Character Design Contest ♯92- Public Domain Superheroes

It's been a while since we've done a Public Domain redesign contest, so let's have one this week. What I want you to do is pick some characters from the list below and redesign them to fit a modern comic book feel. Simple as that.

List here: http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Comic_Book_Characters

As per usual, no limits on entries this week and the contest will close at midnight Saturday (blog time). The winner gets to claim a custom made item from dblade to be put into heromachine, so long as the item conforms to his prize rules, which you can find here: http://www.heromachine.com/forum/the-heromachine-art-gallery/dblades-whiz-bang-item-dispenser/. Please read the contest rules before entering, have fun and good luck.

Rules for posts, contests, and challenges that I am hosting: Original characters only, no copyrighted characters, no characters based on copyrighted characters, no characters based on RPG’s or other games. The characters must be your own design and not based on any character that might be copyrighted in any way. I have the right to delete any post that I believe crosses this line without warnings. Only post characters that you have either created for this contest specifically or you know for certain have never been entered to a contest before. If you aren’t certain, don’t enter it, because I’m not going to go back through all of the contests and check.

About JR19759

Email: jr19759@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: @jr19759 Deviantart: JR19759 Deviantart HM Group: Heromachine-Art

32 Responses to Character Design Contest ♯92- Public Domain Superheroes

  1. Nug says:

    I’m glad this CDC topic is back again. Life got in the way last time.

    Princess Rhoa.
    http://heromachine-art.deviantart.com/art/Nug-Rhoa-485358249

  2. okester says:

    I made a character but I didn’t exactly “re-design” a character from the list. I instead just made up my own. Is that ok? If not I could make a new one. Just thought I’d ask first ;p

  3. JR19759 says:

    okester:
    I made a character but I didn’t exactly “re-design” a character from the list. I instead just made up my own. Is that ok? If not I could make a new one. Just thought I’d ask first ;p

    The point of this contest is to redesign one of the characters from the list dude. I would think your question answers its self. But for the record, no, it wouldn’t be enterable.

  4. okester says:

    (Sorry for my dumb question earlier btw ;p )

    I decided to go with Black Witch. She’s not a superhero character exactly, but she is on the list and she peaked my interest. The version I made portrays her as an attractive witch who tells tales of other people’s misfortune (sometimes caused by Black Witch herself) with the use of her spellbook and bubbling cauldron.

    http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/okester/okester-BlackWitch_zps63287921.jpg

  5. Skybandit says:

    The very first comic book superhero from 1936, the Clock, and his two sidekicks, Butch (his “moll”) and Pug (his double).

    http://images15.fotki.com/v1626/photos/9/3278209/13009693/SkybanditClock-vi.png

  6. Blue Blazer says:

    13

    I re-imagined this character into a man driven insane by his chronic, devastating bad luck, who has taken it upon himself to murder anyone he observes being happy due to extraordinarily good luck. He has the number 13 tattooed on his body multiple times.

    http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/Bionicow/Heromachine/Heromachine%201/13HM3_zpsd6c47f3f.png
    http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/Bionicow/Heromachine/Heromachine%201/13face_zps5af7f2b0.png

  7. Blue Blazer says:

    13
    Cursed with chronic and devastating bad luck, 13 finally went insane and became a serial killer, murdering those he sees as unfairly lucky on the 13th of each month.

    http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/Bionicow/Heromachine/Heromachine%201/13face_zps5af7f2b0.png

    http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/Bionicow/Heromachine/Heromachine%201/13HM3_zpsd6c47f3f.png

  8. Blue Blazer says:

    Sorry for the double post.

    Prisoner #711 is a wrongfully imprisoned former District Attorney who sneaks out of prison every night to fight crime.

    http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/Bionicow/Heromachine/Heromachine%201/711_zps99ec7e23.png

  9. Skybandit says:

    When Mary Bromfield was sued for copyright and trademark infringement, she changed her hair, name and costume.

    http://images14.fotki.com/v218/photos/9/3278209/13009693/SkybanditMsMarvelette-vi.png

  10. Carmen says:

    Also not a superhero… but on the list! My take on Dr.Jekyll & Mr.Hyde… with a meangirls-antidrug-afterschoolspecial-kinda twist. Done in noir style!

    The Strange Case of Hannah Jekyll & Edith Hyde

    https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10698676_10152791962474052_8712371110636148685_n.jpg?oh=0d2998d9905b5d960ce4b8613a2f6e18&oe=54C0A969&__gda__=1422748988_3ff654fde29e880944d3d322fee4873a

  11. Kaldath says:

    No, the whole point of this contest is to re-design one of those public domain heroes that are listed on the link in the contest description. Also please do not link to any personal websites as there is no advertising allowed by the community members.

