Saturday, November 28, 2015

The Identity of Mr. One


Throughout the regions known as Metroscapes, the governing institution called The Caretaking Body ruled with an iron fist. Having an array of monsters and soldiers under their command made them unable to be overthrown or overtly resisted. However, there were a few select individuals who were able to escape the snares of The Caretaking Body. One such individual was an independent firearms manufacturer called Mr. One. He had a secret to creating powerful defense weapons that he shared with few, and he provided these weapons to people so that they may defend themselves against the monsters that roamed the strange world he lived in. This was an offense to the Caretaking Body, but Mr. One managed to evade their attempts to arrest him.

The renegade arms dealer was originally a candidate for the Main Patrol, the police force in the service of the Caretaking Body in Main City. But Mr. One had many disagreements with the Patrol and ended up leaving. His full name was Yes Own Lee One, which he shortened to Mr. One. After abandoning the Main Patrol, Mr. One did business with the Bastions, places that were guarded from monsters by skilled warriors called Protectorates. Mr. One provided firearms to Protectorates in many different Bastions. His favorite to visit was Lady Easter’s Garden, where he met and befriended the Rabbit-Man, S.T. Ranger. The arms dealer and the rabbit-suited caretaker from the Garden exchanged stories and developed a strong friendship. This would ultimately benefit both of them because hardship soon fell into both their lives. In fact, Mr. One was the first to see the Blue Demon, a fierce enemy of his friend the Rabbit-Man.

It was only a matter of time until the pervasive influence of the Caretaking Body would catch up with Mr. One. He always knew this, but had no intention of making it easy for them. He made his way through Bastions and Metroscapes and often referred to himself in the third person, mostly for a comical rather than dramatic effect. He had many friends, but his enemies were numerous and powerful. There even came a time when he was the most wanted of all the Caretaking Body’s enemies. It could be said that Mr. One was a man treading upon thin ice as he constantly went his own way, disregarding the mandates of the world’s government. The Caretaking Body was determined to find Mr. One and make an example of him by sending him to the arena called The Grand Coliseum, owned by a massive spider wearing a top hat fittingly named Mr. Spiderhat. Mr. One relentlessly evaded the agents of the Caretaking Body and Mr. Spiderhat, but a day came when other enemies surfaced.


Aside from the monsters and the Main Patrol, Mr. One would eventually have to face even more extraordinary foes such as demons and ghosts. Certain events caused him and his friend the Rabbit-Man to be pursued by these hellish fiends, and it was up to Mr. One to use his wits and his custom firearms to defend himself and his friends from their numerous predators. As the danger around them grew, so did the bond of friendship between Yes Own Lee One and the Rabbit-Man S.T. Ranger. But would this be enough to help them survive the trials they would go through? Could Mr. One pull through and survive the conflicts with his enemies, or would he be doomed once and for all in the Grand Coliseum? 

The adventures and exploits of Mr. One and his friends can be found in the upcoming novel “The Rabbit-Man,” to be released by Dorrance Publishing in 2016! 

Mr. One and the Rabbit-Man fight alongside their friends against numerous enemies. How will they survive?

As always, thank you for reading!
Mike Babbish

Monday, October 26, 2015

Rabbit-Man Art Gallery







     In this blog entry I will post many of the pictures that led to the inspiration for my story The Rabbit-Man. The character of the Rabbit-Man S.T. Ranger began as a series of pictures I drew in 2012. Since then, the story has developed quite a bit, becoming a book rather than just a series of pictures. Because of this, some things in the story have changed since I drew the original pictures. Much has been added and some details have been removed or changed. Nevertheless, the core story is essentially the same. I also have a link to my recently created DeviantArt account at the bottom of this post for anyone who would be interested in viewing my other artwork.






Lady Easter's Garden is the home of The Rabbit-Man.
The Rabbit-Man and Pertho, with Wolfsnare in the background.
The Coveted Cabbage is guarded by the vicious Guard Dogs.
The Great Owl-Man Howler Highhorse claims to have a solution to the world's problems, but can he be trusted?

