TELLOS BAD GUYS: D’NIKAY
Today’s sketch is another of the bounty hunters first introduced in TELLOS #3. This time, it’s D’NIKAY– part monk, part mercenary. Of all the ‘hunters sent after JAREK and the gang, D’NIKAY has, I believe, the greatest sense of right-and-wrong. TELLOS is a tough world, and people have to do what they have to do to survive– to make a living. Though D’NIKAY hired himself out for jobs like the one MALUSUR sent him on, though, he still had a feeling that –during his tussle with JAREK in the ‘hunters’ attempt to take the amulet and bring the gang before MALESUR– to actually hurt JAREK would have been wrong. The fact that, by accident, he actually DID hurt JAREK and indeed put the boy’s eye out with his unusual staff alarmed D’NIKAY as much as it did KOJ and the gang. This led to some of the most emotional scenes from that first series. Todd’s wonderful character development and emotional writing made these types of scenes a joy to illustrate. In his afterward in the TELLOS COLOSSAL hardcover hitting stores next month, Todd describes the creation of D’NIKAY (so I’ll leave those of you interested to read it there)– but there’s one thing he left out– or perhaps didn’t know about. The design for this character was actually done by Dave Johnson (you can find his link in the PLACES sidebar to the right). Dave was a member of the studio I was a part of for about a year, and he was very generous with his time, his designs and his art. I was struggling for a design for D’NIKAY…. and Dave simply walked into my office one day and gave me a sketch he’d done as an exercise. I thought it was perfect, and so I used it. That was just one of many different sketches and pieces of art Dave gave me during that year… as I said, he was quite generous.
You might notice, if you refresh the page a few times, that there are several new banners in the rotation at the top. Late last week, I got an email from a fellow named Justin Stewart, a freelance designer/web comic artist. Justin had created 4 new banners for the site on a whim and offered them to me to use if I wished. I thought that the designs he came up with were terrific– both well designed, and very clever. So I told Justin I’d be thrilled to use them. Justin– thanks so much, man. That was a very pleasant surprise… and great work….!
OK.. that’s it for the start of another week.
This is Entry 404.
Mike
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:12 am
D’Nikay has a very Dr. Doom feel to him in this sketch. Imposing in all his bad arse glory. I always wondered more about his backstory as he was the one merc who seemed to have a set of moral standards. (Or at least some scruples.) Will there be a kind of “Who’s Who” in the back of the Gargantua Mike?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:14 am
No, Christian… ‘fraid not.
Maybe we’ll do one of those ‘TELLOS UNIVERSE’ type things (like the HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE and the one they just did for INVINCIBLE recently) some time in the future.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:20 am
Am I the only one who pronounces that name as “Danny Kaye” in his/her head?
“I said sing, you damn kids, sing!”
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:25 am
A Tellos Universe book might make for a nice sketchbook type of publication for the ’08 Convention season also.
Brian.
P.S. The new banners are very cool.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:27 am
That’s exactly who the character was based on, James. Kay wore a bright green costume (that reminded us a lot of Robin Hood) in a movie called THE COURT JESTER– and that’s what we based D’NIKAY on… hence his name. There’s LOTS of plays on words used for names in TELLOS.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Excellent sketch Mike. It is hard to type the word “sketch” when referring to your posts. They are mini-commissions. I am off to refresh refresh refresh to check out the new banners. (Taking a break from packing for my move tomorrow to check out the latest “sketch!”)
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Gnarly!
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:12 pm
“Maybe we’ll do one of those ‘TELLOS UNIVERSE’ type things (like the HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE and the one they just did for INVINCIBLE recently) some time in the future.”
we’re going it to hold you to that mike
“James Says:
Am I the only one who pronounces that name as “Danny Kaye” in his/her head?
“I said sing, you damn kids, sing!”
he meant danity kane, that all-girl group that p.ditty made
btw danity kane was the name of the superhero one of the girls made up
and yes, i know who danny kaye is
July 24th, 2007 at 8:59 am
SORRY MIKE BUT…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NOT GOING TO BE AT COMIC – CON :[
maybe next year 🙂
July 25th, 2007 at 4:19 am
first off Wow,
Mike your work never fails to amaze me your a serious inspiration to me i’ve learnt so much from studying your work and am a loyal follower of your site its part of my daily routine.
Im ashamed to say i haven’t read tellos, “YET”
Is tellos collosal coming out in ireland cause i have to read it.
PLEASE SAY IT IS.
your no.1 fan
Rossi-250