One Year Later, as I’ve mentioned before, means a lot of design work for both old characters and new. In fact, that design work is still an ongoing concern. Sam and Spy Gal were the first two Marc worked on because they were the first to show up, in SF 564.
For Sam, I wanted more a Sean Connery look for him, crossed with Col. Tigh on Battlestar Galactica (the new one). I’m a huge Battlestar fan and I don’t mind saying the primary inspiration for the One Year Later storyline was the Season 2 cliffhanger. Sam’s white eyepatch is a nod to that, and a reference you’ll get if you’ve seen the show (but that I won’t spoil here). Marc wasn’t too sure about the eyepatch being white and that’s why you see different versions of it alongside the sketch. Since it was an homage, it was the one detail I insisted on.
Actually, that’s not true. Another detail no one has noticed yet are the three little jewels across the top of the eyepatch. There’s a reason for them, but I’m not ready to reveal it.
Everything else was Marc’s idea, from the Russian bear theme to Sam’s new hat (I wanted him bald, but Marc proved right away how cool a new hat could be) to how to incorporate a more militaristic look into Sam’s uniform. It’s a radical redesign, but I think I already love it more than his old look.
Spy Gal was a bit tougher. The short hair was an idea I had for a long time and I even drew up a sketch to show what I was thinking, but even then I wasn’t sure. I liked the longer haired Spy Gal we’d been getting from Marc up until now. Marc was the one who convinced me to just pull the trigger on the hair, partly because the longer hair is just tougher to draw, but also because the short hair just makes her look tougher. It does make sense for her as a character. She’s more no-nonsense now and I don’t really see her spending the time in the morning to look just right. It fits her new lifestyle.
For the clothes, again it’s a more militaristic look. In all ways except one. After wearing cargo pants for the last few chapters, Marc brought back Spy Gal’s tights. It’s a small detail and probably not one anybody noticed, but it speaks to her more superheroic roots, which is important to maintain.
More sketches to come as more characters are revealed!
Panel 3, like holy crap, he punched straight through her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1G19NcXRGo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRWxJiMM3Jg&feature=player_detailpage#t=64
Haha! Perfect, great clip.
When SuperFogeys reaches the end of its run, I, for one, am looking forward to the follow-up comic, The Sucktacular Suckface.
As do we all.
Does Spy Gal have a new power where Suckface’s fist goes through her like a ghost? (Or did she have that all along and I just missed that?) Some awesome artwork!
One of Spy Gal’s powers always has been phasing, so should could go through walls or things could pass through her. That’s why Dr. Klein/Jerry had the power dampener on her; so she simply wouldn’t phase through the walls of Vahalla and go home.
I think this strip is a first–somebody other than Space Pig showing concern for Sam.
billydaking is correct. She’s a phaser! See the fight between Spy Gal and Zurida back in Chapter 15 for its most ample usage.
Ah, thanks for clearing that up for me!
If we didn’t know Spy Gal’s powers that last panel would be more worrisome.
Yes, and it seems some have taken it that way!
I actually had to read the character bio on Sam to find out what his powers are. I honestly don’t recall we’ve EVER seen him use them, ever. I might be wrong of course, but I don’t recall it.
That said, it should be rather interesting to see how the dogpile (or attempt) works against a guy who has both Superhuman Strength AND Agility.
I think you’re right. Sam using his powers is a rare thing. He’s basically Captain America, just, y’know, old and Russian (sort of).
I for one love how Spy Gal couldn’t appear less concerned with Suckface attacking her in panel 3 and checks on Sam. Suckface is superhuman but doesn’t exactly appear to be the fittest fiend around. Is the plan to let him simply swing ineffectually at her until he gets tired out or suffers a heart attack from the exertion? Now that I’ve said that, I’m rooting for heart attack simply because I think it would be the most unexpected ending to a super fight ever. And also hysterical. “Prepare to die you old – Gragghh! Ambulance, call . . . an ambulance . . . ” He’s big enough, she could also just stand inside him until and laugh while he tries to figure out what to do.
I’ve always wondered why Kitty Pryde doesn’t just do that–stand inside someone and threaten to go solid. I guess she’d die in the process to that’s a bad plan, but still.
Hey, Brock! Marc!
It’d been a couple weeks or so since I last checked in, so when I got back and saw this – WOAH! Was I confused!! lol. It’s a bold move to jump a year later, but it only means that you know where the story is going and what’s going to happen (and I don’t), so you know that this is the best direction to take the plot. DIGGING (as in loving) the new redesigns for both of these characters! Which is saying something, because redesigns on beloved characters can be risky! I didn’t know that was Sam at first – thought it was the Captain (where is he? A favorite character of mine, despite imperfections) – but that design is perfect. I agree with Brock – it’s better in ways than the original (more militaristic, but less superhero; still, it looks great). I’m also loving Spy Gal’s return to her superhero roots by seeming to maintain her normal costume, except adding that FABULOUS coat! No, I’m not fruity, I just think it’s fabulous. Really. lol. I loved her original hair style from back in the day, but this style suits a post-apocalyptic America story much better, lol. And Suckface? Totally reminding me of a DC space-originating bounty hunter in many ways… Which is good! Much love for Suckface! Glad to finally see him in the strip! (previously I think we see his cell door in the Dictator Tot origin set in HEL; have I ever mentioned that’s an awesome name for a Supervillain prison?).