Bootleg's New Characters from Old Variants!!!

[bootleg]

Megalodon, hhhelmsley, Patreek: thanks guys!
Hordaks Henchman: amazing customs as always, my friend! can't wait to see what you cook up next!

Trying to resurrect this thread too...

Okay, this is a little confusing--as you may know, Clawful was a crab-like humanoid in toy form, but was depicted as a sea serpent-like humanoid with crab claws in the cartoon. Naturally, I decided both versions could co-exist, and renamed the cartoon version after a crab-themed Transformers character. Huh? Oh well, here he is, cartoon-Clawful, rechristened Squeezeplay:



This one has its awkward points... the right leg is stupidly wrong, and the claws are pretty clunky looking. But I like how the gem and the gold armor turned out. I'm working on the toy version of Clawful, and I'll post that in my other thread soon.

[BlueStreak]

Megalodon, hhhelmsley, Patreek: thanks guys!
Hordaks Henchman: amazing customs as always, my friend! can't wait to see what you cook up next!

Trying to resurrect this thread too...

Okay, this is a little confusing--as you may know, Clawful was a crab-like humanoid in toy form, but was depicted as a sea serpent-like humanoid with crab claws in the cartoon. Naturally, I decided both versions could co-exist, and renamed the cartoon version after a crab-themed Transformers character. Huh? Oh well, here he is, cartoon-Clawful, rechristened Squeezeplay:

http://home.att.net/~bootleg3/clawfultoonweb.jpg

This one has its awkward points... the right leg is stupidly wrong, and the claws are pretty clunky looking. But I like how the gem and the gold armor turned out. I'm working on the toy version of Clawful, and I'll post that in my other thread soon.

I just posted in your other thread that i wanted to see your take on Clawful.

I like your idea.

[Patreek]

He looks very cool! I like him a lot. I don't know about the name though but he himself is awesome!

[Leoghan]

they all look great , cant wait to see more

[bootleg]

thanks, all!

as for the name, it ain't great, but i wanted something pincer-themed with a pun to match "clawful."


**EDIT:

As you might know, there's a re-design challenge focusing on Teela, as she appeared in The New Adventures of He-Man. This version of Teela had almost no resemblance to previous versions--however, I liked the character design so much that I decided to just draw a straight-up interpretation rather than a re-design. Because I didn't change the design aside from a few details, I didn't enter her in the challenge, but I did give her a new name and persona.

Less talking, more super-hott space-amazon with sword:



I'm happy with how this one came out, especially her somewhat relaxed-yet-ready-to-kick-ass pose. The colors (which are loyal to the source material) are somewhat cliche in their "girliness," but ultimately I think it's a good color scheme. I can take no credit for the great details of the costume--the slick-looking sword, the arrowheaded scabbard, the multi-pronged helm--everything was present in the original design.

The new moniker, Leeta is an anagram of Teela. I do have a bit of a backstory thought up for her, but it requires me to reveal some other plot points of my own concoction, so presented below is a bare bones version of her bio. And just in case anyone is keeping score at home, in my interpretation of The New Adventures of He-Man, Primus is merely a distant planet, not a future locale requiring time travel.

* * *

PROFILE: An invaluable member of the Galactic Guardians of Primus, LEETA is a Paladin belonging to the order of an ancient warrior goddess. Having shed the headstrong recklessness of her youth, Leeta is a disciplined master warrior, with amazing sword skills, and strong leadership abilities. Her strength and speed appear to be significantly beyond 'normal' levels. Leeta is a friend and frequent sparring partner to Mara.

HISTORY: Not long after Leeta first joined the Galactic Guardians, He-Man and Master Sebrian were able to negotiate peace between Primus and Denebria. With true stability established, He-Man was finally able to begin his long journey back to Eternia. Years later, the people of Primus discovered that He-Man never made it back to his home. Indebted to the Eternian hero for bringing peace to their solar system, the leaders of Primus and Denebria assembled a joint task force to find the whereabouts of He-Man. Leeta was one of the first to volunteer, and acts as one of the top lieutenants, under the task force commander.

* * *

[gatchagrey]

i still wouldlike to have seen a redesign but it great to see a NA character from you.. i would love to see more...espically NA heman...in full armor...it is one of my favotrite designs

[CRAZYMOTUFAN]

All of these look great. Can't wait to see some more.

[Megalodon]

Hey bootleg if I didn't tell you this before you are the man!

You outdid yourself!

[bootleg]

thank you very much everyone! i'll try and get to some more NA characters soon. in thte meantime, here's the toy version of kowl:



As is my custom, I repurposed the significantly differently-colored toy version into a new character. Corujito, as best as I can figure, means "little owl" in Portuguese, which is how one of the international releases of Kowl was named (using my Sherlock Holmes-like powers of deduction, I'm going to guess it was the Portuguese and/or Brazilian version). I decided to spell it Korujito, just to give the name a bit more of a connection with Kowl. Korujito's gem and title derive from the play feature of the toy, which I guess was some kind of color-changing gem that 'answered your questions' with different colors--I suspect it was a mood ring-like decal, like the old faction sigils on Transformers. But I digress.

* * *

PROFILE: Kowl's young nephew, KORUJITO, is a "chosen one" of their people. He was born with the ability to divine possible futures through the Oracular Gem, an artifact used by seers and oracles throughout the history of Etheria. Korujito is but a child, however he is wise and serene beyond his years.

HISTORY: Korujito is part of an emerging group of young heroes who have become protectors of Etheria while She-Ra is posted in Eternia. The rulers united under the Rebellion consult Korujito's clairvoyant powers when they are faced with grave decisions, and his serene counsel has been invaluable to the stoic and conflicted protector of Etheria, Starburst. Korujito is a frequent companion of the impulsive Princess Sorciela, and Kowl seems to spend an inordinate amount of time keeping the two of them out of trouble.

* * *

[gatchagrey]

yeah.awesome...coolto get bootleg art bfore christmas

[bootleg]

woof... with over a year in between! sorry for the delay folks!

Here's Laser Power He-Man, re-imagined as a new character:



His name is pronounced like Lazarus, but with an "-os" instead of an "-us." What's that, you're dying for some super-nerdy background info on this character? HERE YOU GO:

* * *

PROFILE: An adventurer, inventor, and aristocrat, PRINCE LAZEROS is something of a hybrid between a Renaissance man and swashbuckler. He puts forth a devil-may-care attitude, though in reality he is a deeply motivated individual. Using his family fortune, Lazeros has developed an array of high-tech weaponry and armor. His battle harness (powered by synthetic green Korodite) mimics the principles of He-Man's own battle harness, providing a personal protection field, and enhanced physical strength; his bionic arm-brace allows him full use of his crippled arm; and his energy sword is a formidable weapon, capable of cutting through metal and stone. In He-Man's absence, Lazeros has become a friend and colleague to Man-At-Arms (the two have a friendly rivalry with respect to inventing), and a trusted ally of Team Grayskull. Lazeros has become somewhat smitten with Teela--this has brought him into occasional conflict with Savage (Team Grayskull's other frequent ally) who is already his polar opposite in so many ways.

HISTORY: Once nothing more than a frivolous young aristocrat, Prince Lazeros's life changed when he was caught in a terrorist attack while visiting the Eternian capital. The attack was perpetrated by none other than Skeletor and his henchmen. Inhaling a dangerous dose of nerve gas, Lazeros was lucky to escape with his life, though his right arm was left forever crippled. Had it not been for the intervention of He-Man, Lazeros and many others would have died. Inspired by He-Man's heroism, Lazeros dedicated himself to bettering the world, and was able to use his financial resources to become an inventor and adventurer. In the years following He-Man's disappearance, Lazeros is one of several young heroes who has stepped forward to fill the void. Dubbed the "Prince of Power" by the Eternian media, his exploits have won him much favor with the public.

