character hell

The Firebird Effect

A young trainer’s pokemon dies in battle, launching an investigation that takes her deeper into the shadows of Kalos—and her own psyche. toggle more

TFE is a Nuzlocke-inspired comic based loosely on Pokemon XY, launched June 6, 2016 and noncommittally canceled in early 2018. While I don’t regret starting it, it was very ambitious (especially for my first dedicated comic project), and development only got messier as time passed.

I’d like to make a majority of the story public anyway, even if it’s in summary format. So far, the character profiles for a former side character and the protagonist are the most complete writeups, and I dream of having the motivation to scrounge up enough notes and doodles to fill in the rest. You’re welcome to ask me about basically anything; the spoiler filter is completely off. ;V

A rewrite isn’t out of the question, but isn’t actively being worked on nor do I have plans to. But I’m still attached to various aspects of this story; whether they get recycled into other projects or culminate in a ground-up redo, we’ll see.

Serena Johnson

A wannabe optimist desperate to be seen as good but all too aware of her flaws.

Shauna Najm

A self-appointed investigator dead set on knowing what’s going on without getting personally involved.

Calem Chevalier

A by-the-book battler who does as he should to the best of his ability.

Alec

A single-minded starter whose aspirations begin and end at guiding a trainer to victory.

Kojo

A loyal pacifist eager to befriend a new team.

Blythe

A rebellious pet seeking freedom in theory and kindness in practice.

Idir

A passive anomaly destined for an untimely fate.

Fletcher

A flighty explorer with a simple mind and simple needs.

other pokemon

gidget, boxy, calem's tyrantrum, scree

Malva Lorraine

A jaded reporter invested in taking down what’s wrong despite minimal faith in the greater good.

Lysandre Goodman

An esteemed altruist committed to a cause he’s increasingly unable to believe in.

Gabriel Brandt

A disgruntled scientist trying to reverse his obligations to family, work, and life itself.

Rafael Brandt

A devoted sibling hoping to find a new place in the world.

those two characters

#rewritten roommates

Two characters who were relevant to TFE for a majority of its development, at least until I realized their roles could be condensed. They got enough solo development to earn their own section here anyway, and might be reused in the next project.

Ren Brandt

A stoic follower willing to take orders to the end, with uncertain exceptions.

Flynn Smith

An enthusiastic loudmouth desperate for genuine human connection but unwilling to ask himself what he can do for them.

new people

#coniferous vines

A huge work-in-progress that really needs a better title, based around the relationships of various people who, for better and for worse, stay together no matter what.