22. Character Development
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Welcome back everyone and so sorry for the silence! I’ve been finishing up a tough commissioned project with a harsh deadline and some other work to keep the lights on, but I’ve been using all of my extra time to work on the world and art for THE PHANTOM PLEASURE.
I illustrated the above piece as a loving homage to the original publication of Ootomo Katsuhiro’s AKIRA in YOUNG Magazine. I’ve always wanted to be a part of an all-female weekly or monthly sci fi anthology comic, but it’s so tough to get something like that published in the west. I have so many talented friends, so who knows; maybe one day it’ll be possible…
I’ve been doing a ton of world building/history/lore building for the 404EVER world, it would also be so cool to have others write mini-stories set in this universe at some point!
Would you wear a shirt with this logo on it, maybe with a vintage style drawing of Echo below it?
For those interested, here is the raw drawing I used in the Ootomo homage:
I’m still in love with the custom watercolor markers, I swear it’s so much fun drawing with them.
This is an in-progress shot of a piece I’m working on. Don’t look too hard at Halo’s head and face, still working it out :)
I’m going to include a ton of the 404EVER concept art in the back of the printed version of the comic, and this one will definitely be there. I have so much fun drawing Echo’s Synth Suit, I love how there are solid in-lore reasons why I can always make it look slightly or majorly different depending on her mood.
Halo is a Social Influencer, which G-C1 users call “Jump-Cutters”. You probably already know this, but I came up with that term from the way online influencers frantically edit youtube/tiktok/instagram videos to maximize attention. Plus it kinda feels like calling a bounty hunter a Blade Runner.
Halo thinks of Echo the same way we would regard a customizable character in a video game. She feels she has the right to edit Echo’s costume, looks, or behavior to fit her exaggerated preconceptions about the slums. In truth, Halo is unaware of her superiority complex, as it’s a natural consequence of spawning in the elitist Gogg Republic breakaway civilization.
Without spoiling too much of the story, I can say that Halo has a special ability that allows her to access a subconscious backdoor in Echo’s mind, and take full control of her body. This is partly why Halo is able to force Echo’s Synth Suit to adhere to her personal preferences, and control her movements for short periods of time.
Halo’s special skill is linked to The Phantom Pleasure Syndrome, which is the term Echo came up with to explain dreams. You see, users in Geo-City One don’t dream due to a subconscious suppressor known as the COMA BERENICES field. This invisible barrier becomes thicker the higher up you go in the city (towards the planet’s surface), so when Echo was perma-kicked further down into the slums; Halo was finally able to sense Echo’s mind “coming online”. I shouldn’t say more than that for now, but I think you’ll enjoy the way the comic expands on this concept.
I modeled Echo’s kunai dagger weapon after a mouse cursor, hence the name. It might seem huge in the image above, but it’s just a bit larger than an average combat knife.
Echo fights in a dirty, high risk/high reward style, and her Synth Suit’s transformations reflect that. For example, when she wants to form this blade, the armored portions of her suit deconstruct to form it; leaving her vulnerable to an attack. So she usually keeps her distance throws it, with a cable of her Softwear still connected so she can yank it back to her hand like a kyokketsu shoge.
I’m doing my best to get my schedule cleared up so I can get back to full-time work on THE PHANTOM PLEASURE this year. Thank you for hanging in there with me, and as always, I thank you for your gracious support.
With love,
Lordess