Project CBRunway 4: Challenge 1 Voting Thread

[mattbib]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/mattbib/Hosted_Images/projectcbrunway4Med.png
Welcome to the runway!

All sixteen finalists submitted designs in this first round.

PLEASE VOTE for the entry you feel best completes the challenge. Voting should not be based solely on art ability. Ultimately, however, voting is completely subjective. The designer(s) with the least amount of votes may be eliminated.

NOTE: Only registered CBR members with a posting history may vote. Participants may vote for themselves. However any votes from posters sharing any IP addresses will be discounted, no exceptions. Any fraudulent voting will result in disqualification and a possible permanent forum ban.

CHALLENGE 1: DICK

For your first challenge you must create and design an original and memorable non-powered, human, plain-clothes detective or private investigator.

Your outfit may consist of natural or synthetic materials and the style certainly does not have to be noir.

In addition to the written description required as outlined in the submission requirements, you may include a one-pragraph biography for your character



Please vote using the poll, then feel free to make comments or ask questions about this challenge or these designs within this thread. Now let's start the show...

[mattbib]

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3818/elliedeefinalchallenge1.jpg

Ellie Dee Williams prefers to never be called sugar. Her hair is inexplicably blond and straight, but never suggest that it could be a weave. She will kick your ass in ways that confuse and amaze it. She was put up for adoption as a young girl by poor parents; after years in an orphanage she decided that a) she had already finished all of the coloring books and mindgames, and b) her real parents needed a whupping for sticking her with this crap. Armed with her trusty utility-bra (that seems to hold infinite notepads, pens, staplers and submachine guns), her deductive prowess and a sack of cheese named Elvira, she will kick your ass. And solve crimes, followed by kicking the perp's ass. Hard.

[mattbib]

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa53/spaghettikiss/CBR-01-SHELDON-McGAW.gif

Origin
I imagine Sheldon McGaw to be the ultimate science-geek P.I. He rents a small office where he works and lives. He sleeps on the couch in the corner, cuts his own hair in his gross little bathroom and spends most of his time inventing gadgets to help him with his work. He works when he has to or when he comes upon a case that interests him enough. He doesn’t care at all about his clients; his only interest is in the challenge of the case. His distaste for people comes from his youth; Sheldon was a skinny little nerd who was a disappointment to his big brawny father and the victim of cruel teasing and merciless beatings from his peers. His only escape came from his 2 hobbies; his love of science and technology and his immersion and fascination with mystery novels. When he graduated high school, Sheldon immediately moved to the city and opened up his own little agency where he hoped he could avoid people and keep himself constantly challenged with new mysteries. His clients may only contact him through email (he never cares to meet them in person). His inventions are cleverly devised as a way to investigate his cases without ever having to interact with people (if he can help it that is)

Description
Sheldon’s outfit is meant for function. He lives in a cold and windy city (Chicago?) so he wears clothes that allow him to stay mobile and warm at the same time, like his heavy trench-coat, face guard and military boots. His inventions are all refurbished junk and thrift store finds. In this image I have included two of his many gadgets: His glasses are of his own design and 3 levels of magnification (including his regular prescription) and his ‘Bloodhound’ is used to detect and follow smells. He has many more inventions as well (I just didn’t want to clutter this image) all of which he uses instead of actually interacting with the people he investigates.

[mattbib]

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/psiwar/CBR01_jpegXX.jpg

Sophie Coulton, is the fashionista college daughter of a famous private detective couple in the Brooklyn area. Two years ago, her mother was murdered when her investigation led her to the workings of an new crime lord in the area. Her father took the case left by her mother, and succeeded in bringing the crime lord and his minions to justice. Unfortunately, for Sophie and her father, the crime lord had friends. On the night of their celebration, a group of armed men stormed in their house and started shooting at all those who were there. The armed men then tied the father to a chair and made him watch as they violate Sophie...shooting him at point blank range in the head afterwards. Still not content with the horrible acts they committed, they cut off one of Sophie's breasts as a reminder not to mess with them again. Upon surviving this ordeal, Sophie closed her parent's detective firm and resumed college life, but she continued to work in secret- ever determined to root out organized crime and ultimately bringing every bastard involved that night to justice...

As horrible as what Sophie went through, and now having just one breast, her love of clothes remained intact. In fact, she tried incorporating a few detective stuff into her wardrobe like in this look she has for Fall: a nice velvetly black jacket with kangaroo skin inner linings, spandex with aramid leggings, the corset has Kevlar, a patent leather belt that can be used as a way to escape (think Jolie in Mr & Mrs Smith); heels, as additional storage for antidotes, bullets, lock picks, etc... She's keeping the detective stuff to a minimum so as not to be suspected of anything - she even had her mother's gun tinkered so it could double as a lighter. She is also studying parkour and wing chun.

Think Veronica Mars meets Hostel meets Confessions of a Shopaholic meets Felicity.

Clothes inspired by the fall collections of Balenciaga and Dolce & Gabbana.

[mattbib]

http://50footrobot.com/ComicProjectRunway/Deathwatch_FULL.jpg

Deathwatch, The Unknown Detective, is a supernatural detective. He wears a classic 1950’s cut and look of suit and trench coat combination. The material however is made of condensed shadow, pooled terror, compressed darkness, and dreams that never come true. He uses this mysterious cloth and a skull mask to frighten criminals in the underworld as he gathers information for his masters.

Samuel Harker was beaten and left for dead by his fellow policemen, who were paid off by the same Crime Boss that Harker had sworn to take down. Saved by a secret society known as The Last Judges, Harker is given the office of The Unknown Detective. This office is taken up by the betrayed and the just so that they can seek revenge against those who wronged them. The Deathwatch is the mantle of his office as The Unknown Detective, and it has the power to unveil secrets, detect lies, and predict death. Harker uses the Deathwatch to seek out the guilty, see their crimes, and gather evidence for his new bosses, The Last Judges.

[mattbib]

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8999/sherlock.jpg

Biography
The first man in the Sherlock family to become a detective knew that having that particular name in that particular career would bring certain expectations upon him. He loved it. His son became a detective, and the tradition carried on for generations - until Shelby Sherlock was born. Shelby was an only child, a daughter. She grew up knowing her father was disappointed, and it turned her into an overachiever, always trying to win his approval all through school, in sports, on the police force, and eventually when she made detective. Despite her impressive achivements, Shelby was always given a lot of attention for her beauty. This strengthened her resolve to be taken seriously, and she was always very intense and rather humorless on the job. People started calling her "No Sh*t Sherlock." This focus has made her an excellent detective, something even her father sees. Her mother wishes she'd find a nice man and settle down.

Clothing
It is unclear whether Shelby's ancestors changed their name to Sherlock, or if it was really their name. Regardless, the family has always been inspired by the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Shelby has found the way to feminize his iconic look without turning it into a caricature costume. She wears a wool coat featuring an enlarged herringbone pattern. The fit and buttons modernize the look. She wears black leather gloves and boots and simple flared wool slacks. She wears a magnifying glass, which belonged to her grandfather, in homage to Sherlock Holmes, which she often uses on the job. Shelby also often wears an unpleasant look on her beautiful face, something that lends itself to her negative nick-name.

[mattbib]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii281/Randylbishop/Rovershandler.gif

The look:
Standard gumshoe detective overcoat. Orange checkered scarf reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes. Under the overcoat, a solid black mini skirt / top combo one-piece which hides a kevlar vest for those nastier assignments. Dark grey cotton fiber tights tucked into tough leather black boots designed for kicking down doors and breaking hearts. Her Glasses- twin magnifying glasses- were inspired by Thelma from Scooby Doo to hint both at her line of work, and her intelligence. Benjamin "Rover" Shepherd is wearing his trademark Fedora ("I'd feel naked without it!") and a tie that has been savagely shortened with a pair of office scissors ("I'm tired of my ties tripping me up and getting dirty!"). He's also wearing a custom fur coat, with a facial pattern very slightly resembling famed Watchmen detective Rorschach, and in some lighting, The Spirit. The coat is good for all seasons, albeit the rainy one makes it a bit smelly.

The Bio:
Introducing Rover P.I., Dog Detective. In the tradition of McGruff the Crime Dog and Sam from Sam and Max comes Rover P.I.- formerly known as Private Investigator Benjamin Shepherd. While working on a case one night, Ben was turned into a Bassett Hound by the nefariously wicked Witchlady Appleton. Unable to use his gun anymore, Ben must solve the greatest mystery of his career if he ever wants to be human again. Unfortunately, he is fresh out of clues as to the whereabouts of Witchlady Appleton. But, the bills must still be paid, so Ben had no choice but to keep his agency open, and use the help of his secretary Miss Lawson in ways she was clearly not trained. Ever since Ben was turned into a dog, he became the darling of the Pulp Fiction world. Known throughout the pulp world as Rover P.I., Ben quickly develops a name for himself not just as a great detective, but also as one of the best selling pulp magazines of all time. Daring, brash, and talkative, he is the picture of a hero in all of his books that no one seems to know who writes! In reality however, Rover only seems to sleep a lot and bark occasionally, while his "assistant" Miss Lawson seems to do all the talking, shooting, and actual detective work. Will they ever "cure" poor Ben and solve the mystery?

[mattbib]

http://ozbot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c4e3753ef011168cda6a5970c-800wi

"He sniffs out the clues, and crooks get locked up! He saves the day, he's our own P.I. Pup!" McSherlock the P.I. Pup, everyone's favorite public service announcement who encourages us to "Yip, Yip! Chomp Down on Crime!", is always available for parties and school assemblies-- or, at least, the three police officers who are tasked with public appearances that day will be available. Two in uniform, one in the Pup, that's how it goes. Until Officers Kate, Lyle, and Arman went missing. They were supposed to perform at the birthday party for Congressman Vanko's li'l daughter, but something went horribly wrong. The Russian mob attacked the party, accusing Vanko of being a rival gang leader. The officers were caught in the middle, and believed to have died-- because no one saw any of them again.

That is, until McSherlock showed up at a similar crime scene a week later. McSherlock is helping the police uncover the truth about the Russian gangs, Vanko, and possible police corruption. But is McSherlock really Kate, Lyle, or Arman? Or all three at different times? One thing's for sure-- when your only safety in the world revolves around your anonymity behind a furry anthropomorphic dog suit, you know you're in trouble!

The McSherlock costume is based on the "walk-around characters" popular at theme parks. It's a full-body costume made of synthetic fur (body) and cotton plaid (cap/clothing) with special padding inside to create the desired shape. The head, hands and feet are separate from the main costume, although the other elements like the deerskin cap, bowtie, and cape are sewn onto their respective parts. The nose is a special fine mesh that allows the wearer to look out while keeping his/her identity hidden. In the rare case when McSherlock actually speaks (he usually acts in pantomime), the wearer's voice is also sufficiently muffled, and the wearer also affects a mock-McSherlock cartoony voice.McSherlock's signature oversized magnifying glass is freely removeable.

[mattbib]

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t182/CaironIX/schlocopy.jpg

The outfit.

I tried to avoid the big clichés. The first thing I dropped was the trenchcoat. Unless you want to stick out like sore thumb, you're not going to wear an obvious trenchcoat. It worked in the forties and fifties because it was part of how men dressed back then. This is a modern detective and like most modern detectives and private investigators, this one is clad in regular clothes. But with a few personal touches.

The scarf is visually the more interesting piece of the whole package. It's oversized and sets the character apart. The kippa, the yarmulka, leaves little doubt about what his religious background is. The button with the star of David is worn with pride, this guy is a proud jew.

His white shirt and blue jeans are comfortable additions that make him blend in. He's usually carrying his laptop around, with webcam built in, after all, it's the modern day notebook. He also has a digital camera on his mobile phone, for gathering clues, without having to drag a photocamera around. This guy is subtle. He should look like a regular guy, not as an obvious detective.

He's still a bad boy... he smokes, because you can't do away with every cliché, though this is the guy who still keeps it hidden from his mother.

Decided to keep the kippa and the scarf blue, because it adds another element of recognition for the reader.

Biography.

