The Making of Destiny's Hand:
Sketch Pad #9 - Thomas Houghton
Written by DeFilippis & Weir • Art by Buckethead
Governor Thomas Houghton is the governor of St. Vickensberg, the most anti-pirate port in the area. He loathes pirates, and strives to maintain a city that is less troubled by their riff-raff and brawls. Houghton's hatred of pirates is two-fold. First, as governor, he's very law and order. But secondly, he's had personal problems with pirates in the past and has a particular hatred of Captain Blaine that goes way back. Neither man will talk about why there's bad blood between them. Both will chalk it up to Blaine being a pirate and Houghton loving law and order.
Buckethead only had to do one design on Houghton. The look was perfect. In our parallel Carribean, St. Vickensberg is a 'British' port, and Houghton is supposed to be the prototypical 'English' governor. Stodgy, proper, and as concerned with making his city look good as he is with keeping it safe. Buckethead managed to convey the stodgy British governor perfectly.
Another element he managed to convey is the tired-ness of Houghton. The design hints at a man who feels defeated. This was a nice touch on his part. We never called for it directly, but Buckethead read the detailed bios we put together and looking at Houghton's full story, came to that on his own. He has good character instincts.
