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Description
I'm back on the artistic ball, and hoping to keep up with weekly updates until year's end. Lingering commissions of mine are being finished, The Kaiju Portraits are slowly returning from hiatus, Brandon Tenold is cooking some choice lobster-shrimp-thing, and older creations of mine are coming back in newer, improved ways.

Yes, I will admit that I have MORE professional coloring work coming in November, along with my attendance at Son of Monsterpalooza on October 11th. But I'm still going full steam ahead, as I feel like I owe you guys (my fans) for the absence, and your long waiting in turn.

And with that said, let's bring back one of my oldest original monster heroes, Mantaar (also known as Mantarr)!

Okay, the term 'hero' is an inaccurate one for this Kaiju of mine, as my original character concept portrayed Mantaar in a more antagonistic light - very much like my two source inspirations for him, Daimajin and Talos. And as such, I'm totally revising Mantaar, in both his design and personality. So what you're about to read below is brand new.

A long time ago, between the fall of the Dinosaurs and the rise of the Hominoids, the living mineral-based monstrosities dubbed Stone Giants ruled the Earth with an iron fist. They were an extremely cruel race who worshiped the same brutal idealism that ancient human civilizations like The Roman Empire and the Mongols had. But taken to greater extremes, due to their own powerful, semi-mystical physiology. And many prehistoric races, including the Mega-Fauna animals and early mystical ones like Elves, suffered by The Stone Giants dark whims.

But there are always individual exceptions in any tyrannical state, and among them was the noble Mantaar.

Mantaar began life as a field soldier for the always changing leaders of The Stone Giant armies. And quickly came to resent his lot in life, among the constant betrayals and infighting . Mantaar also held his own code of honor, and even practice some ethics during battle. A choice that both kept him from moving up within The Stone Army ranks, as well as making him a target to his own so-called comrades and commanders.

It was a very barbaric time and Mantaar obviously didn't want to have anything to do with it, but forced to regardless. That was until he met with the infamous rebel named Turuncana, who was not only trying to fight against the rulers of their species, but also to find a way to better their people for a more prosperous future. Originally, Mantaar's orders were to capture and execute the traitor, but came to realize that they both shared similar goals, and desired freedom from The Stone Giant norm.

The two joined forces and quickly escaped, and later met up with other like-minded stone outcasts. This group became to be known as The Huillcas Warriors, who served as a great force for justice, defending the smaller developing races from the atrocities of their own kind. And battling many other fierce villains within and outside of Stone Giant society. Including the bloodthirsty iron-skinned giantess Shoma Wetsa; the berserk yeti-like frost devil named Ashtonroth; and incredibly greedy stone sorcerer dubbed The Wizard of Rock.

But alas, The Huillcas Warriors' valiant efforts weren't enough to calm the rest of the raging Stone Giants, whose already loathsome culture was degenerating into a seemingly never ending series of self-destructive civil wars and power grabs. And with their own race slowly ripping itself apart, while leaving the rest of the prehistoric Earth more or less alone, The Huillcas Warriors reluctantly parted ways.

And went forth to live the rest of their individual lives in what little peace they could find, far away from the madness. Mantaar himself choosing to live in the ancient jungle lands, that would later develop into what we modern humans now call Brazil and Mexico.

And than came that eventful day...when the otherworldly overlord and conqueror known as Vulthoom descended upon the Earth.

Vulthoom (heavily based on the title deity from Clark Ashton Smith's 1935 short story) was an alien genius from another dimension, whose knowledge of the secrets of both life and death raised him to virtual Godhood in galactic leadership. But Vulthoom was still technically a mortal entity, and nearly at the end of its already unnaturally extended life-span.

And not wanting to resort to feeble, inefficient means of gained immortality (like lesser Demons), Vulthoom chose to do what the more-alien-than-alien Great Old Ones did, by literally accepting a 'death state', and be reawaken later by the complex power of higher forms of life-forces. And again, it needed to be done in better ways than mere blood sacrifices or soul sucking, for death and resurrection through murder, although overwhelming, is as Vulthoom found it to be, 'way too simple, and impotently so'.

