating commissioned work for clients including the New York Times. There have been ups and downs, but...that's life. Honestly, though, I enjoyed taking part in the challenge last year, and I hope to do my best this year...but I hope that everyone does their best and has fun!
Ironically, I never really set out to do art at first. I studied something completely different in college and it was only because of an art teacher that I changed gears.
Currently I'm living in Hillsborough, New Jersey, working on commissions, trying to find full-time work, and being a doting uncle to my niece.
Marc McKenzie – 30 Characters
…Well, not exactly 30, but it’s a good chunk, nonetheless.
I had a great time with this challenge, even if I wasn’t able to make it to #30. I would like to continue on and perhaps put everything together in the future–we’ll see. There were many fantastic artists who had incredible characters on display–I feel pretty humbled by some of them. To everyone, I say, “Great job!” and will definitely take part next year.
Thanks to everyone who gave comments and kind words, and also thanks to Rob McClellan, who sent me the info for the challenge.
(Now, I hope to heaven this post works right…..)
#18 Solange, Earth Mother
The hero known as Skyspy has faced many enemies, but his toughest one was the woman known as Solange. She was once a young woman who sadly fell in with the wrong crowd, and for that, she was assaulted and buried in shallow grave, presumed dead.
Except that she wasn’t dead–and the ground she was buried in was located in an area known as sacred ground to the Native American tribe that once lived there centuries ago. Some…spiritual force brought Solange back from the brink of death and gave her the power to manipulate the earth. Seeking vengeance on those who left her for dead, Solange hunted them down and killed them. Her actions caught the attention of the police and Skyspy. In the battle that followed, Skyspy was able to defeat Solange, but without a great deal of property damage and wounded civilians.
Solange is currently confined in a special holding cell in a max prison, but Skyspy worries that she could break out and cause havoc in the future….
…And that’s it! Will post the “Final Post” in a bit…hope to God I can do it right…
#17 Blade Maid
To the Markalan family, Deb Araki is just “Deb”, their youngest and best maid. She always dotes on young Sammy Markalan, and Sammy thinks she’s the coolest person ever. She’s his babysitter, helps with his homework, and she can cook a mean steak and potatoes.
And she can also kill a man–or two or three, if she has to.
Deb is more than just a maid and babysitter to Sammy–she’s his bodyguard, trained from a young age in the various martial arts, including ninjitsu. It turns out that Deb’s father, Kenzo, was a close friend of Jim Markalan, Sammy’s father. Because of his work as a Government freelancer, Jim’s family is in constant danger. He’d like to make sure his family has a normal life, but even the Secret Service can only do so much.
Kenzo came up with a simple idea–have Deb be young Sammy’s bodyguard, and also, she can stay with the Markalans in the US. Simple.
Because of the bladed weapon she uses, Deb is called the “Blade Maid” in criminal and terrorist circles.
#16 Harlington Straker
Harlington “Hal” Straker is a top Handler for the Church, and he is the Handler and partner of Alisha, the Repentant vampire. He’s 28 years old, and jokes that he “must have a thing for older women” (Alisha, after all, is nearly 400 years old, but looks as if she’s in her early 30s….). Straker is well-trained in the art of killing vampires, but as a Handler, he also must take care of Alisha’s other…desires.
In other words, they’ve been intimate.
He’s Alisha’s third Handler in nearly eighty years, and he’s loyal to her…even though he’s also been trained in how to kill her, should she go rouge. Straker, however, does not think that this will ever happen.
(And yes, his name is taken from the “Harlington/Straker Film Studio” from the classic SF series UFO.)
#15 Alisha
Yikes! December’s here, and it’s all over! Well…there are a couple of characters that I was able to finish, so I’ll post them up before the last post. Didn’t make it to 30, but I was very, very happy to participate.
In a world thousands of years removed from a major apocalypse, there are still people alive…and vampires. Alisha is vampire, but she is a Repentant–a vampire who has sworn allegiance to humanity and will fight her own kind to ensure humanity’s survival. Using Blessed weapons provided by the Church (and the protective gear she needs in order to handle them), Alisha fights alongside her Handler, Harlington Straker.
