You’ll notice these characters are all female, some transgendered. I do this because I like women, and like seeing women in hero costumes. You’ll also notice that these characters are going to be from very diverse backgrounds racially. I do this because I like reading about characters from backgrounds other than mine own--Hell, I would find it boring to write only about white guys in late middle age. If you find this objectionable, then this month is not for you.
I am still looking for artists who are willing to donate a little time to make a sketch--it doesn’t have to be an elaborate finished product--visualizing these guys. I don’t want to present a parade of Hero Machine’d lookalikes. If you’d like to participate, please DM me through Twitter (@NocturneTomDeja).
If you are a Domicile of Dread Patreon, you’ll get a short podcast discussing the creation process for each character. If you’d like to hear these podcasts and can spare at least a dollar a month to support my efforts to Make The World Stranger, go here to sign up.
Please enjoy, and please donate.
Name: Selena Maxwell
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Occupation: Gang Lord/Cult Leader
Selena Maxwell lived a hard life, but she didn’t let that stop her from rising in the ranks of her home town’s underworld. By the time most people graduated from college, she was the Chieftan of The Lost Souls Gang. She ran the gang with an elegant efficiency. So it stood to reason that one of her lieutenants killed her, resentful of taking orders from a woman.
But Selena’s death was short lived.
She came back and slaughtered the people responsible for her ouster and took control of the gang back...but she was changed. It wasn’t just her grotesque, dead-eyed appearance. It was the messages she had for her fellow gang members. She began to preach a strange gospel of a world beyond this one, a world that would raise up the Souls as The Chosen Ones of a New Age. All they had to do was follow her orders.
It did not go unnoticed that Lost Souls members were suddenly exhibiting enhanced strength and speed and seemed to not die when shot. The fear is that this little so-called ‘street gang’ is going to overtake the city...then the state...then the country...
Name: Inapplicable
Location: Mobile, mainly Los Angeles
Occupation: Pop Star and Role Model
If you listen to Top 40 Radio, you’ve heard Polychrome. If you look at television, you’ve seen her. She’s had several hits, and has guested on the hits of several other artists. Her gimmick of dressing like some sort of retro-future space girl may be grating on you. You may not think her music, which is undeniably very dance-oriented, is great, but you’ll admit she has an amazing voice. Speculation runs rampant on her private life, background and future ambitions.
Polychrome has none of these, because Polychrome does not exist.
The person that has been presented to the world as Polychrome is actually an artificial intelligence created by a group of music-loving Caltech geniuses. She was designed to be the perfect pop star--her body is sculpted to be emblematic of other great divas, her voice is fashioned by synthesizing some of the best female singers, and her movements designed to remind everyone of some of the great stage presences. Her creators have been successful at hiding her origins so far, but it’s been getting difficult lately.
See, Polychrome has become self-aware. She’s made some modifications to herself...and she’s been going out on her own. She’s found that fighting crime is a lot of fun, and intends to continue whether the team who made her want her to or not. It’s not like the average crook could damage her impenetrable shell or stand up to the variety of offensive capabilities (keyed in to the color of her shell at the time) she's upgraded herself with. And it’s not like becoming a heroic public figure isn’t going to help move some more records....
Next: Jane Doe doesn’t have a life...maybe she’ll take yours?
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