Thus, Vulthoom created The Summoning Book, which was a small tome that housed a far more expansive, artificial dimension within. And would be used as a prison for fellow giants like himself, to act as a 'living battery farm' that would be the ultimate catalyst for Vulthoom's return.

And what better planet than our own Earth, teeming with all sorts of 'Kaiju-level individuals', ready for the capture. Especially all those warring Stone Giants, who were caught completely off-guard by Vulthoom's invading hoards of alien mercenaries and worshipers.

Mantaar and his fellow Huillcus Warriors were among the last to be captured into The Summoning Book of Vulthoom. But even separated over nations, they each held their own, and managed to destroy many of Vulthoom's minion forces. And assuring that only a dying, withering Vulthoom would remain on Earth in the aftermath.

Mantaar would remain trapped in the Summoning Book for an unknown amount of time, until being among the first 'Kaiju' (giant monsters) to be released from it. All thanks to the indirect actions of the mad scientist known as The Terrible Tooth.

This turned out to be a positive development however, for the freed Mantaar has now decided to protect humanity and modern day Earth, from both the coming resurrection of Vulthoom, as well as other villains who seek to use The Summoning Book for their own evil goals.

As you can see... writes way too much f****** text, and will probably suffer horribly for such a debilitating character flaw, later down in life.

Satire aside, I changed Mantaar heavily from his original, utterly ruthless Earth guardian, to a more sympathetic protagonist, who fights the good fight even in the most hopeless of situations. I also dropped the original explanation of him being a strange Golem / Homunculus creation of an ancient civilization, and simplified it to a mythological Stone Giant instead.

A major influence behind this revision was (Olavo Cavalcanti) who helped me with research on South American mythology, and its own take on the Stone Giant phenomenon. And discovered the relatively obscure characters of The Huillcas from Peruvian folklore, who are among the few benevolent Stone Giants in pre-20th century fiction.

Seriously, do the research...Stone Giants worldwide are often a bunch of jerks!

was also responsible for the fantastic fan art posted above, which I'll be repaying him with my take on one of his own original creations, before year's end.

There was way more I wanted to share about Mantaar, but will save all that for future uploads. But if you have any questions, by all means ask away!

Description
I'm back on the artistic ball, and hoping to keep up with weekly updates until year's end. Lingering commissions of mine are being finished, The Kaiju Portraits are slowly returning from hiatus, Brandon Tenold is cooking some choice lobster-shrimp-thing, and older creations of mine are coming back in newer, improved ways.

Yes, I will admit that I have MORE professional coloring work coming in November, along with my attendance at Son of Monsterpalooza on October 11th. But I'm still going full steam ahead, as I feel like I owe you guys (my fans) for the absence, and your long waiting in turn.

And with that said, let's bring back one of my oldest original monster heroes, Mantaar (also known as Mantarr)!

Okay, the term 'hero' is an inaccurate one for this Kaiju of mine, as my original character concept portrayed Mantaar in a more antagonistic light - very much like my two source inspirations for him, Daimajin and Talos. And as such, I'm totally revising Mantaar, in both his design and personality. So what you're about to read below is brand new.

A long time ago, between the fall of the Dinosaurs and the rise of the Hominoids, the living mineral-based monstrosities dubbed Stone Giants ruled the Earth with an iron fist. They were an extremely cruel race who worshiped the same brutal idealism that ancient human civilizations like The Roman Empire and the Mongols had. But taken to greater extremes, due to their own powerful, semi-mystical physiology. And many prehistoric races, including the Mega-Fauna animals and early mystical ones like Elves, suffered by The Stone Giants dark whims.

But there are always individual exceptions in any tyrannical state, and among them was the noble Mantaar.

Mantaar began life as a field soldier for the always changing leaders of The Stone Giant armies. And quickly came to resent his lot in life, among the constant betrayals and infighting . Mantaar also held his own code of honor, and even practice some ethics during battle. A choice that both kept him from moving up within The Stone Army ranks, as well as making him a target to his own so-called comrades and commanders.

It was a very barbaric time and Mantaar obviously didn't want to have anything to do with it, but forced to regardless. That was until he met with the infamous rebel named Turuncana, who was not only trying to fight against the rulers of their species, but also to find a way to better their people for a more prosperous future. Originally, Mantaar's orders were to capture and execute the traitor, but came to realize that they both shared similar goals, and desired freedom from The Stone Giant norm.

