Colin and Razor 03OCT2025
by Terrio
Discovering My Natural Style
Over time, I’ve realized something important: no matter how hard you work at mastering a certain style, sometimes it’s not about achieving a specific look but about embracing your natural strengths. For years, I tried pushing toward manga and comic book styles, and while I learned a lot, I found that my drawing instinct leans toward something more cartoony.
That’s when I turned to Bravest Warriors. The style isn’t necessarily easier, but it feels more natural to me. It’s clear, expressive, and flexible—perfect for refining my craft without forcing myself into something that doesn’t flow. That realization gave me a sense of freedom: instead of chasing a style I wasn’t built for, I could hone the one that suits me best.
Inspirations: Retro Meets Cartoon
That’s not to say I’ve left behind my inspirations. I still admire and study retro styles like Butch Hartman’s (Danny Phantom) and Genndy Tartakovsky’s (Samurai Jack). They showed me that even simplified character designs can be powerful and heroic.
What started as blocking out a more retro look eventually turned into something that clicked—I liked how my design looked when simplified in the Bravest Warriors style. And from there, Colin and Razor were born.
Colin and Razor
In this sketch, Colin stands in simplified armor that I pared back from my retro-style influences. Despite the simplicity, the design carries weight. Colin looks serious, his stance confident, and his sword—Razor—commands attention. I even added a new design element: Razor’s eye, placed prominently on the shoulder, giving the armor a unique personality.
I drew this on my iPad using the lasso tool, which honestly feels smoother and more intuitive than on my laptop or Cintiq. That made the process fun and fluid, and I love how Razor turned out, especially.
Next Steps
This sketch isn’t the final version—I’ll be refining it with inks soon. But even in this rougher stage, I’m happy with where it’s going. My goal now is to study expressions more closely, especially from Bravest Warriors, to expand Colin’s range of emotion. I want to keep the superhero tone, while also exploring the expressive elasticity that cartoons allow.
At the end of the day, this is about growth. I’m not abandoning my old goals—I’ll always admire manga and comics—but I’ve learned not to ignore my natural talents. Embracing my cartoon instincts doesn’t mean I’ve wasted time. It means I’ve finally found a style I can refine, evolve, and make my own.