* * *

[danbrenus]

Cool new guy Bootleg, though I'd have to disagree about his pants....but it isn't your faut at all, LL He-man had a really terrible design.

[theblock]

Cool new guy Bootleg, though I'd have to disagree about his pants....but it isn't your faut at all, LL He-man had a really terrible design.

It's like the in-between phase before the NA revamp of He-Man. But he does look like an American Gladiator combined with a Centurion/Jedi Knight Power EXTREME !

[Faceless One]

It's a good idea to give other names and histories to the re-versions. My favourite is Flying Fist, and the customs of Hordak Henchman are very cool too, specially Flying Fist and Dragon Blaster skeletor.

[bootleg]

danbrenus: thanks, i'm glad you like it. theoretically, i actually like laser power he-man's design a lot, but it is a bit off for MOTU specifically, because it lacks a fantasy element.

theblock: you're definitely right--laser power he-man has got 1980's written all over him!

Faceless One: thank you very much! people seem to respond to flying fist the most, in general.


Today I've got another He-Man variant, re-imagined. This one is based on a prototype for Laser Power He-Man. The prototype had a costume that was significantly different from the production version, so I thought it was worthy of yet another new character. Her name is based on the Spanish version of Laser Power He-Man, and I envision her as the cousin of Lazeros. Here's Luminosa:



Her sidekick, X-1060, is named after the product code for Laser Power He-Man, and his form is based loosely on the backpack of one of the prototype versions of that same figure. To answer your question--yes, it did just get nerdier in here.

And it's about to get even nerdier... BACKGROUND INFO!!!

* * *

PROFILE: While a bit naieve and idealistic, and slightly reckless at times, LADY LUMINOSA is nevertheless a bright and determined young woman, with a keen sense of justice. She is somewhat sheltered and knows it--which makes her eager to seek out the world. Luminosa is close to her cousin, Prince Lazeros, who is both big-brother-figure and mentor to her. She has adventured in Etheria a few times, befriending young freedom fighters like Sorciela and Korujito, and finding strong female role-models in the older generation of freedom fighters.

In battle, Luminosa is armed with equipment similar to Lazeros--a synthetic Korodite-powered battle harness, and an energy sword. Her energy sword is actually a conduit that channels her innate powers into a blade of energy far more powerful than Lazeros's. Between this device, and her incredible fencing abilities, Luminosa is very dangerous in melee combat. Though Lazeros is still her fencing instructor, he believes her swordfighting skills alone will one day overshadow his own, and once she learns to channel the full potential of her energy powers, she will be a truly unstoppable force. Luminosa's battle harness is much more compact than Lazeros's, but as a result does not provide as much enhanced strength, and provides no field of protection. This lack is compensated by X-1060, a lab droid modified by Lazeros to generate a portable forcefield and act as a protector for Luminosa. X-1060 is intellectual and fretful, constantly lamenting Luminosa's willful nature and thrill-seeking.

HISTORY: Lady Luminosa was born to a noblewoman, and a low-born, but reknowned wizard. Around her thirteenth year, she began exhibiting the ability to manipulate light energy. Four years later, her ability was growing exponentially more powerful, but she could not control it. Her father failed to treat the problem with magic, and so they turned to science, and to Luminosa's older cousin, Prince Lazeros. Lazeros became Luminosa's temporary guardian, and began overseeing her education while studying her abilities. Using a modified version of his own battle harness, Luminosa's powers have been contained so that she can gradually learn how to control them. However, when it became apparent that Luminosa also had an innate knack for science, Lazeros gladly recruited her as his research assistant. To Lazeros's chagrin, Luminosa (athletic and adventurous, much like her cousin), was more interested in gallantry than science, and stowed away on several of his adventures. After Luminosa had proved herself useful on more than one occasion, Lazeros reluctantly decided that his strong-willed young cousin was enough of an adult to accompany him on his many quests.

