Some of you may recall this character, way back in 2014 when I did a Halloween Countdown that was purely my own take on Halloween tropes. If not, here's the original: https://inkbunny.net/s/693080
That countdown was a lot of fun and to this day I still think it's both my favorite and best Halloween Countdown I ever did, to the point that I really wanted to do more with the characters in it and not keep them to just one-hit wonders, unfortunately time gets away from me and in all this time I've only managed to draw one other picture for the Frankenstein creature as well as come up with some backgroung and a name for him, which can be found here: https://www.deviantart.com/decoythe.....-All-527295065 but that's it.
The desire to do more is still there though and no where more strongly then with the killer clown character I made. My mind went a little crazy when it came to him and I came up with a pretty decent story, however I never made any more art of him. I attempted to MANY times, but I've had constant trouble mainly in the fact that I drew him very two dimensionally. Converting him into a more 3D model for dynamic poses was pretty difficult, but what with the theme of my countdown this year being evil clowns (starting on Oct. 19th, if you're wondering) I couldn't forgive myself if I let this opportunity pass by without giving him another chance to shine, so I stuck with it and only a mere 4-years later, I have a new picture of him... and immediately rethought design choices afterward, but hey, it's something!
So now, without further delay, I present to you the curious case of the Bailum Bros.-
"The Circus Bizarro was the talk of the town when it was in it's hay day. People would come for miles just to get a glimpse at the stranger and mystifying performances and that rang most true for the circus' star performers; Joseph and Jonathan Bailum, not that anyone really knew them by that. Everyone simply knew them as JoJo the Clown. As identical twins, the two would both take up the mantle as the beloved clown, often making it seem as though it was just one person doing seemingly impossible feats until their big reveal. It was a life filled with glitz and glamour for the two... however, it was to be short lived.
Jonathan, ever the more artsy of the two, had always wanted to be a respected actor. He joined the circus with his brother purely in the hopes of getting his name out there enough that he could one day ditch the big top and land himself a spot on Broadway... but years had passed now and that dream was quickly turning out to be a fantasy he'd never obtain and all the while his brother Joseph was in a different boat all together.
To say the fame of being JoJo had gone to Joseph's head was an understatement, in fact the character of JoJo had rapidly turned into somewhat of an alternate persona for him and he had quickly become infamous for throwing his weight around, finding himself better then the other performers, even his own brother, whom his act completely relied on, however despite being a pompous jackass, Joe was happy... much unlike Jon. As the years went by, Jonathan found himself growing more and more bitter towards their act, his brother and that loathsome JoJo, to the point that he'd do anything to be free of the three-ring Hell he was now trapped in and as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.
It was late one night, the rest of the troupe was out partying... no one was supposed to see him. Jonathan had come to the decision that if he couldn't get out on talent alone, he'd pay his way into Hollywood. Hell, plenty of actors out their were only beloved for simply being rich. Grabbing every scrap of cash he could find from the place, Jon was ready to rob the circus blind... that was until he was stopped by an all too familiar body; God, he hated how much he looked like his brother...
Initially, Joe didn't care about the stolen money. Hell, he welcomed it. 'Let's get outta' this joint! Use that dough and form out own circus!' he said 'We're better then all these rubes combined anyway!" but like always, Jon did not see eye-to-eye with him. 'You don't get it, do you?' he spat. 'I'm getting out of this hellhole! You can't honestly tell me you're happy being a damn clown for the rest of your life! I can't do this anymore Joe, I have big dreams and they're not gonna be wasted here. You can have JoJo all to yourself, it's what you want anyway-'
To say Joseph took the news badly was an understatement. It had never occurred to him that something like this would happen, that he may possibly lose his cushy position here in the circus, but now that he realized that was the case, he wasn't about to take it lying down and went words wouldn't persuade his brother, violence came soon after! Unfortunately, Jon was always the stronger of the two and it didn't take much for Joe to be subdued... and as he lied there on the floor, all his fame and glory stripped as his brother gathered up the dropped cash and strolled away... that's when it happened. Like a flash, Joeseph-no, JoJo... JoJo knew what to do. To do what Joseph didn't have the guts to do. If that idiot brother didn't want to be a part of him, then he'd get rid of him, after all, if he took that cash the circus would be ruined. He had to do something and then he saw it.
It was simple, but effective. An old, rusty saw blade. Without hesitation, the disgraced brother leapt to his feet and plunged the saw blade into Jonathan's neck, ending his life. Served him right. One hasty hiding of the body and putting the cash back where it belonged at that was that; It was the end of their double act... but the start of something new. A singular JoJo, with all the fame for himself... or so he thought. All that time he had spent pumping himself up, he had forgotten something oh-so obvious. It was, in fact, a DOUBLE act and as much as he thought he could, he couldn't do it alone and the reality of that hit him like a ton of bricks the next day. The once great act was lacking, badly and JoJo's rage was building from all the boos and heckles he was receiving. How could they? How could those peons not like HIS show? All that idiot Jon did was slow his down, but that's all they wanted. That no good prude of a brother. Well, if that's what they wanted, that's what they'd get!
In an indignant fury, JoJo left mid-act, only to return, his brother in hand... but not how the fans wanted, far from it. "Here! Here he is! Is this what you bastards want!?" he screamed to the tumult of screams from the crowd. Of course, this kind of act really gets attention, but maybe not the kind JoJo had wanted. Or was it? In his final and greatest act, JoJo met his end in full costume and a wide, painted smile for all the world to see as he was roasted on the electric chair.
Now some might say that's the end, but it's not. See, fate has a funny way of dealing with things and we don't escape our sins so easily. After his execution, Joseph found himself alone. All those eyes that were once on him, gone. It was just him... well, all but one person. An all too familiar body stood before him. It was Jonathan. Before he could even react though, Jonathan came rushing toward him, like he was caught on a fishing line or something. He was being dragged by some unseen force toward him and what's more, he was being dragged toward Jonathan all the same but when the two collided, it didn't end up as either would have expected. There was no bright light, no booming voice condemning them for their sins, no explanation given... there was nothing. Nothing saved for unspeakable, burning pain, both physical and mental and the knowledge that this was their punishment.
Cursed they were by ironic fate. The two brothers now truly were one, sharing a mangle body that bore a gross resemblance to their once jolly clown persona. The show must go on they say and that would certainly be the case for JoJo, two minds, one body, racked with guilt, rage and a mania that would never cease..."
