Character Design: Mark Benjamin
1st Design
Series Appearing In: Intrepid
Sketch Artist: Mat Eugusten
Original Sketch Date: April 25, 2006
Comments
Alan Cole: Does anyone need the Benjamin pic?
David Welcher: I do.
Jose Loeri: Nope. I remember it.
David Welcher: I want to be able to rip into it proper.
Alan Cole: Give me a sec. You'll have it in a few.
Jose Loeri: I see that pic often; I know it like the back of my head. We're talking about Mats' picture, right?
Alan Cole: Yep. I know Dav said he didn't like him being bald, but I was feeling it. He comes from a time before Rogaine and Bosley, y'know?
Jose Loeri: I liked it because he looked like a pencil pusher. I didn't think we were doing Nick Fury (the Ultimate version). This is a government mind and retired
hero. Like The Owl on Watchmen before he got back in shape (if he ever did).
Alan Cole: Baldness was seen as a transition into that 'wisdon' stage...not unlike today's older folk.
Jose Loeri: Plus people get old and people go bald. It happens. And that's real.
Alan Cole: Don't I know it?
David Welcher: I think that people can also go gray...I can honestly say that I never envisioned the man bald.
Alan Cole: Is it an consolation that he's graying what little hair he's got?
Jose Loeri: We're working in black and white though.
David Welcher: We still do color pics though, so you need a color scheme for all the characters.
Jose Loeri: It's a little easier to do gray in color than black and white. It can be done, but I'd still prefer him to be bald.
David Welcher: I'm still not completely sold on that as he was conceived with hair. The baldness was an audible that didn't score. I don't like the baldness. Never
did and I never will. It makes him look stupid.
Jose Loeri: WTH?
David Welcher: Older than what he is and altogether unappealing.
Jose Loeri: I don't understand. So should he be ripped with a six pack and an afro?
David Welcher: I don't think I said that either. I am pretty sure that bald isn't the only way to express aging...are you saying that it is?
Jose Loeri: It's one way.
Alan Cole: He's an old superhero. I think about him as I would an old football player about 10-15 years outside of their prime.
David Welcher: Not preferable for this character in my opinion, but whatever...
Jose Loeri: If you want to do Dark Knight Returns Bruce Wayne go ahead but it's been done.
David Welcher: I don't think I said that either.
Jose Loeri: Then what are you saying?!?!?
David Welcher: I think that I'm saying that I envisioned this pic with hair sprinkled with gray. That' what I said then, that's what I'm saying now. Plain and simple.
Alan Cole: I thought he was supposed to be like a father figure or something...nothing screams 'listen to the wise, old black guy' than a dude that's bald or balding
with a beer/pot belly with old war stories.
David Welcher: What? That's ridiculous.
Jose Loeri: It seems to me that it's possible for a black man to go bald. However, if you're not feeling it that's fine. Commission another sketch; I won't squaw.
David Welcher: I thought the point of this was to talk about our feelings on the pieces as they are.
Jose Loeri: I think we have. You're wrong and we're right.
Alan Cole: OLD BLACK BALD POTBELLY BENJAMIN!
David Welcher: He looks stupid in this sketch. That's all I'm saying.
Jose Loeri: Look, when he goes back into action all he has to do is shave it all off like half the black cats his age. The Jordan look. Then he'll be gold.
Alan Cole: He reminds me of Denzel Washington in some of his more recent roles as an older gentleman. Wasn't that what we were shooting for?
David Welcher: Denzel has hair.
Jose Loeri: The bastard's bald dude. Get over it.
David Welcher: All I'm saying is I wil continue to tow the company line. You two bastards overruled me on a character I conceived. I got it, and I got you guys.
Alan Cole: Think of it this way...Benjamin will have hair when The Mercenaires drops and the timeline goes back to the 80's.
David Welcher: Forget you Cole.