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OBSESS-Archive β OBSESS 2.0
#andrah #chronicles #city #dr #obsess #online #otto #pcc #polymer #sheeri #webcomic
Published: 2014-10-12 01:27:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 4204; Favourites: 58; Downloads: 89
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I've been keeping this under my hat for awhile, but over the last year I've been experimenting with various redesigns of the core OBSESS team as they approach their 20th online anniversary; here you'll find the result. Input from various sources as well as critiques on other posted art have helped me piece together a final redesign that I'm happy with, and hopefully longtime fans will like as well. These designs keep each character's essence intact (Sheeri in particular is very much a product of her earlier appearances) while stylistically bringing them into the smartphone age. As many of you know, a lot of redesign experiments over the last few years have been all over the map (Andrah in particular was the toughest to update), but I hope you'll agree that the updated team works as well as I believe it does.Related content
Comments: 62
I still miss the mohawk, but as if you didn't know I'm obsessed with those.
STILL, character development happens all the time and is a constant thing for most of us. People always yearn for the 'good old days' so to speak.
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I respect your decisions but personally I don't particularly like this redesign. The characters are all a lot smoother and less detailed and I'm disappointed that you're going back to slim Sherri.
When I first stumbled across her it was in that fan art where she met her future, muscular self. I love the idea of this petite, awkward girl being transformed into a towering (and frankly buxom) powerhouse.Β A feminine, pretty girls head stuck onto a titan's body. I went through the entire comic archive trying to find when her transformation occurred before I realised it was just a work of fanart.
I was hopeful when you started posting new art of muscular Sherri and saying that you might reboot the comic with her becoming a superhero,Β endowed with strength and flight, becoming a champion of justice and defender of her people.
I think you should consider going for that, you said yourself that muscular Sherri had fans.
Here's a thought, remember that part from the comics whete you said how Atrias was a member of the Eltrius Palatini, an order of holy warriors?
And you remember when Shanduri was on board the Thunderhead, seemed to put herself in a meditative state seemed to make her more determined and changed the colour of her eyes?
Well maybe, Shanduri was a member of Eltrius Palatini and they have the ability to switch between a normal and muscular physique in times of need. If you make that true and Sherri becomes a member then you could satisfy everyone by having both slim and muscular Sherri.
Would you think?
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I wouldn't rule it out, actually. It's worth considering, and an interesting proposition. The thing about reboots is you can do almost anything you want with 'em. Given as I don't really know what I'm doing, it's always possible that it might be time for me to embrace the superheroic part of the art that I do, but I think I'll need to work on further design concepts if I were to go that route. I'd want her to look closer to her original appearance in terms of facial design (rather than the older one-off designs), and I'd want the costuming to be far more practical and less revealing.Β
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I agree, I didn't like her face squared and lined, I like the idea of her cute head on broad shoulders. And that costume that Atrias wore was clearly for sex appeal and had no tactical merit. Isn't armour supposed to cover and protect?
Then again, if you added some measure of invulnerability to her powers then the practicality and functionality of her costume wouldn't matter. Also, would you say that Sherri would be a superhero or more a fantasy hero?
By the way, what format is this new comic going to take? Is it going to be like your early ones, a series of one-off panels or a story arc? there could be an arc where Sherri starts to acquire her powers, feels scared, awkward and fears she's going to lose her femininity. But gradually embraces the change, becomes more confident and sees herself as a woman of power.
Also, not to be a nag but, you never did provide an explination of how and why two aliens were on earth and working for a magazine.
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Honestly I don't have any idea of the hows or whys, I'm just throwing darts at the wall at the moment. Truth is that I've been considering a costume redesign for her to begin with; she more or less wore Artias' gear and doesn't have much to distinguish her silhouette.
I'm not even sure there's gonna be a 'new comic', as with two jobs I don't have the sort of time I did a few years ago, nor do I have a consistent schedule.Β
Oh, which magazine were they working for?
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I thought at Dr Otto worked for a magazine called Obsess.
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Not quite; OBSESS is an acronym for the Otto Bonn Society of Extraterrestrial and Supernatural Studies.Β
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Liking the revamp for sure. I get all nostalgic whenever I see these guys.
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I like these new redesigns a lot actually. ^__^
Personally I've always liked the younger versions of Sherri, versus the older versions with facial lines and a squared-off jawline.
It might be just me, but the older versions of her seemed like an entirely different character. Though for me this feeling is limited to the head and face, I've actually had a soft-spot for her body being all huge and buff. <3
Otherwise I hope you will still draw in your older style as well, I like both a lot.
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Man, PCC had some of the best gags, and your art style is amazing. "Luftwaffles" is a running gag in my household even today. Thanks for... hell, still doing what you're doing.
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I've been (still am) struggling with working on old character designs so I can empathize.
In any case, these are really adorable. Can't say I'm an "old fan" since I wasn't around those years so I don't know these characters too well (seen them, but didn't know them as well as some fans here). But regardless, these look really nice so far. Really love Sheeri's headshape/hair for some reason.. it's just really cute-- almost chipmunkish XD. Andrah looks very pretty as well and Otto(?) is a very memorable design.
