Zulu's art

[zuludelta]

Another Artist's Challenge update:



Click here for a larger version of the image.

I'm all samurai'ed out for the week... I think I'll be taking a break from the Challenge and work on some Ultimate-y stuff for a bit.

[zuludelta]

Just couldn't get into an "Ultimate" drawing mood today so I went back to finishing my Artist's Challenge entry... the 5th member of The Seven Virtues:



And here's how he'll look with the others:

[bearded]

i am incredibly impressed.  you have influenced my art style as well as my wife.
have you ever done that exact technique with skins?

[Nymph]

So i am guessing the yellow block will be a large bulky man, while the red will be a woman. It would make sense to have a woman in there for the simple reason that Samurai are supposed to be graceful in battle. :P

[BatWing]

that yellow big guy has a huge sword!

[Uncle Yuan]

So i am guessing the yellow block will be a large bulky man, while the red will be a woman. It would make sense to have a woman in there for the simple reason that Samurai are supposed to be graceful in battle. :P

The naginata wielder was supposed to be female (the purple figure) according to ZD.  Also, this was considered a weapon appropriate for women of the samuri caste to wield.  I'm not so sure it turned out that way.  It's also an odd twist on the the Multiple Man power . . . Multiple Person?  Multiple People?  (Kind of redundant . . . .)  PEOPLE PERSON!!!

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comments guys!

The naginata wielder was supposed to be female (the purple figure) according to ZD.  Also, this was considered a weapon appropriate for women of the samuri caste to wield.  I'm not so sure it turned out that way.

Yeah, I think the shoulders I gave her were too wide-set, thus giving her a more androgynous shape. I'll try to change that. And the distinct lack of boobage (coupled with the "masculine" stance) with her and the archer probably make them too gender-ambiguous. Of course, the easy out would be to give them red lips, but that wouldn't work in the context (they're not geisha after all).

have you ever done that exact technique with skins?

I remember trying it but I don't think I was too happy with the results. I might try skinning again at some point in the future and if I do, I'll definitely see about doing skins in a more flat, less rendered style.

Anyway, here's a more fun drawing... I wasn't so much concerned with proportions this time around, I was just basically doodling last night and came up with Ultimate Cloak and Dagger:



Yeah, I know Dagger can't levitate/fly but hey, it looks cool.

[Nymph]

OMG! THEY RULE!  :thumbup:

*drool*

[Panther_Gunn]

The naginata wielder was supposed to be female (the purple figure) according to ZD.  Also, this was considered a weapon appropriate for women of the samuri caste to wield.  I'm not so sure it turned out that way.

Yeah, I think the shoulders I gave her were too wide-set, thus giving her a more androgynous shape. I'll try to change that. And the distinct lack of boobage (coupled with the "masculine" stance) with her and the archer probably make them too gender-ambiguous. Of course, the easy out would be to give them red lips, but that wouldn't work in the context (they're not geisha after all).

I have to disagree, I think both of them came out feminine enough to be noticed, at least by their hair, mode of dress, and even posture/stance.  It isn't overt, but to me, both of them come off as female, and not a toss-up.  I know that certain visual cues that the West associates with females was used by both sexes in Asian cultures (in that time period, and to some extent today), which makes it a little more difficult to portray in some artistic styles, but I don't think you fumbled it.  Perhaps a slight narrowing of the waists could help with the visual.

[UnkoMan]

Yeah, I must say, I totally saw them as female. If anything they just look strong and athletic, which they should.

Anyhow, Ultimate Cloak and Dagger... Pretty fun indeed. I could see them actually using that.

[style]

Hey Cloak looks extremely familiar :unsure:

[Uncle Yuan]

The naginata wielder was supposed to be female (the purple figure) according to ZD.  Also, this was considered a weapon appropriate for women of the samuri caste to wield.  I'm not so sure it turned out that way.

Yeah, I think the shoulders I gave her were too wide-set, thus giving her a more androgynous shape. I'll try to change that. And the distinct lack of boobage (coupled with the "masculine" stance) with her and the archer probably make them too gender-ambiguous. Of course, the easy out would be to give them red lips, but that wouldn't work in the context (they're not geisha after all).

I have to disagree, I think both of them came out feminine enough to be noticed, at least by their hair, mode of dress, and even posture/stance.  It isn't overt, but to me, both of them come off as female, and not a toss-up.  I know that certain visual cues that the West associates with females was used by both sexes in Asian cultures (in that time period, and to some extent today), which makes it a little more difficult to portray in some artistic styles, but I don't think you fumbled it.  Perhaps a slight narrowing of the waists could help with the visual.

