In the superhero genre, the hero has to overcome an archenemy in order to achieve victory. Every supervillain has certain aspects to them that make them a worthy challenge to the hero. Some are completely insane with no logical goals, others are highly intelligent and methodical in their diabolical plans, and a few are far more complex. When I designed the supervillains the Young Guardians would be up against throughout the series, I drew inspiration from heinous individuals I encountered personally and general concepts of what villains are. With Cyber Shadow, I took the sadistic and mentally unstable mind of a school bully and demonstrated how he became an empowered, vengeful serial killer when his already troubled mind was struggling to adapt to his cybernetic enhancements. With Fanoxean, I evaluated everything that is considered the epitome of pure evil and gave it the physical form of a being who started out as an innocent bystander, but becomes possessed by a malevolent entity that seeks destruction above all else while relishing inflicting turmoil wherever it goes. With Vogan, I took what I considered the darkest aspects of my personality in order to create a man who has seen so many indescribable things in his long lifespan and lost so much that he becomes disillusioned and has a goal that he blindly believes will make the world a better place. Every supervillain has different personalities and motivations, but they generally seek to achieve their goals no matter how much pain and suffering they inflict on those around them.
Monthly Archives: August 2014
WRITING UPDATE: POSSIBLE RELEASE DATE FOR THIRD VOLUME
The editing process for my third volume is underway and at the rate it is going, I estimate that the publication process can begin this winter. I am genuinely excited about this and will keep you informed on any further developments. Wish me luck.
GENRE: SUPERHERO
One of my all-time favorite genres in fiction has always been that of the superhero because it illustrates an amazing individual or individuals using their extraordinary gifts to vanquish evil. In addition, I like how in several superhero universes such as Marvel or DC that there are heroes, villains, and antiheroes and shows the audience how they are interconnected with one another. Also, when battling a villain, the villain is shown to utilize various forms of dark methods to achieve their goals whether if the methods in question were magical, scientific, interdimensional, etc. When exploring the background of a superhero, I enjoy seeing the human side of the hero and the events that lead up to them taking on the mantle of the superhero. I enjoy this genre so much that I wanted to contribute to the genre and create my very own superhero universe. I would recommend this genre to anyone who is seeking a satisfying battle of good against evil.
ANIME REVIEW: THE WIND RISES
I have always been a fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s many anime films. I was instantly interested in watching The Wind Rises when I first watched the trailer, which pretty much displayed the very soul of the film itself. When I watched the film, I was completely overwhelmed at the visual effects and dramatic storyline. I also liked the historical references it made such as the immense earthquake that struck Japan in 1923. In many ways, I could connect with the main character, Jiro Horikoshi, because of the way he pursued his dreams. When I found out who was playing the English cast, I did not know what to expect or if they would do an adequate performance, but the voice actors such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt exceeded my expectations. In particular, Martin Short’s character reminded me of some of the roles the actor Joe Pesci played, which was often a short, smart-mouthed individual. Overall, I would recommend this anime to anyone who seeks to have their imagination take flight and inspiration ignited.
WRITING UPDATE: GRAPHIC NOVEL
I finally completed the first three episodes of my books’ manga adaptation and sent them to an instructor who teaches people how to draw manga and anime in a studio. He wishes to use the episodes as educational material for his students. This will provide an opportunity for me to see at least 30 different adaptations of my work. I am excited to see how other people will perceive my characters and work. This will give me a chance to finally see them with my own eyes. It has been a few days since I sent the episodes and, so far, the studio instructor is enjoying them. I will keep you updated on any further developments.
BOOK UPDATE
I have good news! I looked through Amazon’s various branches and discovered that my books are available not just in the United States or United Kingdom branches, but also in France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Japan, China, India, and Mexico. For more information, go to the Written Works section.
AMAZON UPDATE: UNITED KINGDOM
I discovered that my books are available in the United Kingdom branch of Amazon. For more information, check out the following links:
CONCEPT: SUPERPOWERS
Whenever I read a story or watch a film, I am always on the lookout for characters who are capable of inhuman feats. The thing that has always interested me about superhuman powers is that individuals who wield such power provide a much more intriguing story than normal human beings. After extensive research, I have calculated that there are well over 5,000 known superpowers with an almost infinite number of combinations. As I progress through my series, I often wonder what would happen if all of those powers and combinations were to interact with one another simultaneously. After countless hours of pondering and theorizing, I really do not know what the results would be if such an event were to happen because the possibilities are literally endless when I think about it. I guess only time will tell what the end result will be.
AMAZON REVIEW: THE YOUNG GUARDIANS AND THE GREAT DARKNESS
The second volume of my series received the following review:
“Grandson still reading. Seems to like it. Will take him about a week. He is a 12-year-old high functioning autistic male.”
WRITING UPDATE: FOURTH VOLUME!!!
As the editing process for volume three is taking place, I have just begun the fourth volume of my series. Before I started writing, I planned everything out from the beginning, certain vital scenes, and the ending. Everything else will unfold as I write along. In the fourth volume, desperate times call for desperate measures as the Young Guardians are forced to recruit more heroes into their ranks in order to fend off an alien invasion. What the Guardians do not know is that an old enemy is controlling the aliens and unlikely alliances will have to be made. In future works, the recruits that the Young Guardians encounter will have their own spinoff novel. Also, an even greater demonstration of Vogan’s power will be displayed in this upcoming story. When I started writing my series, I decided that each volume would revolve around a certain aspect of the Young Guardians. Volume one would be about their origins, volume two would be about their inner demons, volume three will be about their limitations, volume four will be about their redemption, and volume five will be about their ascension. I will keep you updated on any further developments as the writing process continues. Wish me luck.
Grady P Brown - Author 