Make the Kings into gorilla dons with tux, the Queens become chimpanzee gun molls in evening gowns, flapper dresses and fancy hats, the Jacks become "the muscle" in orangutan form, the guys who do the don's bidding, wearing pinstripes, black shirts and white ties. Replace swords with pistols, scepters with Tommy guns, flowers with martinis and champagne glasses (use the old wide and flat models, not the more modern flute-style glasses.
Consider a joker design with a policeman ape of some kind, for at least one of the cards. You can always put your Ultra Ape logo on an ad card.
Those are some good ideas, I will try and get something drawn up soon. The only probllem is its near impossible to make female monkeys look serious enough, Without looking silly.
It's why I suggested chimps. They already have a more slender form than the other apes mentioned. You wouldn't need to go crazy giving them huge breasts or anything like that, just dress them up in dresses as described and I think you'll be fine. No makeup, but perhaps earrings and necklaces made of gold and expensive gems - diamonds for the queen of diamonds, naturally!
Here is a quick sketch of the don monkey. Ill work on putting him into a card soon!
Also did the jack but its... meh so far.
The first don monkey is an awesome start - cigars instead of scepters! I love it! Think also expensive watches/pocketwatches, pinky rings with fat gems, etc. And tuxedos! Gotta get them in tuxedos.
For the jacks, just think of the stereotypical '20s mobster, in a fedora and a pinstriped suit. They aren't wealthy, they don't have expensive jewelry and the like - but they do the boss' bidding, carry out his hits, etc. Equip them with Tommy guns (look up "Thomson sub-machine gun" on Wikipedia or Google). Give them black shirts and white neckties, or maybe a white shirt and a red bowtie - they should appear only barely civilized and practically uncomfortable in a suit. And BULGING with muscle - the real-life foot-soldiers of mob bosses were dumb-looking and slow-witted in some cases, but built like tanks. Picture arms so thick, they look like they want to burst out of their suit jacket sleeves!
If orangutans are hard to work out, I guess you could simply go with more gorillas. Perhaps making the dons look a little older with some gray fur would help make them distinctive.
What did you think of the idea of making the diamond pattern on the back appear like stitched leather on old overstuffed couches and chairs?
I keep this up, I'm going to want a designer's credit on your deck!
