DH5: 019 - Blitzcrank, The Great Steam Golem

The nineteenth highfive! *gasp* how awesome!

Hope you're mobile! Here comes that grabbing golem Blitzcrank! Ready to drag you too your doom!

Blitzcrank is a pretty classic design with way over-the-top proportions and a fun twist to a lot of his appendages.  I love that he's always crackling with electricity and his voice has that great freezing automaton sound that really puts you in the mood for robots. I always thought his chest opened or something so I decided to add a little cuckoo to his person while he goes for a super long grab!

In game whoever lanes against Blitz always moans because that hookshot can really ruin your day by getting set too close to a tower, getting snagged into their whole group, or just getting hammered through your own tower when you're about to teleport home. I remember a while back (I'm sure it's fixed now) but if you Blue Pilled at the exact moment that Blitz grabbed you, you would port back to the fountain but then get pulled to his position wherever he was on the map, no matter how far and it looked hilarious. So sound off if this rampaging robot is for you! Anyone main this bruising bucket of bolts?

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 018 - Malzahar, The Prophet of the Void

Alright! eighteenth time!


Stay on your toes folks! it's another mean caster, it's Malzahar that villain from the void!


I kind of like the whole Arabian Nights vibe Malzahar has going for him. The gemmed up dagger and ninja like cowl keep him mysterious enough to be interesting. The design on his voidling is cool as well. The only thing Malzahar really suffers from is another dreary palette, there just isn't enough difference in his colors to break it up. Malzahar is also one of those champions that float, I usually don't like this approach to locomotion but here it seems to fit very well. I may be wrong but I seem to remember him initially having a different name? help me out if he did.


In game I'm not too sure what to think about Malzahar, his Ult can be really mean and snag just the right guy at the right time, and his silencing wall is really great, but his passive (voidlings) seems to generate something that just doesn't work that well with his game. Other than that he can become another wicked caster that can really shred down opponents with some pretty nifty spells. Any minions of Malzahar out there? sound off in the comments below with any stories of that powerful prophet!


-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 017 - Morgana, Fallen Angel

Hooray! The seventeenth highfive is here!

Better start stacking MR, it's that magic mountain of a champion Morgana!

Morgana has a very typical design and reminds me a bit of Anson Maddock's Fallen Angel which was one of the more memorable and striking images I have of MtG ('93? wowsers that was a little bit of time ago). Morgana's ballroom attire was never one of my favorite things about her, she seems to be somewhere in the middle of an evening gown and a bikini contest, sacrificing the class for some awkward sexiness. The torn to hell wings are a neat idea but they just seem to be a little too much on the side of color, as her palette could really use some variance. I snuck in a magic muffin to represent her evil baking!

In the game, boy am I ever sick of Morgana. she gets to a point where she just can't die because she's so tough, and she just ends up killing everyone and making me cry. Her spells are pretty powerful and that ult of hers can really ruin your day. Any fans of that mean Morgana? sound off here with stories and strats and hopefully she wont be in any of your next games on the opposing side!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 016 - Master Yi, The Wuju Bladesman

4th week! lets get some swords slicing!


better get yourself some thornmail cause it's time for that master of massacre Yi!


Yi's design always seemed a little screwy to me, unless he's supposed to be a guy with like over a dozen eyeballs or something. I liked the boot knives and the flared proportions the most on him and with some of the new skins they seem to really pull him together artistically. In this picture he's halving an apple with that ringed blade of his, how tasty!


In game i remember back in beta when Yi was a force to behold. Most matches came down to whoever had the best Yi. Now that theres a lot more variety in champions and team make up, Yi still shows his sword swinging self but in less instances. Always a fun champ to play, Yi's  still a pretty good contender (at my abysmal ELO anyways...). So anyone with some bladed badassery in the form of a Yi strat or story should drop a line here! Let that slicing swordsman know who's side you're on!


-jouste the drawbarian 

Weekender vol. 004

Sweet deal on a used jet-ski!


This weekend our deal-seeking duo take a deserved dip! It's Major Shark's territory so Frugal Spaceman will take up the rear on his newly acquired aquatic vessel! 
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Week three has come and gone with a flurry of fast sketches and it's been loads of fun for all involved.


