Character Contest 18: Duos

The history of comics is replete with duos, two characters linked by name and concept as a single unit, like Hawk and Dove:

hawk_and_dove2
(Characters and image ©DC Comics, Inc.)

Or Cloak and Dagger:

cloak-dagger-1
(Characters and image ©Marvel Entertainment Group.)

That's your challenge for this week: Come up with two characters who are tied together through their names, like the examples above. You can use any pairing you like, and it's certainly possible (and permissible) for multiple people to use the same pairing of words (War and Peace, I imagine, will be popular for instance). The usual contest rules apply with an extra one at the end:

  • You have one week, starting today and ending next Tuesday.
  • All entries must be left as links to an image or images in the comments to this post, and all images must be 100% HeroMachine-generated (any version).
  • No more than three total entries (pairings in this case) per person.

The winner will get to choose either any item he or she wants, or their caricature, put into HeroMachine 3 for all to see and love.

Good luck everyone, I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

If you don't know how to do a screen capture, and for some reason are not happy with or can't use the "Save as JPG/PNG" button in HeroMachine 3, Hammerknight put together a how-to for you.

93 Responses to Character Contest 18: Duos

  1. Hammerknight says:

    This one sounds really good. Can’t wait to get started.

  2. vampyrist says:

    Greg Zlayn was a dedicated cop. Too dedicated, he had a tendency to beat info out of witnesses. For this tidbit he was fired. He tried to stop crime using his skills and a suit of body armor as a vigilante but he needed help. He “convinced” low time crook, Jesse Flynn to help him byusing his old friends to alleviate his crimes. They now work together to fight NY’s crime as Crime and Punishment.

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62774&d=1254870639

  3. Al says:

    Oooh, I’m in!

  4. Darth_Neko says:

    I’ve actually prepared for this one….

    This is The Arc and Mrs. Shade, A married superhero couple that fights crime together and the while trying to make it on time to pick their twin sons up from preschool.

    http://forums.ugo.com/showpost.php?p=614065&postcount=95

  5. Gero says:

    I give you (dramatic pause) Peanut Butter and Jelly!!!

    http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/GeroTheKeymaster/PeanutButter.jpg

  6. remy says:

    does the phrase “Haw and Dove together again for the first time” sound strange to anyone but me?

  7. Danny Beaty says:

    DIAMONDS AND R.U.S.T.

    Jack of Diamonds

    The mysterious vigilante Jack of Diamonds is the terror of the criminal underworld. He always leaves a sharpened metal Jack of Diamonds throwing card as a calling card. He can telekinetically control the bullets fired from his .45s, bringing new meaning to the phrase “psychic assassin”. His costume is composed of carbon nanotubes, making it extremely lightweight and bulletproof. One night, after “a good hunt”, Jack is blindsided by a burst of energy and knocked unconscious. Awakening in an abandoned operating room, he realizes his mask has been removed, his head shaved, and a small surgical scar on the side of his head. Jack notices a large manilla envelope on a table. He tears open the envelope and takes out an x-ray and a note. The x-ray reveals what appears to be a computer chip implanted onto a man’s brain. To his shock, Jack realizes someone has implanted a computer chip in his brain. Still the detective, Jack reads the note, which states:

    You no longer fight alone.

    Jack then hears footsteps approaching the operating room. Jack finds his guns and, upon checking them, sees that they are still loaded. The door opens, revealing…a robot. It approaches Jack and stops.
    “What the hell are you”, asks a confused Jack.
    “I am R.U.S.T., your new partner. I exist to serve you.”

    Robotic Unit Special Tactics (R.U.S.T.)

    R.U.S.T. is darn near indestructible. He possesses artificial intelligence, a plasma blaster, and a nanotech jetpack, which he (it?) can assemble and disassemble at will. He can also become invisible. Because of the computer chip in Jack’s brain, R.U.S.T. can speak with Jack tellepathically, and Jack see through the eyes of R.U.S.T.

    Thus begins one of the most unusual partnerships in history, the birth of DIAMONDS AND R.U.S.T..

    Jack of Diamonds

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=131975&l=6ffc0c1593&id=1815191475

    R.U.S.T.

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=131976&l=5a4bed9812&id=1815191475

  8. Al says:

    This is Needle and Thread, a supercouple.

    http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9193/needleandthread.png

    He is a ninjitsu master who can create long, thin, VERY sharp blades come from his hand. She is a skilled acrobat who can launch nearly indestructible threads from her hands, entwining her adversary. Together, she can restrain while he goes for the kill, or, since they’re good guys, the pain.

