Reviving My Old Comic Characters

I have been thinking it is time to make something official. Instead of always jumping between random characters, I want to use my old comics as the foundation and build a regular one panel series out of them.

Here’s a snapshot from one of my older comics

This trio feels like the right place to start. No names yet, but I like their look, the colors, and that slightly chaotic cartoon energy. My goal is to give them a consistent design and personality so they can become recurring characters for slice-of-life stories, daily thoughts, or whatever random thing I feel like drawing that day.

So, here’s me experimenting with redesigns:

The one on the left is my original character, and I tried two variations:

• The middle version has cleaner, uniform hair—like an inverted cone shape. Feels more refined.
• The right version keeps the jagged hairstyle, but this time I’m treating it as an intentional design choice instead of just random spikes.

Then I played around a bit more, and this happened:

Now the left character has a mustache and slimmer clothes—kind of an office or tech guy vibe, maybe a start-up type or a slightly lost salesman. Meanwhile, the right one keeps the casual look, but I flared the shorts a bit and gave him compression socks underneath.

Going back to the old comic for reference—the Returner (red shirt, holding chicken)—I think he’ll be the first one to get a name.

Character Draft: Jaxel (or Jakzel)

• The name sounds a bit awkward, like someone who just mashed together words and decided that’s their identity which honestly fits him.
• Comes from “jacked” (messed up, overexcited) + “axel” (something that keeps spinning).
• Vibe: The doomed optimist. Always convinced this time he’s early to the trend.
• Tagline: “Buys high, sells never.”

I still want to keep that old comic energy—commentary on tech, crypto, and life’s everyday weirdness—but this time, with a stable cast that I can grow and refine over time.

Next is the girl — I’m leaning toward naming her Emora (or maybe Emorie). She is a cashier or a sales clerk type, the one who has seen every kind of customer and every kind of meltdown. Her vibe is dry, unbothered, and the only sane person left. Her tagline? “Returns don’t cover emotional damage.” I’ll start refining her look next I think she’s going to balance out Jaxel’s chaotic optimism perfectly.