Giant Days issue 50 character designs
I did most of the character designs for Giant Days. Obviously once Max Sarin got hold of them, they would be immeasurably improved, but I took pride in sitting down and working out looks and outfits.
Issue 50, the "cricket issue" featured more than 20 new characters and multiple sporting looks, so here are a few of the designs I sent to Max. This was one of my favourite issues, for lots of reasons.
BELOW: Nina's "MERV" top is a reference to legendary Australian bowler Merv Hughes. I remember Merv seeming a very frightening figure with his beefy gait and handlebar moustache. Very much the traditional Aussie battler. And it was important to me that Dean Thompson attack the sport in the manner of someone who has never even seen a sport before.
I was very pleased with Esther's ultra-weird sporting ensemble. It was important to feature a tubular bandage, as I lived for 15 years in Oldham, the birthplace of the Tubi-Grip. We knew this because it was painted on Mumps railway bridge.
Women's cricket is great. Best of all they show it on TV channels you don't have to pay for. Isha Guha is the greatest gift to Test Match Special in 20 years. Genteel and funny, like the presenters of the olden days. The "ringer" had to be a real show pony.
The opposing team from "The Cricketers" pub. They're all boys who were in my year at school. I can't speak to the internal life of some of these people. They run the gamut. I've seen at least one in a newspaper's crime blotter.
Comments (7)
"Aussie battler" doesn't mean quite what you think. It refers to someone downtrodden, but who persists nonetheless. A brick dunny like Merv Hughes is a somewhat different proposition.
Yes I did stretch the meaning a bit, I always picture an Aussie battler as an out of shape middle aged man in a suburban shopping mall worrying about how he's going to pay to get the outboard motor on his boat fixed, or he won't be fishing on the lake this year.
It was indeed one of the most memorable issues. First for being fun, inspirational and silly and then delivering an emotional gut punch in the very last panel.
I've been enthralled with Esther's outfit in this issue since first reading it and promised myself I'd eventually cosplay it
Your wardrobing skills are impressive.
The cricket issue made me laugh so much. You also gave one of the best Cricket 101s ever.
I loved this issue. I very badly wanted Esther to do better. I know virtually nothing about Cricket (should it even be capitalized? No idea), but your love of it has made me look forward to its references in your work. I had to look up what "silly mid-on" was, not expecting it to even be a real thing, but was delighted to discover a definition.