Megaman Zxa - Tumblr Posts
This would be my fic :)
Absolutely thrilled that people have been enjoying it even a little bit - there's still LOADS more of it in the works, so stay tuned folks!!
Enjoy the Megaman ZX fandom? Well then, Advent fans, you’ll enjoy this!
Pretty proud of this piece - used a reference but drew Pandora in a ballgown. In the process of painting it and will post when done!
New chapter of For the Glory, For the Fame is FINALLY out!!
This chapter covers the events of the Arctic Ice Floe, though as usual I've taken some liberties with canon.
Shoutout to @tyrantchimera for giving me the ideas on how to make this chapter more fun because it was a SLOG to write, and @dumpsterfirepropaganda for keeping my motivation with it going!
Read on and I hope you enjoy, guys!
The second post promised regarding a ZXAU in which Grey/Ashe are on Albert's side and PnP are heroes working with the Hunters and Guardians! Namely their designs, which I put a fair bit of thought into (but again, pardon the messy colouring). The goal was to switch elements recognisable to both of them from canon into something new that still felt familiar and fitting to the world of ZX/A.
Ashe:
In Ashe's case, I wanted her to look villainous but still stylish, in a sense - so she's got the top that PnP would have when Megamerged, coupled with the bandolier belt from her original design. I thought double belts looked cool and somewhat more appropriate for a villain character, so she gets double bandolier belts with red highlights.
Regarding her colour scheme, it's orange and gold for two reasons: one, orange is sort of her primary colour in civilian form and it pays homage to her canon jacket collar, two, it resembles Serpent in his Model W form. Unfortunately I don't have a blue/black pencil dark enough to achieve the canon colour of the ZX/A bodysuits but hers should be that colour. I kept the red headband from her original design (come on, it's iconic!) but made her hair wilder and gave her a cybernetic eye (which spawned from a colouring accident but oh well), plus much more smudged double-winged eyeliner. I also adored the idea that she'd have a snazzy pair of boots. Additionally you could see in my last post that she's got a gap tooth, which is a staple for me whenever I draw her.
Prometheus:
You can see elements of both Ashe and Grey's canon designs here; Ashe in his Hunter jacket, Grey in his gauntlets. I figure Prometheus is a little bit vain no matter what universe he's in and basically saved up to get a purple sleeveless version of the Hunter jacket/top specifically made for him. This turns the red/purple in his OG design from something villainous to something heroic, almost regal even (which is reflected in the gold bits on his gauntlets). Still, the upturned collar does invoke his canon merged design, which as I've said with Ashe is a deliberately switched element.
Kept the shorts from his canon version but thought it'd be way cooler for him to also have a nice pair of boots, and left his grey bodysuit as a way for him to sort of stand out against the blue/black and immediately give away he's different in a sense from the other Hunters. I did also like the idea that he's still got wild hair to reflect his wild, hotheaded nature but again in the name of vanity takes the time out to braid it. That note on his eyebrows is also written specifically because my headcanon is that Prometheus in canon has some violently bushy eyebrows under his helmet, here he has more time to stop them from getting so bad. I also forgot to draw on his eyeliner here, but he definitely wears it in varying shades of black or red.
Hope you enjoy :)
OP I am SCREAMING oh my GOD
You made them look AMAZING!!! Like I'm seriously FLOORED by this, thank you SO much!! Glad you liked these designs enough to draw them!!
Ashe's boots in particular, they look both elegant and intimidating and I LOVE them!!
(you nailed Prom's outfit, I'm sorry I didn't make the sketch clearer!! That's how I'd been envisioning it!!)
The second post promised regarding a ZXAU in which Grey/Ashe are on Albert's side and PnP are heroes working with the Hunters and Guardians! Namely their designs, which I put a fair bit of thought into (but again, pardon the messy colouring). The goal was to switch elements recognisable to both of them from canon into something new that still felt familiar and fitting to the world of ZX/A.
Ashe:
In Ashe's case, I wanted her to look villainous but still stylish, in a sense - so she's got the top that PnP would have when Megamerged, coupled with the bandolier belt from her original design. I thought double belts looked cool and somewhat more appropriate for a villain character, so she gets double bandolier belts with red highlights.