Shlomo Bayerberg Jr. always did have a tendency to snoop around, he admired Holmes, Poirot, and Jessica Fletcher, so when he turned nineteen he decided to go into the detective business. He dubbed his first job: "The Case of the Sinister Shikse and her Kosher Cohort". Shlomo hopes that one day, Brian Michael Bendis gets to write him.

[mattbib]

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j263/eg_marsh/comic%20art/challenge1final.jpg

Character Description
Geoffrey Washington is having the worst night of his life. Worse than the night his wife left him and took his two sons with her. Worse than the night he lost his job as a detective with the San Francisco PD for accidentally shooting that teenaged boy. Now he was a P.I. and this was supposed to be a simple job. Keep tabs on a cheating husband so his wife could take everything in the divorce. Unfortunately, Geoffrey saw something he shouldn’t have. Now he’s on the run and in over his head. Opium. White Slavery. A bullet in his thigh. A paper cutter and two missing fingers. Oh, and the tongs that control Chinatown. This is the worst night of Geoffrey Washington’s life.

Design
The design for Washington came from two sources: 1970’s cop shows and the Die Hard movies. The distinctive style of dress of the1970s offered a solid base for a P.I. design. The hair, moustache, big glasses, plaid pants and leather loafers are all familiar as traits of a fictional P.I. character. They allow someone reading his story to immediately identify him as the hero.

What makes Washington memorable is the beating he’s taken. He’s covered in cuts, contusions and bullet holes. He’s lost two fingers and had to use a torn piece of his shirt to stop the bleeding. He has a fat lip and his right eye is swollen shut. His bow-legged and slightly hunched over stance are testament to how brutal his night has been.

The decision to go in the bloody and beaten direction with this design was inspired by the Die Hard movies. When you think back to those movies, chances are the clean and uninjured John McClane isn’t the version of that character you immediately remember. It’s the dirty, beaten, tired McClane with bloody bandages on his bare feet that springs to mind. I adapted that to my character, using it to convey an ordinary guy that’s had to rise to extraordinary circumstances.

The design also has some minor details that are used to identify Washington as a normal man instead of the typical action hero. He’s deliberately thin, making any exceptional feats he performs seem even greater. The thick glasses and receding hairline age him some, giving the character the feeling of being at a constant disadvantage to much younger criminals he encounters.

[mattbib]

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/328/khawkcbr.jpg

Keisha Hawke grew up on the South Side of Chicago, joined the U.S. Army to escape the projects, and eventually returned to her hometown to join the police force. After a tumultuous tenure on the force, Keisha was pressured out and set up shop as a private investigator. Her cases run the gamut from mundane cases of infidelity, missing persons, and the like, but her services are most prized by those who need someone particularly tough, straight-shooting, and no-nonsense. Keisha cuts a striking figure with her shock of braids and trademark black leather jacket, and always wears a turtleneck to cover scars on her neck; scars which she never discusses.

[mattbib]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/Spyderizzle/cbr4-r1-1.jpg

Story: Danny Rapkin is a detective designated specifically for the ladies. His suave, flirty charm and svelte outfit help break the lady witnesses that won't open up to any other cop. He used to not be gender specific, but after seeing how much more success he had with women his modus operandi changed. Just, because he deals specifically with women doesn't meant he can't handle the guys. He'll break hearts and faces. He likes to operate sans weapons, but he does have concealed .45 for when things get out of hand. He smokes Djarum Blacks and is terribly addicted to his iPhone.

Outfit: Danny is wearing a brown leather jacket with a toned down Hawaiian shirt underneath and some faded blue jeans with a wallet chain. He also has some casual, brown Stacy Adams and bronze Ray Bans to complete the outfit.

[mattbib]

http://www.rearaccount.com/crap/cbrunway/detective2.gif

After his mother died, Nathan Jackson was left to fend for himself and often stole whatever food he needed. This ended one day when he was caught in the act by the owner of a Chinese grocery -a Shaolin master who had been exiled from China years previously for political reasons. Feeling pity for the child, the shop-owner took in Jackson, not only raising him but training him in the Crane-style of Shaolin Kung Fu. In 1984, when Jackson was in his mid-20s, many of the Chinese residents in his New York neighborhood had gone missing, including his master. Jackson discovers they are victims of a human trafficking ring being run out of Southern Florida. Dressing appropriately for Miami in the mid-80s, Nathan "The Crane" Jackson is determined to rescue his master and bring to justice those at blame.

The Design
He wears a white rayon blazer and pleated, cuffed trousers. The blazer has a silk-screened image of a crane emerging from water on the back with the wingtips, tail-feathers, and splashing water wrapping around the front. He also wears a necklace of mahogany beads (of sentimental value between he and his master), a pink sash tied around his waist (part of his training outfit), and a matching pink handkerchief in his blazer pocket. He is shirtless, barefoot, and wears his blazer sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He is also unarmed, relying solely on his training for combat when the need arises.

Inspiration-wise, I wanted to take a Miami Vice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Vice)-style approach to the detective theme. However, I also wanted to give that a Kung Fu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_(TV_series))-inspired martial-arts twist.

[mattbib]

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s201/tylerragan/PiPI.jpg

Origin:
Not much is known about the woman known as Piper before she had herself checked into the psychiatric ward at Clemens Hospital. Early reviews showed that she displayed an obsession/compulsion disorder with writing numbers all over the place whenever she could get her hands on a pen or marker, including all over her clothes. It was eventually determined that she was a math savant, who was subconsciously trying to write out the full sequence of pi. While this was a breakthrough for Piper, they still have yet figured a way to fully cure her of this disorder. In appreciation for this breakthrough of her condition, as well as being inspired by how the hospital has helped her out, Piper seeks out to solve any mystery or problem for the staff and patients at Clemens Hospital. Using her math skills, she is able to determine and solve all cases set before her, whether it is the location of Dr. Stevens’ missing pen, or a fellow patient who has escaped and is on the run. The doctors encourage Piper, or "Pi" as she likes to be called, with her P.I. endeavours and hope that her interests in solving problems in a "rational" nature will help her deal with the compulsion of writing out "irrational" numbers.

Pi only asks for one thing in return as payment for her professional services from the hospital......pie. Pi loves pies, especially pumpkin pie. It’s undetermined at this point whether she would continue with this payment method if she ever does check herself out of Clemens…

Inspiration:
Mostly from the definition of pi, which I applied to several characteristics of the character: The jumbled bit is what led me to make her a psych ward patient, and everything got built out from there.

pi 1
noun
1. Also (pē) The 16th letter of the Greek alphabet.
2. Mathematics A transcendental number, approximately 3.14159, represented by the symbol π, that expresses the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle and appears as a constant in many mathematical expressions.

pi 2
noun
1. An amount of type that has been jumbled or thrown together at random.
2. Any confused mixture; jumble.

verb
1. To jumble or mix up (printing type).
2. To become jumbled.

private investigator
noun Abbr. PI
A person privately hired to do investigative or detective work.

Costume:
Whenever Pi goes into detective mode, she’ll don her very fine mauve linen business suit, which inadvertently is covered by the results of her numbers compulsion done in marker, making it impossible to wash out. She kept the suit anyways, as a reminder of the problem she needs to overcome. The fedora is something she picked up recently, which is why it doesn't have any writing on it....yet....

[mattbib]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/mrcassandranova/viola.png

OUTFIT
I didn’t want Viola to be the standard Gruff, overcoat wearing, cigarette smoking, P.I. I thought I would take the opposite route and make her much softer, a lot more like a Nancy Drew, yet more sophisticated. Since we were limited to no powers, I tried to think of what would give her an edge, which somehow always leads back to blindness. People who are blind almost always experience the heightening of their other senses. This seemed like wonderful characteristic for a mystery solver. I put her hair up for a look of professionalism and chose the color scheme I did to make it somewhat Noirish, not making it sunshine and happiness, but not making it dull either. The cape and hat are just something fun that she would wear outside.

BIOGRAPHY
Viola Blye wasn’t like the other girls in her school in London. Instead of playing with Barbies and talking about boys, Viola spent most of her days solving crimes. Also, she was blind. At age 8, viola solved her first case, a murder that had gone unsolved for 30 years (it was the butler). By age 10 she had received the nickname Gumshoe, partly because she literally had gum stuck on her shoes from a horrible fiasco in the cafeteria, but more so because she was a brilliant detective. On her fourteenth birthday she blew out her candles, wishing to become the world’s greatest private investigator (she had come to realize that wishing for sight wasn’t getting her anywhere). Shortly after her 18th birthday, Viola hopped on a plane to start her career in Paris, accidentally boarding a flight to New York City. After surviving for a couple weeks off of money she earned through street performance (oddly enough, for a blind women, Viola excelled at the art of dance), Viola ran into what she assumed (being blind) was a headstrong flapper of a women. She was on the case, trying to solve a recent murder. Viola remembered the good times she had in her youth and quickly offered up her services, to hell with dancing! The two quickly solved the case (it was the butler…again) and opened their own Private Investigations office. As independent ladies they fought to right wrongs, and triumph over evil. From time to time Viola thought to herself, if I have to be blind, I should at least make some money out of it. And she did.

[mattbib]

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo309/mohofrappe/Affinity-Marjorie-Marples.png

Meet the lovely Marjorie Marples, private investigator extraordinaire. Born on the eve of the new century, Marjorie was the yuppie-before-yuppies and the feminist-before-feminism as she waved the flag of womanhood through the roaring, flapping '20s. Armed with her newfound suffrage and sense of empowerment, whilst being backed by the personality of jazz, Marjorie took her moxy straight to a dusty office in Gramercy with dreams of grandeur in "Miss Marples' Investigations of a Private Nature". With time, suspicious husbands, greasy crooks, and even soulful, liquor-swinging entertainers barreled up Marjorie's three flights of stair to enlist her services amongst the deafening roar of the 1920s. Currently, Miss Marples is contracted under a certain Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of writer F. Scott, in hopes of finding out what it is that is ruinig their marriage. With her trusty, convenient, and decidedly blind partner, Marjorie Marples thrusts coiffure first into pearly white crimes of a flapping nature, thin cigratte in hand.

inspiration
Detectives are an interesting sort in both literature, comic books, and popular culture. It's too easy to present the noir detective with his blacks and whites, as it is to highlight the five o clock shadow on a chain smoking bastard in Hell's Kitchen. I wanted something fun and relatively untouched in the comics -- a hard enough search, but the lack of superheroic elements made this an easier challenge to design for. Since plain clothes was a requirement, I didn't want a trenchcoat and wrinkled collar, opting instead for an era with a strong personality regardless of story or plot, a decade full of it's own raging character: the roaring twenties.

Strong, female characters are always a wonder in comic books and I wanted Marjorie to be at the start of all of that; the 20s allowed for a striking backdrop, while also allowing me to ride on the coattails of women's suffrage and the independent moxy of the flappers.

Marjorie is fueled by the flappers and their defining fashions, full of character and persona in their whole appearances. She was to be smart, sassy, a bit brash but with enough femininity to play off as a smart, comedy/mystery concept with the appeal of chic-lit. Of course, the name Marples comes from Agatha Christie's Jane Marples, with a name like Marjorie offering zest to her defining design.

[mattbib]

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/Dukkus/CBRunway1.jpg

Name: Celise L. Marshall
Alias: Lorelle
Age: 27
Date of Birth: April 17, 1983
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 145 lbs
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Dark Brown
Place of Birth: South Beach, Florida
Education:
Bachelors of Criminal Justice
Professional Certified Investigator certification
Bachelors of Computer Forensics
Associates of Business Administration
Case History:
Born in Chasity Memorial Hospital to Mother: Chanel Marshall, Father: Trent Marshall. Raised in West South Beach Florida in Military household. Girl Scout, Junior Gymnast, Junior Track & Field, Teen Chess Association, and Kickboxing… duration k-12. Age 13 Rebellious of subject’s structured upbringing subject secretly adapted to street environment and formed a Woman’s Vigilante Team (WVT) in the lower urban projects of South Beach Community. Subject stumbled upon a life changing moment after two years of WVT reigning the community. Fire Arms and Combat Training immediately followed. With minimal non-felony charges, Subject attended Northern Arizona State- Department of Criminal Justice. All studies and degrees were obtained with academic excellence, award recognition and outstanding job performance.

