Step 1: A Hero? Or a Villain?
Did your research lead you to any new and interesting discoveries? Any disturbing factoids? Some incredible artists perhaps? We want to hear about them! Please navigate to the Google Classroom page for Research Reflection!
…Did you do it? If yes, good, keep moving! If not, shame on you, villain! Say you’re sorry and try again.
Now. Now is the time. Now you make the choice that will dictate the course of the rest of your life… (for the next couple of days).
Now you choose to create a hero, or a villain.
(If you’re interested in creating a complex vigilante character, please feel free to do some extra research to discover how to visually represent a vigilante.)
Using your Lino inspiration board, grab some paper and a pencil and sketch out some concepts for your character. Keep in mind the research that you did and be sure you make your character’s intent is clear from his or her ‘look’. Think about what makes the villain characters LOOK bad, and what makes a heroic character look trustworthy. If your character ran up to you on the streets of New York, would you know whether he may help you or hurt you? Does your character actually have natural super powers, or do they have super intelligence or a super wallet to buy powerful gadgets. Is your character successful at what they do, or are they still getting the hang of their work?
Take some time while you sketch to think about some possible origin story ideas for your character. Why are they the way they are? Did they see their uncle get mugged and shot? Were they left on the streets as a child to be raised by vermin? Were they dropped in a tank of chemicals and left for dead? Did a meteor holding powerfully radiated material fall on them and give them superpowers?
Add some stickies to your Lino board with some ideas for your character’s origin story.
Step 2: “WHERE IS MY SUPER SUIT!?”
As so aptly demonstrated by Frozone from The Incredibles, a super identity needs a super sense of style.
Your assignment today is to look over your research Lino board and really pay attention to the designs and colors of the costumes of famous characters. Take ten minutes or so to research comic book costumes over time. Pay attention to how the costumes demonstrate the moral alignment of the characters.
On a new piece of paper, draw your character in his or her full costume.
Begin your drawing in pencil, then go over the lines in pen or sharpie and color with colored pencils or markers. Keep in mind the effects of color on meaning. What are powerful colors? What are “good” colors and shapes? What are “bad” colors and shapes?
Take time while you are drawing to think deeper into one of your origin story ideas from Step 1. Make some Lino stickies to expand on your ideas. At the start of your next mission, you will be expected to respond to a Google Classroom prompt with a paragraph explaining the back story of your character.
Mission 2:
