Pop Quiz: Insignia

Happy Saturday, folks! Your one-day quick-fire challenge today is to create your own super-hero logo! These are the kinds of insignia you see on a character's chest (or shield, belt buckle, car, helicopter, what have you), like the classic ones you see above. Often these are the most iconic representations of someone's identity, and thus are key to any comics design.

You only get one entry -- that's right, just one! So make it your best. Most of the other rules are the same as for a regular challenge, but instead of a whole week I'll announce my favorites either tonight or tomorrow morning. Elaborate backgrounds aren't necessary, though if you've got one it's fine.

  • All entries must be in JPG or PNG form (BMPs are too big), posted to a publicly accessible website (like ImageShack, PhotoBucket, the HeroMachine Forums, whatever);
  • Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
  • Please name your files as [your name]-[character name].[file extension]. So DiCicatriz, for instance, would save his "Bayou Belle" character image as DiCicatriz-BayouBelle.png.
  • Please make the link go directly to the image (like this) and not to a hosting jump page (like this). Here's a quick-start guide on how to do that for various image hosting services.

I'll pick one entry as my personal favorite, which will get to be featured in the side bar to the right for ultimate glory! As a bonus you're allowed to say you won the Internet for a few days.

Good luck!

65 Responses to Pop Quiz: Insignia

  1. Frevoli says:

    I recognise all of those apart from the sword and the black metroid

  2. Decatonkeil says:

    Wow. With those entries I’m rather ashamed, but let’s try. My good fellas The Atomic Punk and Harlequin encouraged me to present it. The logo of a character that’s been very popular in my creations thread. Merit!
    http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8674/decatonkeilmerit.png
    (it wasn’t my fault, imageshack changed the name from Decatonkeil-Merit.png to that)

  3. JR19759 says:

    The logo of one of my characters (dunno if he’s really a hero) Resurrection Man.
    http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/245/c/5/resurrection_man_logo_by_jr19759-d5dakhg.png

  4. Kaylin88100 says:

    The Royal Family of Eroadia (a country on Kairula) employs certain agents openly to keep the country’s squabbling barons and earls under control. Some of these agents also secretly report back to the Royals the actions of malcontents and trouble-makers. These agents are known as the “King’s Hands” or “King’s Eyes” (or the Queen’s if the current monarch is female), and all wear this symbol to show that they speak and act with the King or Queen’s authority.
    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/kaylin88100/2012/09/Kaylin88100-Hands-and-Eyes.png

  5. Haxxx5 says:

    http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz123/haggai5/LEGO/Power%20Rangers%20Steampunk/Haxxx-Gearangerinsignia.png

    This is the logo of a Steampunk Super Sentai show I’ve been planing to write. This will probably be on the back of their jacket in civilian mode and on their shoulder in costume mode.

  6. ams says:

    Would love to see the characters with these logos after the contest is wrapped up. Maybe a separate thread on the forums?

  7. DarkWarrior076 says:

    My logo for my masked avenging vigilante the Great Gryphon!

    http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l296/EDXROX/undo.jpg

  8. ams: Would love to see the characters with these logos after the contest is wrapped up. Maybe a separate thread on the forums?

    I was thinking of posting the full hero as a separate link. Hopefully Jeff will allow entries through Sunday because IT’S KICKOFF SATURDAY!!! =)

  9. Gero says:

    Frevoli: I recognise all of those apart from the sword and the black metroid

    The sword is from Hellboy. It’s the insignia of the group the main characters all work for. As for the chubby spider (or black metroid, which I got a laugh out of, btw), I’m just as clueless. I’m thinking maybe an obscure memeber of the the Spider-Man family, or possibly a DC Ersatz of him that I’ve never seen…

  10. Debochira says:

    http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9034/debochirakoneko.png

    A bit of it was clipped off by accident but you get the idea. This is the insignia that represents the Four World Powers and the Koneko, the universe’s answer to evil and villainy. Raven wears it during her later adventures with her companions Bynx, Homach, Debochira, and Faythe.

  11. mcknight57 says:

    JR19759:
    The logo of one of my characters (dunno if he’s really a hero) Resurrection Man.
    http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/245/c/5/resurrection_man_logo_by_jr19759-d5dakhg.png

    Just an FYI, Resurrection Man happens to be the name of a DC character.

  12. Monalux says:

    For my main character from a superhero story I’m writing. Her hero name is princess.

    http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg564/Monalux/Monalux-Princessinsgniajpg.jpg

  13. livewyre1014 says:

    Here’s my entry. I find insignia’s do better the simpler they are. This is the crest of the Homeland Agency of Magic, Monsters, and Extraterrestrial Resources…but you can call them HAMMER.