I've started focusing my ideas into some semblances of story and working with Manga Studio is a total blast. After seeing the super great Webcast from Mr. TenNaple it really got me loving the power of the program and how fast my ideas can get down on the digital drawing board.


Still no themes for next week,  and i still have a lot of League of Legends champions to finish so i'll just keep focusing on those guys while i try and start my web comics. A big thanks to everyone who's been stopping by and checking out my stuff. I really appreciate it!


Have an awesome weekend everyone.


-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 015 - Udyr, The Animal Spirit

Hooray! week three draws to a close with some badass martial arts!


Keep clear of that jungle and listen for a growl from the bushes, it's that martial monk Udyr!


In this picture i drew him in bear stance showing Tibbers that he's the only real bear around. Udy's design is pretty cool when you take the different animal cowls into consideration and he body type makes him look really beefy and dangerous. The stone beads, geta shoes, and graphic robes break up the monotony of monk's clothing nicely and beards always rock on characters.


In game I really like the jungle Udyr. I never could really get him down as well as some people I played with but he's still a great asset to the team. his bear bashes that interrupt stuff are super cool and he's a really fast character with some good chase. I remember when locket was still around and how crazy he'd get with his constant stance changing. Any ultimate Udyr fans out there? be sure to drop the comment section a line and let your support be heard for this kung-fu killer!


-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 014 - Twitch, The Plague Rat

Number 14! Alright!

ward up and watch your back everyone, it's that rancid rodent with the corrosive crossbow Twitch! Don't feed the rat people!

Twitch is another Zaun design (like Singed and Mundo) and I tend to like them a lot more than the generic Demacians and the Predictable Noxians. He might be a little too Skaven but that can slide as anthropomorphic rats tend to always rely on their Plague-y heritage for weapons. He's got a crazy crossbow that fires multiple arrows and his bulgy eyes and hunched posture just bleeds the fact that he's one toxic customer. His cackling adds a lot to his character's style and all in all he's a pretty cool design.

Game wise I've always hated stealthers. I prefer being an upfront guy and using my presence as part of my playstyle. I appreciate that the lack of a presence is a presence in itself but it's just not the way I do things. This Rat can get brutal and I've been on the receiving end of a few amazing Twitches and boy was I one frustrated customer. So any rowdy ratlings big fans of the Twitch? Squeak off in the comments below and let that vile vermin know you care!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 013 - Nunu, The Yeti Rider

The thirteenth highfive! thanks for dropping by!

Stay frosty everyone, it looks like we're up against that ice tossing tyke Nunu and his yelling yeti! And what's this?! Crabthief has returned to confiscate some coco! Better watch out little crab! that yeti-rider means snowball business!

Nunu is a pretty cool design, I always liked the rider characters like the dwarf rifer in Golden Axe 2: The Revenge of the Death Adder. Nunu's voice grates on me a it but I love how powerful his yeti seems to be. Fun proportions on that giant creature make him very fun to interpret and the small element of Nunu juxtaposes the character in an interesting way as well.

This guy is pretty fun to play, I remember in the game when his ult was absolute king and then it went to an easily interruptible nuisance. Although I'm probably the worst flash user ever, I always loved seeing flash-initiating with that giant AOE. An on command slow, a built in smite with a heal, a sharable steroid? What a super fun champion to be playing! So if you are saving some snowy strats drop this Rider some words below! Show your love for that nasty Nunu and his yowling Yeti!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 012 - Malphite, Shard of the Monolith

It's the twelfth highfive! lets keep rockin'!

Keep on your toes guys, it's that slate slinging, team toppling tower of tectonic plates Malphite!

Here's another character that I've visited before but he needed to be highfived for completion's sake! Malphite is a pretty neat design but i find that he only ends up looking really cool after his passive shield is busted and you can see the exposed magma under his skin. It breaks up the monotony of his base texture and makes him a lot more interesting to look at. All in all though, Malphite's design gets it across that he's one tough customer.