  9. The Imp says:

    @Remy: I think the original Hawk and Dove were two dudes; this looks to be a revamped version, hence together again (reference to the original duo) for the first time (since its a new team).

  10. vampyrist says:

    Law and Order
    Christian Iverson is judge turned vigilante
    Scot VanUkrr is a cop turned vigilante.
    They work together as Law and Order
    Ps. extra points if you get the joke)
    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62777&d=1254883618

  11. Gene says:

    The villainous duo of Crash and Burn.

    Crash is the muscle of the team, a former soldier severely injured in a helicopter crash. The government rebuilt him. But he rebelled against his masters….

    Burn in the brains of the outfit, born in the heart of a nuclear reactor about to melt down, she saved millions, but at the cost of her body.

    Now the two of them cause havoc across the globe as Crash and Burn.

    http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/78rg7Aqkda4LkM_Mg0K_rA?feat=directlink

  12. Gero says:

    @Remy: That is the second Dove. The first one (the brother of Hawk) died during the Crisis on Infinate Earth series, and she replaced him as the “new” Dove.

  13. dementedtheclown says:

    xD I Was Gunna Do PB&J

  14. Gero says:

    You still can (but I bet it won’t be as good as mine ^_^)…

  15. MegaGoober says:

    test…?

    http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=30322140&id=1114680864

    Anyways, if you can view the link, these are the two youngest members of the modern Black Magic Tribe – Team Vengeance, 2006. Flare and Spark, the best of buds, dukin’ it out together in the alleys of Rhode Island.

  16. dementedtheclown says:

    BOOM HEADSHOT!

    Introducing Boom And Headshot.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/51vgaw.jpg

  17. MartianBlue says:

    This may just be fun. Some pretty good entrants so far, and I like your story Danny, sounds very interesting. I’ll try to enter an entrant before the contest is up.

  18. Danny Beaty says:

    @MartianBlue: Thanks, buddy! Good luck in the contest!

  19. SongBird says:

    Introducing Beauty (vampire) and The Beast (werewolf)

    http://forums.ugo.com/showpost.php?p=618304&postcount=114

  20. TopHat says:

    Entry for the character contest: Dusk and Dawn!

    Dusk: Darkness manipulation,hallucination projection

    Dawn: Light manipulation, telepathy

    The two enemies were taken captive by an alien warlord,to compete in his arena. The two escaped and were forced to work together in order to escape. When they returned to earth they became partners in crime-fighting.

    Dusk: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62782&d=1254927165

    Dawn: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62783&d=1254927176

  21. Jose Inoa says:

    I’m totally in! Oh, did anyone like the “Power and Glory” series? “Sachs & Violens”? “Skinn and Bonez”? “Milk and Cheese”? “Black & White”? No? GREAT! Me neither.

  22. hero of wu says:

    Yin and Yang, the duo of opposites, alone they are strong, together they are unstoppable.

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62784&d=1254934292

  23. kingmonkey says:

    Hey, Power and Glory had… uh… well… The one thing I liked about it was the parody trading cards with the Creep to Asshole ratio for each character.

    For my first entry, I present All and Nothing. We have Omni, the Infinite Man and Null, the Living Nothing. Empowered by the cosmos itself, they are charged with defeding the universe from encroaching forces (such as entropy, stagnation, chaos, and lima beans) that have devastated other realities.

    http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ljMRt8JxU2I/SszEVvl9IYI/AAAAAAAAAHE/aAHe75z4e_k/Omni.png.jpg

    http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ljMRt8JxU2I/SszUngmk9MI/AAAAAAAAAHI/uP2MfLOWI4A/Null.png.jpg

  24. Hakoon1 says:

    Rock ‘n’ Roll.
    They are two super villains. Rock organises and does a lot of the work. Roll doesn’t like the criminal lifestyle, but would follow his friend until the end.

    Rock – Indestructable skin, Rock creation and Manipulation.

    Roll – Can turn into a big human bowling ball, mowing down all in his path.

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62792&d=1254942880

  25. Steve says:

    Jeff, I’m assuming that since the contest is labeled DUOS, that a TRIO would be against the rules, but I didnt think it would hurt to ask, since its bascially the same concept, just +1…

  26. Jeff Hebert says:

    A trio would probably be fine as long as it’s in the overall concept of the contest.

  27. LargeFormat says:

    First up are Umbra and Paladin-

    Umbra and Paladin were both blessed with powers with the same source, but at different times of the day. Paladin is the manipulator of light (Description below) and Umbra is the manipulator of darkness (Description below).