[mattbib]

PLEASE LET ME REITERATE...

VOTERS: You should vote based on which character design you feel best meets the criteria of the challenge, NOT based on art ability and not on the biography. Please take a minute to post comments on why you voted the way you did.

DESIGNERS: You may vote for yourselves. However, using sock puppet accounts to vote for yourself will result in instant disqualification. Voters' IP addresses will be reviewed and any votes from the same IP addresses will be discounted (regardless of whether they're friends, family, roommates, etc.).

The designer with the least amount of votes may be eliminated.

[atoningunifex]

Nice start, folks. I'm going to be making comments on everybody's submissions and then figuring out my vote later.


Ellie Dee Williams- When I saw this I thought "Did he think it was supposed to be a Pirate Investigator?" I thought the write-up had potential, and I like aspects of the design, but I don't think they work with the challege.

Sheldon McGaw- Kiss, I'm a big fan of your mech stuff. Fun write-up, nice details in design. Good work taking your science-fiction style and folding it into a detective. Good work!

Sophie Coulton- The design is fun in a retro-80s kinda way. I don't really like the jacket, but I've never been fond of that kind of shoulder. After reading your description of the character, well, I liked the design less. I would have loved to see you take the backstory and have it reflected in the design. A near miss.

Deathwatch: I like the idea a lot. The trenchcoat design is very obvious. I do like the death head, but I would have liked to see you think outside the box on the rest of the design. But a solid entry.

No Shit Sherlock- I love the joke. This is a good example of the concept being reflected in the design. Thumbs up!

Rover P.I.- Cute concept. The challenge was to make a human detective, but I give you credit for trying something fun. Not a lot going on design-wise, though.

P.I. Pup- I absolutely hated your female design in the audition round. You were gonna have to work hard to get me over that. And you aced it. This design just tickles me. This is funny, well-drawn, and creative.

Shlomo Bayerberg- Like deanlegion, you do a good job of taking an idea and building the design from the character. While I wouldn't want Bendis writing this character, I would love to see more of the character. Good job.

more later......

[Pixie_Solanas]

Rover PI is the best design BY FAR. Unfortunately, my vote went on someone's else's selection by accident. Marjorie Marples is my second fave.

I did not feel Sophie Coulton. Felt like the horrid bastard child of H&M and Hot Topic, esp. those ankle booties.

[Mr.EZ]

I looked at all the submissions, walked away for 10 minutes and then voted for the character that had stuck with me, while the others had faded from my thoughts.

[escapegoat]

A lot of great designs from everyone. I went with Dean Legion's No Sh*t Sherlock because she grabbed my attention the most with her name, outfit, and backstory. She's a character that I would love to see more of somewhere.

[Joe Rice]

Yay! I'm glad to see this up and running again. Is there anything I love more than an opportunity to spout my opinion at length? I have no idea. Let's get to it, eh?

hunter_peterson's ELLIE DEE WILLIAMS
There are definitely striking elements to the design and backstory. The problem is, we run into some well-worn territory pretty quickly. Striped leggins have been shorthand for quirky for so long that I just can't see them and accept them. The logo on the shirt seems a bit derivative as well. I do like the green dress, but question the choice for the gloves.

spaghettikiss' SHELDON MCGAW: P.I.
Definitely some good visual elements. The eyepiece/magnifying glass is a nice touch. I also like the little detail of the outside pocket protector. The pants look good and the holster is appropriate. The high collar I'm back and forth on, really. It's a great visual, really, and the windy city angle works. But the practicality of it . . .dude's gonna have fuzz in his mouth all the time. Overall a good design, though.

Aljira's SOPHIE COULTON
Wow, wow, wow. Great backstory and an even better design. The look is unique, contemporary, and character-appropriate. There's a great hook to the character and you clearly understand real world clothes, but also how to make them look cool in a fictional setting. The touches of pink pop well, and I particularly like the shoes and jacket. Kevlar corset? Nice. Great work.

mthemordant's DEATHWATCH: THE UNKNOWN DETECTIVE
Beautiful rendering. Nice look. The fading skull face is nice. And who doesn't like a trenchcoat? Unfortunately this didn't follow the stipulations of the assignment. You've created a powered character. Next time follow the assignment more closely, as you clearly have talent.

deanleagion's NO SH*T SHERLOCK
I like the character. I like her quite a bit. I like the clothes, the rendering, and the ideas behind them. However, I look at her and I just . . .it just doesn't seem age-appropriate. It's very matronly for a younger woman. I realize she's fed up with being seen only as a beauty, but a more appropriate fit could still be conservative without looking like a sack. This design was very close to being AMAZING, but falls just short.

LewMoxinsghost's ROVER P.I., DOG DETECCTIVE
The character's just a bit cliched, isn't it? Trenchcoat, scarf . . .looking at this along with all the others, it doesn't stand out, except for unfortunate hair and make-up choices. There's nothing especially wrong with the design, it's just not very interesting.

Danny Wall's P.I. PUP
Whoa. My first glance-through, I thought this was an actual cartoon puppy thing and I was afraid you'd misread the assignment. But this character? Wow. What a goddam hook. The costume itself is successfully goofy, which highlights the overall weirdness of the idea in a great way. This is just a winning concept, and the design supports it beautifully.

End of Time's SHLOMO BAYERBERG
Nice, simple, and character-appropriate. But . . .it's too simple, isn't it? White shirt, jeans, scarf? Without the stylistic move of the scarf swooping as it does,this is not an outfit you'd see and remember. Sure, maybe it fits your character, but do you want your character to look like he just walked out of any chain retail store?

Gene M.'s GEOFFREY WASHINGTON
I like what you did here. I really do. The outfit looks good and appropriate, and the damage is a good hook. If nothing else, you've got my attention. I'd try out a movie or book based on this pitch. Good design sense. I want those pants.

CBrown's KEISHA HAWKE
I like this as something a detective would wear. The sweater, the jacket, the cargos . . .functional, appropriate, and nice. I wonder, though, if it's a little too basic to be a look. Would this make your character recognizable? Still, though, it's one of the best utilitarian designs, so high marks for that.

Spidey's DETECTIVE DANNY RAPKIN
Heh, interesting hook for a character. Would a guy this cool really have that hangy-thing on his pants still? Feel that's a little dated. I get a real Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden feel from this character. Overall, a nice look, if a little derivative.

Manon's NATHAN "THE CRANE" JACKSON
Why would you put those colors together? I like the idea of the character, but this outfit is an eyesore. Maybe if you were going for tacky, but I don't see that in this character. I'm sorry, I just really hate this look.

escapegoat's PI P.I.
Ha! It's a cute visual gag, and a fun idea. Unfortunately, it never really goes further than that. The clothes themselves are a little simplistic and the color bland. Nice gag, though.

Kid Icarus' VIOLA BLYE
Now here's a character with a hook and a look. You look at Viola and you know what she'd think about just about any item of clothing you could find. The blind idea is an interesting one, too. Nice, stylish, and stylized at the same time. Good work.

Affinity's MARJORIE MARPLES
Another example of the character being more interesting than the look. Flapper detective . . .I mean, that kind of sums it up, right? Yes, that's a flapper look but there's nothing to individualize it. This could easily be a character in the background of a crowd scene. Which is a shame because I like the rendering and I love the idea of a flapper detective.

Shade101's LORELLE
Stylish, trendy-but-timeless, and beautiful. Good understanding of real-life clothes, but it also seems to reveal character pretty well. I'd give a book with this character in it a second look, at the very least. It could use a bit more individualized qualities . . .though that scarf works.

This was easy at first, then tough. I thought I knew exactly what I liked best, but over the course of really examining them all, some others caught my eye. P.I. Pup almost got this one, but I have to give it to Sophie Coulton.

[Puma]

I really enjoyed No Sh*t Sherlock's back story-would love to see a full story with her, and P.I. Pup is amusing but unfortunately I've worn one of those costumes and its darn hard to do anything but walk in them, most of the others just didn't didn't do much for me aside from Schlomo Bayerberg Jr. I can see him as a present day Sherlock Holmes.

[LewMoxinsghost]

Rover PI is the best design BY FAR. Unfortunately, my vote went on someone's else's selection by accident. Marjorie Marples is my second fave.


Wow, thanks! Mattbib, is there any way to correct that?

I really hope that people read my bio closely. I did design a human detective, by all accounts. She is very clever at marketing.

I have another image that I want to share in keeping with this design... is it against the rules to post that over in the play along thread?

EDIT: Great job on the designs everyone! My second favorite is Deathwatch.:)

[pryde15]

hunter_peterson: This doesn't say Private Detective to me at all. I would have to agree with atoningunfirex that it is reminiscent of a pirate. However, I did think the length of the skirt is appropiate for her line of business.

spaghettikiss: I really like this character, and good job with the back story, you did a great job of strengthening your design with it. You did go with a pretty basic outfit, with the trench coat, but you really made it your own.

Aljira: My favorite part of your design would have to be the jacket, it's interesting and I keep going back to look at it. Nice job with the print, it adds alot detail to your design, and shows how much effort you put into it. My one complaint, the tights, I think full length would've strengthened the design.

mthemordant: This is one of my favorites! It is very similiar to Rorscrach & the Question, but you added a different twist with a supernatural feel to the character. I would most certainly read a story based on Deathwatch.

deanlegion: I'm not sure how I feel about this one. The coat is nice, in fact I believe I have seen something similiar by Michael Kors in recent years. However the trousers just make her look very stumpy. To me, the coat seems oversized, which is why pairing them with flared pants bothers me. I think to strengthen the design itself, instead of the trousers, possibly black tights & black leather ankle boots. In my opinion, I think the focus should be kept on the coat, which is what I think you were going for.

LewMoxinghost: Very cute. I would have to agree completely with what Atoningunfirex said here.

Danny Wall: This one is a favorite aswell! Nice job with the concept!

I'll do the second half later.

[atoningunifex]

Geoffery Washington- Another good concept. And the illustration follows the concept. I like that you gave us something different, but I do have trouble seeing this being an ongoing character.

Keisha Hawke- This is a good general concept and a good general design, but it doesn't really pop for me.

Detective Danny Rapkin- Nice illustration and nice design. But it does look like some other characters I've seen before.

Nathan "The Crane" Jackson- Lots of Kung Fu. Not lots of detective.

PI P.I.- escapegoat, I love the way you design. I really dig that 60s and 70s vibe you give your characters. Fun concept and fun design!

Viola Blye- I like the concept a lot. I still hate those shoulders (I really, really hate that style of shoulder) but the cape is fun. I wish there had been a bit more design below her waist.

Marjorie Marples- A fun idea illustrated well. The design is simple, but maybe a little bit too simple.

Lorelle- This one was a miss for me. She's a hot woman in a tight dress and big heels. But there's nothing that really says detective. And I find it a stretch to believe that someone trained in combat is going to spend a lot of time dressed in something that flimsy and tight wearing those heels.

This was a decent first round. Now I have to think which of my favorites I'm going to vote for....

[mthemordant]

I know, I know... trenchcoat. Not very original. I had a terrible headcold all weekend and I really shouldn't have been drawing and writing on cold medicine... or at least that's my excuse. As for the "powered" part, yeah - originally Deathwatch was going to be revived from the dead and be more like the old school Spectre, but I re-read the rules and saw the "no-powered" part, so I re-tooled him to be more of a Pulp Hero Detective. He has no powers, he does have "magical" devices, but they're mostly gadgets that help scare criminals. Like that Batman guy.
Hope I didn't go too out of bounds. And if I make the next round I'll be sure to think more out of the box with the given topic. This has been a lot of fun so far! Hope to do more!!

Thanks!!
Michael
M the Mordant

PS: All the other entries look great! I especially like the rendering on Shade101's "Lorelle"!
Great work, gang!

[pryde15]

End of Time: I like that you really tried to modernize the "typical" detective, but at the same time, it was pretty safe.

Gene M.: Best backstory so far (granted I haven't read any of the write ups past yours as of yet). I liked that you drew inspiration from Die Hard, the whole concept is really intriguing.

