SmithsonianX: POPX1.1x The Rise of Superheroes and Their Impact on Popular Culture. What was I thinking?!? Take a MOOC at the end of the school year? Yes, it is about a topic I love (comics). Yes, it is going to be fantastic (it’s through the Smithsonian). Yes, it involves some very cool people (Stan something or other is part of the teaching team). Now as they start week 4… yes, week FOUR, I’m finally able to start catching up on my classwork and lectures. I was doing all right with the lectures for the first couple of weeks, but not the classwork. I’m now behind on everything (so instead of working I’m doing a blog entry), but I’m really excited about some things I’ve been working on because of this course.
Let me introduce you to the first idea for “Gizmo Girl”
One of the major pieces (I think, you mean I should have read the syllabus?) for this course is to create your own superhero. I decided that while I love Cecil and the joy he has given me, I needed to try something else, just for comics. So yesterday… yes, yesterday, or maybe it was the day before, the idea hit me. Of course with every idea I kept thinking “How is this different than something I’ve already read?” so I know I’ve been influenced, but I hope in the end this will be originalish.
So, you have Gizmo Girl, who is a technology based superhero. She is the niece of a retired hero (Mr. Gizmo from the comic I did for my classroom). Upon his death she is given a bracelet that she thinks is ordinary but actually gives her access to Mr. Gizmo’s lair, and all his stuff. This includes his vast array of “bugs” little robots that help him thwart crime and have actually been doing most of his job for the past few years as he was getting too old for that kind thing- so know one knows he’s dead, but the bugs are starting to show some wear and tear and it’s time for Mr. Gizmo (or Gizmo Girl) enter the battle against the bad guys. So the comic deals with her life as an elementary school student: homework, testing, teachers, mean girls, parents, etc. It also deals with her life trying to figure out this whole superhero thing, so she’s learning the ropes and then seeing how some of the stuff she learns in school can help her out.
I don’t want to give away too many plot points or spoilers yet, but I’m kinda amazed at how this character & her story are just coming to me without much effort right now. When I’m done with everything I’ll post it here and then you can look for her adventures showing up on My Geek Odyssey and maybe even in comic book form… or at least that’s the plan.
So as I have posted I’m taking a class from the Smithsonian about comic books. Our final project is to create a superhero. Many of the ideas are fantastic, mine was Gizmo Girl, an all-ages comics with a “strong female protagonist.” The class requirements were to complete a slideshow defining your character. Week one: define your mythic inspiration. Week two: define your character’s superpowers, weaknesses, and origin. Week three: define your villain’s, origin, inspiration, powers, etc. Week 4: Construct a basic story. Week 5: Make three panels from your scene. I’ll share all of this when it’s ready, but for now I thought I would at least share an updated drawing of Gizmo Girl. There might be some subtle changes, but I think this is the design I’m sticking with. I’ve learned a lot over the past 6 years, and I know I’ll end up tweaking things, simplifying them as I draw more and more. I’ve really enjoyed the class and have until the end of the month to get the last work done… wish me luck. Now it’s off to figure out a villain (yes, Cecil would be an easy choice, but I’m trying to push myself a bit).