Do you recognize this character:

That winged cow-head fellow appears in the banner right at the top of this here site, on every single page.
I hate it. And I want you to make a better one.
Therefore, whoever submits the best HeroMachine-created illustration to replace the redoubtable minotaur will have that character appear from here on out in the actual HeroMachine.com banner instead. It's practically immortality! Well, at least til UGO redesigns the whole thing again, anyway. But close!
Here are the rules:
- The character submitted cannot have been entered in a HeroMachine contest before.
- Submissions must be made as comments to this post, including a link to the character image on the web someplace (UGO Forums, PhotoBucket, whatever).
- No more than three (3) entries per person, with a deadline of Monday night at midnight.
Good luck everyone!
Do we submit this as a pic of the face using the Headshot view or the whole body in normal view?
LoL, you know just last night I was looking at that thing and wondering what was so special about it that it was in your banner.
Hm, good question Jake. Since only the headshot will appear in the masthead (anything bigger just becomes a blur, mostly), that’s probably the smartest thing to do. But it’s not a rule or anything, full-shots are still fine as long as it looks good when cropped like it will need to be to show in that narrow space.
Ultimately, THAT’s the criteria — how does it look in that space. In other words, cool feet probably aren’t the most important factor here 🙂
Gene, to be honest I think it was a designer (don’t know who) at UGO who was just hacking around in the app and using it as a placeholder in the overall design. Once it was in, I couldn’t get it changed.
I think it’s been long enough now that no one will notice. I am such a REBEL!
Should it have a background or not?
This contest should have been done a long time ago.
No background would be preferable.
Sweeeet Basically A Free For All.
Introducing!
The Hair.
http://i47.tinypic.com/2dqsrok.jpg
Does it have to have an animal head?
Absolutely not, Aaron, it can be anything at all. Complete free for all, as DTC said (within the bounds of good taste, of course).
Good taste? Awwww! I guess Phallus the Clown won’t be making an appearance in the masthead.
You are correct, Kingmonkey. Although for the record, I would totally watch a show called “Phallus the Clown”.
http://s961.photobucket.com/albums/ae99/dhabirunner/?action=view¤t=Heromachine.jpg&newest=1
Mentat
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=61324&d=1250299072
Machinima
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65797&d=1263332929
The Smoking Gun
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=64838&d=1260568817
I have two entries:
Steel Jade
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/LadiDarkMoon/Gaming/?action=view¤t=SteelJade.jpg
Miss Universe
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/LadiDarkMoon/Gaming/?action=view¤t=MissUniverseModern.jpg
I give you my one and only entry to this contest, the new face of Heromachine, Super Jeff!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/GeroTheKeymaster/SuperJeff.jpg
LOL. “Phallus the Clown and the Masthead” America’s hottest new show to watch, premiering after the Superbowl.
when you say character cannot have been entered do you mean the illustration or the character specifically i am working on a redesign of a female i had entered previously, so would it be a viable entry as long as it not the same illustration i entered previously.
Can It be more than one person in the picture like a hero with a side kick behind him/her???
@XavierKain: New illustrations of previously entered characters is fine.
@Tristan: That’s a fine idea, go for it!
Aegir:
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=64876&d=1260714749
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=64877&d=1260714760
Garrison:
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62375&d=1253631708
Max Power:
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=63078&d=1255827548
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=63077&d=1255827531
First up is the epitome of what HeroMachine is or every will be — BulletJeff
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65800&d=1263344435
Second is a more serious? entry — Tman
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65801&d=1263344445
Is it acceptable to just do a waist-up creation? If it’s not going to feature legs or feet, is it kosher to just leave them off?
Here’s my entry:
http://www.majhost.com/gallery/kaka/Heromachine2/hm3masthead.png
I wanted to make something fairly simple with characters from several genres (superhero, space marine, grim barbarian), to show more than the “Superhero” part of the program.
Here is my masthead and it is of you, Jeff.
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65803&d=1263348332
Never mind – the entries of other have answered my question. Here’s an updated version of my old favorite Overwatch using both of my won items to their intended effect. 🙂 http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65810&d=1263348784
Superfan1, post “The Smoking Gun” to the Forums, and come up with a story (at least 5 sentences), and it gets a HotW Nomination, for sure!
But, for the banner, there can be only one…
And that one must be Super Jeff! 😀
Though, I still think everyone who views the HeroMachine Banner should be greeted by “A Smiling Face”!
http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/WillyPete1/?action=view¤t=ASmilingFace.jpg&newest=1
(If you can like, I can redo him without a background, and post just the Headshot…)
Ok, everybody can just head on home. I’ve got it right here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Bqj5f2H26Ky3N2HKxcQ8DQ?feat=directlink
Good lookin chap, eh?