    Paladin- Photokinesis: Photokinesis (or Lumokinesis) is the ability to mentally alter light particles so that one might be able to increase his vision, generate, manipulate and intensify light at will, change the colors of subjects, perhaps bend light to cast optical illusions, and even fire offensive lasers, rays or bolts of light of varying heat and intensity, from heat rays to freeze rays (or just concussive light beams). One with this ability may even be able to access the ability Luminescence, or absorb ambient light to focus it into an attack.
    Picture: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60896&d=1248401939

    Umbra- Umbrakinesis: Umbrakinesis (or Sciakinesis) is the ability to mentally generate and manipulate darkness, deactivated photons mostly,the absence of light. One with this ability can even deactivate and repulse light energy or travel through shadows (called Umbrageous Teleportation), by converting deactivated photons into a dark version of a portal. One with this power could surround foes in pitch black clouds of lightless space, turn deactivated photons into constructs (similar to Photokinesis), or shoot bolts of solid darkness at foes.
    Picture: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60970&d=1248748828

  28. vampyrist says:

    Here’s Forks and Knives, hitmen for hire.
    Forks uses a pitchfork
    Knives uses knives

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62793&d=1254950885

  29. Or what of a teamup between the exXman, Banshee, and the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and call it
    Sound & Fury

    against their evil German (naturally) counterparts

    Sturm und Drang

  30. Or even those two irradiated mutants straight from Area 51
    Duck (a mutated mallard sort of beast)
    and
    Cover (more of a big blanket super hero than a humanoid type)

  31. kyle says:

    dose it have to be good guys?

  32. LargeFormat says:

    Next are Requiem and Elegy (Both deal with mourning for the dead)

    They are both vigilantes on a distant planet, with far more advanced technology than ours, but an ‘Old West’ culture style.


    Requiem: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62707&d=1254678905

    Elegy: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62776&d=1254881602

  33. Jeff Hebert says:

    Hey guys, just to clarify, what I had in mind was more of the “Crash and Burn” or “Thunder and Lightning” or “Duck and Cover”, and less the “Electricity and Current” or “Batman and Robin” general sort of duo. The two characters’ names should be something you’d find in a common saying or pairing, not just two things that are sort of related in a meta kind of way.

    Note that NOT doing that doesn’t necessarily disqualify the entry, but that’s what I was going for just so you know where my mind is going into it.

  34. Steve says:

    jeff, since most of my teams are trios…im taking that as a yes…and am going to have fun for this contest!

  35. Jeff Hebert says:

    Go for it Steve. Just keep in mind my note from #35, they need to be related in terms of the name, not just “Three random guys who happen to be on a team”, or The Elementals, or The Three Amigos, etc. I can’t think of any trio-type common sayings offhand, though I’m probably wrong on that. Maybe “Six, One, and Half Dozen”? “Hey, Diddle, and Diddle”? The Patriotic trio of “Live, Free, and Die”, only one of whom will attack at any moment? “Jumpin’, Jack, and Flash”?

    OK, so maybe there ARE a few … 🙂

  36. trios? Wash, rinse, and repeat – crime fighting hairdressers who use gels, spritzers and electric razors as weapons. ooooooh!

    okay. Back to duos. How about Sit (a Latin-educated crime fighter whose main weapon is to proclaim Anathema on everyone = +3 word of command) and Spin (a hip rapper from the rougher side of Queens whose fresh lyrics and scratchin’ skills mezmerize his enemies)

  37. MegaGoober says:

    Lets try this again…
    this is the same pic as posted before, but you couldn’t see it before (i’m quite certain) so here they are again – the rookies of the Black Magic Tribe 2006, Flare and Spark!

    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=30322140&id=1114680864

  38. Danny Beaty says:

    Oops! I mispelled telepathically. My bad.

  39. Danny Beaty says:

    I meant to say I mispelled the word “telepathically”. I didn’t mean to imply that I’m a telepath.

  40. knight1192a says:

    Ok, here’s a villanous pair no one can escape. One’s a rogue Internal Revenue Service agent out to audit everyone for failure to pay the proper amount of taxes. The other is, well, the Grim Reaper. Together their….

    DEATH And TAXES!!!!

    http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1525/34396912.jpg

  41. Danny Beaty says:

    Here is an idea for a trio: Truth, Justice, and the American Way. It’s up for grabs.

  42. Firecracker says:

    He: Controls photonic energy into solid constructs and stun beams.
    She: is a law-enforcer with a sharp eye and a sharper wit.
    Together they are …..

    SUNNY and the SHERIFF

    (Sunny) http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62799&d=1255006649

    (The Sheriff) http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62800&d=1255006659

  43. MegaGoober says:

    I just now read that we can also do trios (right?)
    It seems I will have more for the picnic after all…

  44. NGpm says:

    Here is (are?) Laminar and Flow.
    Laminar is able to control his friction level to the point of being nigh invisible and nigh untouchable and Flow is able to control any substance in a liquid state.