And see, I didn't recognize either as female - but that could just be me.  :unsure:  Now that I know that I can go back and see it, but at first glance they both look male to me.

[zuludelta]

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to leave comments/view the images!

I know that certain visual cues that the West associates with females was used by both sexes in Asian cultures (in that time period, and to some extent today), which makes it a little more difficult to portray in some artistic styles, but I don't think you fumbled it.

That's an interesting point. I'm of Asian descent myself and that could explain the discrepancy between the perception of gender (as a side note, and to sort of support this notion, note that in many instances of contemporary Asian pop art such as anime and manga, individuals can and do come off as being sexually ambiguous/monomorphic when it comes to their facial features).

And see, I didn't recognize either as female - but that could just be me.

Well, I've gone and made some tiny changes to the naginata-wielder... nothing too drastic (and not one deserving a new screen cap)... just narrowed the shoulders a little and reduced the shadow along her cheeks. To tell the truth, the shoulders had been bothering me even before I posted the image but I thought it was just me.


Thanks for all the feedback guys.

Anyhow, Ultimate Cloak and Dagger... Pretty fun indeed. I could see them actually using that.

I'm surprised they haven't already shown up in Ultimate Spider-Man, given Bendis' love for all things '80s.

Anyway, Here's Ultimate Sasquatch for all you Alpha Flight fans. Yes, all five of you  :lol:



I made a conscious decision to make him more ape-like (hence the gibbon-like limb proportions)... I imagine the Ultimate version of Sasquatch would be a mutant, something of an evolutionary throwback in terms of his physiotype, but retaining the genius intelligence of the 616 version (sort of like Beast).

Oh, and I gave him a pair of pants.

As a kid, one thing that always bothered me was how could metamorphic heroes like Sasquatch and Wolfsbane could somehow change from their feral, animal forms (where they're virtually naked except for a covering of bodily fur) into their human forms without having to put on their costumes. Was it ever explained in the comics (unstable molecule fabrics maybe)? Could you imagine being on the same team as the 616 version of Sasquatch? I mean, if I'm Guardian/Vindicator, I don't care if I've got a personal forcefield... I want something more substantial than matted orange hair separating me from my teammate's junk! 

I'll try and do Ultimatize-d versions of the rest of the classic Flight line-up sometime in the future.

[Courtnall6]

I like the art style you've got going here zulu :cool:

I'm not into "ultimizing" characters from the real Marvel Universe...so I can't say I like any of your ultimate redesigns. Taking the sais away from Elektra was a bad idea imho. Twin pistols are over done these days and it just turns her into another gun blazer in leather.

Like I said though...the work is excellent!

[zuludelta]

Heya Court, glad you're liking the style I'm employing in these images.

As for the "ultimatization" thing, I find that there's very little middle ground for a lot of comic book fans... they either like the idea or they don't... which I'm totally fine with... the whole impetus for me starting this thread was because I absolutely hated what they actually did (or didn't do, as it were) with Ultimate Punisher, Daredevil, and Elektra. I tend to view the whole thing (my coming up with my own "Ultimate" Marvel characters) as an exercise of sorts... for a lot of the images I've posted, I started out with a half-formed visual idea and just freely associated them with an existing Marvel character (or vice versa) and I find that I can come up with a whole image a lot quicker that way. 

Thanks again for taking the time to look and post comments!

[crimsonquill]

The problem with Marvel's Ultimate editorial crew is that they push less on creativity with the revamping/modernizing of the characters but more on just wiping the slate clean with the back story and changing the costume but only just enough that the less casual fan can still tell who it is. With the cases that Zulu pointed out initially they just changed the costume but are pretty much the same character even to the point that even DK's Marvel Encyclopedia accidently used the ultimate drawings for the 616 versions. That's where the problems for Ultimate Marvel are starting because they just refuse to change some characters too much for fear that the fans would not pick up the Ultimate version. Zulu has some pretty good concepts going thus far and shows that he has no fear in tweaking the concept down far enough to take it in the different direction (i.e. The Skateboarder Ghost Rider) because of following Marvel's own "rules" for that universe.

I love the look for his Ultimate Elektra but I'd make the guns katanas and then give her a far more sinister goth edge after her resurrection because she faced her own death. It might make for an interesting story to have her embrace her assassin side instead of repenting for it like her 616 counterpart did. But then again it's my take not his - especially I keep thinking of the Bride from Kill Bill when I think of assassin gone good.

