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This is the trust test. I'll fall back, you catch me.


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This is the trust test. I'll fall back, you catch me.

Posted 11-28-2009 at 11:20 PM by Dipstikk
Updated 11-28-2009 at 11:37 PM by Dipstikk
HEY! GET BACK HERE!

Well, I guess if I'm really sticking around, I should share what I've been up to for the past umpteen-hundred years...

I have a comic series that I've been developing (and not working on, but some things never change) called Tropica. It's a standard superhero comic, set in an alternate universe on an island called Moa during their Victorian era, that tells the story of a young woman of the island who discovers a relic that gives her superpowers (strength, near invulnerability, and later on discovers how to manipulate water) and uses them to try and mediate peace between two aggressive tribes who want to dominate Moa island for their own reasons. It's fantasy, alternate history with a dash of sci-fi. I love this project; it blows Actra right out of the sky and curb-stomps the anthro-bat bitch into a coma.

I want to start posting concepts, script excerpts, documents pertaining to the story, etc etc in the Non-Oddworld Art & Lit section so I can share my ideas and maybe collaborate with me old droogies.

Here's where the trust element comes into play. I decided from the get-go that the main character, Kei, would be a bit on the heavy side, and that her weight would have no impact on her value or treatment as a legitimate character. She's not obscenely obese or anything like that; if anything, she's a mix between thick and athletic. I understand that the sight of women with any hint of fat on their bodies is enough to send people into screaming fits and convulsions, (not that I can find any good reason for such an offense, but that ain't my place to tell you what to be bugged by). Sekto's gotten used to her, I think, and I'm sure the design for her isn't nearly as abhorrent as I'm making her sound.

I want to know that, if I start posting production art, that you guys can handle it maturely (see also: the opposite of how I've been acting since returning to conquer this place). I'd really like to post the thread, but I want to make sure you're seeing the concepts and writing as a whole and if you're going to be transfixed on Kei's weight, then you're not seeing much else and the point is moot.

I'm not going to go all Abe-vore-fetish-guy on you guys; this comic isn't some outlet for fetishy crap and I'm not trying to rub my preferences in the opposite sex in your faces. The comic is all its own and the main character just happens to not be of the conventional superhero body type, which yes, I designed her based on what aesthetic qualities I find attractive.

You can see a bit of her in my new avatar if you're curious.
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Comments
Pilot's Avatar
Oh, she's.... stunning... *Looks at picture of Robotnik*

Robotnik: "NO!"
Posted 11-28-2009 at 11:26 PM by Pilot

Dipstikk's Avatar
SORRY, THE STUNNING BALD MAN WITH THE GINGER FACIAL HAIR IS UNFORTUNATELY COPYRIGHTED
I CHECKED

SCOPE THE ICON ON THE RIGHT, BROSKI------->
Posted 11-28-2009 at 11:32 PM by Dipstikk
Updated 11-28-2009 at 11:47 PM by Dipstikk

slig# 5719's Avatar
Come to think of it, I havn't seen any large female superheroes before. New character types make things interesting, besides I prefer non-generic superheroes anyway.

What makes a good character for me is a thought out backstory and that the superheroes isn't insanely powerful (That's the supervillain's job after all.)
Posted 11-29-2009 at 12:18 AM by slig# 5719

Pilot's Avatar
:
SCOPE THE ICON ON THE RIGHT, BROSKI------->
No.

But since we're on the subject, scope this:
Posted 11-29-2009 at 12:34 AM by Pilot

Wil's Avatar
As someone who does partner dance with people, people with no fat on their bodies are bony freaks and it's very strange dancing with them.

Unfortunately, I am one of these bony freaks, so I try not to judge.

But then I don't go into NOAL. (y)
Posted 11-29-2009 at 03:19 AM by Wil

Dipstikk's Avatar
:
Come to think of it, I havn't seen any large female superheroes before.
Yeah, that's really what it's about. You rarely see any (positive) examples of fat people in comics, if at all. You have, to my recollection, Blob (being the first example that comes to mind), the super-obese Brotherhood member who is basically there for comedic value. There's Big Burtha, who's actually a supermodel who can control the fat cells in her body. Again, she's little more than a prop. The one positive example in Marvel I can think of was Gertrude Yorkes, who wasn't so much fat as she was short, and she's been dead for ages (killed her off as quickly as they could, due to fanboy outrage, I'm sure.
DC comics has Bouncing Boy (who nobody remembers anyway, but was used heavily in the Legion of Superheroes cartoon, no pun intended) and Etta Candy of Wonder Woman, who WAS the closest thing to a size-positive character comics will ever get, but yet there's still her mocktastic name and she's since thinned out.

So yeah, comics tend to be an unfriendly place for da fatties. I'm just fool enough to think I can stir the pot.

:
As someone who does partner dance with people, people with no fat on their bodies are bony freaks and it's very strange dancing with them.
Unfortunately, I am one of these bony freaks, so I try not to judge.
And the second point behind the comic is that it doesn't try to one-up thinner people. There are plenty of body types present in this comic; Kei's closest friend is thin and plenty of cast members are, too. It's really about bringing people of all shapes together, which is something a good majority seems to be unwilling to do these days.