    Sorry about the relatively low quality of the image, I was only barely able to save the image from browser complication oblivion.

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62801&d=1255010982

  45. kingmonkey says:

    For my second entry, I give you…

    ((Sorry kingmonkey, had to edit this one for improper use of language. Gotta keep it clean and that’s one of the Seven Words You Can’t Say On Television. — Jeff))

  46. kingmonkey says:

    Can we call it Poops and Giggles? Dang.

  47. purple_phoenix says:

    Ladies and Gentleman, I give you our worlds last best hope for survival of our world in the times ahead! Purple Phoenix and Black Dragon!

    Purple Phoenix
    Born in a lab from a mixture of human and avian DNA and raised to be the government’s lab rat.
    She is not that great of a ground lighter because of her large wings and small size but uses her flight as an advantage that she combines with her pyromancy to deliver long range shots. For a tube baby, Phoenix is happy and nieve to the world.
    http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/Purple_p/hm3-beta.jpg

    Dragon
    The human part of this agreement is the latest host for a 1000 year old Asian Dragon which serves him as weapon and transpiration. The actually dragon uses the host’s life source for it’s own. The Human Dragon is a master of sword fighting and hand to hand combat. He is the teams ground fighting specialist. Black Dragon is the stoic and serious one of this team.
    http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/Purple_p/hm3-beta2.jpg

    Here’s a bouns for anyone who like pretty art. This is a commussion Bean Fleacher did for me.
    http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/Purple_p/Comm__Phoenix_and_Dragon_by_Beanjam.jpg

  48. vampyrist says:

    Heres my last entry, Tar and Feather
    Tar is a golem of tar while Feather is a winged femmefatale with a crackshot.

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62804&d=1255035998

  49. Gene says:

    World class Assassins. Killers. Amoral in the extreme. The best in the business, if you pay them, your target will meet an untimely demise.

    Trust me. You don’t want no….

    Monkey Business!!

    http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Rqg5c1adES2gTso0qG0-1Q?feat=directlink

    The best assassin team in the business, Monkey and Business. But which one will be the killer???

  50. Gene says:

    Okay, one more.

    They are supernatural bounty hunters,and will bring back their bounty…Wanted: Dead or Alive

    http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vvYVGw7W72tALxIxuJi-tA?feat=directlink

  51. song_bird2103 says:

    Say hello to…

    Ebony and Ivory, forever living in perfect harmony. 😛

    http://forums.ugo.com/showpost.php?p=618476&postcount=117

  52. Blue Blazer says:

    Here are Smoke, able to make himself into a vapor, and Mirror, who can change his appearance into that of any person he touches.
    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62794&d=1254953266
    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=61881&d=1252024328

  53. TJ says:

    I give you Fire and Ice. the twin sons of weather elementals. Ice, impervious to extreme cold temperatures and able to produce ice like energy orbs from the slightest amout of moisture in the air. And his twin, Fire a walking inferno able to conjour the most intense fireballs with just a whim.

  54. TJ says:

    http://s742.photobucket.com/albums/xx70/celticdragon79/

    I give you Fire and Ice. the twin sons of weather elementals. Ice, impervious to extreme cold temperatures and able to produce ice like energy orbs from the slightest amout of moisture in the air. And his twin, Fire a walking inferno able to conjour the most intense fireballs with just a whim.

  55. MegaGoober says:

    Ok, idk wtf is goin’ on in my Facebook, so i’ll just post a zShare link…

    http://www.zshare.net/image/666660636bb68228/

    Its the same pic, and sorry if the ad is still on the page.

  56. TopHat says:

    Second entry for the contest: The megavillain Brains and his dimwitted lacky Brawn.

    Brains: Telepathy,telekenisis

    Brawn: Superhuman strength and endurance

    Brains constantly found himself being beaten by stronger opponents. To counter this,he created a superstrong minion who could prove a physical equal for any hero.

    (Made some mistakes with the backgrounds so you’ll have to excuse that).

    Brains: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62814&d=1255077905

    Brawn: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62815&d=1255077920

  57. kyle says:

    I give you the monster mash:
    http://imgcash5.imageshack.us/img59/8306/hm3beta2.jpg

    Vicky the vampire
    Claudia the witch
    frank
    harry the werewolf

  58. kingmonkey says:

    My final entry into this contest, the villainous duo Shock and Awe.

