[The Atomic Punk]

Really like Mictiz’ mask and transitional wing effects! I’ve always wondered, though. What did hummingbirds do that the Aztecs associate them with war? The must be ferocious when agitated. We’re talking about a Meso-American empire that sacrificed humans cowering at some little buzz bomber!

[The Atomic Punk]

Character Design Contest ♯30- 50 States Of Play

Any extremely confusing and rushed design.

Oklahoma Rose: Rigger and Vigilante

[The Atomic Punk]

@WMDBASSPLAYER: I hope you don’t abandon your original concept for Hothead / Firebird. That being said… thanks for loaning her to me for a little longer.

@prswirve: Actually, I have the whole Firebird movie finalized… in my head, with no industry contacts, and no financial backing. The target audience would be females ages 13 – 45 (possibly a mother-daughter movie night).

Still working on the cast and soundtrack. There would definitely be cameos and cash for everyone involved. My pick for Xaphan would be our very own barbario. Picture Xaphan when he firsts attacks the crowd. Everyone scrambles for cover except a street musician playing for tips. He’s the first to see Firebird charging Xaphan. He looks to the sky, raises his sunglasses, grins, and says: “Oh, this is gonna be good!” Guess who that is?

I should be able to fit your latest characters into the script. If not, there’s always the sequel.

[The Atomic Punk]

@JR19759 & Jeimuzu: Thanks, though I feel that I am not as active these days.

@Jeimuzu: Thanks again, a bit of experimenting with outlines.

@prswirve: If I ever settle on a direction, I will post more.

[The Atomic Punk]

Sun

[The Atomic Punk]

Thanks, guys. Wish I had more time to work on the saga.

Character Design Contest ♯29- Oh My Gods

Lei-Kung: Chinese God of Thunder

[The Atomic Punk]

She single?

[The Atomic Punk]

Great poses.

[The Atomic Punk]

Show

[The Atomic Punk]

Thanks, WMD. I’m kind of stuck on your Firebird / Hothead as a fairy. As info, the freeware Paint.Net is really good at compressing files.

HOTHEAD
Original Character by WMDBASSPLAYER; Story by The Atomic Punk

“What do you think, Professor? Readings are stable. Temperature is constant. We’re no longer talking candlepower. I think we did it.”

Professor Sumner tapped the glass and smiled, “Did you see that? She jumped! She’s responsive. We should transfer her to the nursery.”

Gary, Sumner’s graduate assistant, finished typing the preliminary test results. His final entry: “It’s a girl!”

He turned to the Professor: “Project: Hothead is a success!”

“So far, so good, Gary,” she said with her trademark reservations. Lydia Sumner did not want to celebrate too soon. She had been burned more than once during this experiment – figuratively and literally. “Careful with the containment vessel.”

“She’s so cute!” Gary said as if he were the proud father of a newborn. He cradled the 12-inch tall jar as if it were a baby. “I can’t believe that we were able to customize those wings. They turned out wonderful. Think that she will be able to fly with them?”

“They are purely cosmetic. Something to test the integrity of the naphthenic and aliphatic carboxylic acids. Our little napalm mix is what’s keeping her stable,” the Professor noted as she unlocked the glass habitat situated in the center of the laboratory.

A lone white table stood in the middle of the sterile thirty-by-thirty room. A smooth board leaned against the table. Black hemispheres housing cameras protruded from every corner of the ceiling and floor. Gary set the containment vessel on the table. He attached a special release spring so it would open automatically after Professor Sumner and he were out of the nursery.

The two scientists exited the nursery. Moments later, the vessel opened. The flames rushed from the release of pressure like a backdraft. The eight-inch tall newborn creature stumbled as she made her first steps onto the table. Though she had no pupils, her look of confusion was easy to see. Within minutes, she was walking upright.

“Our baby is growing up so fast!” Gary exclaimed.

Professor Sumner chuckled and continued to jot down observations. Project: Hothead looked down at the floor from different sides of the table until she spotted the ramp. She tilted her head side-to-side a few times almost like a child curious as to how to use it to get to the floor. Finally, she sat and slid down the ramp.

“Wheeeeeee!” she squealed.

Professor Sumner and Gary were flabbergasted. They had merely given her a humanoid shell not the ability to vocalize. Even then, the decision to make her female was determined by a coin flip.

The scientists stared at each and both said: “Unbelievable!”

“Jinx, you owe me a soda,” Sumner said waving her pen at Gary.

The two turned back to the nursery. They could not see Hothead. Thinking that she might be on another side of the table, they ran around the glass enclosure. When they reached the door, it was slightly ajar. Professor Sumner had forgot to lock the door!

Frantically, they searched the rest of the laboratory. Gary’s nose twitched. He could smell something burning. He rushed to the source of the smoke. Wads of discarded paper that missed the trash can were on fire. Gary stomped on them quickly to extinguish the flames. Then he heard Professor Sumner shout from behind.

