At some point, I wanted to create a He-Man style franchise which would have a bunch of characters that would fight in space. The idea was that they were all wizards who rode around in space on magical things. They just stood on the backs of their “Steeds” (that looked like worms and saucers and stuff) and held on to some reins and soared through space. I didn’t have any notes, just a single page of sketches of some characters. I guess I’ll have to flesh out the idea now, taking the four characters I sketched and adding a few more more, and coming up with a concept. I can never have enough magical aliens, I suppose:

Goolo

Goolo is a Vurjileod, which is the species that invented the techniques of the Universe Wizards. Centuries ago the wizards there learned to draw upon the very powers of the cosmos, the wizard created magical steeds they could ride at speeds greater than light. Sadly, this power corrupted the species and they spread throughout space with reckless abandon, causing all sorts of damage, both to the Vurjileods and to the other species they met. Now, in the present, there are not a lot of Vurjileods left, and those who are, like Goolo, are trying to fix the mistakes of the past by keeping Universe Wizard power out of the hands of those who would misuse it.

Vutger

Vutger is a Universe Wizard of mid-level power. Strong enough to impress those who are not magically inclined, but not enough to make a name among other Universe Wizards, Vutger craves power and respect more than anything else. With that in mind, Vutger spends a lot of time posing as a god on primitive worlds, and any other time scheming against anyone more powerful.

Dave Walter

Dave Walters has a name that sounds human, but that is sheer coincidence. Dave is actually a Gurmikon, a species that has suffered under attacks by evil Universe Wizards in the past. Learning the ways of their magic, Dave has become very powerful and now opposes any and all other Universe Wizards, hoping to remove the knowledge of their powers from the entire universe.

Fhufoo

Fhufoo is a Trabban who has mastered the Universe Wizard skills and left the homeworld behind. Fhufoo has claimed a small planet and uses it to horde wealth gathered in travels throughout the universe, either going on treasure hunts or as an adventurer for hire.

Toyg Takarame

Toyg Takarame is a Groean, which is a large species whose homeworld is the seat of a royal family that uses Universe Wizards as its elite soldiers. Toyg is one of those, using the vast magical power to patrol the limits of Groean territory and defend against cosmic threats. Toyg is a noble and loyal sort, and pretty powerful as well.

Karradak

Karradak is the vilest of the Universe Wizards, interested only in serving his own interests. He is also one of the most powerful Universe Wizards still in existence, having killed several others to drain their powers. Wanting nothing less than complete and utter conquest of the universe, Karradak is as much a villain as one could be. He lost a hand in a fight against Goolo, but has replaced it with a spike, which he finds suitable.

Zurgbos

The Zurgbos are a species native to a world they call Zurgbotopia. They would probably meet our qualifications to be known as both Insectoids and as Reptilian, though the insect traits are more obvious to human eyes. They have eight limbs and wings (though they can’t fly after reaching adulthood) and two antennae that give them powers we would consider fantastic, such as telepathy, generating light, picking up radio waves, and remembering where they put small objects (pens and keys and cetera). Their primary means of communication comes as forms of dance, though they are capable of hearing and making aural speech (they can pick up languages pretty quickly thanks to that telepathy they have).

One of the Zurgbos, named Algo, is on the planet Earth acting as a member of the New Superhero Team. Most Zurgbos don’t like humans (I mean, why would they) and humans are so desperate to get Algo to fit in that they even make him wear clothes. Most Zurgbos wouldn’t put up with it, but Algo is either so good-hearted or so lacking self confidence that he grins and takes it.

Verdok is a veteran of the wars against the Flartians, having served in the Space Army. Verdok was a ground troop, which was a hard job in a war against an enemy that has spaceships. Verdok’s squad, a unit called the Zonky Warguys, was the Space Army’s presence on planet Gurlopp during the infamous Battle of Gurlopp. When the Flartians tries to take Gurlopp, Verdok was just a young soldier, but he after seeing hundreds of his colleagues die, and taking the lives of dozens of enemy soldiers, Verdok felt very old and tired. But he lived, and his unit held the planet until reinforcements could arrive. And after all that, he returned home and lost his eye by using a can-opener incorrectly.

