Jab's Builds: He-Man, Mekaneck, Buzz-Off, Ram Man, Teela

[saint_matthew]

Drax doesn't bother me from a legal standpoint, it's just seems kind of weak to redesign a long time character, and make him look exactly like a video game character that happens to be popular at the time. Even to the point that all of a sudden Drax starts using big knives for the first time. Homage and direct rip off are two differnt things. One is paying tribute to someone elses creativity, the other is just expressing your own lack of the same.

I'm sorry but how does this http://ninjatic.deviantart.com/art/Krat ... -119857691 look anything like this http://daikaiju.deviantart.com/art/Drax ... royer&qo=0

They look nothing alike. Sure they both are bald, buff & have tribal style tattoo's... Thats about as far as the similarities go. An even me giving you "both have meaningless tribal tattoos" is me being nice about it since, there tatoo's are nothing alike. Even your comprassion between the knives is off. Drax has knives that where shaped & sized as knives... Kratos has serrated edged scimatars the size of a freaking broad sword, connected by chains to his wrist. Drax wears jeans/pants, Kratos wears roman style armour stripped to the basic: The two are not at all similiar from a design stand point... At all. This can't even be said to be an homage, since the two aren't remotely similiar.

[Unbeliever]

Seriously? Kratos and Drax 2.0 are crazily similar. In attitude, aspect, and general design. They are both athletic, agile, two weapon fighters with extremely similar weapons. Further, they exhibit the same attitude (notably their err ... negotiation style). They have more similarities than Shaft and Speedy do, and it's pretty obvious that those two have connections.

All of which is telling b/c it had literally no basis in Drax's previous incarnation. It's also noteworthy b/c Kratos is such a unique character design, so it's hard to say that you independently got there at that time. It's pretty obvious that Marvel wanted to write a character like Kratos and decided that was going to be Drax.

Legally, there's not much of a case. You're allowed to rip things off, you just can't copy them wholesale. I can make a comic book character who is Schmatman, but he can't look identical to the Dark Knight. Note that the tattoos and images examples from the Hangover 2 are actually completely different: in those cases the image is copied in its entirety, so you have a real case. Although in that case it almost assuredly falls into the fair use exception for parody -- which litigants frequently seem to forget -- or b/c the tattoo is itself on a public person is opened up to some imitation.

EDIT: ninja'ed on the copyright specifics by St. Matthew.

EDIT the second: I want to be clear. We can say that something is a rip-off, and that is a bad thing aesthetically and indicates a dearth of creativity, and have it not being illegal. The realm of the aesthetic (and the moral) is a lot bigger than the realm of the legal. I'd say that with Drax 2.0. I love me some Kratos, but I think at the very least Marvel should have been less transparent about it, and I'm annoyed that they just randomly shoehorned it onto a preexisting (if somewhat silly to begin with) character and didn't even bother with anything vaguely approaching an explanation.

[FuzzyBoots]

Technically speaking, I believe it was a breach of copyright on the tattoo. As a visual medium, reproduction without licensing or attribution is a matter of copyright. And while the four pillars of fair use do include parody, they're not a guarantee, merely part of the guidelines when the judge evaluates your case.

[Unbeliever]

Technically speaking, I believe it was a breach of copyright on the tattoo. As a visual medium, reproduction without licensing or attribution is a matter of copyright. And while the four pillars of fair use do include parody, they're not a guarantee, merely part of the guidelines when the judge evaluates your case.

Yes, and judges are terrible at applying such mushy standards. But, given that it enjoys favorable analysis on 3 out of 4 of the factors, I wouldn't be terribly worried about it if I were litigating. Furthermore, a lot of jurists have argued that factor 4, its effect on the market for the original work, should be dispositive. And, if anything this would seem to increase the market for that artist's design by making it more famous, or at worst be neutral. It's hard to see how the movie will really negatively impact his business at all. It's not like anyone interested in copying the design could not have google searched Mike Tyson and found it that way.

