We took the last week off here at Actionopolis to recover from getting Danger Ace #0 ready for Free Comic Book Day, but now we’re back with a look at the concept sketches behind Woman of A.C.T.I.O.N., the upcoming hit from Chris Sims and Chris Piers!
This is one of Piers’s first concept sketches for Penny Devlin, the titular Woman of A.C.T.I.O.N.! Initially, Woman of A.C.T.I.O.N. was set to be drawn as a manga-style adventure by the UK’s own Kate Holden (of Batman-With-Nunchuks-Made-Of-Sharks fame), but when a scheduling conflict arose, Piers came in to take over! With Penny, both artists tried to capture the ’60s-style pop-spy aspect of her character–hence the Emma Peel-style belt!
As for the player on the other side…
…meet Dr. von Killswitch, Agent of D.E.A.T.H.!
As one of the top scientists of A.C.T.I.O.N.’s opposite number, the brilliant and criminally insane Dr. von Killswitch has crossed Penny’s path a few times in the past… and he’s out to make sure this time is the last!
But really, all that matters is that he’s awesome enough to have wrist-rockets and a monocle.
Heck, he’s even got his own henchmen!
The Agents of D.E.A.T.H. might just look like faceless servants of a terrorist organization, but they’re actually… well, that’s pretty much exactly what they are. But there’s a lot of ‘em, and at least one wants more from Penny than just her name, rank and serial number!
As for the identity of the guy in the bowler hat peeking on the right of the picture, well, we’ve gotta save some surprises, right? So keep your eyes peeled for Woman of A.C.T.I.O.N., Coming Soon to the Action Age of Comics!
May 14th, 2009 at 12:32 am
I’m already diggin’ Penny! Looking forward to it!
May 14th, 2009 at 12:54 am
I want my hair to look like hers. Penny Devlin is cool beyond belief.
May 14th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Little known fact: Sims’ hair is actually the inspiration for both Penny’s and von Killswitch’s. Piers just kind of split the difference.
Seriously, though… as an insider and co-founder, I might have a little bias here, but I’m pretty sure you guys’re going to love Woman of A.C.T.I.O.N.
May 14th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I love Penny’s body language that is casual and no-nonsense at the same time. Great attention to detail on the Emma Peel-esque belt and the K-shaped bandolier on the henchman is inspired. Piers does great hands, too.
With Piers’ character designs, I kinda want to see this as a Hanna-Barbera style cartoon.
May 14th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
“Dr. von Killswitch” is the best character name since…
…well…
“Tyrannosaurus Hex.”
June 18th, 2009 at 9:19 am
isn’t that a Hydra Agent action figure?
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
It is, Dave G. I was looking at one when I did that particular mockup.