Here are my original pencils for my character of Dra’Zun the Guardian Droid. this was for the 30 charterers challenge held every November. I created a back story where this Guardian Droid has gone a little crazy. He’s raising and training a group of orphans. Eventually, there will be only one. He’ll put them through tests and trials to find one he believes is fit to live.
These original pencils were drawn on 9×12 2ply Bristol paper. I use a .7 HB pencil.
Character Back Story: Like most fighters of the pit, nothing is known about Alcatraz’s past. What his real name is, where he was born, and who his family is. He ended up in the pit as most fighters do. At some point, he was abducted from his former life and injected into this dark underworld. The need is high for new recruits since fights often end with death. The life expectancy of a pit fighter is a little over a month. New recruits go through reconditions and rebuilding. First, their minds are erased, they become blank slates ready to be programmed to fight. To only care about fighting and winning. There are several managers (big bosses) that recruit, train, and house these fighters. Alcatraz fights for Boss Holiday.
Unlike most fighters in the pit who only dream of fighting and winning, Alcatraz dreams of escaping. To escape this violent world he knows he needs to survive the fights. This means he has to be smarter, tougher, stronger, and more lethal than his opponents. For him winning is living. Living for the next day, living to be free. He’s heard rumors that if you survive long enough, the “Boss” will take you out of the fights. Give you another job as one of his enforcers. Enforcing what, he doesn’t know. But he believes it has to be better than fighting every day to death.
When Alcatraz first started in the pits there was a top fighter named “Concrete Stain”, an undefeated fighter who had survived over a year. Then one day he was gone, not dead from a fight just gone. That’s when Alcatraz first heard the rumor. That elite fighters work for Boss Holiday on the outside, not just fighting for him in the pits. It might only be a dream but Alcatraz will keep surviving until he’s chosen until he’s free.
Notes: I mentioned Boss Holiday in Alcatraz’s back story. He’s a character I created for the first 30 Characters Challenge. A Rockabilly Crime lord who employs “Super-Villains”
Character Back Story: A rouge asteroid hit and destroyed the planet Azari Prime, home of the Dra’Azari Royal Family. The Royal family and the planet’s inhabitants mounted a vast interstellar survival plan. Financed by the Royal family and all the resources of Azari, 20 ark space ships were created. The survivors would travel to Azari-3, a colony on the outskirts of their solar system. Azari-3 rich with natural resources would be their new home world. The Royal family created their own ship for the voyage, it was to carry their entire Dra’Azari Family. Guardian Droids were built and placed in all ark ships, also named GD-Units. Their primary functions and programming were to care for the needs of the ark passengers. These droids would maintain the ships, cook, clean, and educate. On the Royals ship, there were 8 GD-Units.
Ezbeet Dra’Book (Ezbeet equaling to a Duke in Earth terms) sees this migration as a great opportunity to rise higher in the family court. He reprograms the Guardian Droids on the Royal’s Ark to turn on the family and kill them all. In the middle of the mayhem, Dra’Book sabotages all the escape pods and uses the only functional one to escape. The GD-Units manage to slaughter almost everyone on the ship within hours. A few of the royalty manage to survive the attack in the children’s nursery, including Ezbeet Dra’Hexra. Dra’Hexra uses the ship’s computer to reset one of the Guardian Droids, GD-Unit 5.
As a result of the reset, GD-Unit 5 malfunctions merging both its origin programming with that of Dra’Book. It believes that it must educate and protect the Royal family by eliminating it. It quickly destroys the other Guardian Droids to protect the survivors. GD-Unit 5 then gathers the remaining Royalty including the children. GD-Unit 5 explains that it must protect the Dra’Azari Royal Family. It then attacks them, killing everyone except the 6 youngest. It has calculated that it must educate, train, and manipulate these six children to be the new leader of the Azari people.
In the chaos of the GD-Units attack, the Royalty’s ark ship was sent severely off course. Years pass by and the children become adults, they began calling the Guardian Droid, Dra’Zun. “Dra” for their family name and “Zun” means teacher. In the years that have passed Dra’Zun has taught his students to be ruthless, calculating, and unforgiving in all matters. It has also manipulated their genetic code to enhance their strength, durability, speed, and intelligence. Dra’Zun’s final lesson will be to have his students fight and kill each other until the strongest and most intelligent one survives. This “Winner” will be the rightful ruler of the Azari people. He or she will begin by conquering small worlds to build an army, then take back the kingdom. Dra’Zun plans to remain as this true ruler’s faithful servant.
It’s that time again, for the 30 Characters Challenge “Because the world still needs new characters”. What’re the 30 Characters Challenge you may ask? Four years ago in 2009 comic creator Tyler James put out the challenge to all creative people to create 30 new characters in 30 days. I participated and accomplished the goal that very first year. The annual event held in November now has hundreds of participating artists and writers of all skill levels. The site has been updated and redesigned for this year’s challenge. (www.30characters.com).
As an alumnus of all the past 30 Characters Challenges, I’m very excited to participate again. The first year was the only time I actually finished, last year I was able to get up to 20. So this year I’m very determined to complete all 30. Each year the challenge helps to strengthen my drawing style. This year I plan to pencil, ink, and try coloring all my characters. I like to approach the characters and biography like Marvel’s “Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.” When I think of Character Designs, I see my characters in that format. I loved reading about characters and their biographies this way when I was a kid. If I have time I might even add a few “Comic Panels” of the characters in action Like OHOTMU did.