In game Malphite can really tear into a team fight with that sweet initiator, usually once thats used the team tends to turn tail or else find themselves in a fight that they might not necessarily have wanted to start. In ranked I've seen him get banned quite a bit because of his durability  and utility. I still see this rocky beast all the time wen I play either on my team or against it so that shows that he's still fun to play and gets the job done. So any Malphite Maniacs around? sound off here with strats or stories and let that rocky warrior know that you dig him!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 011 - Gangplank, The Saltwater Scourge

Ahoy mateys! It be the third week of highfives!


Beware that Parrrley and cannonballs from the sky! Its everyone's favorite grog-soaked sadist Gangplank! 


Gangplank is a pretty eclectic pirate character with another one of those vibrant early 90's action figure color palettes (like singed). To be honest his sword design kind of confuses me and he seems to be missing some of the more stereotypical injuries that we've come to expect on grisly pirate characters. But then again he's a pirate and I'm a pirate man  so he's awesome. I drew him here trying to take down an annoying fly but accidentally signalling his ship for a cannon barrage! D'oh!


In game, Gangplank was one of the characters I got into after trying to branch from my 600 something games with Mundo and I really liked the playstyle of this sneaky little pirate guy. Opening up on someone with a giant crit would usually jar them right out of a fight in panic, or you could circle around back and pick of those stragglers with your super high mobility. A super fun champion to play and I love his built in cleanse which is just him scarfing down a swords worth of citrus fruit. Any other fans of the filthy pirate? Fire up your flintlocks, down that rum, and sound off for that sea-stained scallywag  Gangplank! 


-jouste the drawbarian

Weekender vol. 003

Time for some space surfing!


This weekend Major Shark and Frugal Spaceman get their boards waxed and hit the stars! (Frugal spaceman also snagged a sweet deal on a used hammer!)


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Hey there everybody!


Week two of the highfive extravaganza has hit home and it looks like it's going to be happening for a long long time!


So I've been trying to pick out one of my many stories to start focusing on with a webcomic but it's pretty overwhelming when you have so many characters floating around that all seem to have a viable story to tell. maybe I should focus on a few super short stories? Either way I know that the only thing I should be doing is just doing so lets hope that I can get something out there soon.


There's a totally awesome webcast this weekend with one of my favorite artists ever Doug TenNaple for buying Manga Studio cheap or something. The software was a great deal and from my milling around with it seems mega-powerful on things that always screw up my creative flow (dialog balloons, gutter designs, you know the drill).


So I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! highfives!


-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 010 - Ashe, The Frost Archer!

Double digit day! Our tenth highfive arrives!

Firing all the way from the fountain, it's that keen-eyed killer Ashe! Don't let her get to farmed or you'll be in heaps of frosty trouble as she hunts you down like an animal!

Ashe's design is another archetype of the slender female archer (usually elven) and I suppose it gets the job done. Her bow being crystal is a neat touch and the ability to fire a giant enchanted arrow across the entire field is pretty awesome. I always like it when characters are tied to an element of some sort and Ashe's affinity for frost makes her seem like a cold and callous customer which is very cool.

It's my understanding that Ashe is still the most played champion in the League of Legends roster. It makes sense because she can get really strong without too much experience on the part of the player.  I do really enjoy how much depth a very good player can bring to Ashe, Crystal arrow saves and initiations, chasing stragglers and focus firing. All very cool stuff! So draw your bows oh fans of the frosty forest archer and sound off! Any avid Ashes out there willing to share some long ranged experiences?

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 009 - Cassiopeia, The Serpent's Embrace!

The ninth highfive sees some snakeyness!


Avert your eyes summoners! it's that gorgeous gorgon Cassiopeia! Ready to riddle you with venom and Turn you to stone with her snakey stare!


The lack of a weapon or accessory on Cassiopea's design is a mixed deal for me. On one hand she has both hands free to menace her foes and contort into arcane symbols, but I'm sure there could have been some very interesting staves, or enchanted daggers that could pull from her serpent theme or Medusa like archetype. Her spell effects in game are pretty slick with a tangle of energy snakes being tossed around and her Stone Gaze attack is cool as well.