“There she is! Right in the middle of the floor,” she yelled. “Quick, grab the jar!”

Before Gary could rush to the table, Hothead looked at him then turned to Professor Sumner. Then she scanned the entire room. She looked up and smiled. With a last look at the scientists, Hothead jumped into the air and flew into a ventilation shaft.

“Oh, crap!” Professor Sumner yelled.

“Baby, come back!” Gary cried.

[The Atomic Punk]

The mushroom cloud is a nice touch. Looking forward to H-Bomb and Amy’s first encounter.

[The Atomic Punk]

Ikiajik is definitely my favorite. Love the face paint.

[The Atomic Punk]

I went through a rather non-creative period. So, no entries for Challenges 25, 26, and 27:

Character Design Contest♯25- Two Great Tastes: Western Edition

Character Design Contest♯ 26- Getting Emotional (I can’t find the link)

Character Design Contest ♯27- Cover Version

Character Design Contest ♯28- You Rule

I bent / broke a rule on this one: no real-life person. A simple name change would have avoided that. One could argue that historical figures are “public domain.” Countess Elizabeth Bathory died in 1614… or did she? As some know, I have an unfinished space opera called “The Three Sisters.” Maybe some day I will publish it.

The “quick rundown”:
Our solar system has the most active wormholes of any in the known universe. Various aliens use them as way stations, jump points, and even battlefields. One particular race called the nuppa used their technology to enslave earthlings to fight their wars. These abductions gave rise to human tales of elves and fairy folk haunting the woods of Central Europe.

The nuppa were highly skilled in cloning technology. Their scientists decide to build a cloning facility in Hungary. In exchange for secrecy, they agree to teach one human the art. That human was Countess Elizabeth Bathory who begins her own experiments. When she is locked in the tower for her crimes, the nuppa take her to their planet. The official records say that she was found dead when in fact what they found was a lifeless clone.

Upon her arrival, Elizabeth is tasked with cloning more humans to fight the nuppa’s wars. Instead, she designs a plague that kills nearly every nuppa on the homeworld. When the male humans insist on ruling, Elizabeth unleashes another plague. The only inhabitants remaining are women of both species.

The Countess was pleased. She set about building her new empire. With the use of cloning technology and artificial conception, Elizabeth created an all-female society with humans ruling over nuppas. Almost five hundred years later, her dynasty thrives as the military of House Bathory will soon destroy the last resistance on the solar system’s other two inhabitable planets.

Empress Bathory

Close-up

[The Atomic Punk]

Willkommen, Stormbride! I think the red and blue outfit works well with the black coat. I see the attempt at perspective with her right arm and hand shifted toward the back. However, it looks disproportionate. Hope that helps.

[The Atomic Punk]

WMD, thanks, I did receive the original in my e-mail. I’ll write something for all three.

CHEZ TESSA
Original Design by WMDBASSPLAYER; Story by The Atomic Punk

“Hur mår du, Mister Adolvsson? Quite an interesting exhibit, I must say.”

“I am doing well. Tack, Miss Dorna, it was quite a success in Rome. It pleases that you opened your world-renowned gallery to display my collection.”

“Enchantée, please call me ‘Tessa.’ ‘Miss Dorna’ and ‘Contessa’ are too stuffy. My home has a more casual atmosphere where artists can shed convention and enjoy simpler things. Care for a glass of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame? The vintage is 1998. Please tell me about this particular piece. She is so vibrant.”

“Thank you, Tessa. Please call me ‘Andekung.’ You could say that alcohol does have a role in my work. This particular beauty is ‘Drottning.’ She is the queen of my exhibit. Are you interested in purchasing?”

“Possibly. Tell me, Andekung, what was your inspiration for such a small yet delicate ouevre? The contrasts are so vibrant. She has a rich texture.”

“Well, I could not settle on just a photograph. It would not have done the queen justice. I was travelling in Germany when I heard rumors of elves and sprites haunting the Black Forest. Being of curious mind and searching for my muse, I spent many weeks hunting… I mean, hiking there.”

“Yes, such rumors and the natural beauty of the Schwarzwald would spark the imagination. What of the texture and color?”

“Sigh… those are a result of my carelessness. I am no lepidopterist. The setting was ruined. I decided to dry her so she would be flat against the canvas. However, I had used too much salt in the pickling process. Gently, I scraped what I could. Then I painted her red and black because her lovely green skin and soft blue wings were discolored. I could not recreate such beauty.”

“Wait? That is a real fairy that you captured, embalmed, and glued to a picture frame?”

“In non-poetic terms, yes.”

“Dear guests, forgive my rude decision, as of now this exhibit is closed. Mister Adolvsson, you are no longer welcome in my home.”

[Author]

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