Character Contest 23 Winners!

I think maybe the holidays have gotten everyone a bit busy, as there weren't a ton of entries this week. In light of that, I wanted to thank those who DID submit an illustration by highlighting one design by each of them. So here go our highlights!

Aaron created three characters, and I chose to highlight "Puss in Boots". I think it's a nice take on the "Shrek" Antonio Banderas version, if a little on the plain side:

aaron-pussinboots

Alexander submitted "Aesop's Crow and Pitcher", and I commend him for his knowledge of the classic fables. Not a lot of folks remember this one.

alexander-aesopspitcher

"Little Red Riding Hood" was a popular fable, and I really liked Anarchangel's take on it. She looks saucy and strong at the same time. The severed wolf's head really adds something here, as does the nice background and foreground work.

anarchangel-little-red

Brons as usual does an outstanding job, this time with "Father Frost". I love the duo-tone color scheme and the subtle patterning effect on the leggings. The green background helps set the image off as well.

brons-fatherfrost

"D" has a nice take on "Three Blind Mice" by way of either "Reservoir Dogs" or "Pulp Fiction". Either way, I suspect the dialogue "Whatever the hell it was we were trying to feel up, it's dead now" would make an appearance.

d-3blindmice

Danny Beaty had a clever take on "Androcles And the Lion", complete with crocodile lion tears!

dannybeaty-androcles

Gene's "Billy the Kid" made me laugh, but I have to highlight instead his "Red Riding Hood" for the neat way he co-opts Robin Hood into the story as well. And think about it, they must be related somehow, because they have the same last name, right?

gene-ridinghood

Gero put together several nice entries, but I am showing his "Fox and the Grapes" because it was a fable I hadn't heard before, and that's cool.

gero-foxgrapes

Gregg sent in "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", and I like it because you so rarely see young people getting torn asunder by something as simple as a rabid wolf in today's PC world.

gregg-littleboywhocriedwolf

Haydnc95 does great work, and I really like this "Alice in Wonderland" take. The use of gradients and the nice coloring effect on the hair make for a very strong composition. Well done, sir! Note particularly that he has turned basic body parts into fishnet clothing by using that pattern. That's why I didn't include dedicated fishnet items in the Dresses release. The only thing I might change in this particular illustration is the darker coloring on her face, which comes across as kind of like five o'clock shadow.

haydnc95-aliceinmywonderland

Hammerknight has been on a toy soldier kick recently, and you can see why in this really nice interpretation of "The Nutcracker".

Kyle also took on "Red Riding Hood", although I think perhaps the relationship between her and the Wolf is a bit more ... adult and complicated than in the original 😉

kyle-ridinghood

I suspect Mark won't be submitting this as the next official University of Maryland team mascot, but his "Tortoise and Hare" is a lot of fun regardless.

Rancid has a lovely (if a bit on the "grope-y" side) "Beauty and the Beast" illustration. I like the mask on hte Beast particularly, and how they have placed their hands lovingly in one another. Really nice effect there, Rancid.

rancid-beautyandthebeast

Rozenstal submitted a Little Red Riding Hood illustration as well, this one along a more classical, innocent line. I am not sure how he did the basket, but it's a nice piece of work.

rozenstal-ed0fc8aae447

The Creator also submitted a story I'd not heard of before, so thanks to her for broadening my horizons. From yer comment, here's a bit of info on the "Kludde":

In Belgian folklore, a water spirit which roams the Flemish country side. This creature, called Kludde, hides in the twilight of dawn and sunset and attacks innocent travelers. Warned travelers listen for the only sound which betrays that Kludde is in the vicinity: the rattling of the chains with which the spirit is covered.

Kludde usually appears in the shape of a monstrous black dog that walks on his hind legs. The faster one walks, the faster this monster follows, often swinging through the trees like a giant snake. No one can ever hope to outrun or escape this creature. The dog is not the only shape in which it can be seen. It can also assume the shape of a huge, hairy, black cat or a horrible black bird.

She's chosen to show the creature attacking an unfortunate Belgian here, which is kind of cool.

thecreator-kludde

In the interest of keeping a theme going, I am choosing to include TJ's Red Riding Hood, but I also really liked his "Gift Giver". He also went with a severed wolf head, but I think it's neat to compare the various attempts to see how little changes make a big difference.

tj-lilredridinghood

Finally, I think Vampyrist did a great job on this "Midas" cover. I particularly like the way the wrench appears to be transforming as he's holding it. Plus, "Fool's Gold" is a nice story title for a "Midas" comic!

vampyrist-midas-cover

Looking over those once more, I am going to go with Brons' "Father Frost", as I think it's the best overall illustration of the bunch. Well done on your second win, Brons!

