Artistic Challenge 21 - Monsters (Amalgam Challenge) - Assignments posted!

[Pyroclasm]

Woohoo!  Artistic Challenge 21, that means LEGAL. Since 21 is legal drinking age here in the US, you get bonus points if you somehow include Oktoberfest into your piece.  ;)

This challenge's assignments will be given out Oct. 1st.  This might actually be the first non-superhero artistic challenge. (Heard that, ZD?)

This new challenge is called
MONSTERS
Here's the gist:  (Credit to Unkoman for tweaking the challenge concept. Thanks.)  Entrants sign up by nominating two distinct monsters.  The first monster is the one you intend to keep.  The second monster will be randomized among participants.  Your assignment is to combine the two monsters into a new one.  It can be a chimera, hybrid, an applied template, or even a brand new monster with properties similar to both.
I'd prefer if everone stuck with monsters from mythological, literary or theatrical sources and steer clear of the RPG/Video Game definition of "anything your PC fights". (i.e. a Drow is NOT a monster)
(Note: Some monsters will refer to the "species" in general.  For example a vampire is a vampire whether you mean one from "Buffy" or a "Nosferatu".) 
If you want to draw two different amalgams fighting, just nominate two pairs of monsters.
Please be considerate of others and not name something tremendously obscure as the name to be randomized.  Participants shouldn't have to do more than a cursory search to identify their assignment.

Start posting as soon as your image is done.  There is no due date for the actual posting, so don't panic as it approaches the challenge's "end date".

The next challenge starts on Nov. 1st.  If you want another assignment or to sign up for the first time anytime after this challenge starts you can.  Just post a single monster name.  I will have my custom nominator (my wife) give you an assigned secondary monster.  Just post here and send me a PM so I don't miss you.  I won't do this after Nov. 1st.

Rules:
1) It must be your art.  No reposting or "kitbashing" of other people's art.  Obviously it's an honor system, but you don't wanna get called out on it and end up ruining it for others.
2) Nothing from Freedom Force or City of Heroes/Villains.  (Both have their own sections on FR.) If you make something (like a skin) that coincides with your art entry, you can link to the other thread.
3) Although technically not a work in progress thread, you can update the image in your post at any time.  You can also create a new thread featuring your work in progress and link to it.  I just don't want other artist's work buried under repeated postings of your progress.
4) Forum rules still govern subject matter.

Remember this is open to artists of all levels and all styles!

Assignments posted!

PS: Have an Artistic Challenge idea you'd want considered?  Just head over to the Challenge Ideas Thread.

[The Pwime]

Question:  can a "immortal-slasher-kind" of character like Michael Meyers, or Jason count as a monster?  Or are we talking like..."abominable snowman/creature from the black lagoon" kind of monster?

[Pyroclasm]

I think both are fair game.  I wouldn't name "Jason" specifically, but "Immortal Slasher" is a monster type.

[The Pwime]

yeah, that's what i meant.  :P

in that case...

I'll take an Immortal Slasher...

and I'll send off an Abominable Snowmonster to the randomizer.  :lol:

[daglob]

I'll take shambling, muck-encrusted mockery of a man (it would be some kind of a swampy, man-like thing) and submit submit the classic patchwork reanimate (with or without Abby Normal's brain) to the randomizer.

You know, there ought to be some standards tossed in to the mix, whether anyone submits them or not:

classic vampire ("I do not drink... wine.")
classic werewolf ("Even a man who is pure of heart...")
revivified Egyptian mummy (undead sorcerer or zombie versions)
fish-man
bug-eyed alien
giant ameboid (including all sorts of slimy blobs)
mobile plants (carnivorous and/or poisonous)
giant ape
giant Japanese lizard

...and others I've probably missed.

[zuludelta]

Okay, I'm game. For this Challenge I nominate two monsters/creatures from native Philippine mythology (click on the creature names for a description).

- The creature I intend to keep for my own is the Tikbalang

- The randomized monster is the Tiyanak.

For those who can't be buggered to click on the link, here's the Tiyanak description (from en.wikipedia.org):

The tiyanak (also tianak or tianac) is creature which, in Philippine mythology, imitates the form of a child. It usually takes the form of a newborn baby and cries like one in the jungle to attract unwary travelers. Once it is picked up by the victim, it reverts to its true form and attacks the victim. Aside from slashing victims, the tianak also delights in leading travelers astray, or in kidnapping children.

Appearance: In its true form, there are varying differences of the tiyanak:
   

• In one version, it retains the general shape of a baby but then forms sharp claws and fangs to attack its kind-hearted victim.
  
     
• In another, it shares certain similarities with dwarfs and is similarly associated with the earth. In this version, the "true" form of the tiyanak is that of a little old man with wrinkled skin, a long beard and mustache, a flat nose and eyes the size of peseta coins. The same story says that a tiyanak is relatively immobile because its right leg is much shorter than the other. This deformity forces it to move by leaping rather than walking, making it difficult to hunt or stalk victims, but its ability to mimic an infant's cry compensates for this disadvantage.
  
     
• In yet another story it is seen supernaturally flying through the forest (still in the form of a baby) and in a legend from the island of Mindoro it transforms into a black bird before flying away
  
     
• In another version from Pampanga, the tiyanak are described as small, nut-brown people who don't walk on the ground but rather float on air. They have large noses, wide mouths, large fierce eyes and sharp voices.
  
  Origins: There are various theories on how tianaks came to being.
  
  
• The Mandaya people of Mindanao claims that the tianak is the spirit of an unborn child whose mother died before giving birth. This caused it to be "born in the ground", thus gaining its current state.
  