[saint_matthew]

Seriously? Kratos and Drax 2.0 are crazily similar. In attitude, aspect, and general design. They are both athletic, agile, two weapon fighters with extremely similar weapons. Further, they exhibit the same attitude (notably their err ... negotiation style). They have more similarities than Shaft and Speedy do, and it's pretty obvious that those two have connections.

Dude, you can't copyright a personality type that actually exists. An while they are both athletic, Drax is not all that agile, nor are there weapons at all similiar. Drax uses 2 knives, Kratos uses two serrated edged scimitars chained to his wrists, which can be used as a reach weapon: Yet Drax's choice in weapons varies with the mission.

All of which is telling b/c it had literally no basis in Drax's previous incarnation. It's also noteworthy b/c Kratos is such a unique character design, so it's hard to say that you independently got there at that time. It's pretty obvious that Marvel wanted to write a character like Kratos and decided that was going to be Drax.

There is nothing at all unique in Kratos's character design: Bald, Buff & tattooed is not unique at all. As for the design in general, the design for Drax were seen at the end fo 2004 along with the other character redesigns, as part of a wizard mini pull out. That would be before the first God of War game was released (apparently).

[ClassDunce]

There is nothing at all unique in Kratos's character design: Bald, Buff & tattooed is not unique at all. As for the design in general, the design for Drax were seen at the end fo 2004 along with the other character redesigns, as part of a wizard mini pull out. That would be before the first God of War game was released (apparently).

Vin Diesel with meaningless tribal tattoos. That sounds like the early to mid 2000's to me. I like the Drax Redesign since his death and rebirth at the beginning of Annihilation he may as well be a different character and a more interesting character at that.

[saint_matthew]

There is nothing at all unique in Kratos's character design: Bald, Buff & tattooed is not unique at all. As for the design in general, the design for Drax were seen at the end fo 2004 along with the other character redesigns, as part of a wizard mini pull out. That would be before the first God of War game was released (apparently).

Vin Diesel with meaningless tribal tattoos. That sounds like the early to mid 2000's to me. I like the Drax Redesign since his death and rebirth at the beginning of Annihilation he may as well be a different character and a more interesting character at that.

Technically he is a different character. He dies, comes back smaller & with less strength, without any of his paragon powers, but with his mind restored. Might as well have been an entirely new character.

[Devastation Bob]

When I first saw the Drax redesign, I thought it was a Riddick homage. Riddick was a bald bad arse knife fighter.

[Jabroniville]

I can't believe we're even debating the Drax/Kratos thing . It seems so brutally obvious that it's slapping me in the face with "Hey! He's just like Kratos!" One or two likenesses is one thing, but he's practically a green xerox- Marvel essentially remade him as a "bad-ass bald warrior with paired weapons and red tattoos" straight after "God of War" hit big.

[Jabroniville]

BIG BARDA
Created By: Jack Kirby
First Appearance: Mister Miracle #4 (Oct. 1971)
Role: Hot Amazon, Grouchy Chick, Worst Dresser Ever
Voice Actor: Farrah Forke
Finest Moment: Punched Granny Goodness in the face.
PL 11 (184)
STRENGTH 12 STAMINA 12 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 9 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 3 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Close Combat (Unarmed) 1 (+10)
Expertise (Apokolips Soldier) 8 (+11)
Insight 4 (+6)
Intimidation 8 (+10)
Perception 6 (+8)
Ranged Combat (Mega-Rod) 2 (+10)
Stealth 3 (+6)
Technology 4 (+7)
Vehicles 4 (+6)

Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Equipment 6 (Mother Box), Diehard, Fast Grab, Fearless, Great Endurance, Improved Critical (Mega-Rod), Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Hold, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 7, Startle, Takedown

Powers:
"New God Physiology, But Much Stronger"
Immunity 3 (Aging, Poison, Disease) [3]

"Barda Armour" (Flaws: Removable) [8]
Impervious Toughness 10 (10 points)

"Mega-Rod" (Flaws: Easily Removable) [25]
Blast 11 (Feats: Penetrating 8.) (30) -- (31)

