Author Archives: AFDStudios

30 Characters in 30 Days Challenge

Posted on October 2, 2012 | Comments Off on 30 Characters in 30 Days Challenge

This is one of those awesome ideas that I am kicking myself for not thinking of. Basically you're challenged to come up with 30 characters in 30 days. They can be any genre, and any type. It lasts for the whole month of November; you sign up for free, and commit to posting your creations on their site. If you're a writer, you can come up with a character description or bio, or maybe a short scene that describes them. If you're an illustrator, you can draw your own or you could use HeroMachine to create yours.

It sounds like a fun way to stretch your creative muscles and challenge yourself. Apparently only 100 people have completed it, which sounds like the gauntlet has been thrown! If you're of a mind, head on over and check it out.

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Posted in Meta, Things I Like

Black Widow vs. Catwoman

Posted on October 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Black Widow vs. Catwoman

Our Versus today features two of the deadliest leather-clad females in the Marvel and DC universes:

Black Widow is a highly trained, extremely deadly assassin. She can fight alongside the Marvel Universe's most powerful heroes in the Avengers and is much, much more than just a gun and some wrist bracelets.

Catwoman, on the other hand, is largely a petty thief, much more interested in avoiding conflict than engaging in it. However, she too fights alongside (and against!) arguably the most deadly member of the DC Universe in Batman.

Both are nimble, agile, and quick. Both have deadly weapons and savage wits at their disposal. The Black Widow is arguably a superior strategist, but Catwoman is fantastic in a tactical situation where rapid reactions are vital.

I think this one is pretty close. But overall I'd probably go with the Black Widow since she's trained to be a killer, whereas Catwoman is primarily a thief.

But what say you, HeroMachine Nation?

[polldaddy poll="6577737"]

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Posted in Versus

Friday nights with the Blue Thong

Posted on October 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Friday nights with the Blue Thong

(From "Lightning Comics" volume 2, number 2, 1941.)

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

Pop Quiz "Small Gods" Results

Posted on October 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Pop Quiz "Small Gods" Results

Saturday was all about "Small Gods" 'round these parts, and the entries we got for our Pop Quiz on the subject were just great! But don't take my word for it, see for yourself:

Among the fun and inspired concepts were Pluggo, god of tangling cords; Mrs. Boggs, punisher of men that leave the toilet seat up; Manilla: Goddess of Impulsive Shoe Purchases; Vian, the God of Things You Can’t Find Despite Putting Them There Only a Moment Ago; Beezus Chrusht, Savior of the Insects!; Zarsas, the god of little sharp, stabby things that poke you in the bottom of the foot, but when you take off your shoe, there’s nothing there; Confusia, Queen of the Junk Drawer (her tentacles ensure that whatever it is you need from her is buried in the very bottom of the pile); and my favorite name, "Lag Demon". I think that could really catch on.

My overall personal top choice this time out, though, is Melmo44, who had two entries that were both really good illustrations and fun concepts. I know that Zarsas is a constant presence here in the country, and if I could figure out what to sacrifice to propitiate him I'd be all over it.

But really, everyone did just great; I hope you had as much fun creating these as I did seeing them.

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Posted in Challenge Favorites

Character Design Challenge 101: Gamma Madness!

Posted on October 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Character Design Challenge 101: Gamma Madness!

via Redditor Skitchbot.

When I was in high school, one of my favorite RPGs was "Gamma World", a post-apocalyptic setting where you could get the most random and bizarre creatures you've ever imagined. Playing a three-eyed human-plant hybrid with psychic powers and a bird leg growing out of his back was pretty much de rigueur. It was about as surreal as a game could get, and it's what inspired me for your character design challenge this week:

Create an awesome character portrait based on a randomly generated Gamma-World NPC via this great web site. Include the text description you're given in the comment where you post your image link!

You will get ten random character descriptions, from which you can choose one or all. I'll pick my personal favorites when the week is over, with the one I like best being featured in the right column for the week. The rules otherwise are the same as always:


(Click to embiggen.)

No limit on entries this week, so knock yourselves out. Just make them good!

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Posted in Challenges, Character Design Challenges

Caption Challenge 130 Results!

Posted on October 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Caption Challenge 130 Results!

We had some really fun entries for Caption Challenge 130, which asked you to come up with replacement dialog for this comics panel:

The ones that gave me the biggest chuckle were:

  • DC-Lover: I TOLD YOU A TV RUNNING ON DYNAMITE WAS A BAD IDEA!!!
  • JR19759: This new 3D Tv is taking the Big Bang Theory a bit too literally.
  • Mark: AAAAAAAAA! Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo!
  • fuzztone: Wow! 4D TV!
  • DiCicatriz: “We’re sorry, but the program you were watching has been canceled… PERMANENTLY.”
  • dblade: Ugh. Another episode of the Real Housewives of Krypton.
  • ams: Wow, video really did kill the radio star!
  • William Peterson: “Ahhh! When they said Saturday Night was LIVE, I didn’t think they meant THAT Live!”
  • P.F. Bruns: When you said “violent television,” I thought you meant the content!
  • gozuforce: I knew this movie bombed, but i didn’t take it that literally.
  • Renxin: Grandpa tried to program the DVD player again.
  • Myro: “I guess we’ll call that myth confirmed, you can blow up a TV set by showing enough explosions.”
  • alphaalpharomeo: The Capitol tricked us with an exploding tv … Worst Hunger Games ever.

This one was a real toss-up for me, I could easily have gone with any of those as my personal favorite. I would probably say that Myro, dblade, and JR19759 were my Top Three. Myro summed up my favorite show, "Mythbusters", really well. And JR19759 nailed the crossover of 3DTV and pop culture. But I'm going to go with dblade's entry, because I thought it was the cleverest actual show title that still made sense of the scene:

Thanks everyone for making us all laugh this week, I know I'm not alone in saying I needed it.

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Posted in Challenge Favorites

Character Design Challenge 100 Winners

Posted on October 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Character Design Challenge 100 Winners

As you saw from the gallery of entrants, HeroMachinists are a very talented bunch. I'm glad it wasn't up to me to pick just five of the many entries for our centennial character design challenge! But you all stepped up to the plate, and after a week of intensive voting, the results are in:

Continue reading →

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Posted in Challenge Favorites

When did we weaponize thongs?!

Posted on October 1, 2012 | Comments Off on When did we weaponize thongs?!

(From "Lightning Comics" volume 2, number 2, 1941.)

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

Pop Quiz: Small Gods

Posted on September 29, 2012 | Comments Off on Pop Quiz: Small Gods

Happy Saturday, folks! One of my favorite authors is Terry Pratchett, and one of my favorite books of his is "Small Gods". It's a comical fantasy that deals not with the powerful world-shattering deities, but your everyday ones like Moog the God of Hairballs or Fred the Lord of Lowered Zippers. Your one-day quick-fire challenge today is to create an awesome image showing your idea of a Small God.

This week you can enter as many as you wish, but I'm going to put you on the honor system and request that you only post images you make today (or tomorrow if I don't get to them until then). Most of the other rules are the same as for a regular challenge, but instead of a whole week I'll announce my favorites either tonight or tomorrow morning. Here's how to make an entry:


(Click to embiggen.)

I'll pick one entry as my personal favorite, which will get to be featured in the side bar to the right for ultimate glory! As a bonus you're allowed to say you won the Internet for a few days.

Good luck!

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Posted in Pop Quiz

The insults were so much simpler in the old day

Posted on September 29, 2012 | Comments Off on The insults were so much simpler in the old day

(From "Lightning Comics" volume 2, number 2, 1941.)

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Posted in Daily Random Panel