Batman vs. Batman

Every time Batman is an option in a poll, he wins no matter how freakish the odds. I can't blame you for going that way since DC Comics apparently agrees, having had the Caped Crusader destroy the likes of Superman and Darkseid in the past. We're basically left with a situation like this, though, with Bats playing the part of "rock":

That's right, nothing beats Batman. That's just how it is. So instead, I bring you the ultimate matchup:

Irresistible force meets unmovable object! Suck on that, Bat-fans!

The two worlds of these alternate Batmen are fairly similar -- dark, dangerous, and as realistic as their genres allow. I mean, this isn't "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" level of Bat-badness. Both characters are smart, ruthless, and effective.

I can't wait to see your reasoning as to who would win here! I just hope the internal conflict isn't so massive that it causes a rift in the space-time geek continuum.

[polldaddy poll="6344124"]

Your weekly comics weather forecast

(From "Target Comics" volume 2, number 4, 1941.)

Vampyrist and Iscarioto Portraits

I've just added these two fine looking gentlemen to the Head-Winners set in HM3 as their contest prizes. Enjoy! As always, if you don't see the new items, clear your browser's cache (make sure you don't remove the Flash cookies though!) and check again.

Pop Quiz 13 Prize

As his prize for winning Pop Quiz 13, Jack asked me to do a Sketch of the Day featuring this character:


(Click to embiggen.)

So here's what I came up with. Hope you like it, Jack!

Character Contest 93: Alchemist

Your Character Design Challenge this week is to create the most awesome character illustration possible showing your interpretation of an alchemist! In actual history, alchemists were Medieval proto-chemists who undertook the trasmutation of one element into another, typified by the quest to turn lead into gold.

In fantasy fiction terms, alchemists are basically wizards who accomplish their magic by brewing potions and tinctures.

The person with the winning entry as selected by our expert panel (i.e. me) will win their choice of a) a portrait to go in HeroMachine 3, b) an item to go in HeroMachine 3, or c) a custom black and white "Sketch of the Day" style drawing (also by me). The rules otherwise are the same as always:

  • All entries must be in JPG or PNG form (BMPs are too big), posted to a publicly accessible website (like ImageShack, PhotoBucket, the UGO 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;
  • The image cannot have been used in any previous HeroMachine character design contest;
  • Please name your files as [your name]-[character name].[file extension] before you upload it. 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). See this post on how to get the direct link for most sites.
  • All entries must be in by next Monday, when I'll choose a winner.

No limit on entries this week, so knock yourselves out. Just make them good!

(Image via.)

Caption Contest 124 Winners

We had a TON of great entries for Caption Contest 124, which challenged you to come up with the best replacement dialog for this random comics panel:

And your Finalists are:

Continue reading

American Abroad … That's like a triple pun!

(via Steve Bunche's Facebook feed, original © Marvel Comics.)

Pop Quiz 15 Results

Many thanks to all who took part in the last Pop Quiz contest. We had a lot of great entries, so without further ado, here they are!

Continue reading

Pop Quiz: Faces

Happy Saturday, folks! Your one-day quick-fire challenge is:

Create a portrait!

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 contest, but instead of a whole week I'll announce the winner either tonight or tomorrow morning. Elaborate backgrounds aren't necessary, though if you've got one it's fine, that's just not the focus -- all I want is a portrait view of a face.

What I'm going for here is a mug shot kind of thing, a view of someone who looks like an actual individual. If you want to do a robot or an alien, that's cool, but the point is to just see their faces so we can see what they look like up close and personal. I want something with character, not necessarily all the bells and whistles.

  • 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.

The winner will receive their choice of either one item or one portrait to be included in the final HeroMachine 3 release, or one Sketch of the Day style drawing where you pick the subject and I draw it how I like.

Good luck!

More great moments in cursing innovation

(From "Target Comics" volume 2, number 4, 1941.)