Should Graham's appearance ever be changed?

[Sir Perceval of Daventry]

Do you think Graham's character could go for some alteration? Nothing major, for example, keep his outfit the same but have him have long hair instead of a mullet, or perhaps a beard or moustache. Do you those sort of minor changes would be acceptable? In one of the KQ novels he's described as having a full beard and in the first KQ manuals he's depicted with a moustache.

[KatieHal]

Apart from graying hair and other minor touches, no, not really. While a beard might work, a moustache is too much of a dated look from the perspective of today's audience. And dated as in, it looks like it's from the 1970s or 1980s, not dated in the medieval fashion. A beard, done certain ways, may come across as being more of a medieval/timeless fashion, however.

Graham's look has just become too iconic to change completely and/or in the long-term. It's why, for example, in TSL we wanted to make a point of having Graham change into adventuring gear for the majority of the game. The Wedding Outfit is nice and shows he can and does dress up when it's called for, but Graham's really at home in his classic outfit, and it's so iconic, we couldn't have done it any other way! It'd be like Link not wearing his classic outfit, or Mario not in plumber overalls and his hat!

[Lambonius]

I, for one, would love to see Graham with a thick, full handlebar mustache.  And more chest hair.  LOTS of chest hair.  Love me some extra crispy chest curlies!!!

[DawsonJ]

I'm with Katie on this one; I personally think he looks funny even in Kingly attire - like his brief appearances in MoE. He's got the Link / Mario thing going on.

[Sir Perceval of Daventry]

Apart from graying hair and other minor touches, no, not really. While a beard might work, a moustache is too much of a dated look from the perspective of today's audience. And dated as in, it looks like it's from the 1970s or 1980s, not dated in the medieval fashion. A beard, done certain ways, may come across as being more of a medieval/timeless fashion, however.

Graham's look has just become too iconic to change completely and/or in the long-term. It's why, for example, in TSL we wanted to make a point of having Graham change into adventuring gear for the majority of the game. The Wedding Outfit is nice and shows he can and does dress up when it's called for, but Graham's really at home in his classic outfit, and it's so iconic, we couldn't have done it any other way! It'd be like Link not wearing his classic outfit, or Mario not in plumber overalls and his hat!

Yes but consider that his iconic haircut--a mullet--is also considered a dated look by today's audiences, much much moreso than a mustache. Part of Graham's "look" if you will since day one has been that mullet since KQ was developed when the mullet was still an acceptable hairstyle; He has it in all the games except 8--Wherein he has very short hair.

And actually moustaches, goatees and beards all had about equal prominence in the medieval era...In fact, even before then, the Germanic tribes who confronted Rome were known for their long hair and unkempt beards; The Gauls were known for their long hair and long moustaches.

In fact, their long hair and facial hair is a BIG part of why the Romans (who were cleanshaven with short, cropped hair) called these tribes "Barbarians".  There's a really great, albeit expensive book called "Fashions in Hair: The First 5000 years". It describes, through historical notes, anecdotes and other historical sources, the various hairstyles for both men and women from around Ancient Egypt to today. I found it interesting because in many times in the past, hair was very important. Long hair in the Middle Ages was considered by many priests to be sinful and of the Devil, for example.

When the Romans conquered the Gauls, they forcibly cut their long hair short to humiliate them (Among the Gauls, short hair on a man was considered effeminate)

In the 1700s in America--when everyone wore powdered wigs and cleanshaven faces--this man, I forget his name, decided to wear a beard. He was scorned, ostracized, and even physically assaulted and almost forced to shave--simply because he wore a beard. He had his windows broken, women crossed the streets when they saw him, etc. It's really astounding how little affectations like a hairstyle or facial hair can mean a lot.

[Blackthorne]

I don't think Graham rocked a mullet in every game.  Hell, the first 3, you really couldn't see his hair.  In KQ5, his hair isn't a mullet, it's just thick and full - you really can't see the front of his hairline because it's under a hat.  It's not long enough in the back for a mullet anyway.  It's really just a big head of thick hair - same for KQ6.





I think Graham's facial hair could with whatever - as long as his outfit and hat are the same.  It's really not best to try and put too much real historical thought into his hairstyle, unless the style is an extreme example of a place and time - ie, a Mohawk, or Spikey Gel Emo Hair, etc.


Bt

[Damar]

Or anime hair.  Right Alexander?  Oh...

Considering that Graham's outfit has never really changed (outside of his wedding tux and quick cameo in MOE) even at his own son's wedding and when on his deathbed, I think that adding facial hair would be too much of a change.  If there had already been a variant in his look as a precedent, there it would be no big deal.  But Graham has been largely unchanged outside of a graphical improvement (and becoming ridiculously diesel in KQ5.  Like he's in training to become Batman or something.)  So I think the facial hair wouldn't be right.

[KatieHal]

Yeah, I wouldn't call Graham's hair a mullet. Longish, yes, but not a mullet.

I realize moustaches have their place in history, which is why I specifically said that to the modern audience, the problem is that they are more often connected to recent history. A stylized 'stache, however, could pull it off.

Either way, though, I don't think Graham would look good with a 'stache.

[MusicallyInspired]

He shouldn't change.

[Arkillian]

I think he had a beard in Kingdom of sorrow. It weirded me out when I read it. IT just doesn't feel right on him even though beards are a thing of prestige in those times. I think stubble / none works for Graham cause he's less noble birth and more adventurer. Although a beard is warmer, he doesn't actually adventure in the snow often enough for it to be a concern. I think stubble would look dashing on him. HE has a sort of Mac Gyver appeal to him

[Blackthorne]

What?  You don't think Graham would look good rockin' these looks???


Bt

[Fierce Deity]

I think Graham with a big, burly, Tom Selleck moustache would be epic. 

Uhh, . . . but not really.

[Arkillian]

As I said- I don't think iit's him. Not all men suit beards. I DEFINITELY think he'd rock the stubble though. Maybe a goatee. Not a full beard though.

[MikPal]

Perhaps Graham could try the look he had in the beginning.

[Sir Perceval of Daventry]

What?  You don't think Graham would look good rockin' these looks???


Bt

He actually doesn't look too bad with a beard.

[KatieHal]

I actually don't like that portrait image to begin with for Graham. It looks like the ratio is slightly off and his head is squished, plus his skin color is really red. Apparently he got a sunburn just before posing for it. He nearly matches his shirt!

[Lambonius]

That stache makes him look just a little too much like Errol Flynn's Robin Hood though.  It should be thicker, burlier, SEXIER.  Like a big gray twinkie hanging underneath his nose.  Ohhhh yeah.

[Sir Perceval of Daventry]

I actually don't like that portrait image to begin with for Graham. It looks like the ratio is slightly off and his head is squished, plus his skin color is really red. Apparently he got a sunburn just before posing for it. He nearly matches his shirt!

If you look though, most characters in KQ6 have that same color. It had something to do with the game's colorization.
This is the actual portrait from KQ6 as shown in KQ8. The only thing off is his hat, but it comes out green due to the game's programming "an intentional pallete swap of the original painting's bitmap in the game's resource files."


So that's the original painting from KQ6, without the limited resources of KQ6's engine. Just imagine a blue hat.

[Blackthorne]

TOM SELLECK-IZED!


Bt

[Lambonius]

THIS is more like it!  Boioioioioioioioioing!!