Regarding her colour scheme, it's orange and gold for two reasons: one, orange is sort of her primary colour in civilian form and it pays homage to her canon jacket collar, two, it resembles Serpent in his Model W form. Unfortunately I don't have a blue/black pencil dark enough to achieve the canon colour of the ZX/A bodysuits but hers should be that colour. I kept the red headband from her original design (come on, it's iconic!) but made her hair wilder and gave her a cybernetic eye (which spawned from a colouring accident but oh well), plus much more smudged double-winged eyeliner. I also adored the idea that she'd have a snazzy pair of boots. Additionally you could see in my last post that she's got a gap tooth, which is a staple for me whenever I draw her.
Prometheus:
You can see elements of both Ashe and Grey's canon designs here; Ashe in his Hunter jacket, Grey in his gauntlets. I figure Prometheus is a little bit vain no matter what universe he's in and basically saved up to get a purple sleeveless version of the Hunter jacket/top specifically made for him. This turns the red/purple in his OG design from something villainous to something heroic, almost regal even (which is reflected in the gold bits on his gauntlets). Still, the upturned collar does invoke his canon merged design, which as I've said with Ashe is a deliberately switched element.
Kept the shorts from his canon version but thought it'd be way cooler for him to also have a nice pair of boots, and left his grey bodysuit as a way for him to sort of stand out against the blue/black and immediately give away he's different in a sense from the other Hunters. I did also like the idea that he's still got wild hair to reflect his wild, hotheaded nature but again in the name of vanity takes the time out to braid it. That note on his eyebrows is also written specifically because my headcanon is that Prometheus in canon has some violently bushy eyebrows under his helmet, here he has more time to stop them from getting so bad. I also forgot to draw on his eyeliner here, but he definitely wears it in varying shades of black or red.
Hope you enjoy :)
Oh to be a pair of teenagers chasing each other through a Washington cedar forest trying to uncover each others’ secrets / salvage the task you bungled horribly within a day of being given it~
Chipping away at the next chapter of Fluorescence (my silly MMZXA/Twilight mishmash fic, for the uninitiated) and felt like drawing Ashe and Prometheus as they appear in the story! You can really tell whose outfit I put more thought and effort into, lol - but I always imagined Ashe to be a casual activewear type of gal. Meanwhile Prometheus is out here doing the complete opposite of blending in.
I know the height difference is pretty stark here (part of that is those unnecessary platform boots) so I feel obligated to re-emphasize that - ignoring supernatural time/immortality shenanigans - these characters are 19 / 18 years old, respectively. Don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea!
Yes, that does technically make Ashe older. 😛
Just found out that, once again, Capcom is sitting on a cancelled sequel to a Megaman series, and naturally this time it’s to my personal favorite, ZX
Its working title was ZXC, though who knows what the C stands for
Ostensibly a chunk of story details were already written before its cancellation, so presumably that’s still sitting around Capcom’s files somewhere
I know the creative team would undoubtedly be different, but I’d never say no to more ZX
A work in progress, because apparently the AU where the Trouble Twins are switched with the Model A duo won't leave my head.
Not sure if it'll be finished tho.
(this is Pandora, hope she's recognisable with shorter hair)
tried to get back on the art horse and do some drawing - so have a Siarnaq, way, way before everything in his life went wrong.
Plus a quick little edit done on my phone to see how he'd look with his signature scarf over his face.
Ahhh bugger it, I'm adding more because I've got some minor bones to pick, both in terms of writing and art
Less cute/"moe" Pandora content, more "terrifying Witch who is genuinely as scary as her brother, the Grim Reaper," content
Actually while I'm on the topic of the Trouble Twins, more of them acting like brother and sister, bantering with one another, being genuinely supportive of each other, etc.
And ALSO less of "Pandora's Badass Moment because Power of Love™ Has Made Her Strong Enough to Kill Her Brother, Who Is Unrepentantly Evil." Yes this is a very specific gripe. No I will not elaborate.
My boi Giro!!!! How'd he end up with the Guardians in the first place? Did he know Ciel?? His relationship with Model Z?
And as confirmed by the developers, why on earth did he lie to Vent about Model Z as opposed to telling Aile?
Grey wondering if he used to be somebody before ZXA
To be fair, BOTH Advent protagonists have serious angst potential
How the heck did Aeolus end up in the Game of Destiny given his Rich Kid ™ vibes??