* * *

[Monikasvo]

Flying Fst was my favorite, but Luminosa is even more! What striking extraorinary character (and what a pelvis!). Her sidekick shield droid is visual and funny too. Never guessed, that laserlight variant could transform to interesting and beautiful character!

Can we see Camoflake, Buzz-Saw, Horde Hurricane and Malco... eh, Grizzlor X in future?

[gatchagrey]

man how did i miss these last too...
awesome work bootleg...

love lazeros
sounds like lazerus (like the pits that ras al ghul used from dc comics)

[j-bird]

Excellent! It's been way too long since this thread had an update - I'm so glad to see it's not dead!

I can see what's been said about the Laser-Power He-Man design not quite feeling MotU, but if one wanted to switch out the spandex for some furry shorts (in blue), and maybe some fur coming out the top of the boots (or something), it might read more MotU.

On the other hand, having just seen pics of Optikk, it does read sort of NA to me. Not necessarily a good or a bad thing, just an observation.

I like Luminosa, but I wish we could see more of her boots - I think I get the idea of them, but they're pretty obscured by the type.

Anyway, great to see you back with more "New Characters from Old Variants!" I love this thread.

[bootleg]

Monikasvo: good to hear from you my friend! glad you like luminosa (and her pelvis ). i definitely plan on creating variant characters for camo khan, buzz-saw hordak, hurricane hordak, and dark-skinned grizzlor (actually, buzz-saw and grizzlor are already drawn, but i need to ink and color them). actually, you could be of great help to me--is "malco" grizzlor's Finnish name? because i don't have a name for that variant yet, and malco sounds pretty good to me.

gatchagrey: oops, somehow i accidentally cut this info from my post--i'm gonna edit it back in, but here it is for you: His name is pronounced like Lazarus, but with an "-os" instead of an "-us." ra's al ghul's lazarus pits are an allusion to a biblical story about a man who came back from the dead. I figured it would be an appropriate reference for this character too, since he nearly died in a terrorist attack. glad you're enjoying these buddy!

j-bird: thanks for dropping in man! ultimately i decided to keep laser he-man's costume intact, because it is a good costume design (imo) even if it is un-MOTU like. besides, i figure since so many MOTU characters end up being straight-fantasy, it's not too bad if an occasional straight-sci-fi one pops up--it creates some texture in the cast. laser he-man and skelly are definitely bridges to NA--i didnt make that connection in the mythos that i wrote for lazeros, but you'll see when i get to the NA skeletors, how they connect with laser skeletor. speaking of whom...

Today I've got Laser Light Skeletor for you, re-imagined as (surprise) a new character. His weapon is a Havoc Staff topped with a humanoid skull as per one of the prototypes. I went with this weapon, and changed his cape from purple to black to distinguish him from Skeletor. His name comes from the Spanish version of Laser Light Skeletor, Ojos de Fuego:



In terms of color and design, Laser Light Skeletor seems like a mess, if you ask me. He's got a great head sculpt, but his body has all kinds of noodly details that seem very un-Masters of the Universe to me. I streamlined the details, but did my best to keep the general flavor, so that he's be recognizable. I'm pretty happy with the colors on this one... I think the warm oranges and reds play off nicely against the cold blues and blacks. But really, it's the super nerdy background info that makes it all worthwhile...

* * *

PROFILE: His true name and identity lost to the ages, he is addressed only by his rank, SUPREME INQUISITOR, and spoken of in hushed tones by his official sobriquet, THE EYES OF FIRE, a name bequeathed to him by the High Priests of Infinita. Dispatched by the Elder High Priest, the Supreme Inquisitor seeks out and punishes the enemies of Infinita, burning them with arcane fire, and cursing them with ancient spells.

HISTORY: The Supreme Inquisitor gazed out from the observation deck of the Infinitan flagship. The glow of his red eyes was dull and smouldering. Trance-like, he seemed to peer deep into space, a vision drawing him in.

