Just for clairification, what exactly is a Mary-Sue/ Gary Stu? I've heard so many examples of what they are that it's hard to figure out what is the correct term. At first, Mary-Sue's seemed to be annoying, but now that I've had a chance to mull it over, it sounds like people use the term in order to offend other people's original characters, either that or it's a pop culture term used to prevent experimentive thought and restrict creative freedom.

Fellow artists, I ask your opinion on this term. What do you think a Mary-Sue is and do you think that the term is a valid one or simply another catchy term that people throw around that will cease to have meaning after a few years?

First of all, thanks in advance for the artwork. I hope that you have as much fun as I will reinvisioning someone else's character and that this gains some popularity among other Exalt fans so that this exchange becomes tradition.

First up is the Gentleman Kreis. He's a Changing Moon Lunar whose totem is a jaguar. A charasmatic, yet reserved individual, driven by his need to balance his civility with his animalistic nature. He's a bishonen and tends to wear fine, yet durable clothing, has white hair, pale skin has an agile, athletic build. His tell is his eyes, that are reflective and feline, as well as his clawed fingers. The reference pic is exaggerated (using a charm) as they only extend an inch longer than normal nail, but are thick and curved. His tatoos are hiddne most of the time, as he can pass as a mortal far easier that way. [link] and [link]

My second choice is Yushoto Xyra. A Wood aspect hailing from Lookshy, she is a sorcerer-technician in charage of on site repairs of her unit's artifacts, as well as go to girl on any appropriated items they happen to find. Wry, wisecracking and passionate, she tends to wear her emotions on her sleave. She has short pine green hair with a small orange streak in the front and orange eyes. Her build is slighty muscular, yet feminine and skin is very pale, with a few "ley lines" of green that spiral around her limbs. Her lips also have the same green hue to them, as well as her eyelids. She usually wears the officer uniform, unless she get away with wearing anything that would be seen as leisurely (feel free to design something new for her).
[link] and [link]

My last cholce is Dark Mistress of Ruin. A Dusk Caste who works for the Bohdisattva Anointed by Dark Water, she holds her Deathlord's word as sacred writ and is known to take extreme pleasure at being his maul. She usually maintains a stoic expression, but be moved to explosive rage, or dry mirth depending on what's going on. More than anything, her demenor is one that tolerates no insolence. Her skin in a rich tan, her hair is a darker blue and her eyes are a honey brown. She wears heavy, bleached Soulsteel armor and has a lithe, yet muscular build.
[link]
and [link]

Hey, sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I have been so busy with classes and trying not to get kicked out of my apartment that I haven't had time to dedicate any time to drawing. It's ironic, since a few of my classes involve art.
I'll try to post a few of my sketches when I am able, but reports and lab assignments have to come first.
Enough about me though. How's everyone else in DA Land doing? Still gaming and reading? If so, don't be afraid to keep me in the loop.

My Changeling game went off without a hitch, and after being able to play as Walt and Rowe, I now have gained a greater understanding of the themes inherent to telling a story about the Lost. I got so enthralled by White Wolf again, I kinda went nuts and bought almost all of the Changeling splats, picked up a copy of both Hunter and Slasher(which is singlehandedly one of the best/chilling WoD books I've read from them to date), and am in the process of securing a copy of Geist as soon as it comes out.

I also discovered that the library at my University carries graphic novels, so I picked up a copy of Spawn #1, Batman comics that I had been planning to read for like ever (The Killing Joke, A Death in the Family, Knightfall part1 and 2) and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 2.

Time hasn't been to kind on Spawn, though. He's not as cool as I remember him being and there is a lot of talk about the Youngbloods in the comic, which seems unnesessary. Also it reads at an awkward pace, as if the script was penned like a month after the art was designed for it, but I'm still interested in how it turns out.

Killing Joke was epic. Go read it NAO!!!

Knightfall is impressive.

A Death in the Family was...meh. I've never been a fan of Jason Todd, so when he died I really didn't feel good or bad about it. The only thing that got a rise from me was a quote from the back of the book written by the editor himself that said: "It would be a really sleazy stunt to bring him back". A decade later the sleazy stunt happens and he's resurrected. DC made a big stink about how badass he is and how he's going to mess up Batman's life, but after he shakes off the Raz-Rage, Mr. Todd's not really worth all the hype he recieved. Also the Ayatollah showed up in the comic. That was bizarre...

My right eye got an infection, the air conditioning unit is on the fritz, and my toilet became a gateway to HELL all in the same night! In three days, I have to give a speech on jeans and try to make it sound interesting, all while battling massive swells, warped books and blindness.

Hell of a way to start the weekend...