"Daryl vs...": My First "Mini" Contest!

(Work in progress...)

So with a brand-spanking-new season of "The Walking Dead" underway, I was inspired to draw a comic book-style piece inspired by the show's resident badass, crossbow-slinging Daryl Dixon. But this one's got a twist...

In this rendering, Daryl's facing off against a non-undead mystery threat, a character not featured on the show or in the comic book which inspired the show. This particular threat, however, is a pop culture icon who is just as deadly - if not deadlier - as Dixon.

So, here's where you come in, Howlers...

Once it's finished, this inked and fully hand-colored piece will be up for grabs to the one Howler who can guess exactly who Daryl Dixon is facing in his standoff. But here's the rub...

You have to be a member of my Creation Nation "Howlers" page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CDCreationNation) OR a "Twowler" (a Twitter "Howler") on my Twitter account (www.twitter.com/CoyoteDuran). On either page (comments section of the Facebook page regarding this link or in reply to any of my Tweets regarding this link), post who you think Daryl's secret opponent is.

There's no limit to your guessing but you cannot edit your post to change your answer (on the Facebook page). If you need to guess again or correct yourself, just type out a new comment. Edited posts will be disregarded.

The first correct Howler wins. Easy as pie (pie not included).

But that's not all!

This "Daryl vs..." piece is the first in what I'm calling my "'Mini' Contests." Every month, I'm going to render a smaller piece (comic book-style, about a standard letter size, 8 1/2" X 11", penciled, inked and hand-colored on Bristol Board) and I'm offering it up to a "Howler" each time. The rules to winning might be different each time depending on the subject matter or it could just be a random thing (or maybe I'll even ask YOU to choose the subject/subjects with the best idea winning the "Mini"!) but I'm doing it to show my appreciation. 

Because without "Howlers," who would I share my art with?

Oh, by the way...the contest starts NOW!

Iron Man Makes a New Friend (Inked Version)

So around the time I conceived my Madman piece, I was doing all sorts of other superhero scenes (some you might see here in the near future!) and thought I'd have a little fun with a hero who's gained a lot of steam in recent years (thanks to a couple of really outstanding movies), Iron Man. I've always been a big fan of his classic red and gold armor, as opposed to keeping up with one of his many changes over the years (guy has more wardrobe issues than the Wasp, I tell ya...that's for the Marvel nerds). Originally, I did this piece with a mountain range and clouds in the background but as I looked back, the mountains just weren't doing it for me, detail-wise (I think I lazied my way through them). There was really no valid depth or authenticity to them, at least in my eyes. However, I wanted to share this piece but I figured I'd simplify it a little and make it more about Iron Man meeting his new friend, a slightly surprised bald eagle. I fully inked the eagle and Iron Man (with my trusty Staedtler pigment liners), then scanned the drawing into my laptop so I could open it in Photoshop. From there, I'd clone out the background and feature our two main characters. I think it still works because the two provide context of location (the sky) for each other.

From here, I'll now color the fully inked and simplified image by hand, which I'll post as soon as I'm finished! Stay tuned and enjoy!