Atlas and Thetis being bros, don't tell me Thetis wouldn't try to make friends with the rest of the Big Four
More of the Model ZX duo being absolute badasses
These are just off the top of my head rn, will probably add more eventually
ZXA content that should be made more often
Atlas WITHOUT big tiddy (looking at you Pixiv)
Shitlord/memelord Thetis
Siarnaq having a good time/smiling (in a nonthreatening way)
Aeolus having a good time/getting shit on (in an absolutely comedic way)
Grey wearing his cute belt outfit from the manga
Cash Money Ashe
ok seriously why hasn't anyone done that "winning at Monopoly" meme with all the ZXA Mega Men yet
Giro content... I miss mi boi...
Prometheus and Pandora outside of their Megamerged forms
Aile (specifically ZX Aile) without big tiddy (looking at you PIXIV)
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Prairie content. She deserves some recognition :)
Hello, can I interest anyone in what I think Siarnaq looks like beneath his scarf?
I definitely think his flesh got completely burnt and torn off and that's part of why he can't talk properly; damage to his throat and voicebox.
yes MGR:R Raiden was a big inspiration here, I also haven't quite nailed drawing Siarnaq consistently yet unfortunately, but we'll get there!
also still getting the hang of gel pens :)
Girls
GIRLS
WHO RUN THE WORLD
okay I had to but anyways, I subscribe to the theory that clubbing fashion in 24XX is kinda bonkers and there's no real precedent for what should be worn out dancing, so have a Pandora and Aile on a night out!
Gel pens ran a bit, and I haven't quite mastered the art of shading skin/adding makeup yet, but hey, practice!
Put a fair bit of thoughts into their outfits, so read more below.
Aile's top is that retro glo-mesh stuff and she's got gold lipstick to match, plus a silk shirt/necktie over the top and white, flowing linen pants. I also think she'd be pretty subtle with her makeup and go with a bit of navy eyeliner to make the green and gold of her eyes pop! She's got a bit more of an androgynous style than the other ladies, and her and Vent frequently swap bits and pieces from their wardrobes. However she always looks well put together!
As for Pandora, the dress I've painted her in was originally spawned from this clubbing outfit. It's made of a lovely, shimmery silky material, goes down to about the knees, and that gauze over the top is supposed to be green/purple, almost like the Northern Lights. Her heels would be a similar colour, probably winding up just past her ankles. Basically I subscribe to the idea that Pandora would be the epitome of high fashion and elegance outside of being the Witch, and that's reflected in her choice of simple accessories. Would also love to do a sketch focusing solely on her makeup; ice-blue eyeliner and glittering eyeshadow plus rhinestones underneath a la Euphoria. My pen ran whilst doing her lipstick unfortunately, but she'd definitely go for a classy, shimmery matte lip that doesn't come off.
anyways, can you tell I really like outfit design?
Okay last one I swear (for now that is hahaha, Ashe has an outfit but I haven't worked out the colour scheme)
Introducing the dudes! Minus Siarnaq and Thetis because I kiiiiinda forgot to add them/didn't have outfit ideas for them.
Info on their outfits and individual pics in the read more below!
Absolute fashion disaster/frat boy Vent! I like the idea that he's technically the powerful/manly of the heroes and I thought a letterman jacket would invoke those kinda "American Superhero" vibes. Having said that though, the top underneath is actually a sleeveless crop top paired with high gloves. Vent is also absolutely shredded and that crop top/glove combo is deliberate on his part to show that off. He likes having fun with fashion!
Puts a fair bit of effort into his hair, hence the bun, and threaded through it in pink are little neon bits that glow in the dark! I imagine they're very common in 24XX as part of clubbing getup.
Poor Aeolus who is regretting his life choices right now; the other guys absolutely messed up his hair and popped his jacket collar.
His shirt is silk and has gold thread all woven throughout (I wish I had a thinner pen for that detail work!) and he's That Bitch™ who decided a frock coat was appropriate dancing garb. In his defence, he's a classically trained dancer and thought they'd miraculously gained a sense of class/style and decided to invite him out to an evening of "proper" dancing. Ie, with a waltz and a roulette of partners involved. Poor guy was quite disappointed!
As a note, he's also albino and legally blind in one eye (hence his fringe to cover it, he's a little vain!) and his eyesight isn't fantastic, hence the pince-nez style glasses. Ironically enough though, he's got the sharpest eyeliner of the entire group.
