Hey hey yall so, I'm an artist for an upcoming indie animation called Wicked Justice, and it would mean a lot to me if you were able to share the kickstarter around or even help back it :>
A young Draconid man named William Winchester discovers that he harbors the soul of the Dragon God.
The main character is a black trans man named William Winchester and the story is set in a fantasy setting. The characters are SUPER diverse with all sorts of ethnicities, sexualities, etc etc.
You can read more about the story on the kickstarter, but I really wanted to share this to get the project the love it deserves cause me and a lot of other really cool people are working hard on it :>
Under the cut I'll show some of the pieces I personally made for it
so theres a range of characters and diversity that i dont see a lot in a lot of medias,
and as a writer i really want to try and cover many dynamics and other things
so when i make a character a certain way, i do not want people to create a HC that changes parts of them (race, sexuality, age, fanonize them, gender, body type, etc)
because if i make a character a certain way, theyre meant to be that way
so something ive been thinking about a lot of trans rep, (i will do other rep for other things, dont worry, i already have a very wide variety of characters/dynamics/concepts :3 yippie)
as a trans author i do have a few trans characters but i dont make them a giant focal point or all my characters that way. Not in the sense of something silly but because to me that should not be their main selling point and what makes you interested in them
i flesh my characters out severely
but with that being said, i also have a lot of trans rep i want to show. Trans guys pre-op, POC trans characters, trans men with bottom surgery, trans women with bottom surgery, trans men with larger chests, hairy trans men, trans women who are still more masculine, trans characters who cannot be on hormones for health reasons, trans characters who are GNC and etc.
so far i have a few trans characters and i want to rant about them
but I also want to know what trans rep other trans people would really like to see esp if they lack a lot of representation or hardly see any so any recs?
those projects will also be put on the back burner or worked into future ones i have planned due to the fact i flesh out characters and do a lot of research to portray things accurately to the best of my ability as that matters to me. I currently have *many* projects and one in particular im focused on and want to finish (i absolutely adore them)
Lately, a lot of people have been encouraging me to “try drawing a wider variety of characters,” so I’ve been working hard to draw people from different countries. I’m hoping to expand even more from here.
But honestly, this was a huge culture shock for me. In Japan, we have a saying that’s similar to “Don’t ask for trouble,” and because I’m Japanese, I worried that I might accidentally offend someone. so I don't want to cause misunderstandings or get into any trouble.
But ever since I joined Tumblr, I’ve gotten so many messages saying, “Draw characters from other countries too!” So it felt like I finally had permission to try, and that’s why I’ve started drawing characters not Japanese.
If it’s okay for you to draw someone from your country too, just leave me a comment! I’d love to draw them someday.
WAVES OF MISFORTUNE
(interact with this post to join the taglist)
It was just a normal day for the crew of the merchant's ship The Siren's Call. They made a stop at Vemor to load and unload cargo, give the sailors a break from the sea, and swiftly depart to the next destination.
As they always did.
And, right as they left, a series of explosions ignited the city all at once.
A stowaway, Flavie, is discovered on the ship. She clearly has a connection to the disaster—and the trail of similar cases leading up to Vemor—but a truth-compulsion spell confirms she's an amnesiac who knows nothing about the matter. Either she's innocent, or she's the only person alive who's found a way to lie through the spell...
Now The Siren's Call sails with a walking mystery amongst them, a burning city behind them, and secrets of their own suddenly under fire. Can they uncover the truth behind Vemor's burning before they're discovered? To the world, they look like accomplices. To Flavie, they seem like captors—or her last hope.
Because the return of her memories might doom them all.
On the other hand, it could be their salvation.
Who's to tell?
THEME SONGS:
Hell, what if heaven can't help me now?
Better run and find some hallowed ground
I'm in over my head
I'm in over my head
And when I take a breath I drown
(...)
Sanctuary, can't find no sanctuary
The dark is getting heavy
I need a little light
Just to get me through the night
Where do I start?
