I really want to commission some artists, but I need to work up the courage. There's already few artists I want to commission, and of them, even fewer want to do commissions, and then there's the issue of whether they would take interest in a commission for me at all.

I'm kicking off what I like to call "RocketRanger's Character Design Review." Basically, what I do is pick out a character I find to be original and entertaining. I'm new to using the DA journal, so my html code my not be up to snuff.

First up is a look at a character by Dr Omni Momero Omni. First I'll direct your attention to SleepDep's wonderful character sheet for the doctor.

First thing's first, this is one big, XBOX HUEG beetle. At 9'8", the doctor towers over any "person" I've come up with. This is quite handy for enlarging door frames and other small-people places. The first thing noticeable on his head is what appear to be giant ears, but this is a lie. In fact, what you see are massive bug antlers, which might be pincers, I don't know bugs too well. Imagine the big guy using them! I'm sorry I think got ahead of myself here and overlooked another monumental feature of Omni. Perhaps greater than his height is his GIRTH! It's not often you see such a proudly fat character, and it seems he's not afriad to throw his weight around! Maybe the vast size gives the illusion of immobility, since he does have squat legs, but then those delicate, wirey arms practically crown the monolithic bug. There's never a definite number of arms, by the way. It's magical to see 12 arms once, then 14 arms the next, and even so few as 8. SleepDep isn't afraid to admit the inconsistency, but infact actually REVELS in this mutable trait.

For such a beastly fellow, fashion isn't out of touch for Dr. Omni. The white lab coat, that somehow manages to swadle his rotund girth, has that subtle slimming effect like a magnifying glass. I don't often see a fat guy in white, so this is a rewarding visual. SleepDep was on the money for including pinstripe green pants to direct your eyes towards his untied boots. It's like gigantic loaves of bread acting as pedastals to the walking XBOX. The tail is well-featured, showing off the wonderful colors (I'll get to those later) and the massive stabby-stab barb on the end is I would assume is his built-in one-size-fits-all doctor's kit. Again, the arms are comedic in that cartoon sense, since they're bendy twigs capped by black blocks called "gloves." I suppose the gloves hide what could be equally delicate hands. And right where those slender arms hide under the coat, you glimpse his playfully purple hair, what SleepDep dubs as "bug fuzz." I suppose bug fuzz is what ugly bugs have, but the doctor is only made MORE cuddly because of it.

Speaking of cuddly, I think there's one touch SleepDep gave him that makes him really shine. See, everything thus far is a feature that's intimidating and overwhelming. His face is different, though. Here were have a small head and and even more diminuitive face, the girly-face. His eyes, topped by HEALTHY eyebrows convey expressions of a broad gamut without the aid of the spectacular mouth. Watch out for his smile, he might accidentally swallow you! When his lips move, mountains move, and usually in the happy way. The gap in the teeth give a childish or child-like quality. The nose adds to what I'll call the "Chesire Cat" impression. The snub quality actually boldens the face, rather than hide it. The hairstyle accentuates his wide mouth, like seeing two arcs enclose the features between them.

What we've got here is a fellow who is already endearing in what few images SleepDep was kind enough to provide the world. If I were to see him animated, I would swear I was looking at a quality Disney (hint of Tim Burton as well) feature, where you would find such a colorful, emotional, and unforgettable character (Ursula of The Little Mermaid comes to mind) who belongs in a madcap maniacle misadventure or two. SleepDep tried to make something ugly, but ultimately came up with something beautiful. There's so many intimidating features, but the overall picture is far from it, quite the opposite, and really inviting. You don't feel repelled by the doctor, you feel compelled towards him. That's probably why he's still a doctor, since one only wonders who gave him a license to practice. I think the one time Omni looks at all fearsome is in where here he looks more like an endboss of a videogame.