  12. Nug says:

    Wow Carmen!

  13. Jean-Seb says:

    I have a question : would Captain Hook or Tinkerbell be valid characters for this contest? They are heroes for sure (well, a villain for Hook), but they are not “super heroes”.

  14. JR19759 says:

    @Jean-Seb: If they are on the list linked in the post, then yes. If they aren’t, then no. Only characters on that list are allowed.

  15. Skybandit says:

    The Woman in Red learned that a full length dress was not the best costume for fighting crime… but hasn’t learned not to wear spike heels!

    http://images16.fotki.com/v301/photos/9/3278209/13009693/SkybanditWomaninRed-vi.png

  16. Cliff says:

    Here are my beginning entries:

    #1 – Blue Streak
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_BlueFlash001_zps2402759b.jpg

    Considering so many heroes are taken out of a costume and put into a trenchcoat ,,,,,

    #2 – He-She
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_HeShe002_zps41ae4e22.jpg

    Portrait:
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_HeShe001b_zps970dc0e0.jpg
    Golden Age Origin
    http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/He-She
    He-She was a half-man, half-woman villain who fought Crimebuster once. He-She tricked a woman into marrying him/her to de-fraud her of her money.
    Golden Age Appearances
    ◾Boy Comics #9

    OK it’s a hoot that He-She was in Boy Comics.
    Sadly in the 40s you would expect a male/female character to be a villain.
    But this is not only a new decade, or even century, but a new Millennium.
    So how about He-She, the Trans detective?

    #3 – Black Jack
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_BlackJack001_zps7df4def0.jpg

    My rendition of Black Jacn complete with “black jacks/clubs” in his thigh holsters.

    #4 – The Moth
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_TheMoth001a_zps5d3a9c1f.jpg

    Portrait:
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_TheMoth001b_zps17e073d9.jpg

    Golden Age Origin
    The mysterious Moth was a superhero who, whether through his own power or because of a special suit, could fly. He used his talents and abilities to fight crime.
    During his adventures, he stopped a kidnapping and
    prevented a group of villains who were trying to control
    the weather called the Weather Kings. He also fought various mad scientists such as one who could drain life force and another who was a Dr. Frankenstein-like grave robber called the Doc.
    Golden Age Appearances
    ◾ Mystery Men Comics # 9-12

  17. Cliff says:

    Public Domain Entries Part 2

    I ended up doing a theme for October.
    Not sure if I should post it here although they all are from the Public Domain list.
    I guess if we do hae a Halloween theme contest I will just have to do more of something else..

    Wolf Savage (Wolf Man … of a sorts)
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_WolfSavage001_zps841515fa.jpg

    Wolf Savage
    Well I kept the mysterious Canadian in a Wolf head mask which he fights Evil and Crime in and his two Wolf companions and tossed the rest.

    Lucy Westernra “The Bloofer Lady” (vampire)
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_LucyWesternra001_zps856c563e.jpg

    Portrait:
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_LucyWesternra001b_zps5709d609.jpg

    I chose Lucy Westernra “The Bloofer Lady” due to the
    fact that AOL used to have a poertry board which had
    Halloween “Costume” Contest called Alphabet Soups Annual Masquerade Contest where you would get a different screen name and post as that character, and
    by Halloween the was a judging and prizes and people “unmasked”.
    Every year I would changed the gender of my character to help throw them off and 2001 I chose “The Bloofer Lady” and ONLY posted in French poetry forms, even to respond to other posts.
    I won the contest. So I thought I would give a nod to the Bloofer Lady and take up the challenge of recreating her here as well.

    Frankenstein
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_Frankenstein001a_zpsa7326966.jpg

    Portrait: http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_Frankenstein001b_zps90c7cd06.jpg

    Frankenstein
    OK I admit he reminds me a bit of Michael, a character from my friends John and Becca back when they played Catastrophe Crew all the time, but not exactly, but he was a modern flesh golem too.
    Golden Age Appearances
    ◾ Prize Comics #7-67
    ◾ Frankenstein #1-33
    As the narrative captions
    pointed out several times, the monster was actually
    named Frankenstein, unlike the creature from the novel,
    who was referred to as Frankenstein’s Monster. This
    version of the monster was a rampaging horror from the
    start. Bulldog Denny was Frankenstein’s antagonist, but in the 24th issue, Denny gathered all the Prize Comics superheroes to fight the monster. These included Black Owl (1), Dr. Frost, Green Lama, General & Corporal and Yank & Doodle. Later, the monster was brainwashed into working for the Allies, only to be brainwashed again a year later by a Nazi scientist. Eventually, European resistance fighters were able to undo the Nazi brainwashing.