Wuggu is the originator of the phrase “You need to make a meal before you can throw it out the window” and is incredibly famous for it. That phrase, which Wuggu wisely patented, has become extremely famous all over the galaxy, now appearing in songs, poetry, and space movies. Every time it is used, Wuggu gets paid royalties. Hes so rich that he never needs to work again.

Lijit is a translator working at the Zurgbo Embassy on Space Government Planet IX. His exeriences there have made him extremely racist against all kinds of alien species. He doesn’t like how they look different, or how they eat different things, or how their stupid voices sound all kinds of stupid ways. But Lijit is a professional, though, so he keeps all his hatred to himself, only muttering terrible things beneath his breath. His favorite color is one that humans can’t even see.

A Fact About Zurgbos: Zurgbos hibernate for the cold season of their planet’s yearly cycle. Those living on other worlds may not need to hibernate if they aren’t somewhere cold, but there seem to be health issues that arise from not doing so. Also, exposure to cold can make them sleepy.

Universe: Bronze

Vreddites

This species has arisen on a planet called Vredd. At the moment, the species is at a turning point. Their intellect has only recently (in evolutionary terms) separated them from similar species, and brought the into a fertile tropical valley. At this time, there are only about 20,000 Vreddites on the planet, most living in tribes.

Vreddites’ locomotion is performed by a large “foot” that makes up the large bottom of their body. This foot allows them to hop around, while two appendages on their back, the kickers, can propel them at higher speeds than the hopping alone. The kickers are also useful for delivering a powerful blow, assuming your target is behind you.

One Vreddite, named Wyeenk, was once mocked by Little Choy. Once, I was planning on doing a comic about the Vreddites before I got going on the Secret Government Robots instead.

Uzzer is the leader of a tribe that has been driven into the mountains by stronger tribes. Life is hard for the mountain-dwelling Vreddites, having to deal with temperatures much colder than their species is used to, and food is scarce. Uzzer wants the best for the tribe, but if they can’t get back into the valleys, they may starve. But the valleys are full of other tribes who don’t want to share. Some drastic action needs to be taken, and it is going to end poorly for someone.

Edowa is the tubemaker of her tribe. The making of air tubes is one of the most advanced technologies on the planet at this time, mostly used by combining naturally growing bamboo-like plants with squeezable bulbs that blast pressure through the tubes. Most tribes are complacent to use these to propel rocks as weapons when hunting, but Edowa’s tribe has taken to experimenting with other uses, such as propelling water through long distances for crops or for fighting lightning fires.

Nyllyn is from a tribe that lives near a large waterfall. Though they like the waterfall, it has been a cause of death for several tribe members, which causes problems. It is a Vreddite tradition for survivors to eat their dead, so that they will be forever a part of the tribe. But when a Vreddite dies in a manner such as falling off a waterfall and being swept away, as Nyllin’s sibling did, there is no body to be eaten. To this day, Nyllin is terrified that her sibling’s corpse will return in some dark night and force its rotting remains into Nyllin’s mouth.

A Fact About Vreddites: Vredd is a very cloudy world, so its sun is not seen with great frequency. This is one major reason why Vreddites have yet to realize they are seeing the same sun every time. By their current thought, it is imagined that suns are large, bright objects that happen to pass by occasionally.

Universe: Blue

The Bessaji

The Bessaji are a species of humanoids native to a planet orbiting a binary star system. They have developed a high level of technology and now use hyperrocketships to travel to other worlds where they create cities under glass domes. While there is no one dominant government or culture or religion among the Bessaji, they still identify as a strongly united species and do not often mingle with other lifeforms they have encountered. They are generally not violent to other species, but prefer to avoid them altogether. They have set up traps around star systems they have claimed which can depower unauthorized spacecraft, leaving the occupants to die in powerless ships if they try to come to Bessaji space.

