Megaman Xover

I made this after realising that Captain N's Megaman actually had a redesign in Season 3 of the show. Had I known that before I finished the Captain N MM2 pic I would have used that instead just to draw it. Instead I tried to find a new tracarriffic picture I could make. After reading some news about Rockman Xover I realised that that was perfect for me - making a licensed or oddball version of Classic Megaman based off the game's main poster! I always have been fascinated with Megaman's adaptation decay and this was a great way to draw out many different designs.

These Megaman were chosen mainly because of their cosmetic differences and their importance to Classic Megaman. So, the Shigeto Ikehara series, while more important to the franchise, it doesn't quite make the cut because it's Megaman looks just like the regular version.

Captain N Megaman - This is the design that started this picture. Interestingly, the new design omits the buster found on his wrist entirely! Also, this alternate coloration includes blue (another features the regular green colours). There's actually another slight variation which has his yellow shoulder bits elevated, like his usual design, but I wasn't looking at that one when drawing this.

I have to admit, I'm really fond of this show. Okay, it completely misrepresents Megaman, Simon Belmont, Mother Brain, and every single game it features. But it was a fun show when I was a little kid.

Ruby Spears Megaman - Yeah, I know. The buster's on the wrong arm! But I really wanted to feature this version's buster; it's one of the best parts of his design.

Can you talk about licences Classic Megaman without talking about Ruby Spear's cartoon? I don't think so. It juuuust missed the anime explosion and, as a result, wound up being incredibly Americanised. Despite this, and MM's sueprheroic look, I think the show's heart is in the right place. Had they actually managed to get the anime look to MM I don't think much about the tone of the show and the types of episodes we'd have gotten would actually change.

Ariga's Megaman - Okay, this is cheating somewhat. I wouldn't count this as a MEGAman and definitely not oddball, but more awesome. Still, I really wanted to include it. What a great look for Megaman! When I first caught a glimpse of this guy back when Rockman & Forte came out the best I could do was hunt mangas I couldn't read and be in awe of the art. This look features the old coloration with white on the helmet instead of the newer light blue.

Novas Adventuras be Megaman Roll - So what do you do when you have a Zero in an all-Megaman picture? Use Roll! And there's no oddball version of Roll more oddball that that featured in the Brazillian comics.

I have to admit feeling hesitation at which version of this Roll to choose. She's the only character in the series to go through wardrobe changes and she does so quite often. The look she sticks by the most is just totally naked (yes, in an approved Megaman comic). I really considered just drawing her nude here, but I thought it would be too distracting so I used her second most known look - her first where it's obvious that she was based off Ruby Spears Roll. (The apple fell far from the tree).

Megaman 1 US Box Art - How could I leave out Bad Box Art Megaman? He sorta spawned his own continuity where he lived in the multi-faceted Monsteropolis and fought Humanoids. The official Guide to Megaman only added oddities such as an entire galactic Council!

I really thought about choosing the Namco VS Capcom version, but settled on a rendition based off the original box and it's interpretation in the cancelled Megaman Universe.

Megaman 2 EU box Art - I had thought about using the European MM1's art, but that version looks too much like Classic Megaman (and we already have two versions like that). Ultimately MM2 is one of the most important games in the franchise and it features it's own really odd Metropolis-inspired Megaman. He was actually featured in live action commercials! And, although he'd become chibified the coloration would persist for Megaman 3 and Dr. Wily's Revenge!

Roll (OVA) - I have to admit, with Brazillian Megaman and Ruby Spears off my list the weird versions of Roll is cut down substantially. Still there was that one scene in Future beware where she dressed up in her own superhero costume for all of a second. On the face of it, those OVAs aren't too important, but looking deeper they seem to have been a sort of pilot for a US Megaman Cartoon. Also, this version of Megaman could really be headcannoned o be the same Megaman found in Captain N! He lives in a video game world where he and Wily and everyone else know they're in a game, unlike every other version of Megaman out there .... except Captain N's.

But, to be honest, I just though the costume would make a fun addition.

Quintet US/EU box art - So who would make a good substitute for the time / dimension hopping Over-1 while remaining in the theme of adaptation decay? How about the oddball version of a time travelling Megaman? Many kids first knew Quint as this red suited version seen in the box art and Nintendo Power. I actually think he looks way better than his green suited official alter ego.

All in all I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. But I have to say, I'm sick of tracing someone else's art to make my own. There's a kind of fun to it, but it's just not wholly satisfying.