It's like I'm fighting sharks
Deep in the depths
Under the rest
I need to rest
Or maybe just a second to—
Catch my breath
(...)
Can someone call a referee?
This will come back to bite me
Please stop
I'd rather live in the make-believe
Can somebody pray for me?
Do any of these words make sense?
Am I fighting to be heard but leaving no defense?
Can you understand where I'm coming from?
All my friends are dead
And their bodies gone
We live in selfish introspection of our own dark light
Polluting minds with retrospection, was it worth the fight?
I can't seem to find the escape hatch
But I'm sick of sitting tight
(...)
Causing our own demise
Causing our own demise
Causing our own demise
Causing our own
Are we just drowning?
Can you please save us?
Black walls surrounding
Can you please save my soul?
Are we just drowning?
Can you please save us?
Black walls surrounding
Can you please save my soul?
🌊 high fantasy!
🌊 “gaslamp fantasy” if you've heard of it
🌊 aka kinda victorian-era fantasy
🌊 steampunk magitech vibes :>
🌊 aka—sword-and-sorcery edition!
🌊 tons of action!
🌊 also kinda a naval fantasy story? a good portion of the story has the cast at sea, aboard the siren's call.
🌊 although the cast aren't pirates--it's a merchant ship
🌊 pirates do feature but they're more of the realistic type
🌊 mystery!
🌊 everyone's hiding secrets, but which ones matter...?
🌊 the crew altogether is just as shady as flavie herself
🌊 did they really take her in of their own goodwill?
🌊 the obvious mystery of "who caused the disaster of vemor"
🌊 the captain herself is especially interested in it...
🌊 there's a history of similar incidents in the not-so-distant past that resonate with the mcs
🌊 what's cricket's history with the fire-saints?
🌊 more importantly... what's zarina's?
🌊 and why is a merchant ship investigating a terrorist attack?
🌊 nothing benji says about his history lines up...
🌊 who is he really?
🌊 the shadow of memories linger in flavie's mind. what are they, and what are they trying to tell her? why does she keep recognizing people who think they've never met? and why do some of them insist they know her until they meet her face-to-face?
🌊 as one-third of what i've deemed “the blazing trinity”, waves of misfortune takes place at approximately the same time as both sun and shadow and rising from the ashes. there will be some character overlaps and important events of one can and will impact another.
🌊 despite this, the stories will be wholly able to be read individually—knowledge of the other works will not be required to understand any of them.
🌊 includes:
🌊 allegories.
🌊 so. many. allegories.
🌊 neither of us want me listing them all
🌊 lots of parallels to our society
🌊 lgbtqia+ rep
🌊 much queer. much wow
🌊 (/pos)
🌊 neurodivergent rep
🌊 just assume everyone is autistic or adhd
🌊 or both LMAO
🌊 ptsd, anxiety, depression, etc
🌊 content warnings:
🌊 while there's some literal ways the following(s) apply, there's far many more allegorical ways they do. there is a reason i've titled myself the “writer of allegories”
🌊 shows depictions of:
🌊 shady politicians
🌊 trauma
🌊 gaslighting
🌊 religious zealotry
🌊 religious trauma
🌊 corrupt churches
🌊 firebombing
🌊 terrorist attacks
🌊 human experimentation
🌊 backstory elements:
🌊 (explored as trauma, but not depicted directly)
🌊 burn injuries
🌊 slavery
🌊 parental abuse & neglect
THEMES:
🌊 running away from your past is bad, actually
🌊 it will always catch up to you
🌊 metaphorically or literally.
🌊 denial and bottling things up doesn't solve anything
🌊 instead, they leave the problem for later...
🌊and, again, it will catch up.
🌊 if things are unacceptable, to fight to make them better
🌊 identity
🌊 discovering or creating yourself
🌊 should you be yourself, or who others expect you to be?
🌊 can you ever be what's expected of you?
