#peruvian character

I’m writing a comic set in post nuclear apocalyptic Peru. It’s been a long time since the war and one settlement was able to survive and rebuild and thrive.

I wanted to mix modern fashions and Ancient ones together, like society has ‘reset’ and taken inspiration from the Incan Empire but still has access to some modern technologies.

It’ll also mix in some cyberpunk elements as well.

This is the ‘ruler’ of the settlement and father of my main character Anyu.

I’m really struggling with his design. I wanted him to be more of the ancient traditional man but at the same time I feel like he doesn’t have enough modern elements to his design.

How can I add a few more modern/cyberpunk elements without changing him too much?

I also want to make sure his design never seems offensive as that’s hugely important to me.

If anyone could give me advice I’d be so grateful!!

This is my third pass at this character and this is where I’m at so far!

In case you didn’t see my previous posts, I’m writing a comic based in post-apocalyptic Peru. It’ll have major elements of the Inca empire mixed with modern elements but also more cyberpunk elements.

I know it’s a lot but I’m convinced it’ll create something unique and really interesting.

The man below will be the leader of the last surviving peoples and father of one of the main characters!

Keep in mind that their society isn’t struggling, they’re thriving. The nuclear explosion happened years prior and they’ve already rebuilt while taking inspiration from the Incan empire to run things.

So this man is their Sapa Inca, or their King. He’s meant to represent traditionalism but also the control over machinery. As he believes cybernetics and hardware are merely tools for people to use.

Just thought I should give a bit more of a backstory!

With this pass of the design I added far more details and cybernetics to him but I’m really more sure if it’s too much?

Someone said his face looked too busy and I do see that but I think I’ve been staring at it for too long.

Also, all of the textiles and patterns I’ve drawn are really just placeholders as I can only do so small with my markers and the comic will 100% be done digitally, so I’ll have far better control and fully plan on either finding or creating specific brushes for all the patterning.

Most circles in his design will actually be glowing stones that’ll shift in hue depending on the tone of the scene he’s in.

There’s some parts I don’t like about his design like his boot and I’m not fully sold on the design of the cybernetics as I’ve seen some more sleeker designs that I might use instead. But I’m really not sure.

If anyone has any advice or ideas or even critiques them I’d love to hear them!

Being culturally accurate is also extremely important to me, so if anyone who is more versed in that department has any advice or criticisms then please let me know.

Especially if anything is offensive.

@andeanbeauties

@thebeardedladyofthelake

@batmeringue

Some specifics that I DO have, in case it's helpful (any of which can of course be changed if they're Bad. Most of these are drawn in parallel with another character.):

- His mother was estranged from his grandmother for many years

- His mother was a single mother

- His mother died when he was young-ish (~7-13) after fighting an illness that forced her to reach out to her mother to ask for help with raising him when she became unable to do so alone. The grandmother then became his primary caregiver when his mother died. I could change this to just her becoming his primary caregiver after she dies without her coming to help out first. I'm partial to the first only because it gives him the opportunity to be in between the emotional tension between his mother and grandmother.

- His grandmother worked to have a much better relationship with him than she did with his mother (trying to learn from mistakes and grow as a parent and do better etc etc it worked)

- His grandmother taught him Peruvian knitting as a bonding activity between them and he continues to engage in it long after she's gone.

- He's queer.

- They live in a small town in rural Canada, either his whole life or once his grandmother becomes his primary caretaker