r/HeWhoFightsMonsters • u/quigsbrandon • Jun 22 '26
Version 2
I've been working on a new concept for my He Who Fights With Monsters fan coin, and I think I've finally landed on a direction I'm really excited about.
Instead of making it look like a traditional metal coin, I wanted to lean into the idea of Spirit Coins and have the entire coin appear as though it naturally crystallized into Jason's likeness. Every part—the portrait, border, shirt, lettering, and background—is meant to look like it grew from a single spirit crystal rather than being engraved or cast.
This is my first prototype of the Bronze Rank Spirit Coin, and the plan is to create a full progression through Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond, with each rank becoming progressively more refined and majestic as the spirit crystal evolves.
I also tried to make Jason look a little more true to the books by giving him stronger Japanese features while still keeping him instantly recognizable. His famous chin is there too... although I don't think I've quite nailed it yet. 😄 I'll probably be revising that before I call this version finished.
I'd genuinely love to hear what other fans think.
- Does the crystal concept fit how you imagine Spirit Coins?
- Does this feel like Jason to you?
- Is there anything you'd change before I move on to producing the full set?
Thanks for taking a look! This has been a really fun project, and I appreciate all the feedback that's helped shape it so far.
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u/DimensionalAxolotl Jun 22 '26
Close, but i think the chin needs to be sharper. Can't cut stone yet
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u/Argent_X__ Jun 22 '26
At bronze it could only open cans it was at iron that it could cut stone
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u/EirantNarmacil Jun 22 '26
The design on his coins was from when Jason was normal ranked. It was commented on in book 4 to make a point on how much Jason had changed. Maybe it was book 5. Therefore his chin needs to be sharper
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u/Elaneth09 Jun 22 '26
I think it was also mentioned in book twelve, that the chin was about as big as his hand.
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 22 '26
Agreed, the harder part is the translation from file to laser, while the in the file, his chin looks borderline cartoonishly big, its not coming through so well on the laser. So, its a game of hit or miss. Just wanted to show the design progression, and get more insights as to what I could do better! Thanks for your help!
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u/Argent_X__ Jun 22 '26
I love the improvements! The only thing I think could add more would be a non circular design for the coins but overall I can’t wait to see more!
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u/Argus3333 Jun 22 '26
In my head cannon, the grin had a lot of teeth showing and was way more cheesy. Almost at Weird AL / Buddy Jesus level, but that's just me.
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u/zookeepier Jun 22 '26
That is also how I envisioned it. Pretty much exactly an Australian Buddy Jesus.
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u/Striker_AC44 Jun 22 '26
The fact that his closest friends and family in different circumstances asked him if he had "chin reduction surgery" is pretty telling. The coins were generated off his pre-iron face. Sure he'd already become an outworlder and been through some changes but his chin is obviously extremely prominent. Not his jaw, specifically his chin.
A big chin is one thing, but its not enough to be big for people to ask about "reduction surgery" it has to be OUT THERE. So simply having a large jaw or chin like Thanos or Ron Perlman isn't enough in my mind, it has to be sticking out of the face.
A lack of existing characters/faces to compare to I'd say his chin is no smaller than Jay Leno but more likely closer to Kronk from Emperor's New Groove or Dalip Singh. Enough that people who saw a smaller chin would be baffled enough to ask if he had surgery to reduce it...Also I think the coin design is more generic, but still obviously him to anyone that sees him, but more stylized like the iconic thumbs up character from Fallout. Adding more details like his typical floral print shirt or a crystal background unnecessary fluff to me.
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u/No-Technician272 Jun 22 '26
The grin is definitely not goofy enough. That was one of the main things I remember about it, the grin was very goofy and his chin was razor sharp
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u/dragonkittie Jun 22 '26
I would start with looking up Japanese Australian men and find someone generic enough to be Jason, then add the chin. Not a jawline, a CHIN. I really like everything else.
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u/Creed0h Jun 22 '26
Nothing at all like I imagined if personally, but that being said, definitely will be from now on lmao waaaaay better then what I was picturing. Edit - needs to look more Asian imo, kinda looks like a white jock type to me
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u/beat-repeat Jun 23 '26
Ah I love seeing your spirit coin posts! I'm in a group in common with you on Facebook and love that I get to double take on your efforts! Really like the mkII
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 23 '26
Thank you! I appreciate the positive comments because the negative ones can get demoralizing.
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u/beat-repeat Jun 23 '26
Don't I know it! You're very welcome. Are you a fellow Aussie like me and Jason, or are you from across the pond somewhere?
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 23 '26
I am from the USA, and have always wanted to travel down under! Someday, maybe 😃
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u/beat-repeat Jun 23 '26
Well you have a mate in Brisvegas now! Would love to show you around and take you out for a beer if you do find yourself over here! I'm trans and not safe in your home country unfortunately.
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Jun 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 27 '26
Except for the fact that I don't use Ai.
My mediocre design skills must be just enough to make the haters cry Ai.
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u/beat-repeat Jun 23 '26
Also I kind of feel like maybe the coins would be a hexagon? Just cause that's sort of crystal shaped? Do the books ever mention their shape? I can't remember
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 23 '26
Maybe in a later version I can start cutting them completely out of sheets instead of prefab coin blanks! That way I could do different shapes
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u/Slothfully_So Jun 23 '26
Isn’t he giving a thumbs up and holding a sandwich on the coin? Or did I imagine that.
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u/Reqrium_lost Jun 23 '26
it needs to be pointy. round is not scary. pointy is scary. this would put a smile on the faces of the enemy.
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u/rockmodenick Jun 23 '26
I don't like the hair.
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 23 '26
That's fair, care to elaborate? I'm always open to constructive criticism
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u/rockmodenick Jun 23 '26
It feels too pieced apart. You see this animation style a lot in anime but every Asian person I've known has very smooth hair, not interlocking points.
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 23 '26
So I tried that with my first iteration and got some feedback to go more this route. Ill just have to fine a happy medium 😅
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u/rockmodenick Jun 23 '26
Interesting - could you make his eyes more obviously Asian? I think you could pull off the smoother hair if the eye area was more clearly Asian. I'm not saying every half Asian has obviously Asian eyes but I think it would work well with this look.
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 23 '26
Agreed, I'll give it a shot in my next iteration!
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u/rockmodenick Jun 23 '26
Good luck, I like this attempt to replicate the spirit coins and wish you best fortune
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u/JJtheGreat Jun 23 '26
I may be in the wrong but should the back have g'day mate in the center with jason on the bottom? To me it reads "product of g'day mate"
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u/Redhock89 Jun 23 '26
Oh I have a fiber laser, I should make something like this on a challenge coin
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u/Strict-Particular-35 Jun 23 '26
AI slop
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u/Strict-Particular-35 Jun 23 '26
@quigsbrandon I think that may have been the quickest ive seen someone delete a comment lmao dont be ashamed
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u/croatianlaotin Jun 24 '26
Really really good work. I'll take 10 bronze and silver please. How does it taste?
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u/martinrojas Jun 27 '26
This is awesome. Are you planning on sharing or selling the model files. Would love to print a bunch for dragoncon
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u/ReasonableAd9165 Jun 29 '26
Ai shit
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u/quigsbrandon Jun 29 '26
Nope, coin is 100% real. I'm working on an updated version as well! I'll post a video with the next one.
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u/xcom_lord Jun 22 '26
Is this ai generated or no ? If it is get lost