AE: "Bash With Rod" Strength-Damage +1 (Feats: Reach) (2)

Flight 5 (60 mph) (10)
-- (41 points)

Equipment:
"Mother Box"
Communication 5 (15)
Healing 2 (Feats: Stabilize, Regrowth) (2)
"Boom Tube" Movement 3 (Space Travel 3) (Extras: Portal +2) (Flaws: Distracting) (Activation -2) (7)
Equipment 5 (Powerful Computer, PDA, etc.) (5)

Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+12 Damage, DC 27)
Mega-Rod Melee+ 9 (+13 Damage, DC 28)
Mega-Rod Blast +10 (+12 Ranged Damage, DC 27)
Initiative +3

Defenses:
Dodge +10 (DC 20), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +12 (+5 Impervious), Fortitude +12, Will +8

Complications:
Enemy (Granny Goodness)
Relationship (Mr. Miracle)

Total: Abilities: 90 / Skills: 40--20 / Advantages: 24 / Powers: 36 / Defenses: 14 (184)

-Big Barda is actually a pretty good character, considering my feelings on the New Gods as a whole. That said, her costume STINKS. Possibly the most ludcrously complex costume ever; it's bizarre even though it doesn't fit the usual 'blocks & circles' design that other Kirby-themed guys have. Just... all those primary colours, the scale-mail, the big fat helmet, the breastplate, the skirt thing... it's just too much stuff altogether. No wonder so many others just draw her in regular clothes or that red bikini thing (guess which one gets BY FAR the most hits on Google Image Search ?). I kinda get a kick out of the cranky, bossy Big Barda (Author Appeal I guess, since Kirby based her off of his wife... and Playboy Playmate Lanie Kazan's appearance- I share his feelings on the matter, though)- she plays well off the other characters, especially on JLU.

-Very powerful, Barda can take on any of the Female Furies one-on-one and come out on top 80% of the time, being a smaller variant of the bricks like Wonder Woman. A PL 11 brawler, her Mega-Rod can also fire out blasts at high power, or augment her natural strength with a boosted attack.

[Jabroniville]

DARKSEID (Uxas)
Created By: Jack Kirby
First Appearance: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (Nov. 1970)
Role: THE Big Bad, God of Evil, Powerhouse
Voice Actor: Michael Ironside
Finest Moment: Beat up Superman, killed dozens of super-villains in one shot.
PL 14 (278)
STRENGTH 15 STAMINA 16 AGILITY 1
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE 8 AWARENESS 5 PRESENCE 5

Skills:
Close Combat 1 (+11)
Deception 7 (+12)
Expertise (Science) 3 (+11)
Expertise (Ruler of Apokolips) 7 (+15)
Insight 6 (+11)
Intimidation 12 (+17)
Investigation 4 (+9)
Perception 5 (+10)
Persuasion 2 (+7)
Technology 3 (+11)

Advantages:
Accurate Attack, All-Out Attack, Benefit 6 (Ruler of Apokolips), Chokehold, Diehard, Daze (Intimidation), Equipment 5 (Mother Box), Fascination (Intimidation), Fast Grab, Fearless, Great Endurance, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Hold, Leadership, Power Attack, Precise Attack (Ranged/Concealment), Ranged Attack 12, Startle, Taunt, Ultimate Toughness Check, Withstand Damage

Powers:
"New God Physiology, But Much Stronger"
Power-Lifting 3 (6,000 tons) [3]
Immunity 3 (Aging, Poison, Disease) [3]
Impervious Toughness 23 [23]
Regeneration 4 [4]

"Omega Beams: Disintegrating" Blast 14 (Feats: Homing 5, Ricochet 5, Improved Critical 3, Penetrating 8) (Flaws: Distracting) Linked to Weaken Toughness 8 (Extras: Ranged) (Flaws: Distracting) (43) -- [44]

AE: "Omega Beams: Concussive" Blast 16 (Feats: Homing 5, Ricochet 5, Improved Critical 3, Penetrating 12) (Flaws: Distracting) (41)

