More Kirby goodness

Buddy Rob Barrett of "Kracalactaka" has a great analysis of two pages showing Jack Kirby's fantastic layout skills. Head on over and check them out, it's really good stuff.

On a side note, I'm glad to see Space Ghost's sidekick getting a shout-out all the way back in the Sixties. Well done, King Kirby!

(Image and character ©Marvel Comics, Inc.)

Remember when walruses were cool? Me neither.

If ever an actual published comic book sounded like a truly bad "Champions" scenario, this is it:

Meanwhile the Beast's lecture was interrupted by a super hero wannabe, the bumbling Frog Man. Angel and Iceman came to Beast's side after the interruption and asked what Frog Man wanted. Frog Man told them he wasn't there to cause any trouble but wanted to join the Defenders.

I can see the earnest, sweaty GM huddled behind his screen, eyes peering out anxiously as he describes that scenario to his players. He can tell they're not really buying it -- Frog Man? All these people just happen to show up at a lecture at the same time? Pull the other one! -- so frantically he whips out his ace in the hole, the clincher he knows will bring his skeptical crew around to how awesome this campaign really is:

Hubert was excited to have his new powers and became the goofy menace known as the Walrus. He wanted to be the best mass destructionist in the world and started off by causing havoc at a Kwikkee Burger joint. His Uncle Humbert told the Walrus to head his way to Brooklyn University and destroy the world-famous Beast in combat. He wanted the Walrus to prove that he was the greatest product of modern science and the both of them would be famous.

With a trembling voice, he whips out the full color visual and announces "That's right, gentlemen, your awesome foe leaps from the shadows and announces, 'Beware the awesome menace of ... The Walrus!'"

Cue gales of laughter.

I'm glad the artist included the completely random rainbow coloring on the chest "W", as I don't think the "special" helmet, socks-as-mitten-gloves, furry unitard, and webbed claw booties quite nail the concept on their own, especially given how wrongly named he is. Because if any big, hairy, "proud" character were going to grace the pages of the comics, let's be honest -- he'd be The Bear, not the Walrus. And if you don't get that reference, good for you; stay sweet, kid.

(Image and character © Marvel Comics, Inc.)

SOD.186

RP: Sweet, forbidden henchman-love

(From "National Comics" number 5, 1940.)

SOD.185

A rejected (for good reasons) portrait sketch, but I liked it.

Poll Position: The powers of legend

I've always wondered what it would be like if various fantastic objects made their way into the real world. And now, you get to wonder too!

{democracy:141}

Definitions and predilections after the jump.

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RP: No no, I said HAPPY ending, HAPPY!

(From "National Comics" number 5, 1940.)

Caption Contest 79: Ride 'em, cowboy!

With many thanks once again to the inestimable "Glenn3", whose "Say What? Pictures" keep me well stocked with Funny, your challenge for this week is to come up with the funniest replacement dialog for the following random comic book panel:

Leave your entry in the comments to this post by next Monday, at which time I'll pick the funniest one, the author of which will receive his or her choice of either any item they like, or a portrait, to be included in the final HeroMachine 3 version.

Good luck everyone!

Caption Contest 78 WINNER!

Congratulations to Rancid for winning Caption Contest 78 with this gem of a panel:

Rancid wins either any item he likes, or a portrait, to be included in the final HeroMachine 3 version. Congratulations to him and to all the other finalists!

Character Design Contest 38 Winners!

We had an overwhelming response to "Character Contest 38 – Random Name II: This time it’s personal", I thank you all for sharing your creativity and time with the rest of us. Outstanding work all the way around this week, absolutely.

As usual, I've picked out the submissions I thought were particularly noteworthy for one reason or another, and present them after the jump. Plus, this week we have TWO winners, who you'll find at the very end.

Congratulations and thank again to everyone who entered!

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