The Tiny Creatures - Raiders of the Shadows; An unfinished Project of half decade proportions.

                Let me tell you about a passion project of mine that was the fruit of childhood mind stories, an imagination that never left, and 2 to 3 years of staying at home during the pandemic mind-wars.

Here I introduce to you ....

THE TINY CREATURES : RAIDERS OF THE SHADOWS. 

The comic book concept art I mad for when I was already starting the comic story line. 

                 Yes, above was the picture of the comic book I was working on. Inspired by my Imagination over the years , thinking what these "tiny creatures" would be doing on a daily basis and the adventures they endure and go through in the world of the Humanoids.

Growing up in my country, staple creatures you would find even though you would have a parent who would not sleep until the house is clean, you would still find these creatures lurking in the shadows of the house. These I would say, are the staple creatures you would see and they are the Tapay-tapay or house spider, the grey rats or Ilaga , and A Gecko or locally called Tuko. Now the red eared turtle is not a staple creature, but where I am from, somehow there is that friend who had a turtle as a pet and it is usually pet shop bought and it is a red eared turtle. 

Now I want you to meet E-Z!

E-Z is the one little lizard with a striped tail who comes and goes from under the red couch towards the Television stand cupboard and always is cautious of my movement when it tries to pursue its usual schedule to cross boarders. Here on the right  is E-Z, with its early full colored design ready to pursue the days mission. 

I really think that observing this creature do his daily ignited that imagination and it rekindled my admiration for tiny things living through a world of giants. 

I eventually Got up and decided to write up a concept for a team of 4 tiny creatures. The number of team members is nostalgic and a nod to the 90s classic cartoons where it is usually 4 to 5 people in a team. To point out some examples, think The Ninja Turtles, The Ghost Busters, Captain planet, The mystery inc. I Left it at 4 members so we can maybe add a fifth one that is a session member like Batman in Justice league. 

EARLY SKETCHES 

Below are some concept sketches for when I made the drawings about the 4. From left to right; This was the direct concept art I made so as to keep the memory fresh and the concept solid, The right is the semi-final sketch of the 4 with their skills and attitudes in mind. 

I was very excited with the stories I was coming up with and all the adventures they will go through and all the local language I may introduce to share my culture within the comic. 

THE TITLE

The Title "TINY CREATURES; RAIDERS OF THE SHADOWS" came up when I was watching the documentary called "Tiny Creatures" from NETFLIX and that was when I saw the Idea and saw the perspective of the animals all the adventures they go through and it amazed me to the highest level. I wanted to tell stories like that as well but on a more fictional level but with real life lessons at the end like the Sonic the Hedgehog and Captain planet Cartoon. 

Hence the Title:

TRACING METHOD AND THE UNFINISHED COMIC DRAFTS

I already started the Comic but the challenge was I was not a comic book artist and I got used to sculpting too much I have forgotten how to sketch or draw good drawings in terms of perspective and body positions. I even had to trace my home interiors so I could come up with a house background.

Here is the trace:

And here it is used in my comic draft, for JUST ONE time only...🫣😅

I would like to add that I also embedded in my mind how I would like to read a comic and I love detail, and so Detail became the biggest challenge of all! And again, I remind you reader, I am not a comic or drawing artist. I Sketch my sculptures yes, but in appropriate comic perspectives, I am not at all good. THIS WAS MY BIGGEST downfall when I made this and started it last 2021 - 2022. 

And here is a preview of some of my comic in its unfinished Glory!

AND IT ENDS THERE 😅😓

They would have had taglines like "encourage" a loosely based mimicking of what they hear from Humans and their words, but they get the meaning behind it. 

CUTTING THE STORY SHORT

So, that’s where the comic cuts off—for now. The scene was supposed to continue with a full-on battle unfolding in the hidden space beneath that dusty cupboard. Claws clashing, strange weapons drawn, shadows dancing across the floor as the chaos of tiny creatures exploded into action. I had this whole idea brewing, a storyline waiting to be sketched out with wild energy and bizarre twists.

This first comic was then transitioned to be an introduction and not to tell the whole story. It was designed as a short, cryptic intro—just enough to make people pause and ask, “Wait… who are these weird little creatures? What’s going on under that furniture?” It was supposed to spark curiosity, to plant a seed that would grow into something much bigger.

But despite all that intention, the Artist Block crept in—quiet, stubborn, and heavy. It won this round. The pen froze. The ideas tangled themselves up. And instead of a full chaotic clash, we were left with a cliffhanger and the echo of a battle that never made it to the page.

THE CHALLENGES

The pandemic had a lot to do with it too. It wasn’t just a health crisis—it was a mental and emotional storm. I found myself juggling a lot, especially when I became the sole adult in the household, responsible for caring for the elder folk. That weight alone was enough to drain the spirit some days. And as a self-made artist, someone who built everything from scratch, watching my small art business slowly fade during that time felt like watching a part of me dissolve.

To make it worse, all my friends seemed to vanish—each one scattered, trying to survive their own version of chaos. No one's fault, really. Just survival mode. There was even a stretch when we started preparing for the worst, not knowing how far desperation could push people. It was a scary, uncertain time where it felt like the world was closing in—and my mind was its battleground. 😬.

THE POTENTIAL

The comic, I felt, had a lot of potential. Even all the scenes play in my head like I did when I was younger,  but I just can't write it or draw..I needed a helping hand or another solution to tell my story. I thought of doing it story book form, or photography form, even my art style changes in the comic as it had long gaps within making a comic scene.

  THE PROMOTIONS AND MERCH

There were prototype mini figures, prototype 6 inch figures with packaging, ALL HAND MADE. And There was also a trailer for one of the characters as well 😄. 

Here was the trailer for Needle the cunning mouse: 

 The trailer was fun to make but it also took time, When you are a budget artist doing it alone, yes time is all we have. And I was in the middle of making the second one about E-Z.

We also had a few Concepts for Cardbacks for the action figures and comic covers as well. We had sketches for weapons and their profiles and quick backgrounds about each character. 

A few  Sketches and Cardbacks concepts are below:

This was very fun to make. The 90s style toy packaging was amazing and simple and I had fun conceptualizing this. IT is a nod to the Kenner style Toy packaging which was a great inspiration. 

This concept was made especially after watching and studying the Netflix series " The Toys that made us". That also ignited my inspiration to create toys like this and it inspired me to just go crazy with the idea and be genuine about it. 

This was my element. A great revisit to my first childhood dreamjob, a cartoonist and toy maker. And even more so, the toy collecting and toy making art was slowly rising up in my little island which gave inspiration even more. 

And then we had some concept art Made for the toy based on my sculpture here that you see on the right. Needle the Mouse. 

I was advocating for handmade concepts and trying to be unique in the toy making world and the wooden man base figure resonated with my principles well. And the best part is it could withstand heat whenever I bake the clay on it.

Here are other Card back Drafts can be seen below as well:

AND SOME PROMOTIONAL CONCEPT

EARLY FINAL SKETCHES AND THEIR PERSONALITIES:

THE HEROES:

THE FIRST ENEMY BOSS:

AND OTHER PROTOTYPE FIGURES AND PROMOTIONS:

Writing this up made me feel the feels again. It has always been on my mind but my hands cannot interpret the mind. 

I've been talking to a comic artist in instagram who helped me push with it a year ago,  but I need more motivation and techniques in order to make my mind concept be made born and find method that suits my way of expression. 

I have not done any update on this at all..BUT..maybe..it is time to get back to it??

What do you think? Should I ignite this fire up again?  Message me at Dulaiko Toys Insta page

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