Offense:
Unarmed +11 (+15 Damage, DC 30)
Omega Beams (D) +12 (+14 Ranged Damage & +8 Weaken, DC 29 & 18)
Omega Beams (C) +12 (+16 Ranged Damage, DC 31)
Initiative +2

Defenses:
Dodge +9 (DC 19), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +16 (+12 Impervious), Fortitude +16, Will +12

Complications:
Motivation (Power, Order)- Darkseid will bring Order to the universe, and grind it under his heel.
Enemy (Orion, Son)
Enemy (Superman)
Obsession (Gaining the Anti-Life Equation)

Total: Abilities: 120 / Skills: 50--25 / Advantages: 38 / Powers: 79 / Defenses: 15 (278)

-Darkseid's always had a big role in the DCU since he debuted. Since that world has always lacked ultra-tough villains (most of it's guys were either crazy Bat-foes or Lex Luthor-type mad scientists), the big guy from Apokolips was eventually shoved into the role of "Big Bad", since he was one of the few who was a thinker AND could match Superman one-on-one in a fight. Plus, Jack Kirby's whole "Fourth World" storyline was an economic failure that got cancelled, and Kirby was very much on the "outs" with comic fans at the time (true story: Jim Shooter even mentions that "The King" was considered hopelessly old-fashioned and irrelevant in the '70s & '80s). Not bad for a guy that wears a mini-skirt and hip-boots.

-Unfortunately, as tends to happen, he started jobbing more and more to guys, eventually being fully downgraded (to almost past his Marvel equivalent, Thanos, and countless other good Marvel villains, as that company tends to protect their bad guys and make them seem like a big deal more often). He even got his Omega Effect deflected by ANARKY'S BULLETPROOF VEST. He keeps being brought back, however, as the one villain who can REALLY stomp Superman in a fight. Unless Superman tries harder (which he is often wont to do).

-Darkseid's another maxi-heavyweight, capable of beating Superman or anybody else in the League who opposes him. +15 damage in melee, and +16 with the Omega Beams (which have five ranks of Homing, meaning they can follow you around corners, or he can shoot AWAY from you and still hit; as well as four ranks of Improved Critical AND are Penetrating), as well as being nearly impossible to injure, and you've got a dangerous villain. Even without piloting massive warships with hundreds of minions. Note that the JLU version does away with all that superfluous crap (Magic powers, etc.), while still leaving him a horrendous foe. He's enough to have the advantage over Superman, requiring Hero Points or REALLY good luck to win.

[saint_matthew]

Thats one kick arse Big Barda build dude.

[Murkglow]

I don't know, I gotta at least respect Barda's outfit as being functional (it actually looks like armor that might protect you and isn't a chainmail bikini *gasp*) which is more then I can say for most outfits. Other then that it doesn't really bother me much to look at any more then any other superhero outfit. I mean if I can stand looking at Superman's underoos on the outside of his costume with his red booties and a big "S Shield" on his chest I am more then capable of looking at Barda's outfit without batting an eye. In fact I dare say I prefer it!

[Woodclaw]

Thats one kick arse Big Barda build dude.

I don't know, I gotta at least respect Barda's outfit as being functional (it actually looks like armor that might protect you and isn't a chainmail bikini *gasp*) which is more then I can say for most outfits. Other then that it doesn't really bother me much to look at any more then any other superhero outfit. I mean if I can stand looking at Superman's underoos on the outside of his costume with his red booties and a big "S Shield" on his chest I am more then capable of looking at Barda's outfit without batting an eye. In fact I dare say I prefer it!

Ditto on both. Given the standard of design of the New Gods' outfits, Barda isn't the worst eyesore and at least she looks like she's wearing full body armor.

[saint_matthew]

I don't know, I gotta at least respect Barda's outfit as being functional (it actually looks like armor that might protect you and isn't a chainmail bikini *gasp*)

Then you've obviously forgotten this costume http://mcgone.deviantart.com/art/Big-Ba ... ikini&qo=0