1. The Journey Begins

The Warrior is a very special character to me. I originally created him way back in 2004 when I first started learning how to draw superheroes.

The problem was, I always lacked a solid vision of this character. I could never decide whether I wanted to give him full-on super powers, or to make him a human in peak physical condition, and maybe with expert martial arts skills - possibly of magical origins - I wasn't sure. I would revisit him every once in a while over the years as a way to test my drawing abilities, but I still never had a clear vision of who he was, so he ended up going through many iterations, never quite settling on a design.

Because the concept of the character was so unclear, the stories I tried to write (and draw) lacked the foundation necessary to make any sort of sense. Was he a hero? An anti-hero? What was his purpose? What story was I trying to tell? I honestly didn't know... So for the last 20 years, this guy has been sitting in the back of my mind, just waiting for me to put it all together. In early 2023, I did a sort of soft reboot, to test the waters and see if people liked the idea or not.

When I first showed this drawing to people, they immediately told me how much they liked the overall look of this guy, especially the color scheme. Then they would ask who he was and if I had drawn any comics of him. They really wanted to see more and know his story. That positive feedback was definitely the spark I needed.

Obviously my drawing skills have come a long way since that original concept back in 2004. I still have a lot to learn, but I have spent the last year or so really pushing myself to bring my skills to the next level - to the point where I can draw the ideas I want to show. With that said, I have finally decided that it's time for a serious reboot of The Warrior. I have kept the elements that people liked previously mostly the same, but I've redesigned the character as a whole from the ground, up and I am currently in the process of building his world so I can tell the kind of story he deserves.

Although I am still working out all the details of that story, I will tell you that the main character's name is Mike Sloane. His life was nothing but a dull monotony up until something happens and he discovers an ancient relic that grants him a mysterious power. Mike soon learns that this power exists for a reason, and the power itself isn't free - can he handle it? He will go on a wild journey full of epic battles, self discovery, love, pain, and many hardships - all to learn what it truly means to be a Warrior.

My own journey to bring this story to life has only just begun, so thank you for joining me! For now, here is a first-look at my redesign: