A bit of a double feature on the first, with casting accompanied by music.
Jesse L. Martin as Crispus Allen
"Mean Streets", Lynyrd Skynyrd /
"An End Has a Start", Editors
I'm mostly familiar with the old school
Law & Order series, but I caught an episode again as I was writing for Crispus Allen. Immediately, I noticed how Jesse L. Martin, playing Detective Green, was the perfect representation of Crispus Allen for me. The hair, the goatee, only thing missing is glasses and some slightly harder features. Martin's acting ability make up for such inconsistencies though. He was one of my favourite detectives on the show.
Now, the early adventures of Crispus Allen as a Metropolis detective were composed largely to the sounds of Lynyrd's Skynyrd's
Edge of Forever album, specifically the song "Mean Streets". It always got me in that down-on-the-dirty-streets vibe that I needed for the cynical, yet seeping-with-badass Crispus. It also contrasted nicely with the background I established for him, coming from a wealthy, educated family. The Editors song was all I needed to write everything from Crispus' death and intro into heaven.
Charles Bronson as Floyd Lawton
This hit me while flicking through a book about Charles Bronson' movies. He's got the seventies look, with the distinctive moustache and an aura of violence waiting to happen. Unfortunately, Mr. Bronson has since passed on, but then I couldn't think of any modern-day actor that could take on the role of Deadshot, whom I portrayed in the fourth season of the DC RPG.
Joe Pantoliano as Vincent Del Arrazio
Ralphie Cifaretto (
The Sopranos) was always Detective Sergeant Vincent Del Arrazio in my mind. Besides the mafia connection, there's one particular issue of
Gotham Central that spotlights Del Arrazio and in a few panels, the resemblance is uncanny. His manner of speech, the smile, the charm, I always came back to Joe Pantoliano for those bits.