🌊 and is it a bad thing if you can't?
🌊 are you who you once were?
🌊 can you change?
🌊 can you improve?
🌊 how much of your past are you responsible for?
🌊 is what happened to you your fault?
🌊 (btw the answer's no)
🌊 corruption of those in power
🌊 this one's a given in my stories LOL
🌊 especially:
🌊 politicians
🌊 the church
#high fantasy #action #action fantasy #diverse characters #fantasy #urban fantasy #political fantasy #fantasy story #fantasy writing #fantasy world #worldbuilding #fantasy worldbuilding #fantasy novel #magic world #comedy #humor
#sword and sorcery #naval fiction #political fantasy #political maneuvering #political manipulation
#diverse characters #poc in fantasy #poc characters #lgbtq+ characters #lgbtqia characters #lgbtq characters #lgbt fiction #neurodivergent characters #autistic characters #adhd character #autistic coded #autistic creator
This might be a genuine Controversial opinion of mine. Really because I Always see The Black Percy fanart or POC Percy and I love them, even though i still love the book version...it had me thinking...
But I highly think that if Percy were Black or Any minority I Doubt he would Take Annabeth's Bs or let her treat him the way she does
What do you think?
I have mixed opinions on this. I think it's a bit controversial but not for the reasons you are going for. Bear with me.
I think all this diversity propaganda has warped our perspectives on characters and their roles. Rick is shit at diversity roles cause he is trying explicitly to write them as diversity characters. I mean yes coming from a certain race, culture or ethnic group does play a large part of who you are but most authors make that the entire point or personality of their character.
In a world like Percy Jackson, where far greater things are at stake, I don't think a character's race or ethnic group should be prioritized so much. In fact, their motivations, how they choose to cope with their trauma and insecurities, how they love, how they fight is what makes a character.
In contrast to Rick, Leigh Bardugo writes tons of diverse characters who are just that, characters in her eyes. It's not because she needs to meet some quota or write diversity for the sake of it. She writes as it comes to her, and I think anyone would appreciate that far more.
Now, coming to your point, I don't think Percy being a minority or person of color would have changed him much. Because the points that you are trying to make should already be valid for Percy as he is.
He had an abusive stepfather who not only physically and mentally abused him but also always harassed him for money. Percy has grown up in that environment, he knows abuse well.
Percy can't stand bullies or people who impose their will, which is a fundamental part of his character which we are actually introduced to very. early on
Not to mention, Percy grew up in the streets of NYC all on his own, also moving from one boarding school to another. He is seasoned player when it comes to cops or law enforcement.
Plus I headcanon that all demigods have issues with any kind of normal organization or law enforcement cause what explanation are they supposed to give for their actions when the person across from them can't fathom it, see it or let alone imagine it. So they are all kind of in similar situations despite whatever culture or ethnic group they are from.
Percy's actions are also a reflection of his self-esteem. That's the thing driving his behavior. Percy wouldn't stand for this from a stranger, but Annabeth is his best friend. The first person he got close to in Camp. She represents his demigod life in a way. To him, the fact that someone like her wants to date him seems unbelievable. He goes in that relationship or any relationship feeling inferior. Then he begins dating her, and he desperately wants to meet her expectations cause Percy Jackson can't take her walking out on him, not because he disappointed her. Cause what sort of shit boyfriend is he if he can't even stand and accept Annabeth as she is. So he takes it as it is. He takes her demands, her violent way of expressing her emotions and her need to be in control. She wants to go to University and study, she wants to be involved in the demigod business, wants to be the heart of it and Percy isn't about to leave her to be on her own. He is Percy, he would go to the ends of earth and beyond for people he loves and cares for. So he goes along with that too.
The question shouldn't be what it would take Percy to be done with Annabeth's bullshit or what would finally make him snap. That shouldn't be the focus.