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/livewyre/livewyre-HAMMER.png

  14. Jawsabi says:

    Jawsabi:
    Dunno about dis one. I cal it Eagles’ Timekeeper http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9747/hm3beta8.png

  15. fuzztone says:

    This is Fireball’s insignia. Flamethrowing feminist anarcho-punk, anyone?

    http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj596/largebluecat/fuzztone-fireballlogo.png

  16. MentalHernia says:

    For my demon smashing hero, who goes from a sweet young woman to a hideous faced creature.

    http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/Rebekah_Webb/Insignia.png

  17. Keith_Kanin says:

    I made this one for a group of whale hating individuals known as K.T.W.B.T.K.Y. (Kill The Whales Before They Kill You). They claim that whales are responsible for every atrocity committed against mankind for the last thousand years or so. They have a web site that lists the crimes of these ruthless mammals (not recommended for the feint of heart).
    I would like to add that I am not officially affiliated with this organization, nor do I fully endorse their claims, I will leave it up to you as individuals to locate their site and decide for yourselves as to the truth of their claims.

    http://i.imgur.com/Ju0RJ.jpg

  18. gabriel-98 says:

    black sekta of super heroes
    http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg441/scaled.php?server=441&filename=hm3beta12.png&res=landing
    This is the logo, the other will send by mistake

  19. KEric says:

    I had Princess Flurry from before this contest, I found that this was the perfect time to create an insignia for her!

    http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q539/kjell17/Hero%20Machine%20Creation/Kericsinsigniaflurry.jpg

    And as it looks on her

    http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q539/kjell17/Hero%20Machine%20Creation/Kericsprincessflurry.jpg

  20. DiCicatriz says:

    The identifying insignia for the members of my LGBT themed superhero group known as: Spectrum

    http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l607/DiCicatriz/HM%20Contests/DiCicatriz_Spectrum.png

  21. JR19759 says:

    mcknight57: Just an FYI, Resurrection Man happens to be the name of a DC character.

    Ah well, I didn’t know.

  22. mcknight57 says:

    JR19759: Ah well, I didn’t know.

    Okay, just wanted to help prevent any unnecessary copyright infringements, intentional or otherwise. Cool design, though.

  23. Calvary_Red says:

    Not sure how well this fits in this contest, my Green Guardian Character doesn’t have a logo per se, but i always figured his distinctive shoulder pieces could be his iconic trade mark. So for this contest i tried to imagine them as they might appear on a comic book title. i rather like how it turned out.

    http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/Calvary_Red/Calvary_Red-Green_Guardian_Title.png

  24. Skybandit says:

    A bad-pun mockery of a certain Kryptonian, Alien 8.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Alien8.png

  25. Alexander of Limbo says:

    It’s a shame the Pop Quizzes are 1 entry only contest, cos i like to do an old silver or golden age comic style, then a flash, shiny new style. Oh Well.

    Here’s Hornet:

    http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7083/alexanderoflimbohorneti.png

  26. Jawsabi says:

    Gero: The sword is from Hellboy.It’s the insignia of the group the main characters all work for.As for the chubby spider (or black metroid, which I got a laugh out of, btw), I’m just as clueless.I’m thinking maybe an obscure memeber of the the Spider-Man family, or possibly a DC Ersatz of him that I’ve never seen…

    I think the chubs spider is Venom’s symbol. Maybe?

  27. Jawsabi says:

    The Atomic Punk: I was thinking of posting the full hero as a separate link.Hopefully Jeff will allow entries through Sunday because IT’S KICKOFF SATURDAY!!! =)

    IT’S KICKOFF SATURDAY!!! What does KICKOFF SATURDAY mean?

  28. Jeff Hebert says:

    mcknight57: Okay, just wanted to help prevent any unnecessary copyright infringements, intentional or otherwise. Cool design, though.

    I don’t think two characters having the same name are a problem even if one is a copyrighted character. It happens. I certainly don’t have a problem with it as long as it’s just the names and the intent is not to do a version of the copyrighted character.

  29. Bobby Scatigna says:

    well this is quuick version of what I would want on my character DARKMATTER and his sonEVIL ATOM http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6092/scatmandarkmatterinsign.png

  30. Sebastian978 says:

    Sometimes I really hate when my curiosity gets the better of me lol. I had to look these morons up, I have to say some if not all the claims they make are the most idiotic things I have ever seen.

    Keith_Kanin:
    I made this one for a group of whale hating individuals known as K.T.W.B.T.K.Y. (Kill The Whales Before They Kill You). They claim that whales are responsible for every atrocity committed against mankind for the last thousand years or so. They have a web site that lists the crimes of these ruthless mammals (not recommended for the feint of heart).
    I would like to add that I am not officiallyaffiliated with this organization, nor do I fully endorse their claims, I will leave it up to you as individuals to locate their site and decide for yourselves as to the truth of their claims.

    http://i.imgur.com/Ju0RJ.jpg

  31. Scatman says:

    Bobby Scatigna: well this is quuick version of what I would want on my character DARKMATTER and his sonEVIL ATOM http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6092/scatmandarkmatterinsign.png

    had to repost to see if it still gives my full name instead of online name

  32. Herr D says:

    The idea of a Sikh heroine interested me. Known only as K3, she is more secretive than any other hero.

    http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u438/jamais5/hm3/HerrD-KaraKangaKirpan.jpg

    Rumors about her abound, some conflicting, but they agree that the mere sight of her stops some criminals in their tracks. She has oddly-shaped throwing knives that she never uses as weapons. She also has long, prehensile hair.