Keep it up, Zulu!  :thumbup:

- CrimsonQuill

[Nymph]

I think Sasquatch is cute like that!  :D

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comments guys.

As I've stated before, one of the "rules" I'm following for making these Ultimate redesigns is the commonly known editorial mandate that limits creators from making "cosmic" or "mystic" characters (except of course, in the case of the Ultimate Fantastic Four where they kinda thrive on that type of thing... but even then, most cosmic/mystic entities introduced are simply explained away as alien and/or über-science that simply defies human understanding). Another implied rule in Ultimate character creation (as I've read numerous times from various creator and editor interviews) is that powered characters generally fall into one of three classes:

(a) mutant: those born with innate powers such as Ultimate Wasp or those who've gained powers in a non-hereditary fashion but whose genetic make-up is irrevocably altered and are likely to pass on their altered genetic make-up to their offspring (i.e.; Ultimate Spider-Man). 

(b) "technological" hero: either augmented mechanically/cybernetically (i.e., Iron Man); or with drugs/chemicals (Ultimate Captain America, Ultimate Hulk, Ultimate Hank Pym) or even a combination of both (Ultimate Black Widow)

© Non-superpowered specialist: this is where guys like the Punisher and Ultimate Shang-Chi fall under.

Of course, there are exceptions, I've mentioned Dr. Strange and there are aliens such as Captain Marvel but I'd like to think that these are either unintentional oversights or the creators and editors ffelt that there was no way to re-create the character in the Ultimate universe without resorting to the "mysitc/cosmic" origin. Also, there's Ultimate Thor, who started as a "is he or isn't he?" god but... anyways, I won't ruin his true origin for those of you waiting for the final Ultimates 2 trade paperback.

With that digression out of the way, here's my take on Ultimate Brother Voodoo:



notes on the image:

- His get-up is inspired by the traditional description for Baron Samedi, the voodoo loa (spirit/demi-god) associated with death.

- The partially obscured pattern behind him is a vevé (ritual inscription), just one of many associated with Baron Samedi, used to invoke his powers and protection.

Even wrote up a brief backstory:

Dr. Jericho Drumm is a trained ethnobotanist and pharmacologist, schooled in the use of plant-derived psychotropic and hallucinogenic substances. He is also an outspoken political activist, frequently railing against and drawing attention towards corrupt government and corporate officials. He leaves his native Haiti and moves to New York to escape political persecution, but his family pays the price... a hired death squad assassinates his brother. Drumm secretly negotiates a return to Haiti, and now wages a covert one-man war against those who would take advantage of his countrymen. Drumm takes to calling himself Brother Voodoo, donning the garb of the loa Baron Samedi to take advantage of the superstitious criminal population. He wields a cane that doubles as a blowgun, which he uses to fire darts dipped in various toxins and hallucinogens." 

[UnkoMan]

Heck yes! Baron Samedi's always been an awesome visual.

This is what the Ultimate universe SHOULD be doing, in my opinion. Taking characters that are treated as jokes, as Brother Voodoo often is, and making them into sweet looking, interesting people. I could totally see this guy getting an arc in... I don't know. Daredevil or something. (Or Moon Knight, if he were to get his own Ultimate book, which he should) He'd be doing all this dren that would make you expect magic, but in the end you'd find out it was just a bunch of trickery and he isn't magic at all... then give you a "OR IS IT?" cliffhanger ending. That's how the Ultimate style should be. More "realistic" as in things are explained away with science... but at the same time sort of walk the line. Leave us hanging.

But man, I haven't actually read that stuff since Spider-Man and X-Men only shipped in magazine format for the first couple issues.

[zuludelta]

Glad you liked my take on Brother Voodoo, unko. I can't even remember the last classic Brother Voodoo story I read... it might've been an old issue of Marvel Team-Up or something like that. As a side note, I think he's due for an appearance in an upcoming issue of New Avengers.

Anyways, here's my take on Guardian (of Alpha Flight and Omega Flight fame):

EDIT: Image updated in next post

As you can see, I've based the design of the Guardian suit on Masamune Shirow's Landmate battle suits from his Appleseed manga. I tried to make it a more sleek and slightly smaller version, although I did retain the small control arms that jut out from the suit's chest. How these work is that the mech's slave arms copy the movements of the operator's control arms, although the operator can also disengage the connection between the control arms and the slave arms, freeing up his own arms to do fine manipulation.

