Overview

Zeero Huy: The Rockstar is a digital illustration featuring my original character, Zeero Huy. His name was inspired by the Gundam Wing pilot, Heero Yuy. Zeero Huy is a 19-year-old with a bold and rebellious look. His hairstyle matches that of the Root, but with a bandana wrapped around his head, adding to his rugged appearance. His outfit consists of a jacket—often rolled up to his biceps—and pants decorated with the blue fire, the emblem of Ulan. He also wears spiked bracelets and a barbed wire necklace, reinforcing his edgy persona.

Zeero Huy is the main protagonist in the sequels to Siopao, which explore his life beyond the original story. He embarks on a journey to uncover the true reason behind his rebirth, believing there must be a deeper meaning to his second chance. In the sequels, beginning with Belgium, he meets a variety of new characters—many of whom are inspired by real people I have encountered—each playing a role in his story’s progression.

Design Inspiration and Concept

Zeero Huy’s design reflects his personal journey and transformation. A defining feature of his look is the blue flame, a key element derived from the Nin Ling concept. This flame symbolizes his passion and determination. His design also emphasizes movement and power, balancing raw strength with quick agility.

Character Design Approach

To bring Zeero Huy’s character to life, I focused on details that highlight his strength and emotion. His attire features the blue flame integrated into his pants, jacket, and bandana, creating a dynamic, fluid effect. His blue flame on his hand blends seamlessly with the flame on his jacket, reinforcing its presence. Additionally, one side of his attire lacks flames—a deliberate choice, making it appear as though the wind is carrying the flames in one direction.

Design Process

The illustration started with a front-side sketch, followed by a traced and adjusted back-side version. At the time, I was still learning Photoshop, so I used the bucket tool to fill in colors. This led to small white gaps appearing in the final artwork. Despite this, I refined the piece by focusing on lighting effects and color harmony to enhance its impact.

Reflection and Learning

This project reinforced the importance of symbolism in character design. Every visual element plays a role in conveying Zeero Huy’s identity and backstory. Working with fire-based effects also helped me push my visual storytelling, ensuring the flames not only looked immersive but also added depth to the composition.

Conclusion

Zeero Huy: The Rockstar remains a standout piece in my Character Design Portfolio. Through this illustration, I explored self-expression and character-driven storytelling. His connection to the Nin Ling concept ties him to a larger universe, where passion, identity, and transformation shape his journey.

Other concept art

Other appearances

He also appears (briefly) in the indie comic collaboration with KC Salvador, entitled Siopao:Bun.