Author Archives: AFDStudios

The Apocalypse Killed the Radio Star

Posted on February 2, 2012 | Comments Off on The Apocalypse Killed the Radio Star

When last we left our intrepid Freeway Warrior, we were deciding whether or not to investigate the source of a radio signal. Ever adventurous, we decided to go for it:

Sadly, we do not possess a CB Radio, much to my chagrin. I think every post-Apocalypse story ought to feature these handy devices, along with a gimmee-cap with a Confederate flag on it. Imagine how much more fun "Road Warrior" would have been if Mel Gibson had to come up with a CB Handle. "Breaker breaker one nine, this is the Angry Beaver, come on."

But I digress.

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Posted in Freeway Warrior: Highway Holocaust, RPG Corner

Or maybe that pesky second head?

Posted on February 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Or maybe that pesky second head?

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

Psick

Posted on February 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Psick

I don't know a lot about Marvel's "New Universe" initiative from the late Eighties, but I do know that if there was more than one character as badly dressed as Psi-Hawk, it was doomed to fail no matter what:

If you're the main feature in a "Upskirt Hot Shots of the Marvel Universe" calendar, you're in trouble. When you combine the man-mini-skirt with the fringe, both there and on the bare-armpit leather vest, I think you're asking a lot of your enemies to be intimidated by you.

I like to think maybe that's why he went with the all-metal Extreme Batman/Wolverine Spikey Eyed Visor Helmet. Although, maybe that's actually just tin foil he donned in an effort to keep the voices in his head from making so many rude comments about the rest of his ensemble.

This particular costume variation is from a later crossover series of some sort, but he also had a regular outfit he sported:

At least this one has his ribcage covered, and the hawk helmet thing doesn't reek of the Image Nineties. But I have to take points off for that big red doohickey on his chest, which I'm assuming is supposed to be a hawk of some sort. If that's the goal, then I think someone needed to take a trip to the local zoo, because that's a lot more like a strangled ostrich or the guy in the cube next to you's hand-shadow-puppet than it is anything like any raptor I've ever seen.

Either way, it looks shocked as hell, which given the fact that it finds itself on the deck of a fringed mini-skirt-wearing Hawkman wannabe is understandable. I mean, if you're going to copy another hero from another company, set your sights high, don't settle on Hawkman for the love of Pete. And if you do, then by the spirit of Project Runway, at least end up dressed better than him!

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Posted in Bad Super Costumes

That'd be sweet if they weren't dead

Posted on February 1, 2012 | Comments Off on That'd be sweet if they weren't dead

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

META: Forum testing

Posted on January 31, 2012 | Comments Off on META: Forum testing

At some point, the UGO Forums will (I assume) come down. It would be nice to have some sort of replacement solution in place before then, so I've installed a WordPress forum for the site that I'd like to test out.

If you're so inclined, give them a test run here, noting of course that this is all just a test and so nothing in there is going to be permanent (probably).

Let me know your thoughts as to ease of use, functionality, and just what you think of them overall. If they'll work, great, and if not I will try something else. The advantage to this particular forum from my perspective is that it was really easy to install and works within WordPress itself, but that doesn't mean anything if it doesn't do what you need it to do.

Thanks in advance for anyone who wants to offer their feedback!

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Posted in Meta

Green Goblin vs The Joker

Posted on January 31, 2012 | Comments Off on Green Goblin vs The Joker

Our weekly Versus matchup brings us a colossal contest between a couple of confounding clowns of crime:

[polldaddy poll="5894909"]

Both are, obviously, insanely evil. They care nothing for the death of innocent bystanders and they both have impressive armories of weapons. I would probably give the edge in planning to the Joker, but the Green Goblin seems deadlier in direct combat. On the other hand, The Joker's usually able to hold his own against arguably the world's greatest fighter, Batman, so you can't count him out.

Ultimately, I'd probably go with the Joker, since he's taken down his universe's greatest two heroes in Batman and Superman, while the Green Goblin usually only has to deal with Spider-Man. No slight to our webbed friend, of course, but he's not at a Kryptonian power level.

But that's just me, who would you choose?

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Posted in Versus

Worst. Waitress. Ever.

Posted on January 31, 2012 | Comments Off on Worst. Waitress. Ever.

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

"Greed" by Kytana

Posted on January 30, 2012 | Comments Off on "Greed" by Kytana

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Posted in Hall of Fame

Caption Contest 116

Posted on January 30, 2012 | Comments Off on Caption Contest 116

Your challenge this week is to come up with the best replacement dialog for this comics panel:

The best entry (as judged by yours truly) wins the author's choice of either any item they like or any portrait to be included in HeroMachine 3′s final release, or a custom black and white “Sketch of the Day” style illustration (you pick the subject, I draw it however I like).

All entries must be left as a comment (or comments) to this post. Keep ‘em clean (appropriate for a late-night broadcast TV show), but most importantly, keep ‘em funny!

This week we have a cap of no more than five (5) entries per person, so make 'em your best!

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Posted in Caption Challenges, Challenges

Character Contest 81 Winners!

Posted on January 30, 2012 | Comments Off on Character Contest 81 Winners!

Many thanks to everyone who entered Character Design Contest 81: Greed! Without further ado, I give you your Finalists:

I thought Albannach's "Futility of Greed" told its story very well.

AMS' "Midas" is a great character study.

I liked the way Blue Blazer created a non-standard sort of man in this one, along with the effective storytelling.

Diazmydiaz's "Burn the World" also features a distinctive looking character, though I think the burning of the world is going to be a "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" sort of moment for him.

FRM's "Tax Collector" is included mostly for the nice butt -- I'm not sure how that was done but it looks like it was drawn that way.

Gendonesia's "Grave Hunter" features a great composition and highly effective lighting to set the mood. All the little touches (like the spattering on the ground) work really well here.

I liked headlessgeneral's character design as well as the great use of the "Greed" design element in the background.

Kytana's dragon in "Greed" is just stunning. The hoard of gold is spot-on and the design of the creature itself is perfect.

Mashlagoo does a stellar job with this classic D&D monster, the Mimic.

What clenched Razor99's entry for me is spinning disk in the eyes and the similar leering grins on both figures. I think it sells "Greed" very well.

I think it's hard to use HeroMachine to put together a good political cartoon, but Skybandit manages it quite well here.

Watson Bradshaw also brought a nice political cartoon with his "one percent". I like the use of the cranes in the top background particularly.

WolfMoon's "Hail Money" is a great poster, with outstanding composition. I love this image.

A few others I thought had great illustrations (i.e. Tarkabarka) but I didn't get "Greed" from looking at them.

Out of the list of Finalists, there can be only one overall winner, though many were certainly worthy. I ultimately decided to go with ... Kytana's dragon! Every time I look at it I see some new little feature that adds to the overall effect without being intrusive. I definitely can see "greed" when I look at it, and taken just as an illustration it's great.

Awesome job, and congratulations both to our winner Kytana and all of our Finalists! I believe dblade is again doing his very generous "Finalist Supplemental Prize" (or some other, cooler name), so definitely check the comments for that update.

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Posted in Challenge Favorites, Challenges, Character Design Challenges