😉
And the full body, striking a pose version:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/znp72GBAJFY7pi_v7T9Bqg?feat=directlink
Stunning!
😛
I think Super Jeff is the one. You won’t appear as an egomaniac, and I say the Jeff brand belongs here, baby!
Sword Spirit, Entry #2: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65813&d=1263357478
@William & Brad: Thanks for the shout-outs! Though I’d have to admit that The Eric’s idea of showing several things you can do in one image is a great idea…
What about if i show that cow guy being strangled by another hero?
http://s650.photobucket.com/albums/uu224/seamusmcfrost/?action=view¤t=hm3-beta-1-4.jpg&newest=1
Pyromancer
@Haruhi: It is certainly your prerogative to submit an entry that has no chance of winning 🙂
High-tech ninja
http://s650.photobucket.com/albums/uu224/seamusmcfrost/?action=view¤t=ModernDayWarrior2.jpg&newest=1
Hey Jeff, liking the idea and here are my three entries.
I actually had two of my characters on your old banner (Scorpidius and Hujan the elephant) and I must say it was a big buzz seeing them there everytime I came to the site, so good luck to whoever wins this, because it is great seeing your work up there!
Good luck all!
Scorp
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65816&d=1263376424
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65817&d=1263376441
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65818&d=1263376447
A good mascot : an humourous character.
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2449/masthead.jpg
Look at the coat of arms on the blazer….
This could be interesting. 3 submissions
1. Ymir
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m189/acebase_2006/Hero%20Forum/KingYmir.jpg
Sorry no headshot, I made him on another computer. It died, and to be honest with you, I don’t know if I could maike him again or not.
*Ignore the human, he’s just there for size reference*
Actually he probably wouldn’t fit… If not, just say so, and I’ll come up with something else in his place
I acctually think everyone should submit banners regularly, so it could change every week!
Anyway here’s my entries:
Entry 1. Simplicity.
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/MrVampire_photos/HeroMachine/HMbnr1.jpg
Entry 2. Eclectic man?
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/MrVampire_photos/HeroMachine/eclecticman.jpg
Entry 3. Not realy an entry.
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/MrVampire_photos/HeroMachine/HMbnr3.jpg
Last one didn’t turn out as nice as I planned, and got a bit of compression blues when I saved it. but it reflects my first statement so it stands.
@Mr. Vampire’s 3rd entry: “My God, I can see FOREVER!”
monkey business:
http://imgcash6.imageshack.us/img13/750/hm3beta5.jpg
Even though Kyle’s is funny, i think it’s very well done.
2 entries, both full body and headshot.
——————-
1: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65822&d=1263401724
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65823&d=1263401743
2: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65824&d=1263401765
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65825&d=1263401785
Hi folks! Here are my entries.
HM logo #1:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=220117&l=c019a8e2a9&id=1815191475
HM logo #2:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=220118&l=b5d80c41b6&id=1815191475
HM logo #3:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=220893&l=db129a36f3&id=1815191475
@Vaxx:thanks
Here is my first ever subscription to a Heromachine contest.
Hail to Olaf 😛
http://img211.imageshack.us/i/olaf.png/
just thought i’d whip something up
http://bloodlessrose.deviantart.com/art/Drago-150315677
Here’s my attempt
Hero-man:
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss218/HecNukem/Heroman.jpg
http://s961.photobucket.com/albums/ae99/dhabirunner/?action=view¤t=heromachine-1.jpg
gator girl
http://s650.photobucket.com/albums/uu224/seamusmcfrost/?action=view¤t=hm3-beta-13.jpg
Ok here’s my last one. Unfortunitly when I saved it lobbed the head of the side 2
http://s961.photobucket.com/albums/ae99/dhabirunner/?action=view¤t=heromachine-2.jpg
@Jeff: just and idea but you should pick finalasts and than lets the hm community decide by having a poll
Heres my first entry Hag, Blue bird and Tommy Hawk
http://picasaweb.google.com/Tristan.comic.freak/Heroes#5426540799904550754
@Tristan: Interesting, I have considered something like that … I thought about maybe giving you from Tuesday til Thursday night to make submissions, then putting the finalists up for Friday Night Fights, with the winner settled on the following Tuesday. What would you think about that?
Would there still be honorables?