Many millenia ago, in the cold, empty halls of the Central Infinitan Temple, a man stands over two glass coffins. The coffins are the same size--one occupied by a woman, the other occupied by a mere child. The child looks peaceful, but so small in the full-sized coffin. The woman looks sad, but resigned. It is night, and the moons of Infinita shed cold white light into the temple halls, through towering windows and arches. The blue skin of the man, and the two bodies, almost looks silver under the moonlight. Who is this man, and who are these corpses, the Inquisitor wonders absently.

The man's eyes are in a trance, emotionless. Looking at the two bodies, but somehow not seeing them--instead staring past them. He is wounded. His right arm and chest are badly burned and bandaged. He does not move; his heart barely beats beneath his bandaged, charred chest.

Footsteps echo through the halls. Another man, draped in a black hood and cape, approaches from behind. The Inquisitor does not know who this man is either. The wounded man speaks, as if to interupt the other, though the other is silent. "This was my fault."

The hooded man's chalk-white skeletal jaw and exposed teeth glint in the moonlight, his voice is tight with rage... or anticipation? "No. This is the fault of Eternian scum."

The wounded man knows this is not true. But he does not care what is true anymore. "Will it make me strong?" He asks.

"Yes."

"Will it make me forget?"

"Yes."

The wounded man stares past the bodies. What is he seeing, the Inquisitor wonders idly.

The wounded man is tired. That's the closest thing to an emotion that he has betrayed in days. "So be it." Questions float through the Inquisitor's consciousness. What will happen to the wounded man? What will happen to the bodies?

The hooded man walks away, his footsteps seem forceful... or gleeful?

The wounded man follows the hooded man down the hallway. It seems to stretch on endlessly. The Supreme Inquisitor now gazes absently not into the distant past, but at his own dark reflection in the glass, superimposed over black starlit space. In one hand he holds a Havoc staff, topped with a humanoid skull. A smaller humanoid skull is mounted on his belt buckle, flanked by black slabs of stone, carved with Infinitan runes. These artifacts have been with him for as long as he can remember, but he cannot remember where they came from. He touches his belt buckle lightly with his robotic right arm. He cannot remember where he came from.

Forceful footsteps in the observation deck. The Supreme Inquisitor does not move. Reflected in the glass, a hooded man draped in black appears behind the Inquisitor. His chalk white mandible catches the light. All else is darkness. The Inquisitor knows who this man is--his mortal master, the Elder High Priest of Infinita, second only to the God-King himself.

The clarity of the vision dissipates, and the Supreme Inquisitor finds himself swallowed up once more by the present, and by madness. He no longer wonders about the vision, not even idly--it is forgotten.

"What do the Eyes of Fire see?" Asks the hooded man.

"I see the future. I see war... I see Eternia burning."

* * *

As should be apparent, I wanted to create very Vaderian mythos for this guy. Hopefully I pulled it off without being too obvious or too corny. A little obvious and corny is okay though.

[Darth Latveria]

Good work on the new characters. I really like the story you came up with for Laser Light Skeletor. Also, although he's an older character I particularly like Leo Skeletor whom I think I missed around the time you originally posted him.

[bootleg]

Darth Latveria: thanks man, glad you're enjoying these! I had a lot of fun with laser skelly's backstory.

[BlueStreak]

The Eyes of Fire is 1,001 kind of AWESOME! I love the runes on his gauntlet.

[Lord Jim]

Some funky looking designs there! Very cool, would make for great packaging art too.

[danbrenus]

freakin' amazing! That's a really good way to give some better takes on a not-so-good Skeletor version. Well done.

[bootleg]

BlueStreak: i appreciate it, man! i'm really glad you like him.

Lord Jim: thanks--that's very flattering!

danbrenus: you're far too kind sir, thank you. i find that sometimes designs i don't really like are a lot of fun, because it's kind of like a puzzle to see if i can change it while keeping it recognizable. speaking of designs i don't like--i have to figure something out for the new adventures versions of he-man...