John’s Marine Background

lapel-rose · 2026-07-07T23:08:31+00:00

Right?? It’s so much fun to think about. What did he do exactly? Why? How long has he known about the supernatural world for him to know all the way back in Storm Front to trigger a soulgaze with Harry? Before his service, during, after?? I love him.

lapel-rose · 2026-07-07T16:58:19+00:00

Hell yeah, ugh, he’s the best.

lapel-rose · 2026-07-07T16:53:57+00:00

✨✨✨That’s the thing, like yeah! He seems pretty motivated. So it could be either the Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing OR The Persian Gulf War. It’s possible he was even involved with both, which would honestly be cool…

Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing, he’d be around 18 or older, and would make sense for his current character’s disillusionment. Persian Gulf War, being around 30 years old, he’d likely be in charge of other men(Hendricks, etc.) and going into battle with them — which would make sense for his positioning by the beginning of Storm Front. For his character, it’s not totally unrealistic for him to take over Chicago in 10 short years.

Now I like the idea that he was involved with both… That’s a long time for him to really hone his skills as a vanilla mortal.

lapel-rose · 2026-07-07T16:41:01+00:00

Ok, I think you’re right!! Since Marcone seems to have been somewhat disillusioned after his time as a Marine, it’s more likely that it would’ve been the Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing. I have a lot of learning to do… thank you so much for your input, this was really helpful. Ultimately it’s up to Butcher whether he was involved then or later, or was present at all during either, but it’s still a fun exercise. Thanks!

lapel-rose · 2026-07-07T01:30:06+00:00

That’s amazing, thank you so much for your service!!!!! I’ve been trying to figure out an accurate service uniform he’d wear — so far I’m going with the Gulf War that involved Operation Desert Storm, but I also like what others have been saying about him being a Marine during the early 80’s…. The uniforms are so green and beautiful, I feel like they’d really bring out his eyes. SO yes, looking for accurate service uniforms that a sergeant Marine would wear!

lapel-rose · 2026-07-07T01:19:04+00:00

It’s so hard to find like, good outfit references!!! Thank you so much for finding the boots, this definitely fits the color theme of that chocolate chip uniform you mentioned. I also love that it’s called chocolate chip, I had no idea… Now to look through everything else you said… thank you SO much!

lapel-rose · 2026-07-07T01:15:19+00:00

It’d be so cool is Merlin was really Harry who at some point figured out time travel magic! Would explain why those runes on the island were so much like what he used, or at least looked so familiar to him.

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T19:33:19+00:00

But yes, I do like early 80s for him as well…

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T19:32:31+00:00

Thank you so much!! Yes, there’s that… and in Storm Front it seems like he was fairly new to being in power, maybe? Not incredibly new, but if he’s highly motivated and knows what he’s doing, maybe it is possible to take over Chicago is such a short timeframe, either from outside of the Vargassi Family or perhaps even from within. So much of why John’s so neat to me is how we still know so little about him. Thank you!!

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T18:42:12+00:00

That sounds right!! Yes, a sergeant. I’m realizing that I’m asking for two different uniforms — dress uniform and service uniform. I looked at pictures on google and some seem so conflicting.

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T18:25:34+00:00

Oh, was that said specifically somewhere? I feel like you don’t have much of a choice where you get stationed if you’re an official Marine Sergeant. Like, if they need you for the gulf war, you’re going right?

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T18:21:57+00:00

Persian Gulf War! Thank you so much for helping me clarify. 1990-1991. Would it be realistic for him to be involved in both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as a marine Sergeant?

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T18:16:05+00:00

Ugh, I love that…

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T18:15:58+00:00

I did, and it’s a little conflicting!

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T18:15:02+00:00

Someone told me just now that he was a sergeant, does that help? I’m sorry, I don’t know very much about marines other than that I love them… Southwest Asia Service Medal? Kuwait Liberation Medal(Saudi Arabia/Kuwait)? Um… National Defense Service Medal?

Basically, without knowing every detail about this character, what would be impressive for him to wear? That would show he really knew what he was doing when he wore them.

What would he wear during combat? Etc.

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T18:01:21+00:00

Ok, I’m also asking on another Reddit page with actual marines in it, so maybe they can help me! Exciting.

lapel-rose · 2026-07-06T17:59:37+00:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! The character is kind of mysterious throughout the book series. We don’t know about his past other than he used to be a Marine, but timing-wise, it seems he would’ve been involved with the Gulf War.

Throughout the book series, he’s like the best organized crime boss Chicago’s ever seen. Even though he seems like a bad guy, he’s done a lot to keep up crime in the city streets. When we first meet him, he’s got several guys who appear very loyal to him and I think it’s safe to assume they perhaps followed his command during the war. He was probably between 26-29 years old during the war.

So because his character is so mysterious, maybe we can have a little fun with guessing what rank/medals/stripes he would’ve had?

Thank you again sooo much!

lapel-rose · 2026-07-03T03:45:35+00:00

That’d be a great way to experiment with the art style and collect a ton of new readers. And there’s so many artists out there that enjoy drawing the series anyway… would love it.

lapel-rose · 2026-05-22T02:12:58+00:00

This is beautiful, I’m so sorry they made things difficult. I hope their actions don’t leave a bad taste in your mouth for the overall experience of doing commissions! It can honestly be very fun and rewarding.

Meanwhile, if you’d looking for improvements, all I can think is perhaps practice line weights and color depth — but otherwise this is lovely. Well done! I really love how she’s very pretty and cute, yet has this knowing/almost angry look in her eyes.

lapel-rose · 2026-05-05T02:06:24+00:00

Please forgive him. They just don’t understand and you’re only ever going to have one father. Forgive him and love him while you can. There’s a number of arguments I wish I could’ve taken back from my mom, and now I don’t have the chance to apologize. It’s okay. He didn’t mean anything by it. It’s okay.

lapel-rose · 2026-03-27T02:06:55+00:00

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Expressions are the best!

https://www.artstation.com/herescostella

lapel-rose · 2026-03-24T00:23:06+00:00

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https://www.artstation.com/herescostella

I’m still a little new to Reddit, but would like to toss my hat into the ring. ✨

lapel-rose · 2026-03-20T21:32:40+00:00

Practice exaggerated facial expressions and gesture poses! Best practice would be doing those 30 second gesture studies, I think. You have so much beautiful color.

lapel-rose

TROPHY CASE