Seems I'm on a roll tonight. I went through my old idea for my web comic and cleaned a few things up. I've got someone I'm talking to about doing art for this, but we'll see how that pans out (I'm hopeful it'll turn out well!)I also have the first major storylines, but I figure I need to have a few tricks up my sleeve, don't I?Anyway, the webcomic's name has a good deal of meaning (It's been the name of my web comic since 2003) but right now it's a working title unless I can think of something better. PCIS stands for Pop Culture Isn't Safe and the webcomic centers on a guy taking a failed business and hopefully turning it around into something worthwhile. It will more than likely be finite, and it will have pepperings of growth and seriousness, but 95% of it will be pure comedy (and hopefully enough to make people laugh).
The central character is Garret, who has inherited his Uncle's comic book shop after his death. The only thing is it was closed down for about 15 years before his death. Now, he outright owns the building, as well as the land, but it's still in a bit of disarray, and he'll need employees to help him get things back into shape, and to help turn the shop back into something like it was in its heyday. Now, of course, his Great Uncle was (before his death) in talks with the owner of a mega-conglomerate to sell the land to them so they can begin building yet ANOTHER HAL*Mart. But his death, and the bequeathment of the shop to his favorite Nephew (whom, oddly enough, he never really knew) has thrown a wrench into those plans. He hired several wacky characters, and their interactions with each other and the patrons of the shop will be the meat of it all.
As the story goes on, the shop and the main character both go through a changing of sorts...out with the old, in with the new, and he learns to kind of stand on his own two feet and face his life as he sees fit. A bit cheesy, but it's also more therapeutic for the writer as well...as I'm going through the same sort of thing with my craft. Once it's ready for it to come to a close, I have an idea for the final set of strips, which will be bitter sweet (if it's decided to fully end it).
The overall look of the comic will be generally black and white.
The twist to this comic is that after the job is over for the day, they all play the most popular MMO: WarWorld Fury (Which is, you guessed it, a play on WoW and other MMOs). Then, their interactions within the game world go even deeper into the comedic side of things, as they all interact much like they do normally, only with the twist of the game world added as well.
Main Characters
Garret - Main Character of the strip, and the one who inherits the comic shop from his deceased uncle. He is an easy going sort of character, who will probably be seen as a personification of myself (which wouldn't be too far off, although he doesn't look too much like myself). He gets easily overwhelmed with the day to day things, especially if he feels he's simply over his head. However, he tries to remain cool if only for the sake of those around him. As the story progresses we see him evolve from an over excitable type of person, into something a bit more stable, and grounded. But still rather wacky at times.
Look: He dresses sort of rocker punk, but seems rather clean shaven and such for the role (No tats or piercings). Combat boots/dark boots (Pants always over the boots, never the other way around), tattered/worn jeans or cargo pants, denim/leather jackets, etc. Whenever he doesn't have a jacket, it's a simple t-shirt (Sometimes with writing on it). He has no facial hair, but has some wicked cool chops. Dark, messy hair. Should look as if he's in his mid-twenties to early thirties. Tall
Prof - The former store manager of the comic shop, and he meets up with the main character at the funeral and reading of the will. Was apparently good friends with his Uncle, and ends up running the business side of things. He's happy enough to do it, as the main character knows nothing of the day to day business, and would prefer to simply leave it all to his Uncle's friend. Sort of a mentor figure, guiding the main character into the best way of running the shop best. Very laid back, and seems as if he's been tokin' up a bit before each shift with how laid back he acts at times, but he keeps the books in the black and the shop running well. Average height.
Look: Old, in his 50s-60s. Full, sort of trimmed beard that is light (gray) along with his hair. He wears golf shirts and khaki pants all the time. Dress shoes as well. His hair is neat and well grommed, opposed to his beard which looks a little skraggly. Wears thick glasses (Hence his nickname). He is also a bit heavy set. Average height.
Steve - The first employee hired by the main character. He's a high school student, who's full of attitude (thinks he's always right), geek knowledge, and inexperience in the world. Everyone was a Steve at 17, at one time or another. Treats most customers well, unless they're being asshats. In which case he dishes out the insults a mile a minute. Thinks he knows all there is to know about things geek, but is routinely overshadowed by the others working there in their knowledge.
Look: Short light hair, facial hair that's more like peach fuzz, and t-shirt and jeans sort of guy. No acne (Unless it's very sparce...I don't want to overdo the whole 'teen thing'). He looks young, but not too young. His body seems awkward, much like any other teenage boy of that age. Tennis shoes would be the preferred shoe of choice, and he rarely wears anything over his t-shirt (such as a jacket, etc) Most of the time has his backpack on his back, even when working the counter. Average height
Talia - She's the third employee hired by the store, and enters the comic after it sort of establishes itself a bit. She's witty, charming, and funny. But she's also a bit self conscious. She's an artist, but she rarely talks about it at work (Odd, as she's at a comic store). Always has a comment for any given situation, and tends to take most topics right to the gutter without even realizing it some times. Overall, she's the fun one to be around, and helps liven things up for everyone involved.