The two joined forces and quickly escaped, and later met up with other like-minded stone outcasts. This group became to be known as The Huillcas Warriors, who served as a great force for justice, defending the smaller developing races from the atrocities of their own kind. And battling many other fierce villains within and outside of Stone Giant society. Including the bloodthirsty iron-skinned giantess Shoma Wetsa; the berserk yeti-like frost devil named Ashtonroth; and incredibly greedy stone sorcerer dubbed The Wizard of Rock.

But alas, The Huillcas Warriors' valiant efforts weren't enough to calm the rest of the raging Stone Giants, whose already loathsome culture was degenerating into a seemingly never ending series of self-destructive civil wars and power grabs. And with their own race slowly ripping itself apart, while leaving the rest of the prehistoric Earth more or less alone, The Huillcas Warriors reluctantly parted ways.

And went forth to live the rest of their individual lives in what little peace they could find, far away from the madness. Mantaar himself choosing to live in the ancient jungle lands, that would later develop into what we modern humans now call Brazil and Mexico.

And than came that eventful day...when the otherworldly overlord and conqueror known as Vulthoom descended upon the Earth.

Vulthoom (heavily based on the title deity from Clark Ashton Smith's 1935 short story) was an alien genius from another dimension, whose knowledge of the secrets of both life and death raised him to virtual Godhood in galactic leadership. But Vulthoom was still technically a mortal entity, and nearly at the end of its already unnaturally extended life-span.

And not wanting to resort to feeble, inefficient means of gained immortality (like lesser Demons), Vulthoom chose to do what the more-alien-than-alien Great Old Ones did, by literally accepting a 'death state', and be reawaken later by the complex power of higher forms of life-forces. And again, it needed to be done in better ways than mere blood sacrifices or soul sucking, for death and resurrection through murder, although overwhelming, is as Vulthoom found it to be, 'way too simple, and impotently so'.

Thus, Vulthoom created The Summoning Book, which was a small tome that housed a far more expansive, artificial dimension within. And would be used as a prison for fellow giants like himself, to act as a 'living battery farm' that would be the ultimate catalyst for Vulthoom's return.

And what better planet than our own Earth, teeming with all sorts of 'Kaiju-level individuals', ready for the capture. Especially all those warring Stone Giants, who were caught completely off-guard by Vulthoom's invading hoards of alien mercenaries and worshipers.

Mantaar and his fellow Huillcus Warriors were among the last to be captured into The Summoning Book of Vulthoom. But even separated over nations, they each held their own, and managed to destroy many of Vulthoom's minion forces. And assuring that only a dying, withering Vulthoom would remain on Earth in the aftermath.

Mantaar would remain trapped in the Summoning Book for an unknown amount of time, until being among the first 'Kaiju' (giant monsters) to be released from it. All thanks to the indirect actions of the mad scientist known as The Terrible Tooth.

This turned out to be a positive development however, for the freed Mantaar has now decided to protect humanity and modern day Earth, from both the coming resurrection of Vulthoom, as well as other villains who seek to use The Summoning Book for their own evil goals.

As you can see... writes way too much f****** text, and will probably suffer horribly for such a debilitating character flaw, later down in life.

Satire aside, I changed Mantaar heavily from his original, utterly ruthless Earth guardian, to a more sympathetic protagonist, who fights the good fight even in the most hopeless of situations. I also dropped the original explanation of him being a strange Golem / Homunculus creation of an ancient civilization, and simplified it to a mythological Stone Giant instead.

A major influence behind this revision was (Olavo Cavalcanti) who helped me with research on South American mythology, and its own take on the Stone Giant phenomenon. And discovered the relatively obscure characters of The Huillcas from Peruvian folklore, who are among the few benevolent Stone Giants in pre-20th century fiction.

Seriously, do the research...Stone Giants worldwide are often a bunch of jerks!

was also responsible for the fantastic fan art posted above, which I'll be repaying him with my take on one of his own original creations, before year's end.

There was way more I wanted to share about Mantaar, but will save all that for future uploads. But if you have any questions, by all means ask away!