The "Greek Mythology" character contest produced a lot of fantastic entries, so thanks to everyone who took the time to participate! I've selected a handful as Honorable Mentions, and of course one overall winner (who receives either a portrait or any one item of their choice for inclusion in the final HeroMachine 3 version) for your viewing pleasure.
I'm going to go more or less in alphabetical order this time out, because I'm nothing if not alphanumeric. That gives us our first entry, "Eris" by Ahserian, which I liked because of it's nice inner glow effect and the innovative use of wraps as a pseudo-toga:
I chose two entries from Anarchangel, both of which show excellent mult-figure compositions. The Aphrodite one in particular looks great, but I like "Hades and Persephone" quite a bit as well.
"Capricorn" by Blue Blazer is just a very strong and simple super-hero character design. There's nothing super fancy or flashy about it, but all the colors and elements work together to give a very strong sense of someone you'd want to know more about.
Crinold's "Avatar of Zeus" I liked, although it borders just on the edge of "too busy". Still, it's a very creative use of the application and has a lot to recommend it:
Like Blue Blazer's entry, Dennis' "Satyr" is very simple but effective. You don't have to throw a thousand items and use advanced tricks to put together a good character so long as the separate elements work well together and the color scheme is well thought out.
We've all enjoyed Hammerknight's creative uses of the application and helpful guides to reproducing some of his techniques. This week he put it all together in this great "Apollo", using flipped and duplicated horses to great effect and essentially building his own sun chariot from scratch. I wish I'd put a better sky to serve as a background because the character design deserves a better setting.
Iago Valentine always manages to infuse his compositions with an almost other-worldy sensibility, and his "Hunter" is no exception. I love the colors and the way the background uses a dark gray line color instead of black to make it look like it's more in the distance. It's a subtle but very effective trick. I also liked the way he used multiple background elements to make a whole new scene.
Several different versions of Hercules were submitted, but I liked Kaldath's the best overall. I think he stretched the shoulders out under cover of the furry shoulder pads, which makes him look more muscular and demi-god-like.
I cannot encourage you enough to check out Lawrence's frankly staggering HeroMachine-assembled comic book. I can't imagine what a pain this must have been to put together, and I heartily applaud how far he was able to push this thing. It's pretty darn amazing, thank you Lawrence! Here's the cover image to hook your interest, which is a great image just on its own. I love the use of the lightning pattern to suggest an ancient Greek urn.
Martian Blue's "Atlas" is a good design, but what I love most is the chest harness. That big metallic "A" chest buckle just rocks. Plus, it was his idea for the contest in the first place, you gotta love that!
Superfan1's "Nyx" is a great use of black and white to achieve a really fun and impressive effect. I like the multiple capes and the cool sleeve ends, too.
Vampyrist's "Artemis" was one of the better modern reinterpretations of a Greek mytho, with a strong color scheme and concept. I should take points off for her holding the bow palm-out like in that Liefeld Babewatch poster, but putting a wolf in the picture will absolve a lot of sins.
Finally, our last Honorable Mention goes to Zyp for his outstanding use of color and composition in his "Achilles or Something" illustration:
All of which brings us to this week's overall winner. After making so many great contributions to the community, I am pleased as punch to give you a winner at last for none other than our Thursday Recipe Man, Hammerknight!
I'll grant you that many of those pieces were more or less designed to work together, but the coloring and overall conception elevate this above a simple cut and paste job. The real clincher, though, is that helmet. Yes, yes I know Artemis actually had an owl as her bird companion, but that's a wicked cool helmet and you know it! Plus I can't figure out how he did it which is always a big bonus. I liked the overall tight design and effect she has, and am delighted that this one came out on top.
Well done, HK, and all our Honorable Mentions!
Congrats HK and all the runners up! Kudos Lawrence! That comic is outstandingly amazing! Glad I didn’t enter this one, I wouldn’t have come close to winning!
I don’t mean to talk out of turn, but isn’t Hammerknight staff? I’m not sure it’s fair that he competes.
