Strap yourselves in, people, it’s going to be a long one this time.

Many people have commented on or asked about how I choose to portray my characters, especially Daze. Some react with interest (“Oh? Is this new? Why?”), others with confusion (“I thought your character was X, but he’s Y now? I don’t understand?) and some even with rejection (“This is wrong! He’s supposed to be X!”). Regardless of people’s reactions, I felt the time was right to explain to you all (or anyone interested, at least) how I see things.

First of all, my characters are all carefully designed and crafted individuals, often representing different aspects of myself. The only exception here is Daze, he’s by far the most fluid and flexible of the bunch, because he’s the character I use the most.
Second, to understand the way I see my characters and how I wish to portray them, I will use a beloved and famous example: Mickey Mouse. Everyone knows Mickey Mouse. Everyone knows the ‘canon’ and ‘standard’ Mickey Mouse: Mickey lives in Toontown, together with his pals Minnie, Goofy and Donald, his dog Pluto and whoever else Disney decides to include from time to time. He has an on and off relationship (?) with Minnie, but they are definitely in love with each other. Mickey even has a standard ‘outfit’: his yellow shoes, his white gloves, and his buttoned red trousers. That’s the image we conjure when we think of Mickey. Yet, through the ages, Mickey has been countless of other versions of himself, in countless different stories and scenarios. He’s been a captain, astronaut, cowboy, director, apprentice,… He’s been kind, arrogant, silly, sad, shy, angry,… Because of his ability to be so flexible in the way Disney allowed Mickey to be portrayed, he has been able to star in many more stories and captivate audiences around the world far more effectively than had he simply been relegated to the one ‘canon’ Mickey. For instance, many of us love Mickey as ‘the sorcerer’s apprentice’, even though it’s not the ‘canon’ him. Yet it’s one of his most memorable roles, by far.

What does this have to do with my characters, you wonder? Well, everything. I approach my characters the same way, Daze especially. Daze also has a ‘canon’ story, look and personality. He’s a prince from a forgotten kingdom, a supernatural and immortal warrior. He’s cocky, empathic, smug and fiercely loyal. He likes to wear his battle armour but wears a casual beach outfit when he’s not on active duty. Yet Daze has been many more things in stories, art, role play sessions and other scenarios. He’s been a model, a god, a bartender, a mentor, a sparring partner, a werewolf,… He’s been evil, good, lazy, energetic, mischievous, manipulative,… He’s worn a plethora of outfits in numerous situations,… He’s been straight, bi, gay,… He’s been a predator, a switch, a prey, a master, a pet, and everything in between. Because of this, Daze has been a part of so many stories, moments and memories that I’m certain they far eclipse the amount of stories he would have been a part of had I only allowed him to be his ‘true and canon’ self. Even though his ‘standard’ role is that of a supernatural warrior, his most memorable roles have included a fearsome predatory werewolf, a loyal and caring friend tucked away within another friend, a Casanova beachboy with a penchant for making everyone swoon, and many more. While all vastly different roles and stories, they were all Daze.

What is my point with this small essay? Simply to inform you, the reader, of the main reason why you may see or read different things involving my characters. Things you think that may not make sense for those characters. Things that may surprise you, confuse you or leave you questioning your very sanity (for all you Lovecraft fans out there). I used to be very strict with the portrayal of my characters publicly because some of the reactions I received from people made me nervous that it would sow too much confusion, disagreement or worse. After some thinking, I finally found a way to put into words what drives me to include my characters in as many scenarios and stories as possible. To watch them interact, evolve, change, bloom, and see what happens. Creativity at its finest.
I only ask that, when you see or read (or even hear) things involving my characters, you take a moment and ask yourself: “Huh… I wonder where this could lead?”. Because that’s what drawing and writing is: creating stories. Stories that could take any shape or lead anywhere. The journey there is half the fun, after all.