The Monkey RPG is kickstarting now so here are a few little insights into the character design process for you.
With such an iconic character as Monkey, you are blessed with both limitations and benefits. You can get away with leaving out a lot of detail as the character pretty much speaks for himself, BUT you do have to make sure you get a few essential 'markers' in there.
Here is an early first pass at him (my very first pass isn't here- those were pretty hardcore. Maybe you'll get to see them someday if I do an interpretation of 'Journey to the West'..)
There are also a couple of detail shots and a linework pic. It's important to always try to capture his humour. He should always look like he's planning something. Or amused at the prospect of what he's planning.
On the detail shots you can see that his belt is a kind of 'championship' belt. A bit Hercules meets WWE(/F). It speaks to his martial aspect and it bears the symbol for immortality.
His big loin cloth (I do like these. Belts and cloths. Too much Conan, I guess?) says simply 'Monkey King'. He's THAT guy. He has his own name on his crotch.
You also get to see the legendary cloud-jumping/stepping slippers here. I decided to keep them pretty simple.
He wears his tiger pelt. It's one of those 'markers' that he just has to have. I made it an off-the-shoulder affair and have the tail on so I can play with it in movement.
And his eyes "are lit as if with the fires of heaven". He's a god, remember. The kind of god that knows stuff. The kind of god that f@cks sh!t up. He needs to look insightful, devious and cheeky all at once at all times.
If we get enough backers I'll share some more stuff with you. But in the meantime; check out the link, back the game and spread the word...