Quoted from Aurich:I assume ZY had to work off a style guide to get things approved by Marvel, so maybe the material he was working with was like that. Or maybe it was his call, or Stern's, I have no idea. But I'm glad I'm not the only person to see that.
For TMNT, which has the same vibe, I get it. It's referencing a cartoon for young children. That's the look. For Avengers I would have been happier personally to see a more mature comic look and feel.
Clearly it wasn't that locked down, considering the characters on the LCD don't match the ones on the game in design. Ah well. Still looks like a really fun game to me.
Bright yellow etc was all my choice. I don't think it's the wrong way to go based on the source & for a global/multi-generational license ...and neither did the licensor. They let me do my thing - so you're issues are me, not them or Stern.
All blame is mine. I try to make sure every project I do with Stern can stand out from the others... I don't like repeating myself as I see it as a copout and a crutch.
Side note - Personally, I think that helps this discussion as my aim was not the aim of the competitor you're discussing here (who hired someone who could 'do zombie yeti style' I was told - which is an insult to Dayne & myself. Dayne is great guy, btw and a friend - and his own entity oozing his style.) I'd also add In the end they had 6 artists (I count Robt Williams even though they don't credit him oddly) and a pretty long timeframe to put their project together vs one guy(me) and a few months time... I did the best with my time, given more time I'd have rethought early concepts for sure knowing me...</side note>
Listen - I worked with Zidware - I've lived long enough to see people die too young, and I am on facebook... I will take 'too happy' any day of the week over 'brooding darkness'... I tend to aim for happy & fun angles on everything I do as a result of 'life'. I'm self indulgent in that way - so blame me entirely.
Going dark, just like tearing things apart critically, can be much easier roads to travel from my experience. That's not a dig at your critique either - if you like dark mature stuff I was not the guy for you and never will be. Even my darkest work has humor and edges on fun 
In the end, I'm one guy who tries to please a broad spectrum audience - I do all the work by myself, no committees - all 3 packages were done in a very short time-frame - but I put in looooong hours (zero weekends off) to keep the quality up because I care. I did my best, and hope the effort shows regardless of distaste for colors. I don't even mind the critiques - just making sure the blame lays on the proper culprit
Scranton, PA