@DTC: All the ones I’d choose as finalists would be honorable mentions. That’s how I do it ordinarily, I go through all the submissions, pull out the handful that are HMs, and from those pick the one winner. In this case, the role of “chooser” would be played by the public voting.
hey Jeff, How hard is it for you to change the mast head? What about using this contest to kick off the change, then every two weeks feature the winner of the every-other-week character contest in the banner?
The masthead is pretty easy to change, and that’s something to consider doing. Good idea!
Actually though we’re going to be launching a new initiative in a week or so that will feature the winner’s creation, name, and brief character description (I think those are the fields, anyway) in HeroMachine “Create Your Own Hero” type ads that’ll be splashed all over UGO.com to be seen by, literally, millions of visitors each week. That image will change weekly with each new winner. So the weekly contest winner will have their work featured on a major web site for a week, which is pretty cool.
I’m not sure how that’ll affect the weekly contest format. I should put up a post for feedback on that …
http://s41.radikal.ru/i093/1001/f5/dd8c1f166476.jpg
Samhayn
You should do a character contest where we have to create a wrestler
http://s001.radikal.ru/i195/1001/5c/9632fc49598c.jpg
I-graf Rozenstal
how about pirates
Vanguard
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m189/acebase_2006/Hero%20Forum/Vanguard-1.png
-Ymir replacement
2.MartianBlue
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m189/acebase_2006/Hero%20Forum/MartianBlueFormal.png
Again, let me say thanks for the alien head.
@MartianBlue: Great job on Vanguard!
I have recently experienced a bug in Firefox in which i set up several objects in a few categories and as soon as i switch to a new category several items are deleted this bug has hindered my two character attempts for this contest 🙁
1) My first entry is a direct replacment for the Minotuar
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49/Kaldath/Minotuar.png
2) My second Entry is the Emerald Faerie
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49/Kaldath/EmarldFaerie.png
I will add my 3rd entry later once I get it made.
I don’t think this guy will win but hey, what the hell, stranger things have happened right?
My third entry.
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65854&d=1263517885
I always I guess tolerated the guy in the banner. It’s almost like a icon. You only had to see him to know it was heromachine. Owell New times, means new things.
http://www.majhost.com/gallery/HILLBILLYHATFIELD/AA/hm3-beta.jpg
I don’t know if you would look for something like this.
This guy is simpler than my last entry
simple but complicated figure it out
Okay, so, this might seem like it was made out of laziness, but not really. I spent more time thinking about it than I did working on it, is all. I was thinking about something sci-fi inspired. I wanted to make a future banner that could lure people here. I wanted to make something sexy, cool, and something that didn’t stray too far away from the idea of being able to make your own hero. Here goes nothing, my first, last, and only attempt at this contest:
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/198/hmbanner2.png
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1874/hmbanner1.png
(Btw, both pictures are already in png format and can be used to add text to and everything)
Swamp beast (Lavkraft`s old god)^
http://s43.radikal.ru/i099/1001/0f/1bfdef181e6c.jpg
http://www5.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=945568028/PictureID=30024021028/a=1964634028_1964634028/
Hadn’t actually planned to send both of these, but snapfish decided for me. Couldn’t get her little ‘brain-tail’ to all show up.
Hey All!
This was a rather fun contest–thanks for having it! Here’re my submissions:
What better mascot for a website with the name of a sandwich, but one with a Hero (or a submarine, torpedo, grinder, etc.) for a head? Take a bite, enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?id=784408641&pid=4473981#/photo.php?id=784408641&pid=4779593&fbid=292771683641
This is one of my more recent pics. It’s an experiment in patterning–it was fun–I quite like how it turned out.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?id=784408641&pid=4473981#/photo.php?id=784408641&pid=4779595&fbid=292771703641
I didn’t mean to create this one the way I did, but she really turned out looking like Billie Piper from BBC’s Dr. Who and the British music scene–it was totally subconscious, I swear!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?id=784408641&pid=4473981#/photo.php?id=784408641&pid=4473977&fbid=241868998641
I’m going to go back and look at some more submissions–have fun ladies and gents!
~Xander, GamerMage
@Danny, thanks. I’ve been working on him for a long time, trying to get him just right, probably 2 or 3 weeks. In all fairness, After making 20+ different designs, I had to turn to the ugo forums for help, and there Imp inspired me with his own version. I took the two versions I had kept, and Imp’s version, tinkered and wa-la, Vanguard was born.
Introducing Johnny Rogers aka J.R. , the standard superhero. His origin is simple he got hit in the head with a basket ball during basket ball practice at his high school. Which gave him a mild concussion, and the most basic super powers.
