A MARDL Transmission-ette (sent on 06/07/07):

Help! I’m having problems envisioning The Cipher.

Challenger Storm is easy- he’s from the same gene pool as Indy Jones, Allain Quartermain, Doc Savage, etc. His identifying feature is the scars on the left side of his face.

The Black Wing is easy, too. I’ve decided that he doesn’t look too much like the Serial Squadron guy, especially after seeing him in 3D (I used a wrestling game’s “Create a Character” mode)- he looks pretty cool.

But The Cipher…

First of all, I envision him in greys- grey fedora (not slouch hat), grey trenchcoat (not greatcoat or cloak), etc. His mask is all black, except for the glowing blue night-vision goggles. My problem with this, though, is he looks uncomfortably close to Gabriel’s character The Red Phantom (http://nycpulpwriter.blogspot.com/index.html). I don’t want to step on any toes here!

While doodling the character today, I put a rose in his lapel for the hell of it. It added a *little* something to his image. Maybe I could work it into the story: maybe the treasure the Cipher team “liberated” was hidden beneath a field of rose bushes. It’d be a little nod to where the character was born, perhaps. Hmm…

What say you, loyal MARDL technicians? Anybody have any suggestions as to how I can make The Cipher less “generic pulp” looking?

Thanks for your consideration and continued help.
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Tom Floyd gave me some ideas in his speedy reply:

It is a tough problem…..I had the same problem designing Patch’s old hero identity from the Captain Spectre strip…altho I didn’t stray far from the common avenger archetype character, one thing I did was to take away all that cloak/long coat/cape image and just give him an old horsehide jacket like a car coat in the 30’s. So I see your problem for
sure.

I do like the flower idea - now that is something that can be used if the image is in black and white or color. It is also something to give him a
bit of flash and style - which I believe are the reasons that the shadow had a red scarf on the covers….but your way a flower is an actual image
to use that works in all forms.

Have you thought about doing away with the fedora and going with a hood? or something like that? A hood and googles work well together, as we only
expect stuff like that on a ‘bad’ guy.

Sometimes I start at the dictionary and try to get ideas…..I found three interesting things about the word cipher….

1-The mathematical symbol (0) denoting absence of quantity; zero.
2-One having no influence or value; a nonentity.
3-To solve by means of arithmetic.

Maybe the zero could become a symbol on his mask or calling card or token… just thinking out loud…..

Every time Tom drops a hint about upcoming “Captain Spectre” developments, I get excited! Please check it out, if you haven’t already.

My reply to his comments:

I’m glad you sympathize with my plight. I’ve always seen the hat/coat silouette for this character, it is such a strong and resonating outline for a character. I’m glad you like the flower: sometimes it’s the smallest touch that can carry the strongest impact, from a design standpoint. I think the flower is here to stay.

The moment you mentioned the hood, wheels started turning in my head. That may be the direction I go in with the character’s appearance. It reminds me of Bruce Willis’ rain poncho “costume” in the movie “Unbreakable”.

As far as the symbology of the word “cipher”, I’ve been playing with this a little bit. I’ve been looking for some kind of “code imagery”. I once doodled a character logo where the “p” in “Cipher” was in the shape of a stylized question mark. But the question mark is overdone a little bit. I may go for the zero as a symbol, now that you bring it up. The zero with the diagonal line through it could also double as the “no” or “not” symbol (ex: the “no smoking” sign”). Hmm…

The more I think about the hooded-Cipher image, the more I like it!

In fact, I’m going with the hood. That’s the way to go for The Cipher. Although he’ll be losing the classic hat-silhouette, he’s gaining a much more mysterious and superstitious image.

I mean, they’re gaining a much more mysterious and superstitious image.

You know what I mean.

Anyone else have a suggestion?