CBrown: I don't know... It's nice, but forgettable. There is nothing about the entry that I keep going back to and saying, "Wow."

Spidey: This is one of the greatest illustrations, but design wise, it seems to be lacking the meat. Actually, thinking about it, he reminds me of Jeff from Top Chef.

Manon: Most bizarre entry so far. I don't see anything that says detective. In fact, your write up really doesn't go past the only words that spring to mind, Kung Fu.

escapegoat: I've always been a fan of your designs, and I think you drew your inspiration from an interesting place. I like the write up and how it ties into your character's design.

Kid Icarus: The hair, cape, printed vest, the write up! It all adds to a very dynamic character.

Affinity: I love how you tied her into a historical event with the Suffrage movement. I love the hair and the rendering in general is fantastic! Possibly my favorite illustration that I've seen come out of you.

Shade101: Seems like an odd outfit for a detective. The illustration itself is fantastic, but like Spidey's, I think this is lacking the meat.

[deanlegion]

I find it impossible to judge just on visuals and not biography. At first I thought about if I wanted to hire this detective. Then I figured that that doesn't always apply, so I thought about how interested I am in their story. I included my own character in my quick reviews.....

Ellie Dee Williams - She looks like a clown, like a mess, but she seems really tough and a bit crazy. She'd have to prove to me that she's a good detective. Right now, I don't know.

Sheldon - He's quirky and weird, but I just know he's going to get the evidence pertinent to the case.

Sophie Coulton - She looks like a valley girl and she's lived through hell. I wish the best for her, but I have no idea what kind of detective she is.

Deathwatch - Creepy and spooky. There doesn't seem to be much of a human element left.

Shelby Sherlock - Really pretty and stylish, but she's kinda rude. She seems smart, though.

Rover, P.I. - I just couldn't hire a dog for my case, despite how capable his handler seems.

P.I. Pup - I hope they solve this case! It's an interesting story. I do feel though, that we were supposed to connect with a person for this challenge.

Shlomo - He's quirky and disheveled. We'll have to see what kind of detective he is.

Geoffrey Washington - I feel bad for the guy! I hope he gets medical attention soon.

Keisha Hawke - She's really tough and seems like she'd get the job done. A bit scary.

Danny Rapkin - A ladies man detective. That's fine. I hope he's not too distracted to get the job done.

The Crane - I wouldn't feel confident that this guy is going to be much help in solving cases. He seems like he should be a yoga instructor or something. And rayon is a really bad choice in Miami. No wonder he doesn't button that jacket!

Pi - Well, she's an interesting one, alright. I'd have to witness her genius, because all I see is her crazy.

Viola- really unflattering pants - make her look hippy - but does she really care? I'm impressed that she's able to solve crimes/mysteries even though she's blind.

Marjorie Maples - I can't help but feel like she's the lead in a murder mystery novel. I want to know all about her.

Lorelle - She's gorgeous! She looks like one of the models from Deal or No Deal. I'd be interested to know how she does on a case.

[escapegoat]

escapegoat's PI P.I.
Ha! It's a cute visual gag, and a fun idea. Unfortunately, it never really goes further than that. The clothes themselves are a little simplistic and the color bland. Nice gag, though.

Simplistic? SIMPLISTIC!?! Do you know how long it took me to write in all 'em little numbers on her suit? :tongue:
On the color bland note, I'm finding my design at my work computer to look a little more washed out than she did on my home computer. I'm gonna haveta check out my monitor settings at home and here. I'm thinking my home computer is set to be a little more saturated...


PI P.I.- escapegoat, I love the way you design. I really dig that 60s and 70s vibe you give your characters. Fun concept and fun design!

WIth that 70s note, I'm thinking I shoulda had her eating one of those Hostess Fruit Pie snacks :wink:


escapegoat: I've always been a fan of your designs, and I think you drew your inspiration from an interesting place. I like the write up and how it ties into your character's design.

Mucho garcias. It's always about finding the right inspiration - that's the driving force behind my characters. Without it, it makes it hard to get the character past the 2-dimensionalism of being just another drawing.


Pi - Well, she's an interesting one, alright. I'd have to witness her genius, because all I see is her crazy.

She's shown much progress in her last review, but she's not ready to be released yet. She gets along really well with the other inmates. I think the numbers on her suit have a soothing affect on them...it's unexplainable...maybe there's some power behind 'em numbers?

[mthemordant]

Is it bad form to vote for yourself? I just did that ZUDA Comics competition last month, and I really have the cut-throat, market and win by any means mentality going on or something. I just ASSUMED that you vote for yourself. But when I assume things like this I do tend to end up looking like a jerk.
I blame the internet.

M

[escapegoat]

Is it bad form to vote for yourself? I just did that ZUDA Comics competition last month, and I really have the cut-throat, market and win by any means mentality going on or something. I just ASSUMED that you vote for yourself. But when I assume things like this I do tend to end up looking like a jerk.
I blame the internet.

M

The internet makes us all look like jerks! :tongue:

For a competition like Zuda, where there's more at stake, I say it's perfectly fine to vote for yourself. For CBRunway, it's a more friendlier type of competition, and the stakes aren't really that big, so I like to throw my vote at my fellow competitors most of the time, unless I'm close to winning the round...then I might vote for myself :wink:. I usually wait til the last hour to vote, to save someone from possible elimination, but I didn't feel like doing that today. I really dug Dean's Sherlock and wanted to show it by voting for it.

[Dazzler]

WowEE.

Great start, everybody!
This challenge is really interesting to me because above all else, I love gumshoe stories and non-superhero characters. Everyone did a lot of thinking.

Right now, I'm loving Pi, P.I., Geoffrey Washington, and PI Pup (cause let's face it...anything that comes close to the anthropomorphic awesomeness of Detective chimp is great).

It's going to come down to those three for me.

Voting later.
--Dazz

[For the Good of X]

Great work all around. I love the variety in art styles and design approaches.

[Pro]

Love the designs although some strayed dangerously far away from the concept description, even if the results were great. Make sure to keep it in mind for the coming challenges because it may be a deciding factor at some point.

I just ASSUMED that you vote for yourself. But when I assume things like this I do tend to end up looking like a jerk.

I consistently voted for myself in the competition. At some point if there are only two contestants left are you really going to vote for the other guy? If you are you just surrendered and it's not really a competition anymore. If not then why bother voting someone else any other round.
It is also simply a vote of confidence in your own design.

No shame in voting for yourself, to each his own.

[End of Time]

Ellie Dee Williams

It is original, but you’ve created a character that avoids every image I associate with a detective. That means that it’s difficult for me as a viewer to connect the character to her profession. You’ve made an eccentric character, but for me it’s too eccentric to fit the challenge of designing a private investigator. If you had scaled back the eccentricity you’d have made a stronger image I think.

Sheldon

Original, you’ve managed to combine cliché with a surprising amount of originality. The elements that work best are the eye-piece and the modified-modernized coat. I would have left the strange device out of the picture. You’ve got a very defined style. I know a Spaghettikiss image when I see one, and this is a Spaghettikiss image.

Sophie

When I first saw the outfit I thought to myself “She’s a bit too pretty for a detective,” then I read the background story and it explains everything… or rather it explained her outfit. I think you went overboard with the background stuff, because a lot of it isn’t translated to the image. The image says: Veronica, meets Felicity, meets Kinsella, but it doesn’t say Hostel. The image works, the background doesn’t.

Deathwatch

I can’t help but to feel like you’ve stretched the rules a tad too far. Design-wise I have one big problem with this… it’s not original. The trench coat, the hat, the gloves, it’s all a bit cliché, and the mask reminds me of Rorschach, you have to blame Watchmen for that, because I’ve been bombarded with the image of a brooding Rorschach for weeks now. It’s a very striking image, but if I place it in context of this challenge, it doesn’t have the impact it would have had outside this challenge. It IS a detective, that much is clear… it’s just that there the stuff around it that gives me cause for concern.

No Sh*t Sherlock

Very clear, very clean. You combine the conventions of the genre with a modern and original twist. It’s a safe image. I can see her as a detective, I can see her work, but at the same time, I’m missing that one element that makes her pop, she might be too conservative.

P.I. Dog Detective

I don’t know what to make of it. It’s really difficult. It has an interesting angle, reminiscent of Detective Conan, but on a visual level it’s a bit dull. Perhaps it’s because the outfit for the woman lacks the original modern twist.

P.I. Pup

You took a risk. Original, fun, creative. I love it. < Add several lines of praise here >

[CBikle]

A lot of interesting entries, but I voted for CBrown's Keisha Hawke; she's unique enough and within the contest guidelines and I think she'd actually be pretty effective as a PI, because she doesn't look like one.

Also, her background offers a lot of variety for different types of subgenre detective stories; she's from the streets, she served in the military, she was a cop and is now a PI. Keisha can fit into a lot of story scenarios.

[Shade101]

I appreciate the criticism and comments that have been given about my design, however I slightly disagree with some of them, mostly the ones commenting about her being too “pretty” and “feminine” to be a believable Private Detective. My inspiration stems from shows such as CSI and Law and Order where most if not all the females are portrayed as timeless, gorgeous, and realistic femme fatales. These woman represent a dignified yet edgy and daunting class of woman. I find it to be so cliché when individuals hear the word detective they think hard, gory animations w/ trench coats, fedora hats, boots, and pants suits. I sincerely appreciate the feedback, but at the same I approached the challenge with the idea of idealism, innovation, and surpassing cliché standards.

[CBikle]

I appreciate the criticism and comments that have been given about my design, however I slightly disagree with some of them, mostly the ones commenting about her being too “pretty” and “feminine” to be a believable Private Detective. My inspiration stems from shows such as CSI and Law and Order where most if not all the females are portrayed as timeless, gorgeous, and realistic femme fatales. These woman represent a dignified yet edgy and daunting class of woman. I find it to be so cliché when individuals hear the word detective they think hard, gory animations w/ trench coats, fedora hats, boots, and pants suits. I sincerely appreciate the feedback, but at the same I approached the challenge with the idea of idealism, innovation, and surpassing cliché standards.

I liked Lorelle too and one thing that really grabbed my attention was the fact that her gun has a silencer attached to it; not something you'd expect a PI to have or use.

Also, I thought it was clever to tell her background "dossier-style" with the fact file format and Times New Roman font.

[x_goalkeeper]

Aljira's Sophie Coulton is the one I am most impressed with :cool:

[spaghettikiss]

Thanks to ALL who said such kind words about my design. This was a truly unexpected one for a first challenge and I think therefore a good one…well done Matt. Thanks also for the feedback, I tend to rely to much on accessories and I think in this case the bloodhound vacuum machine was unnecessary and I could have pulled this together without it.

Now for my favorites…

Sophie Coulton – admittedly not my favorite concept of the bunch, though the design of her outfit ROCKS, especially the use of pink and the pattern of the skirt. What a great sense of style here.

Keisha Hawke – I love how believable she is. I have been watching a lot of the wire lately which is about my hometown and I think that this character would fit into that extraordinarily realistic and gritty world. This would be a great character to follow in a book about the real life of a P.I. – on top of that it’s a damn solid drawing

PI P.I. Oh my god I love this one!!! The character design compliments the origin which makes me want to read this effed up modernization of an insane harriet the spy!?!?!? So much love escapegoat.

Marjorie Marples – This is such a smart design for this and as you intended, something untouched and so not a cliché. On top of that the drawing is spectacular…especially the hair

[Manon]

Although voting should be based on design alone, I can't help but view the entry as a whole between illustration, design, and write-up. Taking that into mind, and the fact that I know I like to read feedback, here's a little something for everyone:

Shade
I like the idea of a tough secretary. You did a good job in nailing that mean, hot, and bitchy look on her face. However, the heavily-airbrushed-and-gradient illustration doesn't appeal to me and the idea for her write up as a resume/file entry is neat in concept but in execution came off kind of dull.

Affinity
I really dig the flapper idea. I also like the simplistic style of your illustration, especially in the hair and face. However, the extra lines under the armpit and the messy folder and bottom of the dress are both working against it. The write-up is mainly what turned me away from this one though, it is too wordy for my tastes; I prefer something straight and to-the-point.

