Is Monarch Kogma actually based on the Monarch?

Qsario·2/13/2015, 10:18:35 PM·3 votes·923 views

As an amateur entomologist, I can't help but notice that "Monarch" Kogmaw isn't very similar to an actual Monarch, almost to the point of being unrecognizable. The the model's hindwing has tails on it (Monarchs have none), the black border and veins on the wings are different, the antennae curl at the top in the splash when they should be straight and the body is completely the wrong color (it should be black, I assume they chose blue because it's a complimentary color?). He looks more like some type of fritillary or copper butterfly.

So I have to ask... was he actually based on a Monarch or did they use some other butterfly as a model for any of that? It's hard to tell, it looks like they changed the art a lot to make it look good on the rift, making significant departures from what actual Monarchs look like. And that's perfectly reasonable because I doubt most people will ever care about minutiae like this, but I had to wonder.

2 Comments

It Hertz When IP2/14/2015, 3:34:43 AM4 votes

I don't think they really put that much thought into it.

"Let's make a butterfly skin for Kog'Maw!" "Ok, but don't name it "Butterfly Kog'Maw", because that sounds dumb." "What about "Monarch Kog'Maw"?" "What's a Monarch?" "I dunno, some kind of butterfly I think." "Well then, sounds perfect."

Sharjo2/13/2015, 10:40:53 PM2 votes

It's an old skin so appearance wise it's likely not based specifically on a Monarch Butterfly. I'd expect that to change in a Kog'Maw VU.