YJ: KOBRA VENOM ELEPHANTS

WB Animation Character Design, YOUNG JUSTICE, Mutated Elephants. Pencil, Digital Color.

With the airing of the episode, "Alpha Male," I can present these designs for the monstrously mutated elephants. These poor pachyderms have been injected with Kobra Venom, and they are cruelly kept in thrall by the use of *shock-collars reminiscent of the ones used on the prisoners at Belle Reve Penitentiary. Hmm... It's ironic that these-- mammoths share a connection now with the diabolical, hulking creature called Mammoth, with their skin stretched to the point of splitting open due to their freakish transformation. What sinister purpose could be behind it all? How will the answers unfold? Stay tuned to YOUNG JUSTICE!

For this design, I was admittedly inspired by the oliphaunts/mumakil from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. In addition to having the elephant hides split open from the transformational stresses, I included spiky bone growths, a mane, and antlered tusks for the bull, to distinguish him from the female. Color selection and size variance further aid in distinction. I threw in Phil Bourassa's designs for Captain Marvel, and Aqualad for a sense of scale.

*These shock-collar designs are preliminary, and they are not the ones appearing in the final aired version.

**As always, all character designs are the exclusive property of WB Animation, and DC Comics.

Cheers!