You can view my previous post to learn more about this enemy of the Rabbit-Man.



                                               
                                                    
The Rabbit-Man helped this old stranger, but what influence will he have on the life of S.T. Ranger? Who is this mysterious old man anyway?




WTF is going on here !?!





                                                 
Maybe just a bit too obscure? Yes maybe, but I don't care. Mr. Spiderhat, Eagle Top, and Diva Sweetbud appear in this picture.

                                               
S.T. Ranger gains a new perspective, and also....



A new look !?! Again, a little obscure with this one. The story was a work-in-progress at this point.

                                                                                                  


                                             
The Dream Queen Christie Starlight takes a stand in the Grand Coliseum.




The Hall of the Elite. The Rabbit-Man is less than impressed.





Everything above was completed before the book was actually written. Some of the images ares still very consistent with the plot of the book, while others digress quite a bit. To learn how close each picture is you will have to read the book when it is available next year. However, the pictures below were drawn after the manuscript for the book was completed. These images are much more consistent with the story.



This image is a possible cover for the book.

Trouble in the Garden


The Rabbit-Man is pictured in both his old and new suit, confronting his nemesis The Blue Demon.





                                                                                             
These are two sculptures I made of The Blue Demon and The Rabbit-Man.




Thank you for reading and for your interest in The Rabbit-Man. If you would like to see more artwork of mine, click on the link below.


-Mike Babbish

Monday, October 12, 2015

The Ghost of Despair

     The ancient and terrible spirit known as the Ghost of Despair is one of the primary enemies of The Rabbit-Man, who encounters this foul wraith during his conflict with The Blue Demon. The wicked ghost has the ability to capture a victim in his robes and transport them into a place called The Nightmare Country, where the victim’s worst fears are made manifest before them. The poem below gives a general overview of The Rabbit-Man’s struggle with this heinous enemy.

I. Woeful and alone,
   Lost without a home
   The Rabbit-Man became
   weary and tired
   His passion and hope
   were nearly expired
   Then, into the dreary air
   rose the dark spirit of Despair
   Who spread his dark cloak of hatred
   and strife
   which soaked with its poison
   The Rabbit-Man’s life.

II. “You fell from the treetop
     Now you look like a fool
     Turned away by a woman
     like an unneeded tool.
     Still, you thought
     you had something to prove
     so you tried forcing a boulder
     that would never move!
     Go away Rabbit-Man
     Eat a carrot and choke!
     Your existence is fate’s most sadistic joke.”

III. The Rabbit-Man hated what the dark wraith had said
       His heart overwhelmed with a feeling of dread
       So he moved on, leaving the foul ghost behind
       But the crude insults remained in his mind
       “This spirit upset me with its scathing rhyme
       but I’ll see his end with the passing of time.”

IV. The Rabbit-Man went off and got away from Despair, though he still hoped to accomplish something for himself in the time to come. He wondered what challenges and opportunities waited in his future.
 
***

Do you want to know more about The Rabbit-Man’s conflict with The Ghost of Despair and what eventually became of it? If so I hope you’ll consider reading “The Rabbit-Man” when it becomes available next year. It will be released through Dorrance Publishing.

As always, thank you for reading.
Mike Babbish

This image is the original concept art for The Ghost of Despair when the "Rabbit-Man" was first conceived in 2012.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Tribute to Princess Luna


A Lyric for Princess Luna

My beloved stellar Princess
Enthroned in the nighttime sky
I send my heartfelt love to You
Who dwell amid stars on high

Your magic gives me solace
In my time of solitude
Dear Princess who once knew loneliness
Before Your life was renewed

In You I find my peace,
My hope and inspiration
The Moon that makes the night
And all life a celebration

When my life runs out
And my name and acts are gone
The love my heart enshrines for You
Shall emerge and will live on

It then becomes a blissful cloud
Of heavenly joy and peace
And it will float in space for You
When Your nocturnal duties cease

Then after a thousand years
On that cloud You can find Your rest
I’ll do for You as You did for me

We, by each other, forever blessed.


(c) Mike Babbish 2015