  
• A variant of this theory suggests that the tianak is an aborted fetus that returned from death to seek revenge on those who deprived it of life.
  

Popular depictions of the tiyanak in cinema, literature, and comics generally portray the tiyanak as an infant with fangs and claws, it's body in varying degrees of decomposition.

[Pyroclasm]

I'm keeping the Chupacabra.
The one to go in the mix is "Killer Cyborg From the Future" aka "The Terminator".

C'mon guys, let's get some more signups!

[Pyroclasm]

One more day to sign up.

[Reepicheep]

I will take the Saarlac

And into the mix goes the Wolfman.

[UnkoMan]

Oh shoot! I've been gone so long!

For mine I go with the Bunyip. Been a favourite since I was a child.

For the randomizer, I'll add the vengeful Wraith. Whatever that word may mean to you.

[Pyroclasm]

Glad you could make it, Unko.  I might wait to do assignments until I get home from work tomorrow just in case.  It always seems as though there is less traffic around here on weekends.  Heh.  Guess people leave the house after all.

[Pyroclasm]

There was a small pool of participants this time, so I didn't want to dilute the nominations with extra additions.  Everyone got something someone else suggested.  If anyone wants to go again or if you missed the signup, I would be more than happy to give you an assignment.  Just post the name of the monster you are keeping and I'll give you your assignment. (Just drop me a pm so I don't miss your post.)

Here is the assignment list:
Pwime chose the Immortal Slasher and gets the Tiyanak as suggested by Zuludelta.
Daglob chose the Swamp Man and gets the Wraith as suggested by Unkoman.
Zuludelta chose the Tikbalang and gets the Wolfman as suggested by Reepicheep.
Pyroclasm chose the Chupacabra and gets the Abominable Snowmonster as suggested by Pwime.
Reepicheep chose the Saarlac and gets the Flesh Golem as suggested by Daglob.
Unkoman chose the Bunyip and gets the Terminator as suggested by Pyroclasm.

You can either make your new monster a chimera (a physical splicing), a hybrid (a genetic splicing), an applied template (one monster turned into the other) or a brand new monster using traits from both.  Good luck!

[The Pwime]

i knew i was going to get the Tiyanak.  :lol:

[Reepicheep]

this is gonna be weeeeeeiiiirrrd.

[Sword]

No doubt. Reep's monster is at the very least going to look like it came from a forbidden D&D monster manual.

[zuludelta]

Been quite busy so I sort of rushed this image a bit, figured I might as well finish it now or I might never get around to it. Anyway, here's my monster, an amalgam of the tikbalang (humanoid horse-demon from Philippine mythology) and the wolfman/werewolf:



I might re-visit the concept when I have more time (I'll probably incorporate more "horse" elements besides the hoofed feet and the mane)

[UnkoMan]

Mine is all inked up and it looks insane. I just need to find the time to do a quick scan of it...

This was a real fun one, though.

[UnkoMan]

And I'm done.
Bunyips have a ton of different looks, but I went with the sort of rabbit/horse thing I always pictured as a kid. Then I added robotics. Then I decided to toss in some ragdoll stuff, since a Bunyip robot, to me, would end up more victorian or something. I don't know.

Anyhow, it came out like this:



I'm on this weird super sloppy colouring kick right now.

[daglob]

His first death was the messy one.

The beating, the torture, knocking out his teeth, breaking his jaw, gouging out his eye, and the sad thing was he didn't know the answers to the questions they kept asking. He considered making something up, but decided that they would check it out and just beat him harder afterwards.

He started laughing at the irony of it.

His captors decided that he had gone insane, and put a bullet through the back of his head.

Funny thing was, the gun misfired, so the bullet didn't actually do any real damage when it hit. It expended most of its energy breaking through the skull. If they hadn't dragged him out into the swamp and thrown him in, he might actually have lived (with proper medical attention).

He would never know what it was: chemical pollution, magic, alien energy, anything. Whatever it was, three days later he rose from the dead. He wasn't the same, however. His body was now part swamp itself. His own reflection drove what little sanity remained from his mind. He began to wander, drawn this way and that for unknown reasons, but always somehow opposing those who had killed him.

His second death was much simpler. They hosed him down with defoliant, doused him with gasoline, and shot him with a flamethrower. They kept the flamethrower on him until there were only some charred bones left to mark his passing.

Three days later, he rose a second time. The cleansing fire had driven the madness from him, and he was now sane (or at least as sane as someone in his position could be), and he was angry. Now he would actively seek out those who were responsible for his deaths, and see that he had his vengeance.

The swamp wraith is comin' ta getcha...

[zuludelta]

Awesome entries guys!

[Reepicheep]

Daglob, that is absolutely awesome! Nice one.

And unko, that ones very... imaginative. :D

I'll be in soon...

[Pyroclasm]

Ok, here's mine:
Chupacabra + Snow Monster

Mara - A rare, small, furry predator (stands less than 1m).  Its fur is striking white, it has numerous needlike teeth and sharp talons.  It leaps upon its prey to strike a mortal wound to the neck.  It survives by consuming the blood of its prey.  Typically hunts and kills mountain goats, but there have been some recent reports of the creature attacking villagers.  The government of Nepal has declared a ban on hunting the Mara resulting in a public outcry.  How soon will it be before someone is actually killed by the creature?

[zuludelta]

Awww... it's so cute!!!

Great job Pyro!

[daglob]

I LIKE it.

[Panther_Gunn]

It's like an evil universe Furbie or Monchichi.  Cool.  :thumbup:

[Pyroclasm]

Thanks for the comments. :)

[UnkoMan]

Yeah, it pretty much rules.

And, of course, Daglob... Your colouring rules as usual. I love looking at your stuff.