More Hotfoot.  The first half of this image is assorted footwear designs for a super speedster, and the second half is the construction drawing for a promotional poster I did, featuring the women of the Squadron Premiere.  I drew this second picture while sitting in a park, and the duck or goose pictured kept pestering me.  These ducks are bigger than you imagine, especially when they are nosing around for a treat, so I left before I could draw Hotfoot’s clothes on.  Luckily, the duck posed for me.

In the last decade or two, the ideal of feminine beauty has transitioned from the long, lean ideal of my youth to a more robust, healthy, capable look. This is a good thing, of course, and probably a direct result of Title IX, which made athletic participation so much more possible for girls all over the country. I mention this because Hotfoot somewhat exemplifies that quality for me.

Hotfoot’s design from the back.  Why is she standing like that?  Had I just read some 90’s comic with their ultra-sexpot bad girls?  I have no idea.  I was already getting tired of her lightning bolts, as you can see.  After the War in Heaven, Hotfoot transitioned to a deep navy blue suit, abandoning the dreaded lightning insignia.  Characters have often changed or upgraded costumes in Johnny Saturn, largely because I think they should, and because it gives me a chance to improve upon what I’ve done before.

Hotfoot was one of the original Squadron Premiere characters I conceived of, and her design wasn’t as automatic as you would think it would be.  When first thought up, “she” was going to be a “he,” and he was going to be long and skinny.  I soon abandoned that idea, and the science fiction version of Hotfoot was next up with her fancy post-industrial uniform.  In the third picture Hotfoot is almost done, although I had her in bizarre looking shoes that somehow remind me of the Michelin Man.

Recently, a friend and I were talking about the different types of superheroes operating in Spire City, and I realized that there is a pretty wide spectrum. As a group, we call them meta-humans, but this isn’t all inclusive. I imagine I’ll return to this subject and flesh it out many time in the future. Here is the short list:

• Android: A robot that appears sufficiently human to easily pass for a human. Tara 5.0 is a prime example of an android.

• Cyborg: A human surgically augmented with scientific implants. Many of Dr. Wissenschaft’s mercenary soldiers are cyborgs.

• Gadgeteer: A human who invents or adopts gadgets of some sort to work as a vigilante. Tilt counts as a gadgeteer, as does Staff of Life, Captain Barometer, and Hyperspace.

• Mad Scientist: While technically norms, superhuman brilliance is arguably the most potent meta power. Combine this with mental illness (Dr. Synn) or amorality (Dr. Wissenschaft), and you have a foe not to be taken lightly.

• Mecha: A robot with an onboard human driver or pilot. The difference between a mechanaut and a mecha is often one of size; if the driver can wear it, he’s a mechanaut; if the device is large enough to be a vehicle, it is a mecha.

• Exonaut: These are normal humans who wear powered exoskeletons, wearable robots, or other similar costumes that scientifically augment their wearer. Examples would be Tactical and Deco. Mechanauts are sometimes also called human tanks and power armors. Non-powered armor, such as a bullet-proof vest, does not make someone a exonaut.

• Meta-human: Any person who is “more than human,” whatever the source of that power. Most of the superheroes and super villains in Spire City fall into this category. There are subgroups of meta-humans, such as Speedsters (Hotfoot, Celerity), Brutes (Alaric, Skorn), and Winged Wonders (Peregrine, Free Ranger).

• Mystery Man: Non-powered, themed vigilantes more common in the 1930’s through the 1950’s. Johnny Saturn I would be a good example of a classic mystery man.

• Norms: Within the meta community, standard humans are usually called Norms. Martial artists are still usually norms; if they adopt a theme and become vigilantes, they graduate to mystery men.

• Paranormal: This covers all humans (and other creatures/entities) that are magically based. A standard human adept in magic would be a paranormal, as would angels and demons and elementals. Examples include Persephone Synn Underhall, Norgiel the demon, and Turiel the angel. Many characters who are living avatars/embodiments of certain principles belong to this group, as do mythological humans (such as the late Musclebound, son of Hercules).

• Robot: Artificial scientific constructs. These often have humanoid shape, but they cannot pass for humans as can androids. A robot with a human pilot is a mecha. A good example of a robot would be the self-aware Oppression Wave.

• Zomborg: A clinically dead human that is surgically augmented and turned into a mindless cyborg. Dr. Wissenschaft regularly recycles his slain mercenaries and cyborgs into zomborgs.