Alright, I got a serious question for you since you hurt me feelings earlier.
I think at his core S.H.I.T is a comedy character, but you can write him as a serious character when need be. I'm at this stage where I am struggling with taking Stormrage from his role as comedic relief in a team to a serious singles competitor. How are you able to keep the comedic core of your character so well, while branching into the serious side so easily?
I don't think this is something you are struggling with, but if you want to read a long arsed post by a slightly (very) drunk man I'll be happy to oblige and I hope I can help.
I'll let you in on a secret which I probably shouldn't say openly, but the serious side to my character is the one I find the funniest, I put in a lot of effort about how intimidating he is and all of that, a lot of serious writing putting him across as a bad ass that could break your neck, his permanent expression of anger, his ability to make others feel like they're in a tight space, but you know what? Its a guy in a cardboard box decorated with crayon. I find it hilarious.
My advice, embrace the comedy, don't forget it in an effort to come across as more serious, that's a drastic character change and not staying true to your roots, think Callahan's heel turn, successful, but makes no fucking sense at all.
Mikey Stormrage could be written the same way I write S.H.I.T, what's funny one minute can be turned against itself, Mikey is fat, that's funny, but he's also a well conditioned athlete, how funny is his weight when he's got one hand wrapped around your neck and has you pinned against the wall? That size can be an intimidating factor and suddenly what is an amusing aspect of your character is a terrifying one. That's what I try to do with S.H.I.T these days, have you ever seen "It"? "It" is a clown, clowns are funny, well actually they aren't but some people like them, but anyway when that concept is turned against itself it is fucking terrifying, same as a man in a box, that snarl is funny, until it is three inches away from your face and you realise the person behind it has absolutely no give at all.
Ever read Terry Pratchett's stuff? I've gone on about him before, but he is one of the best character writers I've ever seen, seriously, if its not Bill Sykes chances are it doesn't compete. The guy has penned some of the best I've read, Mustrum Ridcully, Sam Vimes, Nanny Ogg and Death. All of these characters have something in common, they are all hilarious one minute, often look ridiculous but all believable when they are tearing shit up, whether its Ridcully or Ogg using magic or their tricks, Vimes hacking people to bits or Death just being a bad mofo while saving the World, they are all believable during the serous moments, just as they are hilarious in the comedic ones. Death, yes, the Grim Reaper is a heavy inspiration for me, he's a guy with no Human emotions who adopted a daughter, outlived her and is frankly desperately tragic, like he is the closest I've ever come to crying about fiction (I cried like a fucking baby) yet he's funny as fuck in those moments when he's trying to connect with people, and my God is he scary when he loses it with the evil people like the Orditers. This is what I try so fucking hard to replicate and I pale in comparison.
My point, it's all different aspects to the same character, ask yourself what would Stormrage do? Not, what would be cool or whatever, but what would he do in that situation? Stuff like seriousness and anger should come very, very naturally to a funny character, so long as in your head, it is a character and not just a tool you use to try to do cool shit with. Show some weakness, most people wont and that's understandable because you'll get punished for it with match results but it
will help you big in the long term, so long as you stay true to your character. That's what I do and I think and hope it works.
But then I re-iterate, I don't think you are struggling with this.