Look: Darker skin tone, dark, long hair initially (Of course, she can change that at anytime and routinely does). Dresses to impress, whether it's a bit sexier, or more professional. Not opposed to wearing light dresses, or even skirts. Should look around the same age as Garret, if not a little older. Curvy, but not overtly so, or 'bulky' either. Shorter in height.
Carter - She's the second employee hired by Garret, and ends up being the most pivotal. She is the foundation and rock as it were for Garrets tumultuous ride from being a flake to being established and able to stand on his own two feet. May even be some romantic inklings between these two, but if there ever is it's no more than slightly and subtly alluded towards, and never given any in-depth time within the comic (OR IS IT?!?). She's more realistic than anyone else in the comic, but can hold her own among the crazy bunch. She is, however, more easily annoyed.
Look: Shorter hair (Chin-shoulder length) that can change in appearance, but generally keeps the same length. Lighter Hair color (sometimes alluded towards being red/auburn). She looks a bit more plain than compared to Talia, and is more of a tomboy, wearing ballcaps, and t-shirt/tank tops and jeans/shorts/etc. She has a killer body, but doesn't show it off all that much, so we gets hints at it here and there depending on the situations and whatever clothing she happens to be wearing at the moment. She is as tall as Garret. Wears fashionable glasses.
WarWorld Personas
Ok, since I'm not 100% sure how much of a parody is protected when you try and SELL that parody, I've decided to make up similar MMO type thing to WoW, and make it JUST that much different to where we can't get sued, and people will STILL know what we're making fun of :P
The interesting thing about this webcomic is the fact it's basically two comics in one. There's the comic store and the interactions there between the staff and customers, etc. Then, there's the 'after hours' sort of comic that deals with the staff as they play the video game and interact with each other there. Of course, both will overlap heavily.
Warworld is set up almost entirely like WoW, except there are no 'Factions' as it were. Everyone is on the same side, and interacts as such. There are Halflings (Half-Halflings are called Hulings). Dwarves (Half Dwarves are called Huarves), Orcs (And Half-Orcs called Hurcs), Elves (Half Elf/Half Humans called Hulvens), Minotars (Half are called Humotars), Humans (Halfs are called Hahumans), Trolls (Halfs are called Hulls), Snake Men (Called Set...Halfs are called Haset), Undying (Halfs are called Torsos) and of course, Cabraespacio (bastardized/combined Spanish for Space Goat...Halfs are called Humacabras). Yes, the halfs are all jokes...and more of a play on DnD than anything else. Yes, I'm a huge geek.
Garret - He has chosen (After much trial and error) to play as human Beast Tracker (The Hunters). His avatar looks only a little like him, but has the trucker beard (No chin hair, but moustache connecting to lower beard parts, and running to the chops...know what I mean?) Dresses all in leathers which look patched up crudely (This is his first character after all). He starts off (of course) with no pet. Ironically, he has a huge scar over one eye, which is also covered with an eye patch, but that's his aiming eye. Gotta love MMOs. Average Height/Build
Prof - Prof plays a Minotaur Vindicator (The Warriors). (I thought about having him be a dwarf, but i think having it a little more varried is good). It is big, darkly colored, and has One big strong looking horn, and another than looks like it was broken off half way. He wears full body armor, which gives him an intimidating presence. His preferred weapon, no matter what else is out there, is simply the lower half of a tree. Roots and all. Even the GMs aren't entirely sure how he managed to equip one. Big n Tall build and height.
Steve - Steve plays a Set Assassain (The rogue). Their lower halves are tails, and their upper halves are THAT OF A MAN! With the FACE OF A SNAKE! (He also makes all his 's' sounds like 'sssss' which annoys everyone else to no end. Has no body armor, save a belt and a vest, and weild two daggers. (Don't worry about making the scales detailed or anything, just the look of a slick snake is fine). His snake also wears steam-punk style goggles for some incredibly odd reason.
Talia - She plays a Halfling Demon Binder (Warlocks). She's busty, but still looks like she'd attract more pedos than anything else (And inside joke about the gnomes in WoW). Dresses like some unholy cross between Evil Lynn and some chick sorceress from a Conan comic.
Carter - She plays a Troll Healer. Her in-game character is quite buxom and sexified, as a contrast to her normal self, and it's not intentional. Most of the time she complains about how she's forced to wear skimpier and skimpier clothing as she becomes more and more powerful. Simple, light colored robes will be her starting stuffs. As a troll, she'll have medium colored skin, and a crazy trollish haircut, and tusks!