His powers include flight, superhuman strength, invulnerability to anything up to standard explosives, superhuman endurance, peak human intelligence, peak human speed, and peak human agility.
He works for his local sheriff’s department, and occasionally is called in by the U.S. military. He is sponsored by the S.S.C.C. Super Suit Clothing Company, and wears, models, and advertises many superhero costumes. He also owns his own superhero gadget company, simply known as Rj’s Super Gadgets. These gadgets are mostly designed, and made for other superheros. R.J. has been shown to use them when needed, although rarely.
J.R.’s Black and Red Suit #1
http://i50.tinypic.com/s4q3b8.jpg
J.R.’s Armored Suit #1
http://i45.tinypic.com/2zszdsk.jpg
J.R.’s Military Suit #1
http://i45.tinypic.com/wlq2ph.jpg
J.R.’s Officer Suit #1
http://i46.tinypic.com/5b3e6c.jpg
J.R.’s Officer Suit #2
http://i49.tinypic.com/21o5v9v.jpg
J.R.’s Patriot Suit #1
http://i45.tinypic.com/spvqtw.jpg
J.R.’s X-Suit #1
http://i47.tinypic.com/2rpa6o6.jpg
J.R.’s X-Suit #2
http://i45.tinypic.com/2uh5y6c.jpg
Pick Ya Favorite
Here are my entries:
1.) The Lord of the Dance (Because everybody’s got their own inner minotaur): http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii303/LordSorcerer/TheLordOfTheDance.png
2.) Lockdown: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii303/LordSorcerer/LockdownPortait.png
3.) The Mighty Ankylus: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii303/LordSorcerer/MightyAnkylus.png
Jackalope, the Texas speedster :
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4034/jackalope.jpg
@Demented The Clown: Great use of colors in the J.R. costumes!
My second entry, a lady elf
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eho_jRxBJDegpd2uS1uZuQ?feat=directlink
And if anyone is interested, the full body shot
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9KPtFPKs5X8BFn37_Y1GFw?feat=directlink
I was finally able to work on and complete two entries for the contest two Redesigns One is a new Image of my Valkyrie Character and the other is an upgraded version of my Evil Commander.
Valkyrie.
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/704/valkyrieredux001.png
Evil-Commander
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5869/evilcommanderredux.png
These are my entries.
1.Mild-Mannered artist by day, Superhero by night.Jeff transforms into his alter ego of…
SUPER JEFF!
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65911&d=1263676525
2.Jeff, after years of hate for the masthead, decided to delete it, permanently.
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65912&d=1263676544
Here’s a version, while I zoomed in.
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65913&d=1263676555
3.He’s just a random hero who uses electricity.
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65914&d=1263676563
here is a pic of the half vampire mercenary Vampyrist
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=64804&d=1260414450
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q99/PsyckoSama/snakelady.png
First a cook 4 armed snakelady… I personally like what I did with the staff.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q99/PsyckoSama/Drek.png
Second, Drek the Destroyer, an evil alien overlord bent on the conquest of Earth…
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q99/PsyckoSama/mutantantihero.png
This character is meant to be the incarnation of all things “Dark age”. He’s a giant, freakishly muscular mutant cyborg biker with big guns, samurai swords, bullets a plenty, and a bright orange Mohawk. You don’t get more late 80s/early 90s than that.
Well I made a Male, then a female, so I wanted something different for my third Entry;
The Green Dragon
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zOK1GN9c_01f46t-bv5lQg?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Sh9vL1bVaNqvkNMjy26yYg?feat=directlink
Good luck to all 🙂
Here is my entry for this week. I thank a couple should be shown because Hero Machine is for everyone. Isia and I both do a lot of art with it and I think that the banner should show that couples can use it too.
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65977&d=1263835098
Even if I don’t win, I can still take solace in the fact that no matter how bad she is, she’s still better than the old mascot. As you can see, I matched her theme with the theme of the site. It would’ve been a lot easier if you had a proper pegasus insignia.
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65986&d=1263873774
http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65987&d=1263873788
If you can’t tell, the thing in her hand is a giant paintbrush. Or maybe it’s a regular paintbrush and she’s just really short. I dunno.
http://picasaweb.google.com/icesong/HeroMachineImages#5428312745568739234
“Where you can make a design for your remake of beauty and the beast set in 3010 and suffering b.b.s”
I’d make more, but didn’t have time this week.. spent it all trying to make her face look slightly angled to a varying level of success.