That jacket was an utter nightmare to colour
Grey is just so happy to be here! Look at him, it's his first dude's night out!
But if his outfit looks familiar, it's because it was intentionally designed as a homage to Nero from DMCV. I think it looks good on him! So distressed denim jacket and a lovely comfy mahogany jumper underneath; cool, casual and ssstylish!
Having said that - there's little touches from the other Megamen in there. Aile lent him the necklace that she got from Giro as a good-luck/"come back safe and give it back" charm, so he and Vent are symbolically bros here, and the vaguely skull-shaped earrings he has on are a loan from Prometheus. Additionally, both Prometheus and Pandora argued over who got to do his eyeliner.
Pandora won.
And then there's this bitch.
Absolute delinquent/greaser/biker vibes for Prometheus with his leather jacket; there's a cape-like bit at the back with a massive flame decal on it that he stuck in himself (I'll have to do a sketch of the jackets' back) and his turtleneck has silver thread to give it a chainmail like appearance. His sword earrings are based off of an actual pair I've seen in a shop, and the bright red eyeliner is something he wears to make his eyes pop and stand out under the bright colour of his hair.
The thing about Prometheus is, he's actually very vain and also took the time out to shape his eyebrows prior to going out; dude spent a million years fixing his eyeliner, picking an outfit, and meticulously messing up his hair.
The outfit may also look a little familiar, and that's because it takes some cues from @dumpsterfirepropaganda 's version of Prometheus from the absolutely delightful "It's That Damn Fluorescence," wherein he has the vibes of an "80's Greaser Vampire."
Pretty fitting imo!
This turned more into an analysis of the fashion and why they all dressed like this haha, but enjoy anyways!
Captain America, are you off to fight the bad guys?
Hey, mighty Superman, can you save us from ourselves?
Hey, Mr. Universe, can you lift us up above this?
'Cause I'm just Iron Man, I'm a ghost within a shell
Take a look around, just look around
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions
Why did they never mention, what's real and in between?
It seems the path we're on was paved with blood and sorrow
No thought about tomorrow
Just part of the machine, or so it seems
Yeah, so it seems
We're all living the dream
- Living the Dream, Five Finger Death Punch
So I heard this song and couldn't help but think it really hit a chord for most of the Megamen in ZX and Advent, for quite a few reasons, and the idea to draw something based on it wouldn't leave my head. You can tell who I haven't drawn merged before, haha.
Lyric explanations under the cut.
Captain America, are you off to fight the bad guys?
Hey, mighty Superman, can you save us from ourselves?
Vent and Aile, respectively, as to me they embody the classical heroes of comic books (especially Vent) and since they're kinda the OG heroes in ZX, it felt like there was a pretty good thematic correlation here between them and the kinda quintessential Cap and Superman.
Hey, Mr. Universe, can you lift us up above this?
A play on Atlas' namesake, the god who held the world up - but also I can definitely see a reformed Atlas being a hero who is very good at search and rescue due to her immense strength. That, and she's always putting on a front to appear strong.
'Cause I'm just Iron Man, I'm a ghost within a shell
Self explanatory for Siarnaq, I would say. Ghost within a shell is quite evocative of him.
Take a look around, just look around
Grey is still observing the world, still learning it's ropes. Endlessly inquisitive, endlessly thoughtful, the quiet observer.
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions
Semi-spoilers for FTGFTF but Aeo wanted to do good in the world (this is the line that originally had me linking this song to the ZX/A crew!), and at every turn it seems he's blocked by something. Model W corrupting him has absolutely not helped with this, as he's committed heinous acts in the name of hopefully achieving peace.
Why did they never mention, what's real and in between?
Ashe, learning the truth about the twins. That they're not unrepentantly evil, and it shakes her worldview.
It seems the path we're on was paved with blood and sorrow
Ahh, Thetis. You're doing your best to save the environment, but this ground is already blood-soaked, and you're adding more blood to it.
No thought about tomorrow
Just part of the machine, or so it seems
Prometheus and Pandora, living day by day by day, unwitting cogs in Albert's master plan.
And everyone else, believing that they're the ones partially responsible for the machine.
Anyways, enjoy.