Icarus
I'm a sucker for blind characters: Daredevil, Zatoichi, Tommy, etc. Assuming I stay in the competition long enough, I'll probably even do one myself. It's good to see other people do so, especially for something like a detective. I think illustration-wise, your thin, angular lines and flat colors that you used in your Draw Team Africa character work much better than what you have here.

Escape Goat
I enjoy the concept of the math savant, and I like the use of symbols such as the numbers in the outfit. Since she supposedly wrote them uncontrollably her self, I would have preferred the numbers only on places she could reach while she was wearing it, and always facing back towards her eyes. It is a very solid illustration, and I'm also a sucker for red-haired characters.

Spidey
You have a great illustration, and initially I really dug the design, it reads like a modern Hutch (of the Starsky and... variety), but what really kills the character for me is the iphone and Djarum Black. It's simply too hipster for my tastes. The use of cyan and magenta for the accents is great, though. (I think they would've worked better if under the legs and arms where they would cross over, instead of keeping the magenta dominant, having them mix for a purplish color.)

CBrown
I dig the design, the turtleneck and leather jacket make for a good Shaft look, and I like the flat colors with only a minimal use of gradients in the illustration (especially the way you handled the jacket). I don't like the inclusion of the bluetooth headset, and even if you were to keep it, a silver (to match the gun) or black would look better. Overall, I think you just need a little more oomph in your design to make it memorable.

Gene
I love your design, that's really a guy that looks like he's been through some hell. You most definitely captured the "average guy pushed too far" look of Die Hard. The receding hairline, big glasses, shortsleeve dress-shirt, and small gun all help with that. Your inkwork and illustration are both great, and I dig the generally solid color-job. Your weakest part is your bio, it's a little repetitive and kind of drags out.

End of Time
I like the simplicity of your design as well as the Jewish spin. I also love the "Sinister Shiske." However, the smoking, man-purse, and iBook all give it the same "hipster" look that turned me off from Spidey's design. This character might do well marketed towards the young adult/manga/digest audience, but not to me.

Danny
The dogsuit is an excellent idea. I skimmed past it the first time I looked and didn't go back and read the bio until it was mentioned in the comments. I think the execution falls a little flat with the illustration because at first glance it didn't read as a suit to me. The contrast of the cartoon dog-suit and the real violence is good, and I can't help but imagine H.R. Pufnstuf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.R._Pufnstuf)written by Garth Ennis, which is awesome.

Lew
The dog is great. If I came across a book and it was just the dog on the cover, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat. However, the girl falls a little short which lowers my interest. Also, the inclusion of the Spirit and Rorschach references in the write-up seem forced and a good illustration is killed by the digitally-drawn sign and lettering.

Dean
Great name, and she looks just like a young Kim Basinger. However, the design doesn't do much for me. As for the illustration, the harsh pattern used for the coat makes it uncomfortable to look at, and the "back-and-forth" scratchy lines that you use are what I find the most unappealing about your stuff.

M The
I'm torn here because I dig the design, as I dug the designs for your audition characters (and the illustration for both have been excellent). However (just as you did with the skin-tone in the audition), you didn't follow the guidelines going the supernatural route. I want to see more work from you, but I'm surprised they even let this piece go up for voting because of that.

Aljira
I love the colors in yours, especially the matching gun.If this were the cover of a comic, I'd definitely pick it up. Then I'd turn to the back and read the description and ultimately put it back down. The cut-off breast isn't apparent in the image, and I think actually detracts from the readability of the character because of it. The image has a very fun look, and her bio is very dark -in this case, I don't think the contrast works that well.

Spaghetti
Great illustration, and overall I really dig the design. I don't like the collars that cover the face in any design, so that turns me off a bit, and I would've like for his contraption to have more of a "pieced-together" look to it. As for your write-up, I think it came off as pretty cliche, especially the "skinny little nerd" part.

Hunter
I enjoy your write-up, it's humorous, and although a touch repetitive, it's very fun. I don't like the blonde hair and blue eyes at all and I don't think anything about the design matches the character description in feel.

[RickyD410]

They were all amazing. There is a lot of talent in this contest! My favorites were Shlomo, PI Pup, Rover, and Danny. Awesome job to everyone though!:smile:

[Danny Wall]

Danny
The dogsuit is an excellent idea. I skimmed past it the first time I looked and didn't go back and read the bio until it was mentioned in the comments. I think the execution falls a little flat with the illustration because at first glance it didn't read as a suit to me. The contrast of the cartoon dog-suit and the real violence is good, and I can't help but imagine H.R. Pufnstuf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.R._Pufnstuf)written by Garth Ennis, which is awesome.

Thanks for everyone's comments so far. I'll admit that I tried hard to work on some texturing of the "fur" but it got lost when I adjusted the dpi/size for submission. Also, I'd just like to point out that if you look closely at the nose...

Oh, and technically the full title was McSherlock the P.I. Pup

[howyadoin]

Danny Rapkin all the way. He's one of the few who I thought were believable as an actual detective.

I really dug Sophie Coulton, too. But I think she stands out way too much for surveillance work, and frankly, the writeup was kind of jarring when it went from the horrific description of her rape and mutilation to the upbeat description of her fashion sense.

[mthemordant]

M The
I'm torn here because I dig the design, as I dug the designs for your audition characters (and the illustration for both have been excellent). However (just as you did with the skin-tone in the audition), you didn't follow the guidelines going the supernatural route. I want to see more work from you, but I'm surprised they even let this piece go up for voting because of that.

I do tend to push it, don't I? :)
My two excuses stand as: 1) I had a terrible head cold and I only realized I was in the first round on Saturday night (again, sick, not paying attention, cry, moan, whine, and complain), and I sort of stepped on the line a bit.
2) I realized a bit that I was stepping on the rule line so I DID bring it back in to the guidelines, mostly. I just don't think I explained it very well maybe? It's just a Pulp Detective who has gadgets, no powers of his own. All the supernatural talk was intended to be implied in such as people think Batman is a giant bat who can fly. It's good for his street cred, but it ain't true. I just did a terrible job of explaining what I was doing.
Hope that clears it up a bit. I really want to do some more of these so I hope I get to go on to the next round. I promise I'll somehow think outside the box while keeping inside the rules next time! :)

At least I hope I do!

[king white]

Death Watch, can't help myself, i'm a sucker for stuff like that! I know there aren't supposed to be super powers involved in these detectives but I am justifying my vote by stubbornly saying that the watch has the powers not the man!
(I know it is a weak argument...but what the hell!)

[Danny Wall]

Okay, I want to give some feedback to my fellow contestants, and it will also kind of give you a hint into how I approached this challenge. (I say that so that if I'm wrong, someone can tell me before I mess up subsequent challenges!)

First of all, the key word in the contest requirments was "memorable." Seeing as how this is a comic book contest, too, I interpret memorable as something iconic, something that goes beyond what happens to be in a character's closet. If this were a comic book about your detective, what would be his/her "costume?" Or if it's not a costume, is it a motif, a symbol, what?

Ellie Dee Williams-- Definitely a striking look, but the mishmash of colors won't be enough to make it "memorable" for me. You kinda have something with the smiley in the shirt, but it's too obscured. What medium did you use? Marker? I'm not sure it served you well here, either. You're also missing the contest requirment of describing your costume/inspiration.

Sheldon McGraw-- I came up with something similar in my initial sketching! I like the unique trenchcoat, but the scarf (if that's what it is) detracts from it (the tie kinda does as well). Also, I think you should have pushed for more integration of the tech and costume, even if were as simple as putting more pockets on the coat or something.

Sophie Coulton-- I love the design, and the limited pallette works great-- that pink really accents everything well. It's fashionable without looking dated, and comes across as one of the more "costumed" entries.

Death Watch-- I guess everyone stayed away from trenchcoats and fedoras, allowing you to look unique with the traditional stuff! The overall presentation of the thing is nice-- the logo and the silhouette. As for the costume, the mask and hat is what really sells it for me. I'm not sure if your description of the costume really fits with the contest guidelines, though.

No Sh*t Sherlock-- Nicely drawn, certainly the most fashionable of the designs. This comes most closely to being BOTH something the chararacer has in her closet AND is something iconic and costumey. I think I would have preferred more accessores or an open coat or sometihng.... more?

Rover PI-- At first I thought it was just the human that was your entry. Then I realized it was the dog. Or is it? Either you're doing two characters or one non-human one, both of which are outside the guidelines. And shouldn't it be "Benjamin Basset?"

Shlomo Bayerberg-- It's a simple design, but there's a lot of attitude here! I'm not sure it's enough however to win it over some of the other designs. The simplicity is working against it. Nitpick alert-- the belt is on backwards?
Geoffrey Washington-- I'm afraid this isn't very memorable. It looks like it comes from a scene already in progrress rather than an iconic look that can summarize the whole character/story. Nice pattern to the pants.

Keisha Hawke-- At first I really liked the design, but in comparison to some of the others, it falls short since there isn't really anything to make it memorable. I think you'd have to have some kind of risk to stand out. Also-- I'm not a woman, but I think that gun is placed uncomfortably.

Danny Rapkin-- Like the Keisha Hawke design, it's great and nicely rendered. This one, however, really goes a bit further in developing a unique style for the character-- unless it's set in the 70s. Still, is it really memorable for a reader and are there elements to make it costumey? I'm not so sure.

Nathan "Crane" Jackson-- A mixup of 70s styles with the 80s twist, as you say in your description. Memorable, for sure, and more of a costume than most. Really nice to see the back view, but your "action" shot doesn't really add much. I'll also go with others that the color choices seem a bit off. For me, it's the brown crane. Also, I think you lose points in that I can't really tell he's primarily a detective.

PI P.I.-- It made me chuckle, and that's a plus. Although the gimmicky-ness can work both for and against it, I suppose. The freckles on her cheeks are a nice touch. The colors are a little plain, and there's little accessorizing-- maybe there are ways to push some things a bit more? The hat doesn't really look like a fedora.

Viola Blye-- What a great look, and your stylized artwork really sells it, but presentation-wise, I think you need a different background color to make the character's colors stand out. Are the pants flaring at the hips or is that your art style? What happens to the puffy sleeves when she puts on her shawl?

Marjorie Marples-- Very literary, and evocative of the time period. Is there anything to set her apart from anyone else in that time period, however? How can I tell she is a detective?

Lorelle-- Beautiful! I love the textures you were able to bring out. I think the background is too dark to show off your lovely drawing. You lose points for me, though, in that "memorable" category. Her look just seems like it would be interchangeable with whatever she pulls out of her closet.
...

What a tough contest! So my top 5 with the criteria of memorable costumes are: Sophie Coulton, No Sh*t Sherlock, Pi P.I., Deathwatch, and the Crane Jackson.

[bakla]

End of Time's Jewish smartnerd, Shlomo, gets my pick for most original, with a simple enough character design that's both quirky enough to be memorable yet clean and modern enough not to fall into clichés for the genre. Out of all of them, he's the one I'd look to read more about.

[Tre Styles]

First off, congratulations to all of you for making it through the audition rounds. These are some top notch designs and concepts. I see some really good things here.

