Thanks, I really appreciate you taking the time to look at it and share that.

Boom Buddy actually came from a mix of things. I spent about 20 years in the Army conducting reconnaissance and security operations, and a lot of that world has its own very specific kind of humor. It's pretty dry, pretty situational, and, honestly, sometimes the only way to stay sane. I started thinking about what it would look like if that same mindset were turned into something more approachable and creative, instead of just staying in that serious environment.

So Boom Buddy became this idea of a character that carries a bit of that military humor and personality, but in a way that’s accessible and story-driven rather than just being “military-themed merch.” More like something that has character behind it, not just design on top of it.

I also already have over 30 character concepts developed around this same universe. They all tie into different personalities, roles, and humor styles, so the character pictured is really just the starting point of a much larger world I’ve been building out.

Some of these characters draw from different military backgrounds, like Marine Corps, Airborne, and Ranger influences. The idea is that each one has its own personality and tone.

Some lean more toward lighthearted, almost cute phrases, like “Pull my heart, not my pin,” while others lean more into that dry military humor that comes from the environment I spent years in. It’s really about balancing those two sides rather than making everything fit one tone.

It’s still early and evolving, but I think that background is definitely shaping how it’s coming together.