In game I've only played against Cassiopea a few times. She doesn't seem to be a very popular pick and I believe there was some range issues on her. Hopefully there will be some numbers moved around for this more recent hero so she'll be seeing more play soon. Sound off serpent slingers! Let that voluptuous viper know you care and drop a comment!


-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 008 - Urgot, The Headman's Pride!

Sweet! getting close to those double digits! It's the eighth highfive!

Look out! it's that robust ravager Urgot! and what's this!? his croissant has been stolen by the thieving crab! better look sharp you conniving crustacean, that pudgy pain-bringer loves his pastries!

Urgot's design seems to borrow a lot from Mojo of the Marvel universe and the soulgrinders of warhammer 40k. I've always been a fan of the mounted platform look on monstrous characters and Urgot's design has always been a favorite if not a familiar one. The color scheme was a good choice with dark metals, gold detailing and a warped green crackling energy, making him definitely one of the more spookier fiends int the League of Legends roster.

In game I find Urgot to be a little weak, he's great early game with plenty of harass and sometimes his ult can really catch you off guard. but later on i find he's pretty easy to hunt down. Any Urgoters out there? I'd love to hear from you! Sound off for the ultimate Urgot everyone!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 007 - Singed, The Mad Chemist!

Lucky number seven! the seventh highfive!


Stop chasing people! Its that vile villain Singed! Pouring potent poisons and hurling hapless heroes, this Crazy chemist is one beefy customer!


Singed design was always one of the more original ones for me, the vibrant color pallet suggested roots in mid 80's action figures or something like that. I'm a big fan of his shield design and after I figured out that his bandages are from when he went all Darkman the character really resonated with me. Fun proportions and exaggerative accessories makes Signed a pretty fun if not retro design.


In game I always wanted to get good with Singed, the guy just wont die in game and can waltz right into a giant crowd of everyone and flip out some poor hero and leave a noxious dose of poison in his wake. Maybe it was the fates, but when I read up on some guides and set up some runes, my maiden game with him left me with an abysmal score and a tragic loss. Oh well. maybe I'll get good with him later! So let's hear a shout out to that skinny slayer with the spiked shield, everyones star-slammer, Singed!


-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 006 - Pantheon the Artisan of War!

The 6th highfive! Hooray!


Keep your eyes on the skies everybody! it's that spearing spartan Pantheon! He's looking a little focused at the moment which could explain his expression.


Pantheon fits into another archetypal design so there really isn't too much to go off of or expand on. But then again it's always interesting to see another design that can be boiled down into a broom helmet, a shield and a spear. I always liked his color palette and he has a really fun He-Man skin.


In game Pantheon has had the see-saw blues as far as buffs and nerfs go. I personally don't know where he fits any more but i do remember when he was an insane monster in game that could ruin your day every time his ult was up, and when he was nerfed into nothing but a nuisance. I do like the character though even though it's just my friends who play the guy. So give pause for that powerhouse Pantheon and let all who stand in his warrior way be crushed under a grand skyfall!


-jouste the drawbarian

Weekender vol. 002

Cheers with Tiki-Beers!

This weekend we see Major Shark and Frugal Spaceman take some time off in the Voodoo bar!

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Hey there everyone!

So week one of the highfives was full of league of legends fun and I figure I am going to keep the ball rolling with the LoL characters until I run out. I know that I didn't post anything on the Saturday but that's the day I hunker down and focus on the side projects I have so the Weekender is a 2 day deal to help me gather thoughts and stay sharp!

I'm going to be trying to get some web comic stuff started. Recently I've been realizing that my finished work is just not what people are after so I should start just focusing on what I'm good at and that would be working fast and getting stuff done.

Last week I'm sure we all followed the earthquakes and tsunami deal that wrecked Japan. If I had to say something about it, it's that Japan is the most set up to deal with something as awful as this. Go Japan and your awesome engineers and building practices.

So brace yourself for another furious round of highfives this week friends! Thanks for following and checking out my stuff!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 005 - Warwick the Blood Hunter!

Alright! A full week-load of highfives!

Here's that jungling jaw-breaker Warwick! Look out low-lives cause this guy can smell your fear! (and low life...)

Although a pretty typical werewolf design, Warwick's proportions come off pretty fun and the finger shredder additions are a nice touch. In game he kind of attacks in a whirling fashion that gives us the impression that he's a deadly acrobat or something.

