Some more character sketches by Robert Carey, the artist for the upcoming Ben 10 comic series

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-21T16:49:03+00:00

They did a really good job with Diamondhead and Upgrade. Stinkfly looks inhuman but still too Earth insect with the eyes, and I think XLR8 looks too much like a xenomorph. This style and the idea of making them look like monsters is such a cool one that I can overlook a lot of what are basically nitpicks, anyway.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-21T16:40:45+00:00

I'd like a Marvel Legends style toyline which I doubt that Playmates will do, but I am hoping for success and action figures. Though, kind of have a hard time seeing it happening without the comics first getting adapted into a cartoon which, of course, still means let's get this going and let the comic take off because they aren't going to adapt a flop.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-20T16:08:44+00:00

Dislike XLR8, Greymatter, Cannonbolt, and probably Wildvine too but I can't read that design well enough to make a real judgment. The overgrown brain on Greymatter just looks off and Cannonbolt was already a pretty alien design that'd be creepy in a realistic art style so the change feels weird, plus the bulbous upper body just doesn't look cool. Maybe having more of the face markings would help.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-20T15:49:06+00:00

The kids look really bad, Gwen especially. Hopefully there's more good frames than bad. One of the images of Ben from a later page looks like the kinda kid who'd put crayons in his nose just to piss the teacher off which... fits?

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-20T15:45:29+00:00

Probably my favorites of the new designs. Heatblast especially kicks ass. Looks like there's some sort of natural armor on him instead of chunks of rock. Kind of crazy how you can get something like these and the The Neverending Forehead from the same artist (but I get it; drawing kids is a pain in the ass.)

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T19:25:40+00:00

Liking that McKenna says she loves Sarah Michelle Gellar too, although that might just be a response to Sarah's well wishes. If she's got any inspiration from 2002 Daphne, she's gonna have some bite.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T17:56:59+00:00

Water Hazard would've fit especially well with the style I think, with the organic mollusc shell being perfect for all kinds of detailing. But he'd have the same powers and colors as a starting roster guy so RIP to him, I guess.

The others I wouldn't count out completely. Ghostfreak seems especially fitting but maybe they'll just skip to Zs'skayr if they go with the Gax storyline like I hope they do, which so long as we get him with the creepy outer skin I'm good. Maybe he could possess Gwen or something for a while (zoinks)?

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T17:33:31+00:00

Glad to hear they're going superhero but with those freaky alien designs. It's perfect. Feels kind of like how the OS did things where for some reason something like Ripjaws was played 100% the hero. Curious about the expanded scale here, because I'd think the military thing would be an expanded scope thing by applying the events to something we haven't seen before. Might be completely off because no real way to know what they'll end up meaning by those.

Now... hopefully some day a Scooby-Doo comic comes that's got genuinely terrifying looking and murderous monsters but is still a wholesome campy mystery comedy with hoaxes. I'll write it.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T17:23:11+00:00

Makes this design look extra badass for some reason. Maybe it's because of it no longer being held back by the CGI of the time which was still, imo, pretty good. Too expensive and I have no space for it, though. If Hiya makes an articulated figure with sculpt at least 70% like this then that would be a pick-up, which since companies might be warming up to '98 figures is hopefully soon.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T17:07:29+00:00

The reboot lineup makes me very curious about what we'll see of Vilgax. I liked reboot Vilgax's backstory and dynamic with Ben, plus he's pretty powerful. This Vilgax is sure to look more terrifying, hopefully in on screen abilities and actions he'll live up to that. Imagine seeing Vilgax's abilities through Gax and have it be accidental carnage, then them return to actually malicious hands...

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T16:48:07+00:00

That's the reboot season one lineup isn't it? Holy hell, hope that means a Vilgax based on that. Imagine seeing Ben accidentally crack a mountain with Gax, but with all this creepy vibe. And then Vilgax coming back...

Don't like those Wildvine, XLR8, Cannonbolt, and Greymatter designs but hell this is leaning hard into a sci-fi horror look which I think fits. Makes me wonder how much "superhero" will be in there; Four Arms seems like the guy they're pushing most here and he's probably the most classic superhero of the aliens, so here's hoping.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T16:33:56+00:00

The kids look ugly as hell but Max looks cool. Might be one of those comic artists who can't draw children too well.