I even made a mock-up blueprint (showing the location of the operator, among other things), sort of like the ones that used to come with the the old 3 and 3/4" GI Joe vehicles:

EDIT: Image updated in next post

And here's a brief backstory:

The GUARDIAN (General Utility Armoured Infantry/Assault Neo-suit) tactical platform is Canada's response to SHIELD's growing Iron Man and Rocket Man programs. Based on the cybernetics work of Drs. James Macdonald Hudson and Heather Hudson, the GUARDIAN represents an alternative to Stark Industries' approach to cybernetic military technology. Operators of the GUARDIAN will not be required to have invasive and expensive hardwire implants to operate the suit (as currently required of the Iron Man and Rocket Man operators), but will instead interface with the suit using a combination of actuators and a trans-dermal sheath that conducts nerve and muscular impulses directly to the GUARDIAN's artificial neural net. While not as powerful and agile as the top-of-the-line Iron Man and Rocket Man models, the GUARDIAN requires less maintenance and is far more reliable and durable in battlefield conditions.

[zuludelta]

Just a real quick one this time... my take on Sunspot!



Didn't really change anything visually, I think Sunspot is one of the most solid designs in the Marvel U... just outfitted him in Brazilian-themed garb and had him in a capoiera pose.

[Blkcasanova247]

  :lol: That's freakin' great bro....I love it. :thumbup: And I really dig that guardian as well...very Appleseed/Patlabor! :D

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comments bc!

I went back and re-did the head on the Guardian drawing... after looking at the original image, I decided that all the angular lines on the Robotech-inspired head were in conflict with the more rounded edges of the armour's body. Anyway, here's the updated version:

[zuludelta]

Here's something different... an almost straight-up interpretation of Ultimate Black Widow (just moved the SHIELD insignia from her chest to her belt buckle):

EDIT: pic updated (thanks, Panther_Gunn!)



I spent the bulk of the time working on this image trying to get the sniper rifle to sit right and I actually posed in the mirror for this one... I had a bugger of a time trying to get the perspective down.

[Panther_Gunn]

My only problem with the Widow picture is technical, in regards to the pose.  Her supporting hand (left) doesn't provide much control with her thumb down like that.  At the very least, after the first shot, she's not going to have anywhere close to the same positioning with the rifle, as it will have slid off her hand.  Granted, I don't know much about being a sniper ( ;)), but I do know it feels more natural, and is almost instinctual, to have the thumb spread out more, almost like when you go to pick up something cylindrical, like a can of soda, cradling the front of the weapon.

[zuludelta]

Her supporting hand (left) doesn't provide much control with her thumb down like that.

Good catch PG... I should've caught that, too... having spent two years as a reservist, one of the things I should at least remember besides how to shine my boots is how to hold a rifle. Anyways, I've updated the pic with the correct hold. Also turned out to be a lot more work than I thought, after moving the thumb I had to move the head and rifle higher, good thing I didn't delete the working .PSD when I posted the first pic.

[BatWing]

awsome black widow man! :thumbup:

[zuludelta]

Appreciate you taking the time to post in this thread Raijin!

Anyway, here's another drawing... it's Ghost Rider 2099:



For those of you not familiar with the character, the book was actually published during the mid-1990s, and was, in my opinion, the best of the Marvel 2099 titles. It starred a quasi-anarchist hero whose mind is trapped in the body of a battle droid (the flames are a holographic projection). It had great artists in Chris Bachalo and Ashley Wood (who drew the series' latter half). and a great cyberpunk vibe... in fact, I'd say that the protagonist, Zero Cochrane, was perhaps a spiritual predecessor of The Matrix's Neo. Of course, the myriad thematic similarities between Ghost Rider 2099 and the first Matrix movie is probably more due to the fact that both were highly influenced by William Gibson's Neuromancer, and not because the creators of the Matrix films were cribbing off of Len Kaminski's writing. 

[Figure Fan]

Zulu, I absolutely love these drawings!

First of all, the character just leaks out of each image. I think its because of this new style or something, but they are so much fun to look at. Secondly, the reimagined background stories make for an interesting read.

My favorite is Sunspot so far. Please, keep these coming.

P.S. Have you considered trying any cosmic/mystic characters yourself?

[juancho]

zulu, this pseudo animated style you have devolped and keep improving with every pic u post is actually impresive, i am in lovewith most of your desings,especially the cloak and dagger one, really creative urban look