I really do like Warwick's playstyle but i rarely play him because I've seen absolute masters and know I couldn't do the character that much justice. the ambushes and ganks people can pull of with this pup are pretty potent. So buy some wards and let your howl be heard Warwick fans! The beast is unleashed in a jungle near you!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 004 - Mundo the Madman!

It's day 4! thanks for keeping up!

Alright! it's everyones favorite doctor from Zaun, Dr. Mundo! again, he was tackled before by me but this guy is also my favorite champion so cut me some slack.

I am led to believe that Mundo's design changed pretty drastically from it's original version. I remember back in the beta when his icon's still had some mad scientist looking guy in some of the abilities. His character design is a great example of an archetypal "Mr. Hyde", I really like the over medication and the hulking stature as well as his unorthodox weapon choice of a giant cleaver. His attitude really shines as one of the most commonly referenced in the whole game making him a very strong character and a favorite amongst the community.

I've played the most games as Mundo, I remember falling for his super mobile and aggressive playstyle and staying power. He's got short cooldowns, can eat towers, massacre champions, and at the end of those big team squabbles; come right back at you with more cleavers and head butts. Anyone else a big Mundo fan? Let your voices be heard for that purple powerhouse of pugilistic prowess!

- jouste the drawbarian.

DH5: 003 - Olaf the Berserker!

Day three's the way to be!

Here's Olaf the Berserker! looking all wall-eye'd and ready to chop the crap out of everybody!

He's a pretty typical character as far as designs go, but I've always been a big fan of vikings so I have an instant bias for this champion. My favorite part of designing vikings is that they don't need a lot of details or gear to show the viewer that they mean business. A perfect example is The Animation Workshop's Saga of Biorn.

In the game i could never really get a handle on Olaf's Playing style. There's this fine line of ownage that he stomps along that never ended up gelling with me. He sure is a beast in game though with those reckless swings and constant bellowing. Anyone a big fan of the blonde bruiser? Maybe some tips on tearing down teams with this terror?

-jouste the drawbarian.

DH5: 002 - Sion the Undead!

Hooray! day two!

For this highfive I wanted to do Sion. I know I already drew him but that was before i started getting into the character and playing him a bunch.

As a character design he's always seemed a little to simple for my taste, but recently by approaching these quicker sketches I'm finding myself appreciating the simpler designs more and taking that into consideration on my own characters. I hear that with color themes you want to keep it at like 3 with maybe a 4th for accessories, I guess you could use that number for visual elements as well to keep your character tighter and easier to read.

Sion is a pretty straightforward guy to play, as any hulking undead dude with an axe should be, and I always thought it was pretty cool that he could stun you just by looking at you. The ability to make him either a crackling arcane juggernaut that can burst down the strongest of foes, or a bloodthirsty melee monster that cleaves his way through everyone also makes him one of my favorite champions to play.

Anybody have any favorite or fearful experiences with this unholy-ultimate warrior? lets show some scary love for that frankenstiened fighter!

-jouste the drawbarian

DH5: 001 - Alistar the Minotaur!

For the first highfive I've chosen that beefy bruiser Alistar the Minotaur! I always tend to gravitate towards the characters that rely on brute strength like this guy.

As far as character designs go I like Alistar's quite a bit, he instantly lets the player know what they are in for, a bashing, crashing, head-butting monster that wont fall very fast in a fight. the colors add a lot of fun to him and i'm a big fan of the mo-hawk.

I remember in beta back when they had the promote skill available and Alistar could eat a lane's tower at like the 3 minute mark. Any great Alistar players out there? I know he's not the most popular pick of late but lets hear some love for that battlefield bovine!

-jouste the drawbarian

Weekender vol. 001

Hey everyone!

This weekend marks the beginning of jouste's daily highfive! every weekend I'll be summarizing the week's drawings in a volume of information I'll be calling the weekender. This upcoming week I'll be doing up some league of legends characters, super fast and super fun. If you have any funny stories regarding the champs I'm sure we'd all like to hear them so be sure to leave a comment!

-jouste the drawbarian