Character Contest 34

Many thanks to everyone who took on the admittedly difficult challenge posed by Character Contest 34 - Adventure, which called on you to design the look of a proposed character named "Cavalier". I've picked the ones I thought hit the mark exceptionally well, and then at the end the one I thought was the overall winner.

First, a quick word about how I chose these. I tried to look at the entries from the point of view of an editor, who's trying to put together the most effective possible book. He's already got the basic story, but he needs to make sure the artist's version meshes well with it. So some people submitted really neat illustrations, but that didn't really fit the overall concept terribly well, or that wouldn't have wide appeal.

Having said that, here are the ones I thought were both good drawings and that fit the book's concept particularly well!

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Caption Contest 76 Winner!

Congratulations to Aaron, winner of Caption Contest 76 and any item or portrait he likes, to be included in HeroMachine 3!

RP: Today on "Biff Norton, Super Accountant"

(From "Crack Comics" number 1, 1940.)

When last we left ourselves (or something), we were fleeing for our lives from a horde of slavering Mountain Giaks. Note that the text does not explicitly say the Giaks were slavering, but come on, we're nothing if not a tasty morsel, and I have yet to see a Giak that could resist a little slavering, when slavering is called for. Regardless, the adventure continues, as we decided to change directions to take the forest track instead of dashing uphill.

The Mountain Giaks are unaccustomed to pursuing their prey through forests and you soon outdistance them, until finally the sound of their grunts and curses disappears completely.

When you are satisfied that they have given up the chase, you stop for a few minutes to catch your breath and check your equipment. With the memory of your ruined monastery still blazing in your mind, you gather up your meagre belongings and push on.

Turn to 19.

Just ahead through the tall trees you can see clumps of dark-red Gallowbrush, a thorny briar with sharp crimson barbs. The common name for this forest weed is 'Sleeptooth', for the thorns are very sharp and can make you feel weak and sleepy if they scratch your skin.

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What shall it be, intrepid fellow adventurers? Is discretion the better part of valor when confronted by a plant, or shall we trust in our hardy Kai flesh to shrug off the effects of the vile weed?

Iron Man 2 review

Short Review: A thoroughly satisfying and entertaining comic book super-hero movie.

Medium Review: "Iron Man 2" bucks the trend of super-hero sequels bettering their original installments, but remains a fun, satisfying experience. Director Jon Favreau manages to work in multiple heroes and villains without making the movie feel crowded or silly, and brings back most of the elements that made the first movie such a treat. Still, it doesn't quite hit the emotional or adrenaline highs previously seen, and in spots felt like it meandered a bit. Overall, though, an excellent super hero comic book movie that's well worth a full price admission.

Long Review: Since I consider "Iron Man" possibly the best super-hero movie ever made, it's not surprising that I wouldn't think the sequel is better -- that would be a tall order indeed. But it is very good, giving us what we want: Lots and lots of things blowing up, accompanied by Robert Downey Junior's excellent Tony Stark attitude. I'd rank it with movies like the original "Batman", the most recent "Hulk", and the original "X-Men", as a movie that does a great job translating the spirit and fun of the source material into a new medium.
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Real life Iron Man suit

Talk about Things I Like, I LOVE this guy, who built his own War Machine armor!

Check out the entire article for more information and a video. Pretty amazing what people can do when they set their minds -- and four thousand dollars -- to it.

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RP: Unsettling threats

(From "Crack Comics" Number 1, 1940.)

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