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Description
This is the first in a series of public domain comic character redesigns that I have planned. With the lull in Remake/Remodel challenges at Whitechapel, I have been itching to do some character redesigns. Inspired by the RetroFix columns at Project:Rooftop, I have decided to play around with some characters from yesteryear.

Introducing, all the way from 1944, appearing in Skyrocket Comics #1 from publisher Harry 'A' Chesler, Alias the Dragon! [link] This was a character with a lot of potential but no substance... perfect for reinvention! As posted at the Public Domain Super Heroes wiki:

"Police scientist Sgt Bill Norton used his police knowledge to capture criminals as Alias the Dragon. He has no powers, but uses a flame thrower for a weapon which is how he got his nickname."

PROS: Scaly, hooded cloak; Dragon theme; Flamethrower
CONS: Generic, themed, non-powered vigilante

I was initially drawn to the character design: scaly, hooded cloak and a flamethrower. This is pretty much a throw away character, a themed vigilante. I wanted to do something more interesting with him, give him a bit more of a back story. I was inspired by the scaled cloak and the dragon-theme. The challenge was to avoid mimicking a popular Image Comics character who also happens to be a dragon and a cop. Here was the result, Sgt. Bill Norton Alias, Red Dragon…

I was initially drawn to the character design: scaly, hooded cloak and a flamethrower. This is pretty much a throw away character, a themed vigilante. I wanted to do something more interesting with him, give him a bit more of a back story. I was inspired by the scaled cloak and the dragon-theme. The challenge was to avoid mimicking a popular Image Comics character who also happens to be a dragon and a cop. Here was the result, the Sgt. Bill Norton Alias, Red Dragon…

As the eldest, living member of his family, police sergeant Bill Norton was the recipient of an ancient iron-shod trunk from a distant relative in England, as termed by the their will. Opening the lizard shaped lock, Bill finds a leather hooded cloak, a pair of leather gloves and a pair of leather boots all covered in large red scales. Putting on the garments and pulling up the hood, Bill’s mind is flooded by the spirit of the mythical dragon whom the scales belonged. In exchange for a portion of its power while wearing the scaled vestments, the dragon spirit asks that Bill combat the evil in men that led to its slaying.

Bill reveals his abilities to his commanding officer who assigns Bill to the SWAT team as a “special operative” to handle the more powerful threats handled by the division.

Adopting the nom de guerre Red Dragon, Bill is possesses invulnerability to most physical harm, fire and heat anywhere the scaled material covers. The clawed gloves and boots can be used in combat and allow the Red Dragon to scale vertical surfaces. The cape can be spread out allowing the wearer to glide through the air, though it is not true flight. The signature ability of the Red Dragon is his fire breath granted to him by pulling on the cloak’s hood and merging more fully with the dragon spirit. The effects of this merge on Bill’s psyche have yet to be revealed.

Description
This is the first in a series of public domain comic character redesigns that I have planned. With the lull in Remake/Remodel challenges at Whitechapel, I have been itching to do some character redesigns. Inspired by the RetroFix columns at Project:Rooftop, I have decided to play around with some characters from yesteryear.

Introducing, all the way from 1944, appearing in Skyrocket Comics #1 from publisher Harry 'A' Chesler, Alias the Dragon! [link] This was a character with a lot of potential but no substance... perfect for reinvention! As posted at the Public Domain Super Heroes wiki:

"Police scientist Sgt Bill Norton used his police knowledge to capture criminals as Alias the Dragon. He has no powers, but uses a flame thrower for a weapon which is how he got his nickname."

PROS: Scaly, hooded cloak; Dragon theme; Flamethrower
CONS: Generic, themed, non-powered vigilante

I was initially drawn to the character design: scaly, hooded cloak and a flamethrower. This is pretty much a throw away character, a themed vigilante. I wanted to do something more interesting with him, give him a bit more of a back story. I was inspired by the scaled cloak and the dragon-theme. The challenge was to avoid mimicking a popular Image Comics character who also happens to be a dragon and a cop. Here was the result, Sgt. Bill Norton Alias, Red Dragon…

I was initially drawn to the character design: scaly, hooded cloak and a flamethrower. This is pretty much a throw away character, a themed vigilante. I wanted to do something more interesting with him, give him a bit more of a back story. I was inspired by the scaled cloak and the dragon-theme. The challenge was to avoid mimicking a popular Image Comics character who also happens to be a dragon and a cop. Here was the result, the Sgt. Bill Norton Alias, Red Dragon…

As the eldest, living member of his family, police sergeant Bill Norton was the recipient of an ancient iron-shod trunk from a distant relative in England, as termed by the their will. Opening the lizard shaped lock, Bill finds a leather hooded cloak, a pair of leather gloves and a pair of leather boots all covered in large red scales. Putting on the garments and pulling up the hood, Bill’s mind is flooded by the spirit of the mythical dragon whom the scales belonged. In exchange for a portion of its power while wearing the scaled vestments, the dragon spirit asks that Bill combat the evil in men that led to its slaying.

Bill reveals his abilities to his commanding officer who assigns Bill to the SWAT team as a “special operative” to handle the more powerful threats handled by the division.

Adopting the nom de guerre Red Dragon, Bill is possesses invulnerability to most physical harm, fire and heat anywhere the scaled material covers. The clawed gloves and boots can be used in combat and allow the Red Dragon to scale vertical surfaces. The cape can be spread out allowing the wearer to glide through the air, though it is not true flight. The signature ability of the Red Dragon is his fire breath granted to him by pulling on the cloak’s hood and merging more fully with the dragon spirit. The effects of this merge on Bill’s psyche have yet to be revealed.