PHANTOS - 2008 (or 200x)

So, ever since I re-watched "The She-Demon of Phantos" not too long ago, I've been a little bit enchanted by Queen Elmora and Strongarm and Photanium.

I did a couple little sketches while watching the episode :





and started thinking about how to update Phantos / incorporate it into the 200x continuity. Here's what I've come up with:

Instead of another planet, Phantos would be another Dimension (a la Despondos and presumably Etheria), where Elmora would rule as an ally (albeit infrequent) to Randor and the good kingdoms of Eternia.

Photanium, instead of being one of the strongest metals (and thus, redundant due to the presence of Eternium), would be used to make items that enable the wearer/user to turn intangible.

The magic of Phantos would also focus heavily on intangibility, or Phasing, and invisibility (phantom-like powers). Warriors who are "phased" would be unable to hit solid foes but able to hit other phased foes.

Elmora's special "ring-magic" (as seen in the episode) would be the creation of dual-layered rings (one solid, one phased) that can hold both intangible/phased and solid foes, regardless of their physical state. She'd also be a competent melee fighter, as was also indicated in the episode.

EDIT: She would also have other spells/abilities that affect both solid/phased targets.

My idea for Strongarm would be that he was a notorious criminal on Phantos, a thorn in Elmora's side even before he met Skeletor. In a story with heavy similarities to the "Menace of Trap-Jaw" mini-comic (since that's no longer Trap-Jaw's origin in the 200x continuity), Skeletor would run across Strongarm in the course of some other scheme. (Here's where the stories would diverge)

Skeletor would take in the villain, enhance him with Photanium cybernetics (enabling him to phase/unphase at will and harm both solid and phased opponents as well as increasing his strength and durability), and use him at first in some scheme on Phantos, then along with the ranks of his other evil warriors.

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Ever since I saw Elmora go toe-to-toe with Skeletor, she's been one of my favorite minor characters, and I figured she deserved updating.

I searched and came up empty, but does anybody know if anyone else has already done an updated Phantos?

I'd feel pretty stupid if I had posted this on here and kept working on it only to find out "hey, that's just like what so-and-so did two years ago!"

Anyway, let me know what y'all think, and I intend to post pics of updated Elmora and Strongarm and probably her flunkies (or as Gbagok called them, Viziers) when I get them done.

Thanks!

I cant wait to see what you have planted for those guys j-bird

Here's a sketch (with flat color) of Strongarm - the blue on his shoulders and chest will be armored/cybernetic plates, with details something like 200x Man-At-Arms'.

The "buckle" on his belt will be a stylized fist.

I didn't want to change him too much from the Filmation version, but wanted to not make the metal arm too big (too Fisto/Jitsu) ... I think I need to tweak the yellow glove, too. Let me know what y'all think.

I'm also trying to come up with a "title"/descriptor for him, and the best I've come up with is "Evil Photanium Cyborg," but I'm not sure it feels right. Any suggestions?

Nice! For the first sketches you posted, did you use crayons?

Originally Posted by mermaidliz

Nice! For the first sketches you posted, did you use crayons?

No, they were actually sketches done with colored pencil as I was watching my DVD's of the classic series. I think it's the texture of the paper I was using that gives them that crayon look.

Speaking of sketches, here are a couple quick-colored sketches of my updated Elmora:


updated costume in the classic colors


updated costume in "phantom" colors

I can't decide if I'd rather have her in the phantom colors all the time, or if she looks different when she's less-than-solid. I'm kind of leaning toward the phantom colors all the time, but what do you all think?

I decided that her sword and shield (in the phantom version) are like her magic, a layer of phased material around / inside a layer of solid material, and the constant contact between the two causes a mystical "steam" effect.

One of the reasons I'm so entranced by Queen Elmora is that she went toe-to-toe magically with Skeletor physically with Teela with sword and shield. She seems a force with which to be reckoned.

Interesting concepts. I personally haven't seen this episode, but when gBagok made his version, it seemed like the Queen was a truly terrifying sight when she was a phantom-spirit? Almost demonic, with a crazed stare.

Your version doesn't appear to have those qualities, is that on purpose? She's still a good person even tho ethereal, or is it just hard to tell without a facial close-up?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Originally Posted by Predabot

Interesting concepts. I personally haven't seen this episode, but when gBagok made his version, it seemed like the Queen was a truly terrifying sight when she was a phantom-spirit? Almost demonic, with a crazed stare.

Your version doesn't appear to have those qualities, is that on purpose? She's still a good person even tho ethereal, or is it just hard to tell without a facial close-up?

Enquiring minds want to know!

The She-Demon of Gbagok's version (which is awesome) was when she was in Skeletor's thrall and forced to be evil ... I went with "regular/good" Elmora (her standard state, so to speak), rather than the She-Demon version. I suppose I could, however, do a version of her as she would have looked under Skeletor's control.

Right now, though, I'm focusing more on what Phantos could have been as a regular part of the 200x series (someplace like Avion or Andreenos or something, where allies lived and they might visit occasionally).

Or the short answer: yes, that's on purpose and she's still a good person when she's ethereal (better word than phased - thanks!).