:
What makes a good character for me is a thought out backstory and that the superheroes isn't insanely powerful
To be honest, Kei isn't that special before she gets her powers. It's what she does with her powers after she gets them that makes her a hero. And she can't be harmed by mortal weapons while she's in superhero mode, but plenty of her enemies learn this quickly and she's constantly bombarded with enchanted weapons and foes.
Posted 11-29-2009 at 06:50 AM by Dipstikk
Updated 11-29-2009 at 06:56 AM by Dipstikk

Gretin's Avatar
In my opinion, anyone who goes into screaming fits and convulsions at the sight of women with any hint of fat on their bodies is a male chauvinistic pig.

In the nicest possible way of course

Seriously though, I don't see what the problem would be, it shouldn't even be a problem. Real people come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so why shouldn't comic book characters? No wonder I know girls who call themselves "fat" when they really are actually quite small. Anyway, that's my rant over

So for me, I'd love to see your new work in NOA&L, I still remember your old art, both Oddworld related and non-Oddworld, and it was awesome back then as well.
Posted 11-29-2009 at 02:46 PM by Gretin
Updated 11-29-2009 at 02:47 PM by Gretin (OMG LYK GRAMA MISTAK)

Wings of Fire's Avatar
Do it, also boucing around concepts 'n shit is an ace idea.

I'ma going to see how you fare before I try it :B
Posted 11-29-2009 at 03:02 PM by Wings of Fire

Splat's Avatar
Man, I miss Actra.

But yes, post away.
Posted 11-30-2009 at 10:17 AM by Splat

Mac Sirloin's Avatar
Uhh, Marvel has has The Boulder or whatever his name is. Fat kid who's completely fucking invincible and is part of some superhero squad.
Posted 11-30-2009 at 01:12 PM by Mac Sirloin

Sekto Springs's Avatar
I don't think the lack of doughy superheroes in the comic book world is because of anti-fat prejudice. It's simply that superheroes are always fighting bad guys, leaping over tall buildings, lifting cars, and other such nonsense - you can't really have such a lifestyle and be overweight. For a superhero to remain portly, they would have to have either a very slow metabolism (which is also an impossibility considering how often they exercise) or eat insane amounts of food.

If your hero's powers don't require any physical effort on their part, then okay. Like... I could see the Green Lantern getting fat. Sumo Wrestlers are fat, and I don't think anyone (in Japan at least) find them less attractive because of this. They're celebrities over there, and they're all married to japanese super models who are like a size 2 (the sex must look hilarious).

And hey, you overlooked a few fat superheroes that have a positive connotation. Buddha, Santa Claus, Taft, and of course... RRRROBOTNIK!
Posted 11-30-2009 at 04:35 PM by Sekto Springs

Dipstikk's Avatar
ROBOTNIK IS THE ULTIMATE HERO

You claim that the reason behind the lack of fat superheroes (and keep in mind that fat doesn't automatically = obese) is due to a high level of activity, but then you contradict yourself by saying that not all superheroes are required to move around a whole lot.

Your idea of endurance being an issue really only works if we're to assume that everyone's meant to be thin, which they're not. Certainly not everyone's body is meant to sustain 300 pounds or more (I can attest to this), but during my fanciful journeys around the size acceptance blogs, I've heard many accounts from people who say that when they tried to lose weight and slim down, they ended up being worse off health-wise than they were when they were heavier. Genetics have a lot to do with determining body size. It's not impossible to be physically strong or have good endurance when you're overweight, it's just not common in modern society.

That's where Kei is: Her body is genetically predetermined to be at her current weight. She is very active and has a diet of natural foods (being that unnatural processing doesn't exist on Moa).

And I still maintain that the lack of positive fat superheroes in comics is due, in part, to anti-fat prejudice. Comics are directed at teens, who are, on average, immature, self-absorbed, vindictive brats. Historically, if there is a fat character present in a comic, they are most often there as a physical gag, depicted as super-impossibly obese (you want to talk about someone who shouldn't be able to get around? Check out Big Bertha...) and the just aren't treated like regular characters. The ones that last usually come with stereotypical gimmics that correlate to their weight (Blob is stupid and slow-moving, Bertha vomits to return to normal size).

When I went to school in Dover for comic art, I also learned that another part of why there aren't that many fat superheroes is because comic artists are trained to draw fit, taut, musclebound bodies and it's easier and cheaper to just repeat that same base model instead of adding all of these variations. Mainstream comics are an industry first, and what is deemed cost-effective is usually what the team shoots for.
Posted 11-30-2009 at 05:20 PM by Dipstikk

used:)'s Avatar
The Maxx was kind of fat, right? And that show kicked ass! Never read the comics, unfortunately.
Posted 11-30-2009 at 05:34 PM by used:)

Dipstikk's Avatar
So, is that a go? Good! I'll start putting together my first post and you'll probably see it tomorrow night.
Posted 11-30-2009 at 05:39 PM by Dipstikk

Dipstikk's Avatar
http://www.oddworldforums.net/showth...434#post415434
CHICKA CHICKA CHECK IT OWT
Posted 11-30-2009 at 10:28 PM by Dipstikk

 

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