Sometimes I really wish I had more knowledge of music and notes and stuff like that. The reason being, I'm pretty sure that leitmotifs from the Zero series got recycled a few times in ZX, specifically the ZX Tunes version of songs, but can't quite confirm it other than saying "this sounds somewhat similar!"
Fate - Theme of Vile (Weil) from Zero and Fate - Deep Seated Grudge from ZX are the obvious ones in that the second loops so it doesn't become the first, and I also love that "Science Will Never Die" from DMC4 also pays homage to Weil's theme, given the boss it's used for is similarly a mad scientist.
However, the ones I'm trying to figure out are the soundtrack versions of Doomsday Device (Area M/N) and Cannonball - Hard Revenge. Pretty sure that Doomsday Device pulls from Ragnarok from Zero 4 in certain areas, but I feel like I'd need to slow down the song to be certain (or speed up Ragnarok!). Additionally, there's a whole extra melody to Doomsday Device in ZX Tunes; doesn't quite help that that version isn't on Spotify.
Funnily enough, it's the same issue with Hard Revenge. Obviously it's a slight remix to Omega's Zero 3's boss theme, but the OST version again has a whole extra melody section that sounds like it references songs from Zero 3; specifically Exiled One - Omega, Omega Battle, Apocalypse Now, and potentially even Return to Zero. But again, this is pure speculation on my part.
On a similar note, I'm kinda disappointed that Advent didn't reference ZX's Soundtrack very much, given that the Floating Ruins are implied to be in Area A, the Scrapyard is implied to be Area F, and the Control Centre has been confirmed by the developers to be what remains of Slither Inc. HQ. Granted, I haven't listened to the OST version of Brimstone from the Control Centre in a while. It also would have been fantastic had Advent reused Rockin' On from ZX as Vent and Aile's boss theme, and included some nods to Zero 4's Falling Down in Divine Hammer at the final boss fight to reference that Albert was continuing Weil's legacy.
Anyone else got any other examples?
(side note, the in-game version of Trap Phantasm from Advent is, in my opinion, nowhere NEAR as good as the OST version. That one has a sick guitar solo).
When the wind is slow, and the fire's hot
The vulture waits to see what rots
Oh how pretty, all the scenery
This is nature's sacrifice
Finally, finally after forever, the next part of FTGFTF is done. Sorry if the pacing is a bit janky, I may go back and fix it up, but I hope you enjoy the long-awaited Atlas fight and I hope it delivers. Put a lot of work into the actual fight itself.
Shout out to @dumpsterfirepropaganda for keeping me going and hyping this one up, and to @copper-sands , who despite knowing nothing about MMZX, has still been cheering me on!
ZXA doodles from a few days ago!
Ninja man doing ninja things (I forgot the Reploid triangle whoops) because I had Siarnaq on my mind due to working on that chapter. (Idk who decided he got those poofy harem pants tho, they're A Look™ and I can never draw em right)
And then Thetis, who I swear I always make look slightly unhinged, but I suppose that's what happens if you're convinced you're the saviour of the oceans and have Model W whispering in your ear.
Model L's helmet is hell on wheels though, I thought ZX was bad but that one takes the cake.
So I wanted to give some mild context to a line in For The Glory, For the Fame, since I don't think I explained it in-story too well:
Aile's actually met Aeolus before, due to the merger of the company he represents as a lawyer with the remains of Slither Inc.
Having said that, though:
Since the merger started, and ESPECIALLY after falling in with Albert/essentially disappearing off the face of the planet, Aeolus has been hunted down a fair bit by corporate saboteurs and assassins looking to halt the merger and take what's left of Slither Inc. for themselves. So he changed up his appearance a bit to try and throw them off - dyed his hair green (it was originally white due to his albinism) and grew it out, ditched the glasses and the fake lens that disguised the colour of his blinded eye. (A previous drawing of mine has him get the glasses back after the events of Advent :) )
This is also why in FTGFTF he's got Siarnaq as a partner; who better to stop assassinations than other assassins?
Had Aile - and even Vent - stopped to take a proper look at him and not been so frantic, they would've been pretty surprised and actually recognised him as "That Aeolus Siolen." However by the time he introduced himself he was already merged with Model H, and at that point all bets were off on whether or not the twins were going to throw hands.
Anyways just wanted to drop that but of lore in!