So let's get down to it, the Styles Review Part I:

hunter_peterson's ELLIE DEE WILLIAMS
The design is really unique and the style has got a funky and quirky look to it....almost like Layla Millerish. While it definitely has an original quirkiness to it, I don't get "detective or PI" from this design.
spaghettikiss' SHELDON MCGAW: P.I.
I like the little scientific touches on this sci-fi P.I.! Haha. As per the norm for you Spaghetti, this design really does grab my attention, and I immediately can get "detective" from this without having to guess. It reminds me a little of Steampunkish style, which in this case, is a pretty good thing.
Aljira's SOPHIE COULTON
Aljira, I always love your designs, and this one is surely no exception. The pink accents and the highlights with the black, really make this stand out. I like the print designs and the entire outfit as a whole really works here. There is definitely a crime fighting element as well with the pink gun and the dangerous look in this character's eyes....but she's still femine as well. Solid job.mthemordant's DEATHWATCH: THE UNKNOWN DETECTIVE
The design here M, is pretty standard, and I do get detective...the artwork is amazing, I must say, and I love the painted watercolored style. The creepiness of the detective's skull face goes along well with the traditional detective's gear. I think it's already been mentioned though, that this is supposed to be a non-powered character, and there's very little "human" in this design.
deanleagion's NO SH*T SHERLOCK

Dean, I just had to laugh when I saw the title of this character's name. I definitely love the idea of continuing the Sherlock Holmes' legacy. The design itself is smart using traditional detective clothes' colors and some of the same checkered patterns as old detectives hats in the wool coat. The magnifying glass necklace is a nice touch. The overall design is subtle, modern, and brings a distinct flavor to this competition. Great design.LewMoxinsghost's ROVER P.I., DOG DETECCTIVE
Lew, I think the overall concept is ok, the design is rather simple.( The confusing part for me though is the design for the dog that is the detective or the human girl?:wink:) I like Ms.Lawson's short detective's coat, and the boots and the nod to Thelma with the glasses. Does it really stand out to me? Other than the dog, ehh no not really....and again, does it follow the guidelines that states it must be a human character?
Danny Wall's P.I. PUP
In contrast to Lew's idea, Danny, I think at first glance I was thinking...okay, a cartoon dog does NOT follow the guidelines, but then looking closely....you can tell, oh this is a costume. Then after reading the biography, and then looking at the design again, I thought: brilliant. Awesome, awesome concept. A mascot suit...it's pretty cool. It's also something I would want to pick up and read about. The traditional detective outfit goes well with the blue pup suit, and I'm really warming up to the idea of this being a real series.:cool: This design is definitely thinking outside the box, creative, and very original.


Well, I'm heading off to bed. Part II of my review will be up sometime tomorrow. Good night artists! Take it easy.

Peace,

Tre.

[hunter_peterson]

Right, from everything I've read, I need to include more "detective-ie" things. God I wish I could do a redesign... I know just what to do. Glasses. Overcoat. Color change. And I kinda missed the thinking behind it part. I'm not giving up on Ellie Dee!

Guess I'm out. And yes, I do use markers. Don't have photoshop. I know it sometimes sucks...

All of the other designs kick the crap out of mine for the challenge. I'll vote for PI Pup. Nailed it, totally.

[Danny Wall]

Sometimes Photoshop sucks, too. Trust me.

And markers can be great, too. I tried to PM you but it didn't work. Are you using prismacolor? If not, you should really invest in a good prismacolor set. Do some googling for prismacolor art marker tutorials and get inspired! Until then, avoid the scratchy look by using markers like color pencils. Instead, use the broad side of the marker to lay down whole swaths of color by tracing the contour as much as possilbe for the shape-- don't lift up the marker until you get to the end of the contour. Fill in any gaps with the point of the marker, and go over the contour a second or third time to create the shading. Hope that helps.

[Mr.EZ]

Nathan "Crane" Jackson-- A mixup of 70s styles with the 80s twist, as you say in your description. Memorable, for sure, and more of a costume than most. Really nice to see the back view, but your "action" shot doesn't really add much. I'll also go with others that the color choices seem a bit off. For me, it's the brown crane. Also, I think you lose points in that I can't really tell he's primarily a detective.


The color scheme is exactly why I voted for this one. The design was instantly recognizable to me as the Miami Vice type colors mixed with 70's kung fu blaxploitation detective films.

For a contest that asked for memorable and original designs, I saw too many trenchcoats and fedoras, so I went with the one that didn't fit that overused mold. Even a day after voting for Manon's design, I could still remember even the smallest details of it. (I even showed it to my gf and she was as impressed as I.)

[CBrown]

Keisha Hawke – I love how believable she is. I have been watching a lot of the wire lately which is about my hometown and I think that this character would fit into that extraordinarily realistic and gritty world. This would be a great character to follow in a book about the real life of a P.I. – on top of that it’s a damn solid drawing


Thanks, spaghettikiss. In fact, I've been watching The Wire, too. I can't say that's what I was consciously thinking about when I came up with her, but it must've been in my brain. Also, gritty realism is just my preference for P.I.-type stories.

If your character is also set in Chicago, that would make for a fun team-up!

[End of Time]

GEOFFREY WASHINGTON

The fact that he's drawn after a beating throws me off. I find it difficult to give feedback on the outfit and character because of it. It's exactly what you intended him to be on a visual level. He looks like he's a character from a 70's cop-show. I would have liked to see him presented in a cleaner fashion, if this guy loses fingers on every case, he's going to have a problem in a couple of cases from this one.

KEISHA HAWKE

Strong women scare me. Your entry frightens me. She looks a bit too militant for my tastes. She's believable, but I think she's more the type of character you'll see in a supporting role. She's the tough as nails detective Batman visits for additional information, and as the Bat exits you can almost hear her swear she'll expose him, because the only real crime fighters are in the force. I think she lacks that little thing trademark thing that brings her to the foreground. I think if you had left out the sunglasses you'd have made her a tad more approachable as a character.

DETECTIVE DANNY RAPKIN

You're good, maybe even too good. The design is solid, but lacks something, especially if I place it next to your description. There's a very grounded quality to the whole thing, but he reminds me, visually, of other characters.
Stay away from the pink and blue... because they gave me a headache... like watching a 3-D image without the funky glasses.

NATHAN "THE CRANE" JACKSON

I'm going to have to fall in line with the people who said that it's more kung fu than detective.

PI P.I.

She has a fun backstory, she has a fun visual element, she's got one thing going against her. Maybe it's because I'm not a native speaker... but PI. P.I. keeps blending into PIPI...

VIOLA

I think Viola is cute, I can see her work as an indy-comic book character with some wacky elements thrown in for visual gags. She has a very broad appeal. You can go in more than one direction with her as a character. She can be kid-friendly, or she can fall into the lap of the hip young self-aware teen crowd and turn into a cult-character.

MARJORIE MARPLES

I'm not feeling poor Marge, she might be a bit too simplistic, she lacks the elements that sets her apart as a detective character, as opposed to say a fancy dancer in a New York Speakeasy during the Prohibition, one of those joints that requires a password to get in, and that gets visited by people affectionately named "Googly Eyes Malone" or "Fast Fingered Eddy". By the image alone you can set her in the correct time frame, but I miss the detective element.

LORELLE

She's a bonafide member of the cast of CSI... unfortunately she also has a silencer. You nailed the challenge, but because everything fits so well, it's the one element that throws it all off. That silencer is like a pimple drawn on Mona Lisa's forehead.

[Pro]

I went for Shlomo after long consideration. This is a design that fits the challenge exceptionally well. Plain clothes yet very distinct.
I love the Death watch and PI Pup designs but they aren't exactly non-powered and plain clothes.

[Kid Icarus]

The color scheme is exactly why I voted for this one. The design was instantly recognizable to me as the Miami Vice type colors mixed with 70's kung fu blaxploitation detective films.

For a contest that asked for memorable and original designs, I saw too many trenchcoats and fedoras, so I went with the one that didn't fit that overused mold. Even a day after voting for Manon's design, I could still remember even the smallest details of it. (I even showed it to my gf and she was as impressed as I.)

just a sidenote
but there is only one design that incorporates a trench coat and fedora...

[End of Time]

Thank you for the votes and the comments.

I thought this was a difficult challenge.

[Mr.EZ]

just a sidenote
but there is only one design that incorporates a trench coat and fedora...

Looks like 3 to me.

[Kid Icarus]

Looks like 3 to me.

I really only see one design that uses it in the way of which you metioned.
I was just pointing out the fact that I thought it was a little ridiculous to generalize that there were too many designs using such elements when at most it was 3 out of 16. That isn't a majority

[red-handed]

nice work all...
Hey Tre im surprised you didn't compete this time around, you have some pretty good designs, I hope you post something in th Play along thread...


Anyhoo
I having a tought time choosing between Aljira, Shade101, CBrown and Spidey...
I love the looks
I guess i'll figure it out when i log in later...

Hey Spidey whats the deal with the color, I just want to find my 3D glasses ^_^

[Affinity]

Some very interesting choices this round!

I'm holding on off my vote to make it count, and I see where criticisms of Marjorie are coming from (especially amongst this wild cast). Regardless, I adore her and am excited for future ventures with Marjorie and Viola, for whoever caught that!

[atoningunifex]

My vote came down to Marjorie Marples and No Shit Sherlock. I went with dean's submission because it was a touch more detective-y, but I really love Affinity's design (and concept) as well. It could have been either one for me.

[Kid Icarus]

Some very interesting choices this round!

I'm holding on off my vote to make it count, and I see where criticisms of Marjorie are coming from (especially amongst this wild cast). Regardless, I adore her and am excited for future ventures with Marjorie and Viola, for whoever caught that!

Aka
No one

I'm not even sure I caught it

[Manon]

Thanks a ton for the feedback. It's great to get an idea of what works with this crowd and what doesn't. Here's a few responses to maybe explain my thought processes:


Manon's NATHAN "THE CRANE" JACKSON
Why would you put those colors together? I like the idea of the character, but this outfit is an eyesore. Maybe if you were going for tacky, but I don't see that in this character. I'm sorry, I just really hate this look.


I dunno, man. I wouldn't call it tacky, necessarily, but I think I pretty much nailed the mid-80s American Southern Florida/ California coast look with the colors. It's a period piece outfit, like a suit of armor would be tacky if worn on the streets today, but appropriate in medieval europe, no? I do tend to push toward extremes with my designs (as is evident in my audition pieces also), so I fully anticipate the "hate it" part of the "love it/hate it" divide.


Manon: Most bizarre entry so far. I don't see anything that says detective. In fact, your write up really doesn't go past the only words that spring to mind, Kung Fu.

Yeah, I have a feeling that as long as I'm in the contest, my designs are going to full under that "most bizarre" category (it seemed that way in the audition process as well). My tastes are definitely eccentric, and my dislike for most American superhero costumes as well as the type of character designs prevalent in video games will most definitely put my designs in the minority here -meaning I was surprised to get the votes I have gotten so far.

As for the write-up, I dropped the ball a bit there.
I thought the detective part was implied since it was a requirement and felt it more important to explain what makes him unique (which was the Kung Fu).


Nathan "The Crane" Jackson- Lots of Kung Fu. Not lots of detective.



NATHAN "THE CRANE" JACKSON
I'm going to have to fall in line with the people who said that it's more kung fu than detective.



Nathan "Crane" Jackson-- A mixup of 70s styles with the 80s twist, as you say in your description. Memorable, for sure, and more of a costume than most. Really nice to see the back view, but your "action" shot doesn't really add much. I'll also go with others that the color choices seem a bit off. For me, it's the brown crane. Also, I think you lose points in that I can't really tell he's primarily a detective.

What a tough contest! So my top 5 with the criteria of memorable costumes are: Sophie Coulton, No Sh*t Sherlock, Pi P.I., Deathwatch, and the Crane Jackson.

Danny, I'm glad you found mine memorable. You and I are really the only two that seemed to have gone for 'extremely memorable' in the designs.

However, the too much Kung Fu, not enough detective is the only real critique that I just don't see. I think the problem is when I think "detective" or "private eye," the first thing that comes to mind is Dick Tracy, and the second thing is Sonny Crockett. It's pretty apparent from a lot of the feedback that a lot of the crowd here isn't really familiar with Miami Vice any more than "it was some show in the 80s," which would cause the detective association to fall flat.


The Crane - I wouldn't feel confident that this guy is going to be much help in solving cases. He seems like he should be a yoga instructor or something. And rayon is a really bad choice in Miami. No wonder he doesn't button that jacket!


Again, I just assumed that everyone was familiar with how much more Shaolin Kung Fu is about than combat. It requires a great deal of attentiveness and awareness of one's surroundings. Perhaps I should've mentioned those traits which are beneficial to the detective field.

As for the rayon, I'm not extremely familiar with materials, but made the decision off a few rayon hawaiian shirts that I have. The shirts are thin and airy (but wrinkle like no man's business). I thought that to keep the sleeves pushed up like that on a blazer, it'd have to be pretty thin. Normally, I'd go for linen in such a hot environment, but the texture of linen just doesn't fit that Miami Vice feel.