    The Green Mummy
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_GreenMummy001_zpse30c5b9b.jpg

    The Green Mummy was the alternate identity of Charles Forbes, a wealthy man who owned an extremely valuable blue diamond. He intended to steal the diamond from himself as the Green Mummy and collect
    the insurance money, then sell the diamond in secret.
    The Green Mummy was an above average fighter, and
    carried conventional weapons such as knives and
    firearms. He was also fairly sadistic, preferring to kill
    people in creative ways, such as turning them into wax figures. He was eventually stopped by the Black Owl.
    Golden Age Appearances
    ◾Prize Comics v2 #8

    In my update, Charles Forbes escaped prison after the Black Owl foiled his diamond caper. He set his sights on an Emerald Scarab which was in a touring Egyptian collection. The Emerald was connected to the Emerald Scarab mummy, so called due to the only identifying marks was the Emerald Scarab which supposedly was cursed.
    Charles stole the Emerald Scarab and as he was running away was shot by a securiting guard. The bullet
    sent a shard of the Emerald Scarab into Charles Forbes
    heart and killed him. The Emerald Scarab shard as well as his own strength of will made him rise again as a real
    Green Mummy!

    Dr Dread (Mad Scientist & Zombie)
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_DrDred001a_zps7ec3d054.jpg

    Golden Age Origin
    Dr. Dread was a brilliant scientist who created an army of zombies to serve him. He lived in a large mansion, which was boobie trapped to dispose of unwanted visitors. Dr. Dread was a killer and was eventually defeated by Firefly.

    Mother Hubbard (Witch)
    http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_PublicDomain_MotherHubbard001_zpsaef50ae3.jpg

    Golden Age Origin
    Mother Hubbard is a mysterious witch who uses
    witchcraft to battle Nazis and other evil doers. She is a
    very powerful magic user and accesses her powers
    through magic rhymes. Mother Hubbard also had a
    flying broomstick.
    Golden Age Appearances Edit
    ◾ Scoop Comics #1-3
    ◾ Bulls Eye Comics #11
    ◾ Spotlight Comics #3

    I updated her a bit, using some traditional elements but getting rid of some others..
    The reason many think of witches as green skinned is just their magic as you can see here

  18. Vampyrist says:

    Here is my first entry, Landor. I see him as a more sympathetic villain, not evil, but curious and then grief stricken.
    Landor is a scientist obsessed with mastering life. His experiments involve reviving the dead and he has succeeded, though none have sentience. A pair of adventurers sought shelter at his home when he made his first creature. His creation favored one of the pair and Landor held them. The pair fought back and the creation attacked. A fire broke out. The creature perished and Landor was badly burned. A biologist, Dr. Sina Zurat was interested in his work and the two fell in love. His next creation, a female, killed his fiancee and Landor was grief stricken. He did not even put up a fight when he got captured. Since then, he has escaped and continued his experiments with an even greater desire, so he can revive his beloved Sina.
    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Vampyrist-Landor.png

  19. Lime says:

    This is my redesign of Moon Girl (http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Moon_Girl), a princess of Samarkand and the latest in a long line of woman warriors. She has inherited a moonstone that boosts her already considerable skill. Having vowed to marry only a man who can best her in battle, she nonetheless travels to America to be near an unsuccessful suitor she particularly liked. There, she takes the alias Claire Lune and fights crime.

    I chose new colors for her redesign to resemble the colors in moonstone and also, almost coincidentally, the flag of Uzbekistan, where Samarkand is located.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/lime-moongirlbasic.png

  20. Skybandit says:

    Since my favorite character of all time Blackhawk is under the eternal curse of trademark protection, I decided to update one of his rip-offs, the Golden eagle from Holyoke’s Contact Comics. Since he wore a different costume with every issue of his half a dozen adventures, I was free to do what I wished.

    http://images15.fotki.com/v792/photos/9/3278209/13009693/SkybanditGoldenEagle-vi.png

  21. Midnight_oWL says:

    I chose Doctor Darkness, because i like the combination of suit, mask, and gun.

    Portrait:
    http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t524/halev09/DrDarkness1_zps5c9f7360.png

    and character:
    http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t524/halev09/hm3-beta9_zpsf8e001a0.png

  22. melmo44 says:

    Ah Ku- ruthless drug queen and gang boss. Descendant of the original Ah Ku and inherited her position after arranging the death of her father. Her outward appearance is of a tough businesswoman, though most don’t realize that much of her business is illicit. Her actions should never be confused with compassion, as any ‘good’ she may do has an ulterior motive.

    Original Character here: http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Ah_Ku

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Melmo44-Ah-Ku.png

  23. JR19759 says:

    Ok guys, this weeks contest is now closed. The poll will be up shortly.