Yearly Archives: 2011

Character Contest 66 Winners!

We had a huge response to Character Contest 66: Cyborg -- thank you all so much for sharing your creativity! As a result of the larger than usual number of entries, I also have a larger than usual number of Finalists. There were just too many quality submissions to limit it to the usual 20 or so.

I hope you enjoy browsing through this creme-de-la-creme as much as I have. Without further ado, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you (in alphabetical order) the following Finalists.

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And I can’t believe he ASKED for a spanking!

(From "Big 3" number 1, 1940.)

DOOM has done it! At last, the DOUBLE espresso!

(From "Big 3" number 1, 1940.)

Power User Profile: MartianBlue

In addition to winning two character design contests, he has created an amazing number of importable custom items for use in HeroMachine 3. I thought it would be fun to learn more about this innovative creator, so it gives me great pleasure to present the latest Power User, MartianBlue!

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The dressing room … of DOOM!

(From "Big 3" number 1, 1940.)

Open Critique Day #20

It's time once again for another Open Critique Day!

If you have a HeroMachine illustration or another piece of artwork you've done that you'd like some help with, post a link to it in comments along with your thoughts on it -- what you think is working, what you're struggling with, etc. I will post my critique of the piece, hopefully giving some tips on how to improve it.

Of course everyone is welcome to post their critiques as well, keeping in mind the following rules:

  • Make sure your criticism is constructive. Just saying "This sucks" is both rude and unhelpful without giving specific reasons why you think it sucks and, ideally, some advice on how to make it better.
  • Each person should only post one illustration for critique to make sure everyone who wants feedback has a chance.
  • I will not critique characters entered in any currently running contest, as that doesn't seem fair to the other entrants. You can still post it if you like for the other visitors to critique, but I will not do so.

That's it! Hopefully we can get some good interaction going here and help everyone (me included!) learn a little bit today.

Life as the Wal-Mart icon takes a toll

(From "Mystery Comics" number 4, 1944.)

HM3: New gauntlet

dblade sent in another nice armored gauntlet, now live in two pieces (HandRightStandard and GloveRightStandard). Thanks dblade!

Alone in the world is Poor Little Kai

In our last episode, the Lone Wolf was floundering about in the open ocean, wracked by both the storm that destroyed his ship and his own indecision. Ultimately the gods (that's us) who rule his consciousness decided overwhelmingly to flag down the fishing boat on the horizon. And it turns out to be Sig Hansen from "Deadliest Catch"! OK, not really:

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And people say super hero comics aren’t realistic

(from "Big 3" number 1, 1940.)