Jake Long, a boy of summer

The power of the American Dragon surging through him, Jake's developed impressively -- and I don't just mean his skills. When he's not the dragon, he's become an American hunk.

Next in the Boys of Summer set is none other than Jake Long. Those hands were really hard to put into something even remotely resembling a reasonable position once the jacket came off. Chose the "season 1" style pretty much arbitrarily, even though the Jake in the art this was inspired by looks more based off season 2. I don't really care too much about it, at least in terms of how Jake looks; obviously one of his dragon forms looks better than the other... 

Randy Cunningham, a boy of summer

Despite his awkward first impression, Randy's curried favor with the Wave Slayers. His rippling musculature and washboard abs make him look stunning on a jetski. Who wants a ride from him once he's back on land?

And back to The Boys of Summer up close, after the little detour last week. I haven't drawn Randy Cunningham in over four years, so I thought I'd fix that. He's among the many characters besides Danny I really want to draw more of.

But What Can I Do?

Kevin's new, musclebound form meant it was a little harder for him to fit in the minivan now, but he didn't even care. Becoming a superhero was great, and he and his sister helped each other out often, but having something to flex outside of the guise felt even better -- literally and figuratively. The possibilities of his new body seemed endless all over again, even though growing into a bodybuilder's physique under mysterious, instant circumstances brought its own questions for many. He could probably explain them all away before school started, though. Maybe he could join the football team in the fall. Maybe he could finally talk to his crush?...

Many a corner was cut in this part of making the art, admittedly, though I can twist leaning against a stop sign instead of drawing the minivan into an easter egg rather than laziness.

The Brains Gets The Brawn

Kevin was once full of hope for this time in his life, eager to do big things... things much bigger than shuttling his little sister off to playdates and extracurriculars every day. It was by sheer coincidence that on one of those days, cursing his mom's rustbucket minivan, they'd have a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with extraterrestrial life, endowing them with superpowers unimaginable. (Well, partially imaginable.) And then those powers went to his sister and her pet hamster, not him. Kevin tried his hardest to convince himself that being "the brains" of his sister's operation was enough for him, and that he really was helping out, but he could only lie to himself for so long.

One night, when Kevin was least expecting it, they came back. And this time, there was no one else -- nothing in the way to stop him. This time, he'd be stronger, faster, bigger -- even more powerful than his sister -- and all he had to do was soak in the alien rays.

Feeling the power rushing through him, the rippling muscles exploding out of his lanky form were a surprise, but hardly an unwelcome one. He wanted to be a superhero? He'd get to be a superhero. And while he'd still help out his sister, he was looking forward much more to fighting crime on his own terms...

Taking a somewhat unexpected break from soaking in The Boys of Summer because I was downright compelled to draw this guy from the new show Hamster and Gretel. Yes, I'm being that guy that makes Rule 34 of something the second it comes out, just this once. Getting passed on for superpowers must hurt harder than a truck, so I couldn't help but use my powers of beefy persuasion to help him out.

Danny Fenton, a boy of summer

All that ghost hunting works up a sweat, and Danny's filled out into a build fitting for a superhero quite nicely. On a rare quiet day, what's stopping him from hitting the beach and showing off his physique?

Of course I had to lead off with Danny; in addition to being part of the original image, I couldn't not include him just based on how much I've done of him and how much he's inspired me over the years.