Alright, so I heard the news about Marvel Rivals, and honestly, the character that caught my eye right away was Squirrel Girl. Always had a soft spot for Doreen Green. Then I read somewhere she’s gonna be a Duelist type in the game. That got me thinking, how would they translate her kinda quirky, unbeatable vibe into that role? Especially her look.
I couldn’t find super detailed official models just yet, you know how it is early on. So, I figured, why not try and sketch out or even block out a simple model myself? Just for fun, see what comes out. It’s something I tinker with now and then, nothing fancy.
Getting Started
First thing, I pulled up a bunch of comic images. You got classic Ditko-style stuff, then Erica Henderson’s amazing run which really defined her modern look for me. That’s the vibe I wanted to capture – energetic, optimistic, but you know she can throw down if needed. That duelist thing again.
I fired up a simple modeling program I mess with sometimes. Not pro software or anything, more like digital clay. Started blocking out the basic shapes. Head, torso, limbs. Getting the proportions right for Squirrel Girl is tricky, she’s not a standard superhero build. Needed that slightly more cartoony, sturdy feel.
The Process – Fiddling Around
The tail. Man, the tail was tougher than I thought. Making it look big and bushy but not just a weird log attached to her back took some tries. Pushing and pulling vertices, trying to get that curve right. Took me a good hour just fiddling with the tail shape.
Then the pose. Since she’s a Duelist, I didn’t want her just standing there. I tried to give her a dynamic stance, like she’s ready to bounce off a wall or summon Tippy-Toe. Kind of a mid-action feel. I also remembered reading some fan discussions, you know, about her and Nancy in the comics. While the comics never explicitly said anything, I kinda wanted to capture a bit of that warmth in her expression. Not just action-ready, but maybe a hint of cheerful confidence.
- Head: Focused on getting that Henderson-esque face shape. Big eyes, expressive mouth.
- Body: Kept it practical, like her usual outfit. Jacket, bodysuit. Nothing overly complicated.
- Tail: Lots of tweaking here. Wanted it big, but mobile-looking.
- Pose: Aimed for bouncy, ready-for-action.
It wasn’t easy. Sometimes the shapes looked weird, the proportions felt off. Had to scrap the arms twice and restart them. It’s just a hobby thing, right, so no pressure, but you still want it to look kinda like you imagined.
End Result (Sort Of)
So after an afternoon of messing around, I had… well, something. It’s rough, definitely not game quality, haha. Looks more like a clay figure than a polished model. But you know what? It feels like Squirrel Girl to me. It’s got the big tail, the cheerful face, a pose that feels like she could leap into action any second.
What I got out of it: It was fun! Just immersing myself in a character design, trying to translate 2D art and personality into a 3D space, even a super basic one. Made me appreciate the work pro modelers do even more. And honestly, it just made me more excited to see what the official Marvel Rivals team came up with for her. Capturing that Squirrel Girl energy, especially as a Duelist, is gonna be cool to see.
