Update: Enemystar- character pet

Ok, so for the last week or so I have been doing some writing on the story ENEMYSTAR and messing around with some ideas for secondary characters and other supporting roles within the story to help our poor main character 77. She will be alone for a while, trying to discover her purpose and her identity. Along the way she will rescue a furry little alien rodent. Or more like a Cat-Monkey I suppose. Anyway, this will be her little companion that helps her through some tough times. So I have been working on creating such a creature and I began doing some research on some cute animals and such. I remembered seeing some paintings by Chu, and he had just the appeal I was looking for in a cute supporting creature. I also looked at some Stitch references to help with the overall anatomy of the creature. So this is what I came up with. Its not quite a raccoon, or cat, or monkey, or lizard, but maybe a combo of all. Its a Raconkeyzard! Ok, maybe the name needs a little work. But I feel that this little guy has the right fit for our rough and tumble type character. Something to soften the darkness a bit.

 copyright of Ron Root 2011.

Update: Story and character progress

Alright, so I have been hard at work scratching down the ground floor of the graphic novel project. So, first things first; whats the name of your story? I spent a lot of time trying to think of a good name that fits the attitude, story and characters. With my story being about a future under total religious rule and the hypocrisies and corruptions that can occur within such an organization, I wanted to bring to light just how weak man (or woman) can be. I also wanted to explore some emotional content that I feel parallels my own screwed up experiences and some that I feel parallels others. It will most definitely be a journey for our main character.

So, for this post I will include some other pieces of art I was tooling with regarding the Priests. In my next post I will discuss the main character biography and character flaws.

Oh! And one more thing. I have found a title for my project. I had to get permission and it was granted. The title of this woman's journey of vengeance and self discovery will be- "ENEMY STAR".

Enemy Star by Ron Root 2011

Characters. Good, bad, but mostly ugly.

So, I have been working on this comic/ animation project lately and I have some pretty cool ideas on some of the other characters that will be in my story. I have been trying to create some Priests that would fit into my world. These characters are the ushers that set the story in motion. They are members of the Clergy. Also, they serve as a government agency that all smaller governments, ie; townships, municipalities, etc..., bow down to. The Clergy are the lawgivers, judge-jury-executioner, the overseers of civilization and science. They are the chairmen that govern the world.
These "beings" are said to have given technology and agricultural science to the early world in Mesopotamia, and gave knowledge of worship, and created the great temples of the world (the Great Pyramids, the Inca temples, etc...). After the seed of knowledge was planted in early civilization, the Clergy left the world to continue their work abroad. Some stayed in subterranean cities, but most of them went off world.
After the great Apocalypse that cleared the slate of civilization, the Clergy came back to put order back into chaos. For their own means? For their own survival? To what end? And why do they concern themselves with this planet, Earth? These creatures are not entirely human, but something else. Disguised. Modified. Corrupt? Tainted by their own vanity and pride? Perhaps. Their purpose is control. They are the gatekeepers. They have the knowledge and the intergalactic resources of the universe at their disposal. Does that mean they decide all fate? Not all, it seems.
Also, I have been working on some titles for the project. I have a good title, but I have to do some research to see if I can use it. Anyone have any good sci-fi names for the main character (the female badass)?

New Art Update: Comic Project?

OK. First things first. Wow. What a time so far after graduating College. I got a job, which is good. Then with some of the other spare time I had time to sit and think about what it was that I wanted to do. Something different, something my way. So I dug around for some old artwork that I held on to and some old stories that I had wrote (I have tons of old crap that I have toted around with me, some from when I was in high school, weird stuff). It was nice to have some time to reflect on an up coming personal project. Something that I always wanted to do.

Anyway, I found a decent story that I wanted to work on and build up. I decided on a main character that I wanted for my story. A heroin. I was watching the animated series Claymore, and I found it to be right up my alley. I'm not much for Manga but the story was incredible. The build up was brilliant. I enjoyed the characters so much I began rooting for them out loud! The dialogue was a bit overdone but I felt that it was necessary to further understand everything and the attachments made. Very inspirational. I am thinking it will be a revenge story, one of self discovery and limitations. And to reflect on the grim realities of a government system gone wrong. However, in my case I am going to give the government thing a little twist.
The story will be set in the (not too distant?) future. I am feeling a post Apocalyptic re-inventing of society. Set in the middle of a mega Neo-Metroplolis. Think Blade Runner meets Akira. Dark and dingy. Slightly sad. With flying cars! (because I was promised flying cars in the future dammit!)  Plagued with mutations, and other abominations from beyond the stars. Where there has been some small significant jumps made in technology that is nearly possible now. With fiber optics and light weight metal alloys. Cybernetics. Body modification and/or enhancement. In my story its not for everyone. Those who have had their body changed in any way, or wasn't "pure" were outcast. And therefore, considered dangerous and a high risk. My main character is definitely that. High risk.
I want to give this story sort of a cowboy feel to it. Rough and alone. Getting into trouble in pursuing the truth, and to punish the ones responsible. That Josey Whales mentality. A character that is mysterious, tough, capable, wanted, flawed, and scarred. Left for dead and unknown. An enigma. But even with all these things still have a heart, and presumably a soul. With the capabilities to grow, and a willingness to die. An endgame.
I do have some other characters that I have made for other stories I was going to do that fit into this mix rather nicely. So, there will be quite a few characters to identify with and ultimately help our main character find the answers she needs. I was thinking of using to other male characters to help guild our heroin. Both sorta silly but honest and loyal. Thieves of course. They just make for better friends I guess. A mixed up group of  misguided  misfits.
I have always like that cyberpunk type of work. Blade Runner is still one of my most favorite and most watched movies. Sid Meade is the man. That and old late 80's early 90's games pertaining to a sci fi future always caught my eye. The dream of an advanced civilization with technology and knowledge from beyond. Anyway, enough elaborating on the subject. I will discuss the story more in my next update coming soon. Also, I will discuss the option of animating this story as a type of stylized web comic! Here is some art I am working on just exploring the ideas, the character, and thinking overall the feel that I want to portray in the story. Tell me what you think. Do you think we could us a good sci fi, possibly animated, series? With a badass hottie as the main character taking down lots of crazy bad guys in violent revenge? I hope so.

All artwork copyright Ron Root 2011.

A conceptual illustration I did to explore different looks and feels for the main character seen here. Copyright Ron Root 2011.

All artwork copyright Ron Root 2011.