    Shock was a big time villain back in the ’60s who has since faded into obscurity (and senility). He has put his (well-invested) ill-gotten gains to use in a new global domination scheme.
    http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ljMRt8JxU2I/Ss9ekgMA4qI/AAAAAAAAAHg/-vym-Bzhdos/Shock.png.jpg

    Awe was hired when Shock realized that lifting heavy things just wasn’t his game. Luckily, Awe has little ambition to do anything other than just be a big guy and scare littler guys into doing what he wants.
    http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ljMRt8JxU2I/Ss9tgEe_bXI/AAAAAAAAAHo/NyyJwSz2RGU/Awe.png.jpg

  59. kingmonkey says:

    Hmm, I’m a little disappointed that, after all the effort I put into making it, you can barely see Awe’s armpit hair.

  60. hero of wu says:

    Eggs and Beans. Two detectives with the same goal in life kick crimal butt.

    http://forums.ugo.com/showthread.php?p=618586#post618586

  61. MartianBlue says:

    Gunpowder & Lead
    http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m189/acebase_2006/Hero%20Forum/GunpowderLead.jpg
    Gunpowder Charlie
    Outlaw turned U.S. Marshal. Gunpowder made his drastic turn to justice when he was forced to gun down his own gang in order to save the life of a young boy. Gunpowder, being a very large man is armed not only with pure might, but also with his trusty winchester rifle, a pair of matching coalts, and a bowie knife, making this one man arsenal a true force to be reckoned with.

    Lead-Head Jeb
    Is just that, due in part to his small size, Jeb knows everything there is to know about firearms, and skilled with many, but his true talent lies with the handling of his single gold plated, pearl handled .45 (long) colt peacmaker. This U.S. Marshal’s name is known far and wide as possible the best gunslinger in the west, from his lightning fast draw, to his deadly accuracy, to tales of his giant stature, possibly confused with that of his partner, Gunpowder.

  62. dementedtheclown says:

    Captain Liberty, And Justice

    http://i38.tinypic.com/126fxnt.jpg

  63. dementedtheclown says:

    Where Theres Smoke, Theres Fire!

    Smoke And Fire

    http://i35.tinypic.com/288t7yg.jpg

  64. Gero says:

    Wow, I just saw “Shock and Awe” and decided to conciede. There is no way in hell I could beat that one…

  65. Steve says:

    Shoot….I never get to have an original idea…I came up with my 1st of three trios ages ago, but Danny already brought them up earlier in the posting….so

    My 1st of three trios…

    Truth:

    http://forums.ugo.com/album.php?albumid=90&pictureid=618

    Justice:

    http://forums.ugo.com/album.php?albumid=90&pictureid=619

    the American Way:

    http://forums.ugo.com/album.php?albumid=90&pictureid=620

    they are all done in hm2 b/c i felt that the original idea stuck out best in my mind and didnt want to alter it…even though it probably would look much better in hm3

  66. Steve says:

    my 2nd of three trios…also done in hm2, and just as awesome as the first.

    Judge:

    http://forums.ugo.com/album.php?albumid=90&pictureid=621

    Jury:

    http://forums.ugo.com/album.php?albumid=90&pictureid=622

    Executioner:

    http://forums.ugo.com/album.php?albumid=90&pictureid=623

    A complicated trio existing in the underground….they kidnap those they think need to be judged and hold a mock trial. Normally, all who pass through are judged guilty, but Jury, whose powers allow him to be a literal 12 angry men, every now and then calls one innocent…sparing them their fate and the hands of the executioner.

  67. Steve says:

    Truth, Justice and the American Way are all embodiments of the spirits of truth, justice and patriotism. Truth, an injured athlete, Justice, blinded in an accident, and the American Way, a patriot who gave his life for his country, all fight together against the evils of the Judicial System. Judge, Jury, Executioner)

    and Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are all Femme Fatales, tired of living in a man’s world, who decide to take it upon themselves to right the wrongs of man against woman..

  68. drummergirl4 says:

    Rhythm & Blues

    Rhythm is a drummer. She doesn’t have any special powers, but she does think of everything as a potential percussion instrument and is more than willing to demonstrate what she means with her extensive collection of mallets.

    When Blues plays on his soprano sax, the sound is so sublime that it reduces grown men to tears. The only person it doesn’t seem to work on is Rhythm. He doesn’t no why, but right now grateful that he’s found someone who can back him up without bawling.

    These two make a strange pair, but together they make beautiful music.

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62936&d=1255406123

  69. livewyre14 says:

    Alright, my first contest submission…I hope I did this right. One of the world’s most powerful team ups, the celebrity powerhouse of Fame and the master mystic Fortune. I give you Fortune and Fame!!!

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/livewyre/FF.jpg