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I'm torn, myself.
I mean, on the one hand, I am all for the "new", whatever that is or may become. You're a great artist and storyteller; I am confident that you'll make it work no matter what style and efforts you put into it. On the other hand, I am nostalgic for the original works, (this coming from an oldtimer from the days of the forums with GalacticRoot and the others), and would love to see it continued. My thought on that is that maybe it is better to focus on the quality and not on churning things out on a schedule. I mean, if you still have fans following you around after all these years, I think we can more than deal with an irregular / elongated release schedule.
I also understand where you are coming from, having to optimize your art around living your life. In the end, though, you have to do something that *YOU* can be happy with. Draw the characters *YOU* want to draw. Tell the story that *YOU* want to tell. Do it all in a time frame that works best for *YOU*. I don't think anyone can really ask any more of you than that, including yourself.
If there's a front row of seats to O.B.S.E.S.S. 2.0, I'll be sitting in them. All of them.
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I cannot name the characters above, but as far as the muscle girl goes, I like her boobless self.
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It's great to see this team in a whole new look. Awesome job.
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I realy liked your Comics and my all time favourite was Andrah. I will be frank and direct, I dont like the "new style". It is all going into the direction of the cheap Cartoons the Show today. First you made them great like some early Disney Films (Snowwhite, Cinderella), where everything did look realistic, and now ist this "Johny Bravo" and "SpongeBob" style.
Andrah had such a beautiful Slim and handsomeΒ noble face, also her magnificent figure and nice boobs. Now what is she? This just isn't right. I'm like Prof. Higgins in "MY fair Lady" --- "I've grown accustomed to her face". One shouldn't bow to the whims of current "Fashion" but stay true to your own unique style. One recognizes a Gettar or RedSilver, Pokutti anywhere because they are unique.
Dont Change the characters, but if you must - then the Story. If someone else draws your characters different, then fine - it's their style.
Poor Andrah, she now looks like some sort of pudgy elf.
Sorry if I Sound harsh, but I love the originals to much.
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I get where you're coming from and appreciate the comment. Truth be told if i had all day every day to work on comics, i might not be changing a thing, but that's simply never going to be an option. It's interesting that you bring up the animation parallel...the reasons i'm shifting style development is for the same reasons animation has shifted so much in the last decade. Notice how traditional animation such as Disney and Bluth have vanished? Its a matter of time and budget...that type of animation takes a long time to produce and costs a great deal. TV animation figured out how to compete, and this was to streamline production design to meet the rapid pace of scheduling.Β
My reasoning is the same. If i do pick up the pencil again, i have to switch gears and streamline production design to fit any art around the two jobs i already work. I can't go back to where i've already been...it's simply unsustainable, and i'd lose the desire to continue just as i did the first time out. I freely admit that this does come with the added benefit of possibly appealing to a broader audience since I'm taking a different tack on desig; when I originally began PCC I was taking a more comic-book approach, but as someone who hasn't read comic books (other than Judge Dredd) for the last decade, I'm no longer going that route. As I went deeper into PCC over the years I began to realize I was doing it for all the wrong reasons, burnt a lot of bridges and said a lot of things I've regretted to people who didn't deserve it. I've gotten over myself though, and I won't be making these same mistakes again. I'm a different person than I was twenty years ago, and if I give this another go I need a new start to go along with it.Β
Change isn't always easy, I know. But sometimes even if something isn't exactly what you remember, it turns out worthwhile after all (I cite personal fave Teen Titans Go! as an example). Believe me when I say its not my intent to disappoint, but to renew my interest in art I need to start over from a fresh perspective and remember to never let the fun drain out of it - a mistake that cost me a lot of goodwill over the years.Β
So a few bullet points that are guiding my mindset:
- Be respectful of character essence when rebooting design and backstory.Β
- Prioritize line economy through stylistic evolution.Β
- Reduce visual clutter, minimize unnecessary detail.
- Long-form stories are out.Β
- Maximize the medium; anything is possible, not everything needs explaining.Β
- Have fun.
- Don't embarrass yourself. Again.Β
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I can understand that someone wants to try something new and Change a style. But don't you think it would be more suitable if you created a new "Comic universe" with new characters and Story? Then no one would be disapointed.
But be honest, just look at that new Andrah. She Looks completely different than the sweet original. Your original was like a buxom scandinavian type fbb. This one is some pudgy asian like goblin eared Sumo wrestler.
I also can't realy beleive that this new Version is more simple to draw in matter of time. They both are simple line art type scetches.
Imagine if someone would take Daffy Duck, Tom & Jerry, Bugs Bunny and utterly change the animation style. Everyone would say "Hey, thats not Bugs!"
I don't even want to think what the gorgeous Lindy will turn out to be.
I think such changes to a more "simple" or "crude" form are always a decline of quality.
But whatever....
Im just sad, that I wont see the true Andrah & Co ever again.
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Consider this though: Batman has been depicted in dozens of different variants throughout various media, yet he's always been Batman (a hilarious final episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold tackled this very issue). I really do get where you're at though; you're not the only one who's brought these points up. I can only hope that if I do decide to try this all over again, that what I have in mind actually works.Β
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seems what bothrs him the most is her beast size i quite like this look though
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I just hope you will continue using the "old style" once in a while and draw your gang the way they were as solo pics.