#14 Neela Farris
Neela Farris. A name that Gareth Hauser will never forget, a name he will remember for the rest of his days. She is one of his greatest enemies and nearly ended his life.
Things were different before. Then, Neela was a young student curious about exploring her own magical abilities. This caught the attention of the Council, and one of its well-known advisors, Gareth Hauser. However, Gareth became increasingly concerned about Neela’s desire to push the boundaries of what was known in regards to magic. There was also the matter of Pasrov, the Council member who was assisting Neela. Gareth was wary of the relationship between the two, and his concerns were validated in the worst possible way.
An illegal experiment conducted by Pasrov and Neela led to Neela’s “infection” by an extra-dimensional entity that manifested itself as a writhing mass of darkness that surrounded her. The infection also drove her insane, and she struck out at anyone she saw–including Pasrov. She killed him and it was only through the efforts of Gareth and the Magician’s Guild that Neela was finally subdued and imprisoned.
Determined to get to the truth, Gareth stormed into the Council chambers and demanded an explanation about why Pasrov’s actions were allowed. The response from the Council was stunned silence–even they had been duped, or so it seemed. Later, Keldo, a Council member trusted by Gareth, told him the truth: Pasrov and a handful of members had used Neela as a guinea pig for their own purposes and were planning to use her as an ultimate weapon. No sooner than Gareth had learned the truth the report came in that Neela had escaped from prison and had disappeared. After that, Gareth left the Council and struck out on his own to oppose the body that he no longer had faith in.
Neela haunts the outlying areas, enticing innocents and either seducing them and then killing them–or killing them outright. Her magical abilities are high, and even Gareth wonders if he can truly defeat her….
#13 Skyspy
Yikes! Well…fell behind in posting, due to family matters. Hopefully I can catch up. Now onto…Skyspy!
As an intelligence officer, Lee Gibbs worked in the shadowy world of gathering and studying data for government agencies. His world was shattered when his journalist friend Carla Hass was murdered. Despite the efforts of the police, the ones responsible for her murder went free. They were also part of the Marano crime syndicate.
Angered by Carla’s death and the miscarriage of justice, Lee used his skills and discovered the existence of a prototype battlesuit being tested by the military. Lee not only managed to steal the suit, he carefully covered his tracks and decided to put it to use. The suit–an offshoot of the XOS series of powered exoskeleton prototypes–is capable of limited flight; it increases the strength of its wearer by a factor of ten, and it is packed with numerous sensors and recording equipment including FLIR and thermograph scanners. For defense, it has a wrist-mounted 9mm gun and ECM capability. And although he was well aware of the illegal actions he took, Lee weighed that against pursuing justice (while resorting to violence only when absolutely necessary). In his mind, justice won out.
Lee used the suit to track down and gather evidence that lead to the convictions of Carla’s killers. That evidence also lead to further investigations of the Marano syndicate. Lee names his alter-ego “Skyspy” and forges a relationship of trust with D.A. Karen Rothenberg and maverick detective Sam de Leo.
As Skyspy, Lee Gibbs is now the new eyes and ears of justice.
#12 Miah
Miah is a Faerie, capable of flight thanks to her wings. Despite her youthful appearance and attitude, she is over 300 years old. The humans that know her speak of her kindness and her rather offbeat sense of humor. It’s that last one that catches many off-guard, since Faerie are not known to crack jokes or find humor in most situations.
The object she carries is a called a totem, and is capable of bringing light into dark areas. Miah can use magic, but her knowledge of spells is limited.
#11 Kendra
Now in her third year in college, Kendra Halford is known for being loyal to her friends and standing up for them. Sometimes, though…she’s have to resort to fisticuffs to do that. It’s a last resort, because she has a wicked sense of humor that cuts like the proverbial knife. More than one arrogant fratboy has been laid low by both Kendra’s fists and sharp comments (but hey, those jerks deserved it, okay?).