The focus should be at what point will Annabeth realize that she is stifling Percy, leashing him. (Before you snap, percabeth stans hear me out, not my words. Literally a bloody conversation from Mark of Athena, in which Piper word to word says and agrees with Annabeth that someone needs to leash him and Annabeth can do it.)
And I love how the fandom just glossed over it. What the hell??? Are you people blind? How is that a healthy relationship??
Annabeth should realize how badly she is hurting Percy or how badly she has misunderstood him. How awful her actions have been and how her actions are enabling his lack of self esteem. (For confused people who think Annabeth can do no wrong, please check other posts. There's nothing wrong with admitting that your favorite character is flawed and can make mistakes. )
And then if she truly loves him they should separate, go their ways, still be friends but not romantic partners. Or they should go on a long break in which Annabeth needs to sort out her behavioral issues, come back to Percy, apologize to him earnestly, then to Rachel and even Reyna. And then if Percy (after he too understands the problems in their relationship and how disastrous his lack of self esteem and self deprecation is) is willing to give her a chance or even willing to be in any romantic relationship then and only then should they get back together.
It might not be the answer you were hoping for anon but I had to give my honest thoughts on this. Feel free to comment your own opinions on this as well.
Writer. Pastor. Poet. Author of the Survey space opera series.
For those who have recently followed me, did you know I have books out? Specifically space opera that centers queer, trans, and other diverse characters?
It's called the Survey series, and I currently have 4 books out. Unfortunately, I only have eBooks available (and they're still in my old name at the moment), because I'm going to be switching how people can get my books in the next few months. I'm working on updated versions at the time of this post.
So, you can either grab the ebooks now, or wait, but you can get them on my webiste above. But if you're not sure, here's what you can expect:
Survey:
Muslim female scientist main character, and central to the entire series.
Non-binary and gay MCs (and romance!)
Polyamory
Neurodivergent MC
Neurodivergent AI ships
Consent as the main societal law
Non-toxic masculinity
Hope for humanity's future
Unity:
Asexual MC who is an interfaith chaplain
Asexual committed relationship
Trans-femme MC that brings justice to a righ-wing fascist colony with slavery
Right wing fascists politicians getting theirs
Neurodivergent spies called Librarians
Colony:
Trans-Femme MC
Neurodivergent MC
Diasbled MC who isn't treated as if he's invisible or incapable
PTSD recovery
Abuser/slaver getting justice served
Nuking TERFs from orbit
Consortium:
Asexual MC (Same as one from Unity)
Non-binary MC
Dealing with addictions, PTSD, and boundaries in a healthy way
Interfaith spiritual deities, concepts, and practices
Neurodivergent AIs dealing with PTSD
Romance between AI and a human (which seems to always be taboo in other scifi)
Tree aliens/first contact
This isn't all of what my books have, but you can judge for yourself. If you like Star Trek, Babylon 5, The Expanse, Lois McMaster Bjuold, The Culture series, and other books like that, you'll probably like my books, too.
I write these for my queer and trans siblings in the universe, because these are the books I wanted back in the day and didn't have. I hope my books can bring folks hope and maybe even catharsis in an increasingly shitty world.
I've also written a trans-sapphic spicy paranormal romance, which I'll have out in February with a trans-lesbian werewolf MC. Watch this space, or subscribe to the website to know when that'll come out.
But yeah, feel free to check out my books, and, if you don't have the cash now to buy them, ping me, and I'll sort you out. I know times are rough, so...
Oh! I also have the first 4 books in a podcast version, if you prefer audio! Click the links on the book page, or look for "Tales from Flat Space" in your favourite podcast app!
btw: shoutout to omitb for not only writing older characters but casting older actors to play those characters instead of trying to age them way up or way down. two old dudes front and centre (played by beloved veteren actors) with love interests their own age. ensemble cast of people in their 40s+ with body diversity too. friendships spanning 2 generations. celebrity cameos of ppl in their 50s+. i'd love to see more of this in hollywood.