The Space Plunderer, opponent of Gus Comet, is a member of the Bessaji race, but he has been exiled and would never be allowed to return to the Bessaji homeworld.

Lucyd Den is a worker on a transport ship working in the star system where the Bessaji homeworld is located. Because it would be unsafe to use hyperrockets within the limits of the system, transport ships travel between the planets at relatively slow speeds, taking months per trip. With so much time spent on their ships, the crews of these ships have basically become cultures of their own. The population of Lucyd Den’s ship is over a thousand. Because populations can increase, the ships feature modular compartments that can be added as needed. Lucyd Den is not liked on the ship and has been strongly considering locating to some other ship, but has to wait months before the option is even possible.

Redish is a Bessaji cyborg. The Bessaji have the technology to combine their computers with biological entities, though many of their cultures prefer not to do it. The colony on the planet Geraasish, however, have found it very helpful to modify their brains. Geraasishians are also, Redish included, more likely to see the value of cooperating with other species, and it is one of the few places where trade with aliens takes place, though it is all kept on the down low.

Besno M’Nwenz is a sort of monk in a religious order that worships the dual stars of the home system, though he lives in a colony on a planet in a single star system. He makes occasional pilgrimages to the home system to see the stars in person, but must always return to his colony to do good works. There, he prays for nothing more than a new star to come mate with the lonely one there.

A Fact About the Bessaji: In their ancient past, before they reached out into the stars, the Bessaji had tails. This feature evolved away during the recorded history of the species, which spans nearly a million years by our reckoning. Ancient depictions of species, even though they are direct ancestors, now seem like a wholly different species.

Universe: Green

Exkibos

The Exkibos live on a planet called Uksteron, a world with an orbit that causes long periods of winter between very hot summers. The Exkibos live in the hottest regions of the planet, and hibernate during the winters. The planet has no satellites, and the only other planets in the system are so distant that the Exkibos have not yet noticed them.

Exkibos are three-legged creatures with a flexible appendage growing from their foreheads. On average, an Exkibo’s height would be about half of that of a human. Exkibo society is one of strict hierarchy, with the ruling class claiming to be descended from legendary heroes, and the vast multitude living in poor conditions to serve the royalty. The heroes of legend may not even have ever existed, but the tales shape modern Exkibo society in many ways.

Edhoo is from a royal family that claim to be descended from a great world-travelling hero who sired many children. Edhoo tries to live by the example of that ancient hero, travelling to other nations and interfering with their affairs in the name of “saving the world” all while trying to mate with whoever is willing. Edhoo is something of a jerk, to be honest.

Ipowwa is from a different royal family, which claims to be descended from the brother of Edhoo’s family. In stories told by Edhoo’s people, that brother was a traitor, but the stories told Ipowwa’s people say that the ancestor’s actions were justified to keep the kingdom safe. In Ipowwa’s time, the kingdom is recovering from a destructive war that wiped out over seventy percent of the population there. Ipowwa is gathering forces to rebuild the kingdom’s fortresses and protect from those who would try to raid the weakened state.

Evlow is one of the lowly non-royal citizens of Uksteron. Living a simple, “small” life in a village by a river. Evlow works hard keeping the land fertile and reaping the various plant-like foods that are grown there. In the nights, Evlow gathers around the fires with friends and family and tells stories and dances. It may not have the intrigue of the “royals”, but Evlow is not unhappy.

A Fact About Exkibos: Exkibos keep pets, including one species of flying creature, called Dsworfs, which they have trained to help them with various tasks, such as carrying things or hunting. Some Dswofs are simply kept as pampered pets with no assigned tasks, but that is mostly among the royals

Universe: Indigo