695 – Caddy Mouth…
Redesigning Roni
I have been thinking, for a while now, that Roni is due for an update. She would be the first Capes & Babes character that would get a huge make-over. The other characters have gone through small metamorphosis but I consider those to be more along the lines of “refinements” as opposed to outright make-overs.
For example, even though many people have told me their amazed that I can draw Roy so consistently, he has actually gone through a series of very, very minor adjustments that I’m the only one that probably sees and recognizes them.
Marc – with the exception of the addition of his black bowling shirt – has remained incredibly consistent. The same can be said for Joey as well. Those two characters have gone through very, very little changes since I started the strip.
But Roni was due for a change. She has a complicated costume that sometimes takes up a lot of panel real estate and she’s a bit difficult to draw consistently. I have been wanting to explore ways to solve her costume problems, streamline her a bit and make her a little bit sexier than I have been.
Here are the results of what I came up with (click the image to see a slightly bigger version):
What do you guys think?
Also, if you want to contribute ideas as the WHY she decided to get a make-over, feel free to share those in the comments section. I’d be very interested in hearing your ideas…
I think the new haircut is quite cute. For the clothes, I have to say that I am so *tired* of corsets. But that’s my own personal fashion prejudice.
Thanks for the compliments, Laurie. I wanted to give Roni more of a short, spiked haircut. As for the corset, I still wanted to keep some of the aspects of her old outfit intact, and the corset was the way to go. One of the things I loved when I first created her was the laced up front so I wanted to keep that too. 🙂
I like the slightly smaller hat, especially compared to the really old one in the ‘Wild Thing’ ad panel. I’ve often wondered what’s up with the goggles on it, though; she never wears them. Or are they buckles? I too like the corset, but combined with the boots and goggles / buckles give a slightly ‘steam punk’ appearance, which is currently being overdone across all media. She’d fit right in busting heads with the Jagers over at ‘Girl Genius’.
Don’t get any of the above give you the impression she isn’t smokin’ hot. What’s her motivation to change? To keep Roy on the hook, of course. Pissing her brother off is just icing on the cake.
Hey Charlie, thanks for the compliments.
As far as Roni’s hat goes, that’s a nod to the one hit wonder group, 4 Non Blondes. Go check out YouTube and search for their video, “What’s up”… you’ll see a very similar type of hat and goggles on the lead singer.
My intention with Roni was to make her a mix between steampunk and goth. I figured a female vampire that’s 400+ years old would be into those sorts of things and the combination of the two is fun to draw. 🙂
“Go check out YouTube and search for their video…”
I’ll take it as a compliment that you assume I didn’t see it when that song was a hit!
🙂
Charlie, when it comes to all the 80’s one-hit wonders I have loaded up in MY iPod, I never like to assume other people will even recognize those artists or songs. Heck, people still can’t believe I have Steele Breeze on my iPod.
Oh, and the shorter, spikier hair both looks good and must be easier to draw.
We’ll have to wait and see if the hair is easier or harder to draw. It will certainly be faster to ink! 🙂
Love it! Nice job Chris.
Thanks man! I just read your blog today about snow plowing. my dad used to do that a LOT when he was with the military and, later, as a contractor for a near by military base.
I approve. I liked the old Roni, but this one is definitely superior.
Thanks, man. We gotta do lunch again soon.
I love it! Clearly she’s more vixen-y because you’re going to write that romantic arc you’ve been threatening, that’s WHY. And she knows how wolves like us like ’em.
Thanks for my comment this morning. Means a lot.
Looks great. My 4 year old says she likes her teeth and ears, but her clothes and eyes are the best.