Torn Suit Konoko
Torn Suit Konoko is a fan term for this image of beaten/torn gunslinger Konoko, drawn by Lorraine McLees. The art piece Fully Armed Konoko, used for the cover of the game, was derived from this one and restores her bodysuit and armor.
Although she cannot do so in the game itself, Konoko carries three weapons:
- The shotgun is the all-too-famous Franchi SPAS-12.
- The machine gun seems to be an amalgam of the Russian AKMS (shoulder stock, grip) and the American M60 (characteristic perforated bipod).
- The handgun is a fairly generic revolver and doesn't match what she uses in-game. See Konoko's gun for elaboration on the different handguns she can be seen carrying in various art and screenshots.
- All 3 guns have been modeled by 17secs and are available in low-poly OBJ HERE.
Origin
Lorraine said of this work: "I'm proud of it technically, but I wish I'd never drawn that cheesecake picture of her all torn up with three guns on her, wrapped in bullets – it's not the way I wanted to see Konoko portrayed."[1] Comments by Lorraine and other Bungie staffers confirm that an overall goal for Konoko's character was to avoid making her a sexualized heroine.[2]
However when Lorraine was asked to draw a promotional piece for the cover of PC Accelerator, "known for its Maxim-like humor and photography", the magazine wanted Konoko to be naked and only covered by her guns, arms, and ammo belt. Pushing back on that, Lorraine's compromise was to draw her clothed in the battle-damaged bodysuit and missing most of her armor. In the end, PC Accelerator only used a thumbnail of Konoko's head as part of a collage of Oni images inside the July 1999 issue.[3]
Torn Suit Konoko is nevertheless a fan favorite. It has been used in multiple wallpapers, and served as the cover for Marty O'Donnell's brief re-release of the soundtrack.
An interesting predecessor to this piece is the following concept art by Alex Okita:
Is it possible that this was an inspiration for the pose in Torn Suit Konoko?
References
- ↑ Oni Central, Interview with Lorraine Reyes, Bungie Studios.
- ↑ Bungie.net, Bungie History.
- ↑ Myelin Games, Lorraine McLees worked at Bungie for 20+ years!.