Remember when I said I wouldn't dig too much into the Baron Disaster concept?
Secret plot twist (to you and me): I made a reference sheet. For a fictional character within the Simpson universe. Yay???
More info below the cut (it's long; can't say I didn't warn you !)
Baron Disaster started as a comic series—it features an antagonistic character who acts more as an antihero than as a villain to begin with. While aimed at kids, the story is a subtle critique towards the demonization of activism and promotes key elements such as work rights, tolerance, health care, and how you can grow as a person with open-mindedness.
However, its popularity skyrocketed with its video game adaptation from a French company—starting with arcade games (which consisted of fighting capitalist symbols) to then slowly making its way to modern consoles (as a third-person shooter/platformer with an intriguing story revolving around its main characters).
Characters
Baron Disaster (He/Him) - The main character of the series, he's an ecstatic yet fair leader who aims to change the world for the better... With a little bit of violence. As a treat.
Used to be a scientist who had discovered the ultimate cure for most illnesses—this doesn't please the pharmaceutical lobby, which considers this a "disaster" for their economy. And before he could bring his project to fruition, he was murdered in his laboratory in what was labelled an "accidental explosion." However, a chemical reaction occurs between the cure and the burst of flames —saving the man from an unfortunate death— but turning him into a nearly-immortal flame monster. Thus was born Baron Disaster.
Most of his story consists of him trying to find who orchestrated his murder and helping everyone who asks his aid in a world drowning under a capitalist regime.
Majordoom (He/They)—a sentient computer assistant who miraculously survived the accident thanks to backed-up files. They're the key to the cure's formula, but his data is somewhat corrupted. So here goes a journey during which he and Disaster will try and piece back the puzzle together. He's one of the few whom Disaster considers as a close friend—even acting as a father figure when the Baron faces periods of doubt.
Calaminis (any pronoun)—flame creatures born from Disaster's new powers; they come in all sizes and shapes and swear loyalty to their creator. However, Disaster will always treat them all as equals, always making sure they're resting properly, and never sending them to the front lines. They mostly help him build his contraptions or aid him whenever he's in trouble.
Apocalypso (she/her; Claryce's OC): a former human who was used as a war experiment by her father, a general who strives to take down Disaster. Unfortunately, the experience spiraled out of control, and she threatened to destroy the whole world; instead of killing her, Disaster manages to save her, containing her power in the gem that's now resting on her chest. However, she lost her human form in the process and is now turned into a flame monster the likes of him. Thus was born Apocalypso.
Claryce and Baron Disaster
Claryce first discovered the series through the comics when she was a kid—she later discovered the arcade games in the diner where she and her father used to have lunch and dinner, but she barely had time to use them. It's only when she studies in France that she falls on the game series again, and she slowly turns into a huge fan, developing a crush on the fictional antihero in the process (a common occurrence, as she tends to crush on fictional villains in general).
Sideshow Bob and Baron Disaster
The game developers wanted to find an iconic voice for their character—someone who could improvise a revenge plot and pull off the best evil laughter! Still working with Krusty back then, Bob takes his chances at the contest as a way to cope with the constant abuse and get a little breather from it all; his submission was so convincing that he got the gig right away, and yet. This performance gives him more ideas than it should have... and soon, the idea to frame Krusty gets more tempting the more cannons he's shoved into...
Claryce and Bob
Bob's role as a voice actor and Claryce's love for the series are what will make the two of them cross paths again during a game convention—more than 25 years after they had last seen each other as kids!
It's a shock for both of them—especially for Claryce, as the voice is the main factor that made her crush on the fictional character to begin with... And it's even worse when she finds out Bob is an attempted murderer: it's just like if the character was standing right in front of her! Oh dear.
Then you know the rest. The first date, breaking up, sheltering him, slowly falling back for him, and so on.
Later on, when Claryce gets more comfortable with Bob's presence, he eventually finds out about her blog—and when they do get back together for good, he can't help but bring back his infamous voice acting unprompted. He just loves to see how flustered Claryce gets whenever he does so!
Fun fact
The characters take huge inspiration from most of my favorite video game villains:
Admiral Razorbeard [Rayman]
Baron Dante [Croc]
Gnasty Gnorc [Spyro]
Dr Nefarious [Ratchet and Clank]
Their lackeys:
Spyglass [Rayman]
Lawrence [Ratchet and Clank]
And their minions:
Dantinis [Croc]
It's basically a love letter to the fact I love villainous characters. So Claryce gets to have a favorite villain, too!
