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(from "Thrilling Comics" number 10, 1940.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
We had a major wind storm here tonight that has left us without a barn door, missing roof bits, and no Internet access, so posting Friday will be light. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon. Nothing major, just aggravating thankfully.
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Posted in Uncategorized
(From "Thrilling Comics" number 10, 1940.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
Sometimes it's difficult to find a new source of inspiration for a particular project. I find that happens both as a writer and an artist. (I use the term "artist" loosely, since I haven't really drawn anything since HeroMachine 2 came out...) But there is inspiration waiting for you everywhere you look, if you just find it. I recommend taking a notebook to work, assuming you don't have anal-retentive bosses who hate notebooks. (I've had a few...) Jot ideas down as you go through your day, no matter how ridiculous. (I once had an idea with little meadow creatures who dueled with feathers, but I ended up dismissing it for its similarity to Redwall. You know, that immensely popular series with little critters acting medieval...?)
Orson Scott Card, the famed author of science fiction, fantasy, and dabblings in other genres once said that a good story starts with two radically different premises that work against each other to create conflict. (No, this is not a direct quote, I'm just typing it the best I can remember.) His book Ender's Game pitted a plot of teaching children to be military geniuses against a plot of invading aliens. And he included at least two major plot twists towards the end whose consequences reshaped the story entirely for the reader. His story has since won numerous literary awards and is studied by military academies for its insightful look into military training techniques. The point is, he created an awesome story with two opposing ideas, neither of which would have been promising material without the other. Continue reading
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Posted in Damien's Blog
As Pixar documented so brilliantly in "The Incredibles", capes present a real dilemma to the super-hero fashion designer:
Capes can kill you, and when they're not killing you, they're all folded up on themselves so you can't even see what's on them, which is why most heroes who opt to wear one go for a plain, one-color affair.
Which is where "The Green Turtle" -- already reeling from losing the "Animal Mascot Lottery" -- goes so horribly, horribly wrong:
In case you can't tell, his cape features an enormous green turtle design on it, terminating with his head in place of the turtle's. Which, let's be honest, is as ridiculous as it is silly. He doesn't even have a turtle beak, for goodness' sake (and while we're on the subject, why the hell do turtles have beaks anyway? That's just wrong.) That's just a bad cape. When he's at rest in no wind, you can't see the design. Of course this is a comic book so there's always a dramatic wind blowing, but still, the only people who can appreciate it are those who are behind him. I suppose it's a good thing his enemies -- who you assume are the ones in front of him -- can't see it, because that's not exactly the picture next to "intimidating" in the dictionary, you know?
Of course, then there's the rest of his outfit. Or should I say, the not-rest of his not-outfit, since it's pretty much just swimming trunks, gloves, and boots:
Granted, he's fighting in China where the climate is pretty hot, but still, I dare you to think of another job where running around that close to bare-ass-nekkid won't get you arrested at the minimum. And no, "Baywatch extra" doesn't count. You have to give him credit for loyalty to his theme, though, right down to that "I can't believe I have to hold on to the hilt with these legs sticking out of it" turtle dagger.
So to review: "Incredibles" good, turtle mascots bad, especially non-violent green turtles; capes bad, ugly capes worse; and cover up those man-nips, nobody wants to see a fifty year old retired male super-hero at Mardi Gras shouting to the girls "Let me show you MY boobs!"
Which concludes this "Most Random Bad Costume Post EVER", I believe I have meds to take now.
(Images from "Blazing Comics", number 3, 1944.)
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Posted in Bad Super Costumes
(From "Exciting Comics" number 5, 1941,)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
Your challenge for this week is to design the best character that fits the concept of "Spellslinger". That may be a classic long-bearded fantasy wizard, or a magic-using robot, or a beguiling Fairy (no, Whit, you can't use any of the ones from the other contest, make some new ones!), or a teenaged warlock, or a be-robed cantripping chimp, or a post-apocalyptic biker witch, or something else no one in their right mind would ever think of. Just make it look good, make sense, and make it make me say "Cool!" when I look at it.
The rules are simple:
That's it! The contest winner will get to choose to have either a caricature of his/her face or an item of their choice included in the final HeroMachine 3 version for everlasting immortality (as opposed to that nasty short-term immortality). The contest is for one week, the winner to be announced next Tuesday.
Good luck everyone!
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Posted in Challenges
Many thanks to everyone who submitted one or more of the 70+ entries to Character Contest 6: Animalia! Before I announce the overall winner, I wanted to highlight those I thought were particularly deserving of an Honorable Mention for one reason or another.
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Posted in Challenge Favorites, Challenges, Cool Characters
(From "Exciting Comics" number 3, 1944.)
(From "Blazing Comics" number 3, 1944.)
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Posted in Daily Random Panel
Three middle-aged nerds (including yours truly!) review all of the MCU movies in chronological order. Short, funny, and full of good vibes, check it out and let us know what you think!
Nerdmudgeon.com