King Hippo
December 2011
Wacom Intuos 9×12, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0

The pink-fisted ruler of the mysterious Hippo Island comes to us via commission from Casey Fett. I hoped to capture all the raw power of his Punch Out! incarnation, with some of the villainous swagger of his Captain N character (minus the blue skin and giant nipples).

This was the last of many sketch variations where I tried to have him roaring in an exultant, bestial manner. In the end, I think he looks like he’s gotten knocked a bit silly (presumably by Disco Kid) but has the manner of a monarch who is thinking “Of course I won – what else did you expect?”