There’s not really a “staff” here, just me. HK’s not paid or anything, he’s just nice enough to put together the Recipe entries most weeks. But I’ve published stuff by other folks, too, and they’re not “staff” any more than HK is.
thanks for the honorable mention! Congrats to HK and all the other runners up!
Wow,my first win and an Honorable Mention to boot. Thanks Jeff. I thank everyone did a great job for the contest this week. I’d like to add a Very big Great Job to Lawrence for his comic book.(you bet me to it. lol) A big thanks to Jeff for holding the contest and for all the Hero Machines that he has made for use to use and to enjoy. Isia also did a sun chariot, but she had already entered three other characters, and I beleive that hers would of giving mine a run for it’s money.
I was very impressed with HK’s entry when I first saw it. Glad to know I’m not crazy (or at least someone else is just as crazy).
Congrats Hammerknight, you rock!
Congrats HK, .. A suggestion for next weeks character contest ( as this week we have a caption contest, unless Jeff made a change in the norm ) inspired by Isia on the UGO forums I would suggest an Arthurian themed contest to follow up on this Greek Themed one
Wow, these are all very impressive! I thought the two I submitted were pretty good, but they aren’t in the same league with the nominees. You must have had a tough time deciding on an overall winner, Jeff. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I use HeroMachine to draw the occasional superhero in cape and tights, but you guys are using it to make real art 🙂
Congrats to all!
Great work all!
(Except for Jeff, who just can’t seem to recognize the hidden depths of my work *sniff*)
Just kidding Jeff 🙂
Congrats Hammerknight!
I’m annoyed that I speank my break ‘netless and didn’t have time to make my Elseworlds Athenian Superman.
damn, I had something perfect for this….http://kuro13.deviantart.com/art/Ja-ma-137081561
http://kuro13.deviantart.com/art/Menator-136946304
try that again…. http://kuro13.deviantart.com/art/Ja-ma-137081561
Congratulations on finally winning a contest, Hammerknight! I honestly don’t know why I keep entering these things, I’m not even on the same plain of existance as some of these other guys! I think it’s creative that I can make an udder, and then I see people building freaking motorcycles and guitars…
Damn guys, those are some outstanding entries!
And congrats to HK – finally! 😀
Finally, HK claims the victory! Congratulations, man!
Congrats Hammerknight!
What will be your prize? An item or your own face in HM? So regarding your creativity, if it’s gonna be an item, I expect someting extraordinary. lol
And Zyp, if you were posting in the Heroes Archives of the UGO Forums you’d earn at least one Legatusverse Star for Achilles.
Congrats HK! Truely remarkable work everyone!
Congrats HK. and thanks for the HM Jeff. As others have stated, your winning entrant was great, and I also really liked your chariot. Everyone did a great job, some very nice entrants.
In all fairness, Jeff gives me to much responsible for this contest ideal, It was actually his idea, one of my characters inspired him was all.
Curiosity question, you seen my Zeus for this round, the guy beside him is noone, just meant to depict height in comparison, something I’ll possibly be doing quite a bit, should I leave them(noone) solid white for now on, or make them grey like statues, because as they are, I think they draw too much from the overall picture?
@MartianBlue, Just an outlined figure that is transparent with a label like “Standard 6’Male” on it would look nice.
Feels awesome being given a mention. Next stop, winning! 😛
Congrats, HK, you’re a master!
By the way, the owl WAS a symbol of Athena, Jeff. Artemis’ animal was the deer, I think.
Cool, thanks Dennis.
Thanks Hk, I’ll try that
@Lawrence’s:you have inspired me to create my own comic book
Wow everyone’s was amazing this week. Congrats HK you really deserve it although I really liked Zyp’s and Iago Valentine’s entries.
Thanks Jeff for mentioning the comic, I’m surprised I got it finished in time. If anyone fancies doing a collaboration I’d be well up for it. I don’t know much about comic layouts and stuff so it would be cool to work with someone who does.
Next one should be famous literary characters like Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or Shakespeare
how about pirates for the next contest?
or vikings
I shout iye (as in pirates)
total agreement with kyle