As for Batman, he basicly does look the same, I think the changes in his Outfit are just because the advanced technic we have today. You can hardly have him run around in a purple cotton jumpsuit with his underwear on the outside.
Its not like Batman is now bald and chubby with missing teeth and piercings. But Andrah went from cute muscle gal of this:
Β www.polymercitychronicles.com/β¦
to something with big spots on her body andΒ big pointy goblin ears. Dr. Otto Looks more or less the same, he just seems to have a different hairstyle. Oh well, I made my point, no use arguing anymore.
Btw.Β You once had some very nice scetches of this buff kitty girl. Where can I find them, I lost them with my last drive-Crash.
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I know I've got those neko images around here somewhere; I'll have to dig them up and rescan them since they're not on the current HD.
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Sir, I do love the redesigns my good sir. Very well done!
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Interesting new style... looks good^^
Not that your previous one didn't - it was awesome
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I like how Otto and Andrah redesigns came out. And going back to the original styling for Sheeri made sense. One question: will you still be occasionally drawing Sheeri as we know her now? Also, emailed you then.
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Unlikely. Most of the work I've done here was primarily to give myself something to do in my spare time. If I go back to regular works, that'll be my focus.Β
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So no more "non-canon" Sheeri? Shame, but understood.
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If this gets off the ground, then that'll be the case. I'll just leave that to the fan art.
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Ah, okay. Fair enough, thanks. You catch my question about the request from awhile back?
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I don't see anything in the note file.Β
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Ah, it was an email awhile back. I think in 2012, did you want me to send the convo again via email or note?
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Send it here. I think I know which one it was, and despite several attempts, I don't see this one ever getting completed.Β
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Okay, working on the note now.
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al three very cool, but⦠OTTO! what you did to yout hair?!
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Well hello there, Polymer City. I've missed you so.
Been what, seven years since PCC.com was frozen in time?
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Yeah, Nov 2007 it was.
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Wonderful to hear you might be bringing it back, especially with everything you've learned since then.Β Will Lyndie be returning as well?
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I won't say no, but I don't have any plans for her at this time. That being said, I've tinkered with a much more conservative redesign for her in recent days.Β
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Haha, well, it'd be hard to to have a *less* conservative design for her, so that's to be expected.
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The first two are pretty neat but I like Sheeri the way she was. Β
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But this IS how she was.
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Interesting, so what does this mean...a return to the series....you left it on a big cliffhanger
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Ideally I'd like to do something next year; if so, it wouldn't be a continuation but an full reboot. Long-form stories are out; I don't have the endurance or time for them as I still work six days a week, and I think there's enough empirical evidence to prove that I'm not very adept at finishing what I start.Β
While I do regret a lot of the ways I've handled things in the past, I've learned a lot from those mistakes; I definitely know my limitations much better than before.Β
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Next year sounds awesome...sorry that the story will not continue......is there any chance you could tell us the fans what the plot was and where it was going, plus whats the end!!!!! Eeek dying to know ....please..........please
Cheetaur
Β
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It was going nowhere, really.Β
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I will be completely honest, I vastly prefer this version of Sheeri over the versions you've tried over the last few years. While Andrah always worked as a bigger, beefier woman, that same approach never really sat well with me when it came to Sheeri. I'm not quite sure how to really describe it beyond this idea: They may have had the same name, and some (minor, depending on the picture) physical similarities, but the "HUEGE!" versions of Sheeri didn't have the original's spirit. Sheeri becoming that big just never seemed likely based on her characterization in your original comic (or at least, what I personally got from it), so seeing her like that over the last few years has been really rather jarring. (If anything, I always figured that if Sheeri went down the fit route, she'd end of like female weight/power lifter Samantha Wright. That seemed a much better fit for her personality.) *
Overall though, it makes me really happy to see these three again. I remember finding your comic about them back in the early/mid 2000s, and to this day I'm still sad that we never saw the conclusion of the last story arc they were in. If this is any way shape or form a preview of a new reboot, then I can't wait to see these characters again.
(* I just want to add that I realize that these are your characters, so ultimately it's your call how they'd develop over the span of their lives. I just wanted to add my thoughts on it is all.)
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Ha, no I get where you're coming from, and you're completely right. Most of what I've been doing with her was just a run-off with some non-canon stuff that folks liked, just for the hell of it. I don't think anyone ever really took those images as canon, did they?
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I always viewed "Buff Sheeri" as a sort of "alternate universe" character, in the way that gave both you and the fans the freedom to appreciate a completely different (and rather popular) take on the character without burdening the canon story or character with anything. Essentially a long-running "What if?" creation. I do hope that as the series is rebooted, you'll continue to do the occasional "alternate universe" work
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Ah, good to hear. I'm not sure about others, but for me, those pictures seemed to be the direction where your "canon" was going, which was why I personally found them distasteful. Especially when in one picture, you alluded to the idea that Andrah and Otto would divorce in the future. That just seemed really sad and unnecessary to me.
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