Static was WILDLY popular in Brazil (a country where the population is over 50% black) and we had re-runs for YEARS on open television. Everyone who was a kid in the 2000s knew and loved him. As a result, every single Brazilian Con has a LOT of static cosplayers!
So, a couple of years ago, Comic Con Experience (the biggest con in Brazil, which is actually also the biggest con in the world!) invited Static’s creator Denys Cowan as one of the guests of honor.
Now. Thousands of people attend his panel. And cosplayers went NUTS because they could show their Static cosplay to the creator himself! What none of us expected was Debts Cowan’s reaction:
He cried on stage.
He had never seen Static cosplayers - especially not so many of them! And he had no idea the show was popular here! No one ever told him his character was so beloved! Years and years of reruns and he had no idea! He obviously created the character with his experiences and his community (Black North Americans) in mind. Still, he accidentally touched a whole other community of black people who could see themselves on the screen as a superhero!
Anyway he is a lovely person and one of the best, most memorable guests we had. And I think this is a nice reminder that your art might touch people you can’t even imagine would when creating it.
Set-Up: several years ago a young adult fled her clan with a prisoner she freed. She believes the prisoner’s poor treatment was both inherently wrong and a sign of the clan’s hypocrisy.
Plot hook: a magical tracker is attached to the ex-prisoner. The young adult can suppress it, but removal will require the key, which remains in the clan’s ownership. The tracker can cause serious harm to the ex-prisoner if left on him too long
Plot:
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Action point: YA and EP have first contact with the clan
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Action point: External threat forces cooperation between clan and protagonists.
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Conflict: YA argues with clan members about their past treatment of EP.
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Action point: escalation by external threat
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Climax/confrontation ideas: this is the vindication of the YA’s viewpoint, and the resolution of EP’s healing arc. For YA, it needs to involve forcing the clan to face the contradictions between their self-concept as good people and their past actions. For EP, he should face an echo of the past and finally realizes/accepts that the abuse he survived was not justifiable or reasonable.
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Resolution: protagonists and clan are facing the future as tentative allies. Amends haven’t been fully made, but the process is starting. hopeful, but not overly saccharine. Healing/reconciliation, all that jazz, with the implication things are going to get better because people are putting in the work to be better.
“How could you do this” with the help of the demon blade “this isn’t you” well yeah it’s me and the demon blade “I know you’re a good person” yeah that wasn’t in question “please come home” not if you’re gonna be a dick to the demon blade “we need to destroy the demon blade” listen I don’t come to family gatherings and say we Need To Destroy aunt cassie and she’s genuinely evil, unlike the demon blade
Exercises for all the homies who want to have a long career drawing.
The true problem with being an artist and drawing all day (as I wanted my whole life) is that human backs are not designed to hold that position, so it is very common for artists and designers to have really stiff shoulder blades, creating a chain of muscle strain towards the arm AND the back… and a lot of pain.
These are some physical exercises for artists and honestly anyone who works at a desk.
the other day I imagined a character who’s a eunuch and has to deal with everyone assuming that this makes him inherently good at scheming and/or guarding concubines
King: “—and so, you see, it’s looking more and more like war is going to be inevitable. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know who to trust. And so I must turn to you, my most trusted advisor, to give me guidance.”
Eunuch: “Jeez. I dunno. That sounds scary.”
King: “Have you no advice for me at all? The fate of my kingdom lies in your hands!”
Eunuch: “Man, I was an English major. I don’t know what you expect of me.”
King: “But you… but your… you know…”
Eunuch: “The castration didn’t come with a poli sci degree, believe it or not.”
King: “Your bride must be an exceptional woman. Not many would be willing to overlook your… shortcomings.”
Advisor: “…um, ha, yeah, she’s pretty great. I’m very lucky that she’s so crazy about me.”
King: “Yes indeed. Though I have heard that your sort is often wildly popular with the gentler sex. I suppose that makes sense… an artisan with limited tools must needs be creative with what he has to work with!”
Advisor: “I… right. Hm.”
King: “Does she mourn the fact that you will never be able to give her a child? Or is she relieved to be spared the ravages of pregnancy?”
Advisor: “My liege?”
King: “Of course, if you plan to adopt, I will gladly recognize the child as your rightful heir.”
Advisor: “I’m sorry, do you think I’m sterile or something?”
King: “….well… I just assumed you would be, because of the… ahem.”
King: [mimes scissors cutting through the air]
Advisor: “You think I’m a eunuch?”
King: “…aren’t you?”
Advisor: “No????”
King: “But… you’re so good at scheming…”
Advisor: “Yes, I have a master’s degree in political science and skullduggery, I studied hard.”