The color scheme is exactly why I voted for this one. The design was instantly recognizable to me as the Miami Vice type colors mixed with 70's kung fu blaxploitation detective films.
...Even a day after voting for Manon's design, I could still remember even the smallest details of it. (I even showed it to my gf and she was as impressed as I.)

It's good to see the "love it" part of the "hate it/love it" spectrum voice itself!

I'm glad you and your ladyfriend both picked up on what I was trying to do there. Thanks!

GEOFFREY WASHINGTON

The fact that he's drawn after a beating throws me off. I find it difficult to give feedback on the outfit and character because of it. It's exactly what you intended him to be on a visual level. He looks like he's a character from a 70's cop-show. I would have liked to see him presented in a cleaner fashion, if this guy loses fingers on every case, he's going to have a problem in a couple of cases from this one.

The mention of Die Hard as inspiration is what really makes that one strong. One of the iconic things about the Die Hard character is that shortly within each movie, he's had the hell beat out of him, his clothes torn up, and he's covered in blood. John McClane really isn't even recognizable without those features. Look at how they chose to represent him in his action figure (http://www.beezersbungalow.com/Die-Hard-John-McClane-Action-Figure_p_229.html).

Also, I don't think that 'being reused in an ongoing series' was a requirement. Gene M and I both took the same approach of describing one story arc or plotline that falls under the category. Like my dude wouldn't list 'detective' on his W-2s at the end of the year, but for that one narrative he is undoubtedly in the role of a detective.


It's just a Pulp Detective who has gadgets, no powers of his own. All the supernatural talk was intended to be implied in such as people think Batman is a giant bat who can fly. It's good for his street cred, but it ain't true. I just did a terrible job of explaining what I was doing.


Yeah, now that you explain it that way it helps. I think the "magic" devices are still pretty weak (It'd be like saying Superman's a non-powered character if his belt enabled him to do what he does). But I do definitely dig the design, would read something with him in it, and you're one of the strongest illustrators here, so I'm glad you're on board for more.

[atoningunifex]

However, the too much Kung Fu, not enough detective is the only real critique that I just don't see. I think the problem is when I think "detective" or "private eye," the first thing that comes to mind is Dick Tracy, and the second thing is Sonny Crockett. It's pretty apparent from a lot of the feedback that a lot of the crowd here isn't really familiar with Miami Vice any more than "it was some show in the 80s," which would cause the detective association to fall flat.


I'm familiar with Miami Vice. I get your concept. But when I scanned through the designs yours visually screams "Kung Fu guy". It doesn't say detective. It isn't until reading the backstory that you get where you're going with the character. And that's something to watch out for. Because mattbib hates the backstories. And he's going to put challenges out there where you won't be able to use backstory to explain your concept. So the more you tell visually in every challenge, the easier it will be for you to succeed.

I speak as someone who has flubbed designs and overthought backstory and who hasn't taken the time to look at the design and say "Does this convey everything it needs to visually".

[mattbib]

I'm familiar with Miami Vice. I get your concept. But when I scanned through the designs yours visually screams "Kung Fu guy". It doesn't say detective. It isn't until reading the backstory that you get where you're going with the character. And that's something to watch out for. Because mattbib hates the backstories. And he's going to put challenges out there where you won't be able to use backstory to explain your concept. So the more you tell visually in every challenge, the easier it will be for you to succeed.LOL...I don't hate backstories. It's just that this is a design contest and designs should, for the most part, speak for themselves.

[atoningunifex]

LOL...I don't hate backstories. It's just that this is a design contest and designs should, for the most part, speak for themselves.

LOL- liar! You do hate them! You are all "I totes make burn books about backstories! They are teh suck!"

Because, really, you're a teenage girl at heart.

Said with love, bibby, said with love.

[CBikle]

http://www.rearaccount.com/crap/cbrunway/detective2.gif



Nice design and I think two things may've given him more of a "P.I. feel".

1 Having him wear sunglasses (to go with the 80's style)

2 In the illustration where he's doing the kick, maybe having a shoulder-holster peeking out (although I know that doesn't make sense with his backstory).

[Danny Wall]

LOL...I don't hate backstories. It's just that this is a design contest and designs should, for the most part, speak for themselves.

Hmm. Yes and no. For the sake of argument, after all, there *must* be some framework or parameters to judge the design. Look at the wildly diverse designs we have here. A different backstory creates a different standard to judge them by. I would judge Marjorie Marples, just as one example, to a different standard if she were in the same story parameters as, say, Keisha Hawke. Also, standards are different for supporting characters, lead characters, if the character is in an ongoing series or one-shot, if the tone of the story is ironically dark (like my own P.I. Pup) or intentionally dark (like DeathWatch) or whimsical (like Pi P.I.) etc etc.

Shrug. I guess for this particular round it cuts close to home, as obviously my design and backstory are so necessary to have together. At least I figured that out early in the contest!

[escapegoat]

LOL- liar! You do hate them! You are all "I totes make burn books about backstories! They are teh suck!"

Because, really, you're a teenage girl at heart.

Said with love, bibby, said with love.

Matt just hates them long write-ups because he hates reading. He only buys comic books to look at the pretty pictures. :tongue:

Last year was notorious for long write-ups, and to a degree they really shouldn't be that long... :wink:

[deanlegion]

If we're creating new characters, then we HAVE to have a write -up. The trick is to keep it brief, which is hard.

[deanlegion]

At the risk of irritating my fellow competitors, I'm going to go ahead and say that many of the detectives presented in this challenge seemed more like supporting cast characters, like the sidekick to the real detective. The good news is, those characters can be a lot more interesting than the regular, nice guy/gal.

Some stood apart - Deathmask, P. I. Pup.

My vote went to Marjorie Marples. I believe she could best carry a story/series on her own.

[Spidey]

Thank ye kindly for the comments, feedback and votes, guys. I'm gonna admit writing isn't my strong suit. First I get a vague idea of the character that I want to draw and then go ahead and draw him. Only after the character is finished being illustrated is when I try to fill in the details based on what impression I get from the character.

[snarkbunny]

This was a hard decision.

hunter_peterson's ELLIE DEE WILLIAMS
Ellie is an interesting looking character, but even with the backstory she just doesn't read as a PI to me at all.

spaghettikiss' SHELDON MCGAW: P.I.
This is one of my favourites. I thought Steampunk detective at the first glimpse, and I love the way the traditional detective accoutrements have been given the steampunk touch. I particularly like the labcoat/trenchcoat.

Aljira's SOPHIE COULTON
I know that mattbib said for us to base our votes on the design, not the backstory but the backstory totally tainted this entry for me. Frankly it completely repulsed me and I can't give this design a fair assessment.

mthemordant's DEATHWATCH: THE UNKNOWN DETECTIVE
Lovely work, but I do think it's not exactly on spec with the challenge.

deanleagion's NO SH*T SHERLOCK
I like the design touches reflecting the classic image of Sherlock Holmes without making the design costumey. It's a nice classic design that I think would work over multiple decades. Good job, deanlegion.

LewMoxinsghost's ROVER P.I., DOG DETECCTIVE
Great concept, but I do think it's not really meeting the spirit of the challenge.

Danny Wall's P.I. PUP
Original? - Hmmm - PI disguised as a mascot - check
Memorable? definitely
non-powered human - check?
would make a reader think PI/Police/Dectitive when looking at the design? Check
This is another one of my favourites. I think it's a great concept and design.

End of Time's SHLOMO BAYERBERG
Another one of my favourites. Again it's a good classic design that won't look dated in another decade or so, and I think there is a lot of expressive potential with the scarf.

Gene M.'s GEOFFREY WASHINGTON
Interesting idea, and it rings of the 70's for me but I didn't really have any reaction to it at all.

CBrown's KEISHA HAWKE
For some reason, it rings more undercover cop for me than PI, but I like this design. It's another design that would look good in multiple decades and I can easily see a PI wearing this to follow suspects and kill ass. I don't think it's as uniquely individualized as End of Time's and others. I would have liked to seen an unique accessory for Keisha.

Spidey's DETECTIVE DANNY RAPKIN
Nice design, but it really invokes a 70's setting to me.

Manon's NATHAN "THE CRANE" JACKSON
This felt more costumey to me than most of the other designs. I think I see what you were going for, but it just doesn't work that well for me for as a PI. It is memorable, and I want a crane jacket now (but I think I want the crane in pink or peach or aqua :) )

escapegoat's PI P.I.
PI made me smile. I like the pi'ed suit and I think it's a really fun concept.

Kid Icarus' VIOLA BLYE
I like the hat and cape, but shouldn't she have an accessory to indicate that she is blind visually?

Affinity's MARJORIE MARPLES
I really like how this design captures the feel of the 1920's. It's a fun design.

Shade101's LORELLE
Even with the dossier, I just don't get PI/Detective from this design. To me the Femme Fatale elements(all black, stilletto heels, lots of cleavage, short skirt) overwhelm the other design elements.

It was a tough choice between spaghettikiss, Danny Wall and End of Time, but I went with spaghettikiss.

[Manon]

Nice design and I think two things may've given him more of a "P.I. feel".

1 Having him wear sunglasses (to go with the 80's style)

2 In the illustration where he's doing the kick, maybe having a shoulder-holster peeking out (although I know that doesn't make sense with his backstory).

Thanks, man. I had both of those elements in at one point and then cut them. Mistakes on my part, apparently.

If we're creating new characters, then we HAVE to have a write -up. The trick is to keep it brief, which is hard.

Agreed, I kept cutting mine back trying to keep it at 5 or so sentences.

It does need to be brief though, as I, along with a lot of other voters, won't read the full entry if it starts boring.

First I get a vague idea of the character that I want to draw and then go ahead and draw him. Only after the character is finished being illustrated is when I try to fill in the details based on what impression I get from the character.

I work kind of the same way, I start with a rough idea like you do, but then as I work on the design, I kind of build the backstory to suit it and then maybe tweak the design some to complement the backstory.

I'm hoping the next challenge is as fun as this one. Looking through the previous years there are some challenges that I would find boring to do, and some that I thought would be awesome.

[spaghettikiss]

spaghettikiss' SHELDON MCGAW: P.I.
This is one of my favourites. I thought Steampunk detective at the first glimpse, and I love the way the traditional detective accoutrements have been given the steampunk touch. I particularly like the labcoat/trenchcoat.

It was a tough choice between spaghettikiss, Danny Wall and End of Time, but I went with spaghettikiss.

Thanks man!!! Glad you were into it and I am so glad you picked up on the trenchcoat/labcoat thingie!! Somebody before said it needed more pockets which I can totally see and wish I pushed that further.

I also want to give danny wall a shout out for a really cever design that I forgot to mention before...actually my second fave of the bunch. A giant mascot...beautiful

[mattbib]

I'm holding off on voting in case I need to break a tie, but deanlegion's design is my favorite this round. Totally looks like a character Tony Salmons would have given us in the original Dakota North series. And as we all know I love me some Dakota North.

[LewMoxinsghost]

LewMoxinsghost's ROVER P.I., DOG DETECCTIVE
Great concept, but I do think it's not really meeting The Spirit of the challenge.


I see what you did there.


Oh, stop. I just couldn't resist. :smile:

But seriously, thanks for all the feedback everyone. While I really feel strongly that my design met the challenge (I didn't get a "no pets allowed" clause), I do now understand it might not have been up to the expectations of the challenge, or the head-on smash I wanted it to be for that matter. If I make it to the next round I will have to do better if I am to survive! If not, well, I am ecstatic to have made it into the competition.

And thanks especially to my supporters out there!