Still, she’s a very attractive young woman, and a lot of guys (and some girls) on campus do check her out. She might not have a great fashion sense, but to some, that doesn’t really matter. But her friend Neil Barker finds himself having feelings for her that go beyond friendship. How Kendra will handle this remains to be seen…
#10 Powerhouse and Jake
Ten year-old Jake Winston has an overactive imagination–not unusual for a boy his age. Still, he’s not prepared for the shock of seeing a tall blue and yellow robot appear out of nowhere in front of him. And then there’s the fact that the robot speaks to Jake and tells him that his help is needed.
But Jake thinks it’s awesome. Unfortunately, he’s not able to pronounce the robot’s name, so he calls the machine “Powerhouse”. The robot certainly lives up to his name, trashing a rather scary looking robot threatening Jake and his friends. It seems that this machine will protect Jake (and any human near Jake) at all costs . Yet Powerhouse cannot reveal much about why he is here, along with other questions Jake peppers him with. According to the robot, his programming prevents him from telling everything. While Jake has his own ideas–Powerhouse could be from the future, could be an alien in disguise, could be from another dimension–he’s still thrilled to have a robot protector…and judging from the creepy enemies Powerhouse has to face off against, that’s not a bad thing.
#9 Lyra
Catching up here from yesterday…
Part archangel, part cyborg, Lyra duty is to bring swift vengeance to those who deserve it. She normally walks among humans disguised as an attractive, if slightly scatterbrained, fashion photographer, but when she is needed, that all vanishes.
What emerges is a being that is all business and possessing no mercy…at least at first. Lyra soon comes to realize that the world is not black and white, but many shades of gray. This discovery causes her to change her methods, and while that may not sit well with some of her comrades, the Supreme Being ( you know, THAT Supreme Being) seems to understand.
#8 Vincent Arroyo
From the pages of the legendary 1930s pulp magazine TALES OF HIGH ADVENTUREÂ comes Vincent Arroyo–swordsman, rouge, adventurer, lover.
He travels through the various nations of the continent of Aldrezan seeking adventure, whether it’s helping a beautiful woman defend her home (and also winning her heart), joining a band of lawmen as they search for dangerous gangs in the Palliarno wastelands, or gaining the favor and respect of Princess Deandra of the kingdom of Tallis. Vincent is a man of action, but intelligent, observant, despite his somewhat flippant attitude. He is a master swordsman, and is known to many…but his own past is still a mystery, even to him.
You see, Vincent cannot remember anything before his 13th year. In fact, he strongly believes that “Vincent Arroyo” is not even his real name, but the name he was given by the two kindly people who found him and raised him. There is only one clue: the ornate ring that was with him when he was found. If the ring’s secret is unraveled, it just might answer the one question Vincent has always asked of himself–“who am I, really?”
#7 Cathy C-57D
Cathy C-57D was designed as a unique companion android with the purpose of watching over Michael Brenner, heir to the Brenner fortune. Far from being a normal robot, Cathy’s positronic brain was the only one of its kind, allowing her to think and reason on the level of a human being.
When Michael reached adulthood, many thought he would replace Cathy, but after years of treating Cathy as an equal, Michael refused to even consider replacing her. Now that Michael has assumed leadership of the Brenner Consortium, Cathy is one of the few individuals he can trust, and remains by Michael’s side. This has caused speculation as to the exact nature of their relationship…but it is just speculation, nothing more.
#6 Sun Wu-Kong II
Deanna Lim was the daughter of a Chinese father and an American mother. Although she was raised in the United States (upstate New York, to be exact), she went on trips to Asia with her family. Her father’s efforts to teach her more about her Chinese heritage led to Deanna eventually studying Chinese history and literature as a graduate student at NYU.
