The Evolution of Kitt: Eight Months of Finding the Right Shape

When I first invented Kitt on April 22nd, I had a fairly clear idea of who he was, but not yet what he needed to become.

Today is December 22nd. Eight months later, Kitt looks very different from that first version. Not just visually, but structurally, emotionally, and narratively. This evolution wasn’t mapped out in advance. It happened organically, shaped by the needs of the story, the world, and most critically – the action.

From 1970s Manga to an Archie-Style Adventure

Early on, I imagined Kitt in a loose 1970s manga-inspired style. I was drawn to that era’s bold blacks, expressive simplicity, and emotional clarity. But as I continued drawing and writing, the style began to shift. Slowly, almost without me noticing, it moved closer to something that felt more like an Archie’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles–style adventure comic.

That change wasn’t intentional. It was practical.

I was writing a lot of physical movement: karate punches and kicks, flying kicks, roundhouses, grappling, throws, jiu-jitsu. Dynamic, kinetic action that needed space and believable proportions to work on the page. My original vision of Kitt as a spunky little bunny simply couldn’t carry that kind of motion convincingly.

To make the action work, Kitt needed to grow.

Letting the Character Grow With the World

As the sci-fi world around him expanded, Kitt had to mature alongside it. His proportions, posture, and overall presence evolved to support both the physical demands of the story and its growing emotional weight. He’s still expressive and approachable, but now he feels capable of inhabiting the world I’m building.

That growth extends far beyond Kitt himself. At this point, I’ve created over 50 characters, each with roles in the world, backstories, and narrative purpose. This is no longer a single-character experiment, it’s a living setting.

Eventually, I’ll be giving these characters their own Wiki pages, filling them out gradually as the universe develops. Early on, I considered giving each character an index card; like the back of a G.I. Joe figure package, but printed on the comic’s back cover for kids to cut out. I still love that idea, but practically speaking, the wiki feels like the right place for that depth now.

Rethinking the Audience and Format

Originally, I planned this series squarely for an ages 5–7 demographic. I wrote it like a Saturday morning cartoon: fast, punchy, “wham-bam,” with each issue structured like a 20-minute episode.

From the beginning, though, the storytelling was contiguous. Five issues make up a complete story arc; essentially a season. In my mind, those first five issues were like a made-for-TV movie: roughly an hour and twenty minutes total, with each issue airing daily at 3:00 PM, right when kids got home from school.

That’s very much how issues #1 through #4 were written.

But as I’ve been working on issue #5. and thinking more critically about what this series wants to be – I’ve realized I’m drifting away from a narrow age bracket and toward something more genuinely all-ages.

I still like the idea of five-issue story arcs as “seasons.” That structure works. What’s changing is the pacing.

Issue #5 and What Comes Next

Issue #5 marks a transition.

While it still delivers the action I’ve established (and continues to challenge me artistically), it also slows down. There’s more room for storytelling, more dialogue, and more time given to moments so they can breathe. I want readers to understand more about the world, its technology, and its past without feeling rushed.

The action isn’t going away. If anything, I want to keep it exactly as demanding as it’s been, while introducing more technology, fleshing out the Slip Band further, and layering in context that rewards older readers without alienating younger ones.

For the next “season,” there will be changes, but not drastic ones. The foundation is solid. What’s happening now is refinement.

Kitt has matured in my mind. His world has expanded. And while the first arc was about discovery, testing tone, format, and visual language, the next phase is about intention.

This is the style I’ve settled into. Not because it was the original plan, but because it’s the one that best serves the story I’m telling.

A Note of Thanks

Finally, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this series, follow its progress, offer feedback, or simply spend a few moments in Kitt’s world. Early projects live in a fragile space, they change constantly, they test ideas, and they rely on curiosity and patience from the people experiencing them.

Knowing that readers are engaging with the work as it grows has mattered more than I can easily summarize. The feedback, encouragement, and quiet interest all play a role in shaping where this goes next.

As Kitt continues into his next “season,” the world will keep expanding, the storytelling will deepen, and the work will continue to evolve. I appreciate everyone who has been along for this first arc, and I look forward to sharing what comes next.