[Aljira]

wow. a big THANK YOU for those who voted for me. i was quite content with just 5 votes yesterday...i just wanted to stay alive. i got tons of stuff to do here at work and seeing these votes brightened my day. THANK YOU!!!


now, i guess some of the voters got confused with my concept. i guess it was my fault for not properly conveying my idea. i was thinking that Sophie is a survivor and a strong sensible girl - who can roll with the bad feelings, move on, and gradually find a way to get back. She has her love of clothes and college to get her mind of the tragedy she experienced. I am also thinking she's having a bit of a hard time socializing in college bec of what she went through - i'm thinking she's a loner...a snob even. and i don't think we should show that she has one breast...honestly, i've never seen women who have one breast show any indication that they do have one breast, most esp. someone in college - that's why i had her wear 3 pieces of clothing on top.

another mistake i may have made is, i was thinking too far ahead. i gave inspirations such as hostel and felicity. Hostel may be for those future investigations she'll encounter. i got my mind wondering far into her cases where she'll encounter these horrible acts and she'll try to save the victims....felicity was for her college life and possible lovelife. hahaha!!! i'm sorry! Actually, i was already imagining love/detective/suspense story between EOT's Shlomo and my Sophie. (hi End of Time!!! my Sophie's a nice girl. she just has a few walls built around her but it's totally breakdownable)

[End of Time]

Is she Jewish?

[Aljira]

no. she's not Jewish.


(i hate it when religion comes between 2 people)

[End of Time]

no. she's not Jewish.


(i hate it when religion comes between 2 people)

So does Shlomo, but there are forces stronger than him at play... mostly meddling family-members who teeter on the edge of all the bad comedy-clichés...

We can still have a crossover of course, we'll flirt and dance our intricate little dance, but then we part and we'll get hordes of fangirls writing bad X-rated fan fiction. We'll dominate the "which two characters would you like to see paired up"-lists on various forums.

and then, five years from our first meeting, we'll have another crossover, and we'll repeat the flirty nature of our first encounter... but nothing solid will come of it because we need to leave the fans wanting more and speculating heavily.

[Aljira]

true. true.

[End of Time]

We could do a yearbook list:

- Most likely to have an official crossover...
- Most likely to have an adventure in space..
- Most likely to be killed and replaced before #20..
- Most likely to have an as-of-yet unknown evil twin running around causing trouble...
- Most likely to end up dating a villain...
- Most likely to appear in a crossover slash-fic with an anime character of the same sex...
- Most likely to have an identity crisis and give up the profession for the third time in five years, ala spiderman...
- Most likely to be turned into a grim and grittier version of him or herself...
- Most likely to be turned into a kid-friendlier version of him or herself...
- Most likely to get a spin-off...
- Most likely to get a movie-deal, which ends up in a production that will get stuck in development hell for nearly ten years...
- Most likely to get a short-lived television series that'll gain a fan-following and after cancellation a four hour mini-series or a direct-to-dvd movie to tie up the loose ends...

[bakla]

Haha, congrats Fin, Aljira and Endoftime!

[mattbib]

Hello. Welcome to the Runway. As you know, in fashion and in comic books, one day you're in and the next you're out.

Aljira, voters loved your design and backstory. You are in.

End of Time, your design was quirky and original. You are in.

mthemordant, you took a risk and it paid off. This time. You are in.

deanleagion, your design was subtle and humorous. You are in.

Danny Wall, you pushed the boundaries in a good way. You are in.

Gene M., your design was different and grabbed voters' attention. You are in.

spaghettikiss, good job adapting your style to this challenge, though some questioned its practicality. You are in.

Spidey, characters thought your design was cool, but not necessarily that original. You are in.

escapegoat, voters loved your idea, but thought that you could have done more with it. You are in.

Kid Icarus, voters liked parts of the character's style, but disliked others. Some thought it was underdesigned. You are in.

Shade101, you gave us a stylish but timeless design, though some voters thought it didn't visually evoke "detective". You are in.

Affinity, yours was a fun, simple design, even though some thought it was too simple. But in the end voters loved it. Congratulations, you are the winner of this challenge. This means you are immune and cannot be eliminated in the next challenge.

LewMoxinsghost, your design was fun, but didn't stick to the criteria of the challenge. You were supposed to design a human, plain-clothes detective and you gave us a dog.

Manon, voters reacted strongly to your design, but not in a good way. Some did not like your color choice and others felt it was more of a kung-fu character than a detective.

CBrown, voters enjoyed your design, but just didn't think anything about it really stood out. The challenge was to make a memorable character, so this cost you votes.

hunter_peterson, your design was creative, and voters enjoyed your write-up, but in the end they didn't feel your entry was that memorable and didn't necessarily match your concept.

hunter_peterson...you are out. But be sure to submit an entry for the next challenge in the Play Along at Home thread in case one of the remaining finalists fails to submit theirs.

Auf wiedersehen.

See the rest of you on the runway for the second challenge.

[Aljira]

congratulations Affinity!!!!

[CBrown]

I guess I'm out, since I wasn't even listed!

[escapegoat]

Congrats Finny!

Hunter Peterson - sorry to see you go. I dug your designs from the audition round.

[escapegoat]

I guess I'm out, since I wasn't even listed!

Actually, you should still be in.

Matt! Shame on you for forgetting a contestant like that!!!

[Affinity]

Oh, boy!

I am totally lame at handling compliments, and winning the challenge is just so awesome. A huge thanks to everyone who voted, but thanks to everyone else for the criticism, which I can build on, and especially thanks to Chad and his comment that the design should be telling a complete, visual story in itself.

Everyone did a great job and showing what they're capable of, and there are some really great designs already.

I don't know about you, but I am craving some Hostess fruit pies right about now. Thank you!

[mattbib]

I guess I'm out, since I wasn't even listed!
Whoops! :redface:

I'm only one man!

[Shade101]

Congratulations on winning the challenge affinity, and thank you to all who voted for me. I'm just glad I made it to the next round! :smile:

[CBrown]

OK, cool. That would've been the biggest diss ever!

[atoningunifex]

Congratulations, Finny!

[Gene M.]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with in the next round.

[Tre Styles]

ahhhhh....I missed the first vote! and I didn't finish my review. Ah well...one of the drawbacks to not having my computer with me all day. Anyways, I will finish my reviews regardless. And my vote would've gone to PI PUP!

[Tre Styles]

[quote=red-handed;8556668]nice work all...
Hey Tre im surprised you didn't compete this time around, you have some pretty good designs, I hope you post something in th Play along thread...
{/quote]

Hey Red...I would've entered had I been around CBR. I've been away from this board for a looong time...mostly because I don't get comics on the regular anymore, and I forgot that this was the time for this contest. Plus, I'm busy on DA with another contest, so it would've realy been hard....but I'll see if I can't whip up something for the PAHT. It's gotta get my attention though. I'll see ya around. :cool:

[deanlegion]

Congratulations Affinity! As I've said, your character could easily be the lead in a mystery story, mini-series or complete series.

hunter peterson, I want you to know that I've been intrigued with your character ever since this challenge was posted. I think she's really interesting and weird. I'd love to see a current crime tv show like CSI add a character like her as their expert they go to when they've exhausted all the regular avenues. I like that she's twisted and violent, but probably a genius. Please continue to play along!

Thank you to everyone who commented on my design. I almost submitted a babe who wears a sexy, skimpy version of the Sherlock Holmes costume, but I'm SO glad I refined my idea! Thank you to those who voted for me, too. I've decided that from now on, I'll go ahead and ink my submissions! (Well... we'll see... I'll TRY to ink them.)

[Danny Wall]

Well, thanks, Tre! I appreciate your support and everyone's who was able to vote. I really hoped that my risk would pay off--- but I just got really excited about the idea and how it could actually make a unique comic. See you in round two!

[Flâneur]

Wow oh wow, there's some seriously great artwork here. I love the range of styles going on here.

[Pól Rua]

I can't believe that so many people didn't get that Lew Moxin's Ghost's entry wasn't for the dog.

The dog's just a tool. You might as well say that the creator of No Sh*t Sherlock gave us a magnifying glass instead of a detective or that Deathwatch gave us a timepiece instead of a detective.
Basically, it's the 'Remington Steele' scenario. Our heroine finds she's not being respected for her own work, so she works through a proxy, in this case, making up a cock and bull story about magical curses and dressing a dog up in a hat and tie.
She does all the detective work while the dog provides the novelty value.

So yeah, the dog isn't the detective.

[mattbib]

I can't believe that so many people didn't get that Lew Moxin's Ghost's entry wasn't for the dog.

The dog's just a tool. You might as well say that the creator of No Sh*t Sherlock gave us a magnifying glass instead of a detective or that Deathwatch gave us a timepiece instead of a detective.
Basically, it's the 'Remington Steele' scenario. Our heroine finds she's not being respected for her own work, so she works through a proxy, in this case, making up a cock and bull story about magical curses and dressing a dog up in a hat and tie.
She does all the detective work while the dog provides the novelty value.

So yeah, the dog isn't the detective.
Pól, did you not read his bio? It clearly states that the dog IS the detective.

[Flâneur]

Pól, did you not read his bio? It clearly states that the dog IS the detective.

I actually agree with Pol, the dog is the "detective" to the people in the story, and only in the token sense even within the fiction, but not to the readers:

In reality however, Rover only seems to sleep a lot and bark occasionally, while his "assistant" Miss Lawson seems to do all the talking, shooting, and actual detective work. Will they ever "cure" poor Ben and solve the mystery?

It's like a woman writing under a pseudonym to get published but funnier.

[LewMoxinsghost]

I actually agree with Pol, the dog is the "detective" to the people in the story, and only in the token sense even within the fiction, but not to the readers:


It's like a woman writing under a pseudonym to get published but funnier.

Thanks Pol and Flâneur. You guys got it... I should have first asked if showing a dog or writing it that way was okay, or just tried something else altogether. The response was overwhelmingly "Why are you showing us a dog?" or "Wow, she's really plain" instead of "OMG what a hook!", the latter of which I was intending. I wanted there to be mystery present in the design because it was the detective genre and for people to go from "Wow this is really pedestrian" to "Holy crap! It's the woman!" as they were reading it. A few people got that I think, but it was maybe to too subtle or just strayed to the fringes of the rules a bit too much bring in the votes.

[Pól Rua]

Admittedly, you DID call the entry 'Rover, PI, Dog Detective', so I can kind of dig where people are coming from.
It's just that I was totally buying it, hook, line and sinker until the "in reality, however..." bit where I was quite impressed.

Up until then, I pretty much was thinking that it was just riffing on Ralph Von Wau Wau or those interminable bloody cat detective novels, but combining that particular conceit with the proxy was very neat.
I wanted there to be mystery present in the design because it was the detective genre and for people to go from "Wow this is really pedestrian" to "Holy crap! It's the woman!"...
Pretty much worked EXACTLY like that for me.

Alas, I missed the voting. There were too many I wanted to vote for and couldn't decide.
Next time, Gadget!

[LewMoxinsghost]

Admittedly, you DID call the entry 'Rover, PI, Dog Detective', so I can kind of dig where people are coming from.
It's just that I was totally buying it, hook, line and sinker until the "in reality, however..." bit where I was quite impressed.

Up until then, I pretty much was thinking that it was just riffing on Ralph Von Wau Wau or those interminable bloody cat detective novels, but combining that particular conceit with the proxy was very neat.

Pretty much worked EXACTLY like that for me.

Alas, I missed the voting. There were too many I wanted to vote for and couldn't decide.
Next time, Gadget!

LOL Thanks again Pol! Next time Dr. Claw!

[mattbib]

I agree, it's a very fun concept for a title, but in the way of a character design it pushes way beyond what was asked for, least of all that it essentially included two characters and not one, and it was entirely too dependent upon the write-up.

[Kid Icarus]

I agree, it's a very fun concept for a title, but in the way of a character design it pushes way beyond what was asked for, least of all that it essentially included two characters and not one, and it was entirely too dependent upon the write-up.

I just felt that if you truly wanted it to be about his assistant, there would be more than two lines about her in the bio. The whole bio is basically about the character you say it isn't focused on.

[Flâneur]

Oh and Adam, I just wanted to say that I'm rather infatuated with your artwork. Well done!

[Vanish]

Ack! I missed voting!

But my top 4 are:

Affinity's Marjorie Maples
I love this style of clothing, the hair, the whole look really tells a story. Definitely my favorite.

Aljira's Sophie Coulton
Sexy print! Love the bright pink with the classy and fresh outfit!

Kid Icarus' Viola Blye
She has a great, memorable look and I adore the serious expression mixed in with the old school private eye attire.

Shade101's Lorelle
Sassy sassy sassy!