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(From "Samson" number 1, 1940.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
When I think of "aquatic super character", the image of bad Eighties Hair Bands like Whitesnake and Poison immediately comes to mind. Because nothing says "sleek, aquiline, water-based power" like wild, out of control locks with tons of fixative, a connection not lost on a Nineties-era Marvel Comics desperate to catch up with Image in being EXTREME!
I mean, just look at your water-born powerhouses in nature, like killer whales and great white sharks and even the sleek, clever dolphin. They ALL have big hair. And spikes. And massive amounts of metal guaranteed to plummet them directly to the bottom, where they'll stick in the sea floor like an out-of-control game of Lawn Darts.
Seriously, can you imagine actually swimming in that thing? I think they must have gotten the inspiration for the intricate scroll work from recovered shipwrecks, but the thing is, those ships were designed to float on the water, not swim in it.
But just in case lots of spikes and big hair and brooding eyes and a daunting pose weren't EXTREME enough for what Marvel must have seen as its dim-witted readers, they were sure to include chains and skulls in the details. Nothing's more EXTREME than skulls! Unless it's a chain-linked thong of scales. I know when I see a fish in a thong, I'm immediately intimidated.
My favorite bit, besides the dark and brooding face (reminiscent of a Sinestro-Dark Elf love child) is the big arm gauntlet. I know that if I were considering a career in surface-conquering, I'd want some kind of glove that completely immobilized my wrist. Now that's EXTREME!
(Many thanks to reader Dan for sending this in! Image and character are ©Marvel Comics.)
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Posted in Bad Super Costumes
(From "Samson" number 1, 1940.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
I return to our "Versus" roots this week for the following Throwdown Spectacular:
I'm assuming we're dealing with a full Jedi Luke here, the guy from Episode VI. So that means Magneto can probably grab that robotic hand and try to rip it out of Luke's forearm. On the other hand, you can be pretty sure Skywalker's going to be grabbing back with the full power of the Force at his command. Which will be the more powerful tool? Considering Yoda was far superior to Luke in Force-power, and yet even he could lift an X-Wing only very slowly, while Magneto routinely chunks tanks and planes and ships around, I would think Magneto wins.
Still, as a Jedi, Luke I am sure is equally adept with either hand, so the loss of one might not be a major inconvenience. We also learned during Empire that even a half-trained Jedi gets used to having big chunky blocks of metal flung at him, which is one of Magneto's favorite tricks.
The key question in this fight to my mind is, could Luke get close enough to Magneto to bring his light saber into play? If he can, I think Magneto's toast. He can throw up all the magnetic shields he wants, I doubt it's going to get in the way of a well-placed Jedi saber slash.
What do you think? Who would win, and why?
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Posted in Versus
(From "Green Lantern" number 2, ©1960, DC Comics.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
Your challenge for this week is to create the coolest character in the best illustration possible using any version of the HeroMachine that has something to do with the broad category of “Cosmic”. You could just use a name of a cosmological phenomenon like “Black Hole” or “Nebula”, or you could design a “star elf” from a fantasy role playing game, or simply a super-hero with some sort of cosmic-related powers. Classic examples would include Marvel’s “Galactus” (duh!) or “Nova,” or perhaps DC’s “Eclipso” or “Sun-Eater.”
However, “Cosmic” should not be confused with “Sci-Fi” or "Based in Space". For example, DC’s "New Gods" series featuring the likes of Darkseid and High Father is set in the vast reaches of time and space, but the characters themselves are not necessarily “cosmic”. New God "Orion" would qualify, but Darkseid would not.
I'm also excited and honored to have as our Guest Judge this week none other than "Friend of HeroMachine" Mr. John Hartwell, who in addition to being an instructor at the prestigious Portfolio Center in Atlanta, Georgia, is also the guy who introduced me to the Champions RPG. John's got impeccable design sense and a keen eye for good super hero costuming, so be sure to bring your "A" game this week.
The person with the winning entry as selected by John will win their choice of either a portrait or item to go in HeroMachine 3, or a custom black and white “Sketch of the Day” style drawing (by yours truly). The rules otherwise are the same as always:
Entries are limited to three (3) per person, so pull out your red editing pen and make ‘em your best!
Comments Off on Character Contest 72: The Power COSMIC!
Posted in Challenges, Character Design Challenges
I think Caption Contest 106 was the most difficult one to date, generating the fewest entries in a long, long time and presenting major challenges. Kudos therefore to the following four folks who managed to build in a funny interim thought between the two existing ones!
I liked Loki's for the irony, Myro's for the topical reference and for anything referencing "kneel before Zod", Skybandit's because I'm about to restart my WoW account here in a few days, Mr.MikeK's prescient analysis of male-female relationships, and spidercow2010's excellent referral to one of the great Super Dickery moments of all time.
But I have to choose just one as the ultimate winner, and for that I have to go with the one I thought was the cleverest leveraging of the two existing balloons, in a way that made me laugh. Namely, Loki!
Congratulations to Loki -- just let me know what you'd like for your prize either in comments or via email, Loki, and I'll get it on the list.
Thanks to everyone who entered, and next time we'll do something that's a little more universal, promise!
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Posted in Caption Challenges, Challenge Favorites, Challenges
(From "Green Lantern" number 2, ©1960, DC Comics.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
(From "Samson" number 1, 1940.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
Three middle-aged nerds (including yours truly!) review all of the MCU movies in chronological order. Short, funny, and full of good vibes, check it out and let us know what you think!
Nerdmudgeon.com