Thanks and congratulations to all of the folks listed above for taking the time to enter, I appreciate your work very much.

Having said that, let me know what you'd think about my taking a break with the contests until after Christmas. People are really busy, I know, and I don't want to add to the holiday stress.

25 Responses to Character Contest 23 Winners!

  1. Holidays? Try finals week. XD

    Congrats to everyone who had time to enter!

  2. Kaldath says:

    Nice Work everyone, .. The creators tale is interesting, though I will point out that the Creator is not a he but rather a she 😀

  3. Jeff Hebert says:

    Oops! There I go showing my prejudices again, thanks Kaldath. I’ll correct it in the story.

  4. Anarchangel says:

    Thanks for the honorable mention Jeff. (I just realized the axe didn’t mask) And congrats to Brons 🙂

  5. Niall Mor says:

    Great work, everyone! For the next character contest I’d like to see another public domain “Character Makeover.” I like those.

  6. vampyrist says:

    Yes honorable mention. Good job Brons, Father Frost is cool.

  7. gero says:

    I agree with Niall on the redux theme for the next character contest, but I also like the idea of no contest for a couple of weeks. Kind of gives everyone a break. Congratulations to Brons for the win, and the rest of us for the honorables!

  8. Gene says:

    Good job all! Congrats Bron, very ‘cool’ looking.

  9. haydnc95 says:

    Thanks Jeff. Glad I was mentioned again 🙂
    But I kinda liked my other Alice in Wonderland more :/
    But still, thanks 🙂
    Cingrats everyone

  10. Aaron says:

    So what exactly happens now that I won?

  11. Hammerknight says:

    Good job one and all. Take a break Jeff, we all know that Holidays and family comes first.

  12. Jeff Hebert says:

    You didn’t “win”, Aaron, you were an Honorable Mention. Only Brons “won” this particular round and gets his choice of an item or portrait in HM3.

  13. Aaron says:

    oh ok sorry misread it

  14. Alexander says:

    Nice job to all, and to all a nice job!

    I have to say, wat I really love about these contests is the great ideas I get on construction. There are certainly a lot of creative ways of using the various HM parts, and it is a pleasure learning more and more of them as these go on.

    Father Frost–superb! There were several others I found compelling as well.

    I personally wouldn’t mind another contest, despite the presence of the holiday season.

    In any case, keep rockin’ strong!

    Alexander

  15. Danny Beaty says:

    @Jeff: Thanks for the honorable mention! Now go take a break, ya’ big lug!

  16. Danny Beaty says:

    Congrats to Brons and all of my fellow runners-up!

  17. TJ says:

    Thanks for the honorable mention and throwin a nod at “the gift giver” too Jeff! Bron Loved Father Frost. Good job everyone!!!

  18. Matt says:

    I wish that my time wasn’t full of coursework and my job because I really would have liked to finish my pic :(, anyway welldone everyone

  19. kyle says:

    Thanks for the honorable mention
    and Congrats to Brons

  20. Danny Beaty says:

    @Jeff: I think the next character contest (whenever that may be)should be a public domain make-over.

  21. Rozenstal says:

    The basket is made of a shield and, like, belts. Pies – too shields. :)))

  22. Rozenstal says:

    Oh,no. Not a belt, “Ranged”.

  23. Kountkill says:

    Might I suggest a holiday themed contest? Over at Comics Alliance they posted about a DC Heroes Christmas album that came out long ago featuring audio stories of various DC characters.
    One of the stories features Batman and Robin squaring off against a new villain that is never actually shown on the cover of the album, and thus there is no visual picture of what he looks like anywhere in existence. So, might I suggest the folks here create their own takes on…Rudolph, the Red-nosed Hitman!
    Here’s the link…
    http://www.comicsalliance.com/2009/12/11/batman-and-robins-christmas-battle-with-rudolph-the-red-nosed-h/

  24. Is there going to be a caption contest this week?

  25. Jeff Hebert says:

    No, I think I am going to rest the contest(s) until after Christmas.