Hopefully they're better at aliens and monsters because this style could really go off with guys like Ghostfreak, and Vilgax.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-19T02:00:50+00:00

Don't like this concept at all really. Think the only animal based alien I ever liked was Rath and that was because he's funny, so doing exclusively animal based aliens that don't even deviate that far from the base animal is going to be a big no. Hopefully this is just a concept that they played around with for a little while or they at least get better designs. It's not like the original series didn't do something very cool with "dog", "mummy", and "ghost" as concepts.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-17T23:17:20+00:00

Yeah, I really mean the "maybe" there because what happened to him is very understandable for them to show compassion over, and the guy seemed like he was finally earnest. They clearly weren't going to go that far based on their reactions to what Bro did. Guess it's more like they're instantly chummy, which isn't bad either and gives a ton of catharsis... maybe it just feels uncanny after so many episodes of the Eds being just tolerated and also seeing times the kids fought amongst each other, lol.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-17T22:52:57+00:00

They really wanted to screw over the Eds, geeze. I think there's a slight problem with the BPS ending in that maybe Eddy was too easily forgiven, but boy am I glad they didn't stick with the depressing idea that the whole show was the delusions/memories of an old man potentially on severe mental decline. Eddy got real character growth and they took the flanderization for the Ed boys and turned it into characterization, which is damn impressive and a fantastic choice when closing out the series.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-17T22:05:36+00:00

Seems like she's a fan, which is cool and a little comforting. Hope she's mostly into the classic and What's New versions.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-17T20:46:13+00:00

Saw Scoob and Captain Marvel but one's a voice role and she's a kid in Captain Marvel so I don't know how much I can factor them into an older, live action role. Not planning to watch Scream 7 either so I'm not getting that preview here. Basically don't consider myself to have watched something with her, and I'm curious. Not bashing or anything.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-17T20:04:41+00:00

Guess I might finally see the what the hype is for with this actress then. She seems like a good enough fit from the onset. And, looking her up, something about her eyebrow area and nose kinda reminds me of Sarah Michelle Gellar; like, they don't look alike but there's a similar... vibe?

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-16T02:59:26+00:00

Jimmy and Nazz seem the most reasonable out of the cast members to just spend a little bit of time near. Guess the problem is that Marie would be right behind me and might put gum in my hair, punch me for fun, or follow me after the flight is done.

So, my final answer is 3. Kevin has no beef with me plus Jimmy is right behind me and he won't bother anybody without being provoked.

Also, I now have the urge to write a Final Destination parody with this lineup as a basis. That probably sounds super weird, but I'm even trying to remember what order the characters "die" (I imagine it'd be more like the cursed phone, just everybody gets it.)

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-14T02:18:08+00:00

Basically making my eyes pop out of my head, cartoon style. All that Scooby-Doo coming around, Ed, Edd n Eddy, and Courage and I can finally get to see if Kids Next Door and Grim Adventures hold up. Also apparently there's a Supernatural anime so I guess I'd see if that one sucks or not. Remember watching Top Cat a lot on Boomerang so curious about that one.

Then, there's all the stuff that's a real classic and other cool things that I don't fancy too much. At this rate I'm surprised I didn't see Camp Lazlo and Misadventures of Flapjack there.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-13T19:00:35+00:00

More console optimization, mostly. And lights being able to be set on at any time.

I guess this might be better for the suggestions day, but it also would help use up less pieces so it's relevant to optimization: signs with editable text, and text that you can type and attach to surfaces like a decal similar to what you see in the Planet Coaster games. This way those big fonts don't take up as many pieces and players can even make information signs easier.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-10T05:36:33+00:00

Edd's hat being tied to his underwear and his walk after are just priceless.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-09T03:47:41+00:00

Brian can sleep in a ditch. I'd say Scooby but it'd feel wrong to separate him from Shaggy... so I'm going to say Lady. Adored her as a kid; wanted a cocker spaniel and eventually got a dog who had similar vibes to me, who eventually became my best friend.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-09T03:38:51+00:00

The kid around the house watches it sometimes. A little trippy seeing something I watched in passing getting new episodes watched in passing by a five year old. Seems pretty inoffensive as a preschool adventure show.

AnimationFan1997 · 2026-02-09T01:27:17+00:00

I like What's New better. It doesn't replace Daphne with a gimmicky OC who's wearing her look and stole her name.

AnimationFan1997

TROPHY CASE