While traveling through China on a research trip, Deanna felt a strange the need to investigate a cave located near an ancient monument. While inside the cave, she discovered several artifacts under a large stone. A spectral figure then appeared in front of her, telling Deanna that she had found the staff and headband of the legendary figure Sun Wu-Kong…and Deanna realized that the tale of “Journey to the West” was in fact based on an true historical figure! Taking up the headband and staff, and also mounting a flying platform found in the cave, Deanna becomes the new Sun Wu-Kong. Following the guidance of the spirit from the cave, Deanna begins her own journey of enlightenment!
(Dedicated to the memory of Satoshi Kon)
#5 Shifter
Joanna Lang inherited a strange bracelet from her uncle, an eccentric inventor. She soon discovered that the bracelet is actually a device that can allow her to access other dimensions and “shift” the abilities and appearance of her “analogues” that exist in these dimensions. Joanna also finds that many of these versions of herself possess superhuman abilities. One of these is a version of herself that has light green hair, wears a blue and yellow bodysuit, has incredible speed and agility, and uses a wrist-mounted gun. Taking the name “Shifter”, Joanna decides to try her hand at crime-fighting, even though she’s not very comfortable being a vigilante….
#4 Tali Meerson
The Wastelands border the Frontier regions, and while many try to stay out of the Wastelands, there are times when some…things cross over from there into the Frontier. Needless to say, havoc ensues. Sometimes the Frontier Patrol can handle these incidents, but sometimes, they are not around to deal with these incursions.
That’s where guns for hire like Tali Meerson come in. She’s quick and accurate with a gun, is an excellent tracker, and she doesn’t scare easily. In short, she can handle just about anything. She doesn’t know why she has cat ears and a tail, but no one seems to mind. All they care about is that she’s the best at what she does, and even the FP has hired her for certain tasks. Rumors are rampant that she’s even traveled into the Wastelands and came back with something very important, but so far, those are just rumors. Tali herself has kept quiet about the jobs she’s taken from the FP.
And no, she isn’t into it for just the money. She’s searching for clues about her past, and they might be somewhere out there in the Frontier…or even in the Wastelands.
#3 Jason Cartwright and Tara Wilcox
Thirty years ago, Jason Cartwright was seriously injured in a car accident that claimed the life of his fiancee, Tara Wilcox. Devastated by his loss, Jason spent the next four years traveling, trying to come to terms with his loss. He even fathered a child, a daughter named Jennifer, with Mariko Yamashita, whom he had met while traveling through California. However, Jason was plagued by strange dreams and what appeared to be hallucinations. Fearing that he was losing his sanity, Jason sought help to deal with these events…but he was stunned by the truth. The accident that nearly claimed his life had in fact triggered his latent psychic abilities, allowing him to see spirits, those who existed between the world of the living and the dead. Through his ability, he was also reunited with Tara’s spirit.
Today, Jason travels the world as a medium and ghost hunter. Despite his age, he is can still hold his own in a fight (although fisticuffs are a last resort for him). He is not alone–Tara also travels with him. Their partnership–a human and a ghost–allows them to solve cases of that deal with the spirit world. And even though she has passed beyond the doorway of life, Tara still loves and cares for Jason, and he has never stopped loving her.
#2 Blindspot
Dr. Miranda Rickover was a promising young scientist working in advanced materials and technology. Miranda, however, is set up by a jealous fellow scientist and loses her job; worse, her research data is taken from her. Distraught and broke, Miranda finds salvation from an unusual place–a secret organization that seeks to expose corporate greed and abuse. Donning a “stealth suit” of her own design, Miranda now works to bring down a cabal of ruthless tycoons and politicians. Yet she refuses to kill, instead using a combination of martial arts and a gun that fires strong pulses of light that can make her invisible to the target…literally disappearing into their blind spot, and striking before they can even react.
#1 Gareth Hauser
In the distant future, society treats both magic and science with equal respect. The benevolent Council oversees the teaching of magic with equality and care…or so it seems. In reality, some on the Council are using magic to further their own sinister ends, and eliminating those who get in the way. There is one who stands against these rouges–Gareth Hauser, once a valued advisor to the Council who left. Striking out on his own, he plans to disrupt the plans of the Council and protect the powerless.
#30Characters Chatter…