That backgoriund looks god, black would make it lifeless, only issue there (my oppinion) are the portraits, there should be some spae between them and the borders...
remove and back buttons...please don't make those, it's much easier (only for the players) to be able to do everything just using two buttons to control all that, some sort of subtitle should be implemented if it's not very clear.
Also, you should try to put the character's names in the pictures, those title look very nice, but shouldn't be used alone.
The space below the goblin guy or inventive prodigy (sounds realy good, looking forward for the stuff he can do), might be used for some sort of secret character, possibly? Maybe a tribute to a character of one of the games you used...