  33. mcknight57 says:

    Jeff Hebert: I don’t think two characters having the same name are a problem even if one is a copyrighted character. It happens. I certainly don’t have a problem with it as long as it’s just the names and the intent is not to do a version of the copyrighted character.

    Alright, my bad.

  34. NHA247 says:

    Gero: The sword is from Hellboy.It’s the insignia of the group the main characters all work for.As for the chubby spider (or black metroid, which I got a laugh out of, btw), I’m just as clueless.I’m thinking maybe an obscure memeber of the the Spider-Man family, or possibly a DC Ersatz of him that I’ve never seen…

    I believe its “The Tick” or maybe an old one of him.

  35. NHA247 says:

    This is the logo for a character I am working on.

    The Blue Hawk!

    http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5968/nha247bluehawkpng.png

    -NHA247

  36. Worf says:

    If I’m not late, here’s my insignia. No story behind it, I just tried to make a cool looking one.

    https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JfcXv0tu31E/UELuWyy729I/AAAAAAAAFHQ/_wiLAC48tQg/s800/worf-insignia.png

  37. Grady Elliott says:

    From the Terracide files: this is the insignia used by the corsairs from the EV Lacertae system, the only pirates crazy enough to hide their base of operations near one of the most active flare stars in Terran Space.

    http://i932.photobucket.com/albums/ad165/Neon_Sequitur/LacertaSyndicate.jpg?t=1346572844

  38. Hyperanthropos says:

    My entry is the logo for a team of scientific adventurers/explorers like the Fantastic Four or The Challengers of the Unknown called
    THE EXCEPTIONALS!
    http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5047/hyperanthroposexception.png

  39. JR19759 says:

    Jeff Hebert: I don’t think two characters having the same name are a problem even if one is a copyrighted character. It happens. I certainly don’t have a problem with it as long as it’s just the names and the intent is not to do a version of the copyrighted character.

    I definitely didn’t intend to do a version of DC’s character, I wasn’t even aware of him until it was pointed out to me above.

  40. Ximero says:

    Howdy, folks!

    If the Pop Quiz is still on, why don’t i also throw this one into the fray: http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o514/ximero/HM%20Creations/ximero_Chillerpowerseal.png – it’s the mystic seal binding the full powers of a certain minor demonic entity in my fictional universe, but yeah… it counts as a logo (or, heck, even a flag).

    Also, yay for the Tick being up there! ^__^ (so trippy, so nitwittedly brilliant, so shamefully obscure 🙁 )

  41. Winnifred, the pretty and powerful (but prim and proper) Princess Pea

  42. Jawsabi: gabriel-98

    College football opening weekend!

  43. Kytana says:

    http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6382/kytcatinsignia.png
    Title: Cat Monument
    Felina Cordalis grandparents came from greek and life now in america. Her family have a old house in a old affluent suburb. One day a crazy ex-convict attack and killed them all. Then he burns down the house and only a mosaic on the bottom is left. Felina alives and want revenge in the name of her familiy.

  44. Thatlyn says:

    Well… I don’t know if I’m still in time for this contest, since I’ve no idea of what hour is in America now 🙂 but I will try anyway

    This is the Symbol of the D-Voyager, a Dimensional Traveling Team of Heroes 🙂

    http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6199/thatlynthedvoyager.jpg

  45. Jawsabi says:

    The Atomic Punk: College football opening weekend!

    When did I say gabrial 98?

  46. Keith_Kanin says:

    Sebastian978: Sometimes I really hate when my curiosity gets the better of me lol. I had to look these morons up, I have to say some if not all the claims they make are the most idiotic things I have ever seen.

    Sorry, I warned you.

  47. Sebastian978 says:

    Its ok no worries.

    Keith_Kanin: Sorry, I warned you.

  48. Juggernaut says:

    I give you…The mechanic. This man was a kid who, long story short, was bullied and grew up to make machines of mass destruction.

    http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh539/ImtheJuggernaut94/Juggernaut-TheMechanic.jpg

  49. FosforusV says:

    Frevoli:
    I recognise all of those apart from the sword and the black metroid

    The sword is hellboy’s base insignia

    ”The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence”

  50. Jeff Hebert says:

    OK folks, entries closed, results in a minute.