Everyone is invited to “Join the Challenge“, the registration deadline is Tuesday, October 30th. And the characters will start going up on November 1st. Make sure to check it out!
Here’s a site Banner I created with one of my original characters from the challenge! Check out my “Profile” page at (www.30characters.com) too! – SHAZAM!
Character Back Story: Lilith is Adam’s first wife before Eve. She refuses to be Adam’s subordinate and states that she is his equal. When Lilith leaves the Garden of Eden and Adam the angels Sansenoy, Senoy and Semangelof are sent to bring her back. She refuses to go back to Adam so a bargain is made for her freedom. The price is the deaths of one hundred of her children every day. Lilith complies but gives birth to more than 100 a day. Through the many centuries, Lilith has slowly birthed an army of daughters and sons to take back the world she believes rightfully belongs to her. Their numbers rival the angels themselves. She has raised her children to hate and pity the “Children of Eve”. There is a war for Earth coming and Lilith plans to win it.
Notes: Lilith is a character from my comic project “First Legacy”, this is a working title. She is taken from folklore and was mentioned in the character back story of a character named Aurora Light a few years ago. I used is a challenge to revisit the comic idea.
Character Back Story: Sansenoy along with his brothers Senoy and Semangelof are Archangels and guardians of humanity. When Lilith leaves the Garden of Eden and Adam they are sent to bring her back. A bargain is made for her freedom, the price is the deaths of one hundred of her children every day. Lilith complies but gives birth to more than 100 a day. Sansenoy keeps a watchful eye on Lilith and her surviving children. On many occasions, he even fights them in battle. Sansenoy eventually meets and falls in love with Lilith’s greatest warrior daughter, Sylvia Light. Sansenoy and Sylvia began a secret romantic relationship. He shows Sylvia the great potential and wonders that the “Children of Eve” can achieve.
Notes: Sansenoy is a character from my comic project “First Legacy”, this is a working title. He is taken from folklore and was mentioned in the character back story of a character named Aurora Light a few years ago.
30 Characters Challenge 2011 – #2 Isaac, Son of Lilith
Character Back Story: Isaac is one of Lilith’s warrior children. Raised from birth to despise the “Children of Eve”, this son of Lilith sees no redeeming qualities in humanity. He is one of the most savage fighters of her sons, there is no one he fears. He’s fought against both angels and demons, very rarely finding any equals.
Notes: Isaac is a character from the comic “First Legacy”, this is a working title. I wanted to make him a huge frighting warrior. Not too bulky, but still menacing looking.
30 Characters Challenge 2011 – #1 Rachel, Daughter of Lilith
Character Back Story: Rachel is a warrior daughter of Lilith. Lilith was Adam’s first wife before Eve, refused to be his subordinate, and left him. Through the many centuries, Lilith has slowly created an army of daughters and sons to take back the world. One of the strongest of these daughters is Rachel. She was raised from childhood to hate and pity the “Children of Eve”. One of her mother’s most loyal warriors. Rachel has fought many campaigns against both angels and demons. Rachel is a cunning warrior and field general in Lilith’s army. She is always ready to fight in defense of her sisters, brothers, and mother’s beliefs.
Behavior Traits: Short Tempered, Headstrong, Driven, Impatient, Loyal
Powers / Abilities / Skills: Invulnerability, Flight, Super-Strength, Swords Master, Hand to Hand Combat, Expert Combat Tactician
Notes: Rachel originates from a character creation I did a few years ago. I mentioned her in the character back story of a character named Aurora Light. I’ve always wanted to go back to that story, this gave me a chance to redefine the characters and the story. The working title for this comic is “First Legacy“.
November is coming and that means it’s time for the 30 characters challenge again! What’s the 30 Characters Challenge you ask? in November 2009 comic creator Tyler James put out a challenge to create 30 new characters in 30 days. He invited anyone that wanted to join to participate on a blog site he created (30characters.wordpress.com). I was among those that participated and had a blast. I then took the challenge again last year at the awesome new site (www.30characters.com).
A year has come and it’s time for the 30 Characters challenge again. This time it looks like there will be over 300 participants. WOW! As an alumnus of all the challenges, I’m ready to jump in again. I’m getting ready to bring my A-Game this time! I have a better idea of how to approach the challenge. Last time around I submitted pencil character designs (3 were inked). I’m planning on inking and digitally coloring all of them this time. (It will be a test of my time management skills). I’ve seen my style change in the last few years. Leaning more toward inking, so I’m excited to focus on finished colored designs this year.
All are invited to “Join the Challenge“, the registration deadline is Sunday, October 30th. And the characters will start going up on November 1st. Make sure to check it out!
Here’s a site Banner I created with one of my original characters from last year’s challenge! Check out my “Profile” page too! – SHAZAM!
A few months ago I participated in the second annual 30 Characters Challenge. We create 30 Characters in 30 days. It’s a very fun challenge. I had planned on penciling and inking all my character designs. As the months went by I only inked 3 designs. So I’ve decided to go back periodically to these character designs and ink them.
Here’s Penelope Chamber Characters Inks! I used a 102 nib pen with black india ink. I’ve been enjoying inking with nib pens. I still need a lot of practice inking, but I feel like the nib pen is right for me. So far I don’t have much of a history for this character. Just that she’s some sort of adventurer. – Shazam
