Probably one of my biggest influences is the video game Street Fighter. A year before I ever played the game I bought the strategy guide and would spend hours studying the character drawings and animation poses. Here's my take on a few of those characters:

This is a redesign of the character below. I've been trying to improve storytelling through my drawings. A successful design is one that captures a personality and tells the viewer a story about who this character is, and I felt the first try was a little bland. (Not to mention top heavy) "What's the story?" is a question I try to keep at the front of my mind whenever designing a character.