Top Ten Comic Book Characters
by: Vince P. Platania, Jr.

There are thousands of comic book characters in existence from past to present.
Many are well known while the majority are more obscure to the general public. And while top ten lists are generally subjective and based on opinion, there are certain comic book characters that will be discussed in this article that are worthy of that distinction by most standards. These are in random order.

Superman - There absolutely cannot be a top ten list of comic book characters without the Man of Steel. He’s one of the first (arguably THE first) superhero to ever grace the four-color world, and thus his history is one of the richest. He’s also one of the most popular in both comics and worldwide as viewed by the general public. He represents truth, justice, righteousness and morality. And while many find it hard to relate to him, those same people look up to his characteristics and admire his altruistic spirit.

Batman - Not quite so altruistic, but every bit as popular and loved is the Dark Knight. He may not always do the right thing, or do it the right way, but his motives are always pure, and his intent is always clear. He’s a thinking man’s hero, but he’s also a warrior’s hero. He’s well rounded and complete, and a little bit gritty, and that’s why we like him.

Spider-Man - The boy next door; the everyman; the geeky kid a great majority of us can relate to who overcomes the odds and becomes something great. Spider-Man gives us hope that we can achieve that same greatness in our own special ways. He truly is a standard bearer and a true hero to the core, always trying to do the right thing, but many times messing it up horribly, thus proving he’s still human, and thus endearing him more and more to our hearts.

Lex Luthor - The arch-nemesis of the ‘Blue Boyscout’, Superman, Lex Luthor is all kinds of evil wrapped up in money and a well pressed, expensive suit. He’s diabolically clever and vicious, and he never lets Supes sleep on the job. Cementing his legacy as one of the greatest villains of all time, Luthor wins our allegiance for the depth of his character and his driven purpose.

Captain America - Maybe not as popular in modern times as he was in the days of World War II when he first appeared on the comic scene, but still a symbol of America and classic comics from the Golden and Silver ages.
Captain America is displaced and so he views the world a bit differently than the rest of us.
He sees things the way they should be in his mind, which isn’t always the most popular point of view. He’s often portrayed as a boy scout, but truthfully he’s much deeper than that, and that’s where the appeal lies.

Wolverine - Overused or not, Logan is one of the most popular comic book characters in existence today.
When he first burst onto the scene in the revitalized X-Men he quickly gained an everlasting fan base because of the difference he brought to the table. He’s not your typical do-gooder hero, though he always does fight for the right causes. He’s temperamental, at times insecure, rude, crude and unpredictable. He’s a loner with a heart of gold and a penchant for violence. He’s an anti-hero who takes no crap, but at the same time he deeply cares about those he surrounds himself with. And it’s those complexities that make him stand out in our minds.

Wonder Woman - The first widely received female superhero, Wonder Woman is by far the most popular female comic book character to date. She comes from a world where women are dominant, which gained her popularity early on in the women’s liberation movement. She stands head-to-head and toe-to-toe with any male superhero, and she shows them up oftentimes. She’s a strong, beautiful, intelligent and yet still feminine heroine with a costume that has become more than iconic.

The Joker - The thorn in Batman’s side rightly deserves a place on this list for his epic battles with the Caped Crusader. Of all comic book characters in the superhero realm, there is none quite like the Joker. He’s maniacal, insane, and ruthless, yet charming, smooth and debonair at the same time. He’s a mass murderer, and he’s obsessed with Batman. He’s just too crazy not to love!

The Flash - If underoos and t-shirts are any indication, The Flash is one of the most noticeable and popular iconic comic book characters of all time. He’s a fan-favorite of comic readers and non-comic fans alike. He’s known worldwide and his trademark red costume with the white circle and yellow lightning bolt are instantly recognized. But more than appearance, it’s his powers and his wit that land him on this list. He’s one of the original comic relief superheroes in the genre with his sarcastic and humorous banter that rivals that of Spider-Man.
And who doesn’t love super speed powers? He’s the best at what he does.

The Incredible Hulk - Mr. Green Genes himself has to make this list merely for his iconic status in the world of comics and beyond. He’s a classic hero that has gained notoriety through comics, television and film. And with the popularity of the second Hulk film that just released, his star will only continue to rise. Couple that with the massive success of Planet Hulk and the Incredible one is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s his intense power, or the dynamic between that power and the weak, but intelligent alter-ego Bruce Banner, we love him no matter what.

There are many other comic book characters that could have easily made this list, like Magneto, Iron Man, Robin, Green Lantern, Professor X and so many others. The names represented above, though, are undoubtedly some of the greatest comic book characters ever created.

Knights New Star Wars 1/27 Metal Kits, 70mm STAR WARS line.

It has been a long and hard journey but, here it is! Four new figures open this line:
LUKE & YODA Jedi Training, HAN SOLO Cantina Showdown, ANAKIN SKYWALKER Turns to the Dark Side, DARTH MAUL with Double Light Sabre.

Knights products have been developed by some of the best and most renown professionals, all of them are official products approved by the holders of their respective copyrights.
Figures are 70mm tall, made of the highest quality white metal and resin materials and will include a methacrylate base with the Marvel Universe or Star Wars logo and a character sheet containing its story and skills, all in a metallic case with pictorial reference for assembling and painting. 
Episode I The Phantom Menace

Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo,
Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master discover nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker,
a young slave unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins a thrilling Podrace and with it his freedom as he leaves his home to be trained as a Jedi. The heroes return to Naboo where Anakin and the Queen face massive invasion forces while the two Jedi contend with a deadly foe named Darth Maul. Only then do they realize the invasion is merely the first step in a sinister scheme by the re-emergent forces of darkness known as the Sith. 

Episode II Attack of the Clones

Ten years later, the galaxy is on the brink of civil war. Under the leadership of a renegade Jedi named Count Dooku,
thousands of solar systems threaten to secede from the Galactic Republic . When an assassination attempt is made on Senator Padmé Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, twenty-year-old Jedi apprentice Anakin Skywalker is assigned to protect her. In the course of his mission, Anakin discovers his love for Padmé as well as his own darker side. Soon, Anakin, Padmé, and Obi-Wan Kenobi are drawn into the heart of the Separatist movement and the beginning of the Clone Wars.
 
Episode III Revenge of the Sith

Three years after the onset of the Clone Wars, the noble Jedi Knights have been leading a massive clone army into a galaxy-wide battle against the Separatists. When the sinister Sith unveil a thousand-year-old plot to rule the galaxy, the Republic crumbles and from its ashes rises the evil Galactic Empire. Jedi hero Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force to become the Emperor’s new apprentice – Darth Vader. The Jedi are decimated, as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda are forced into hiding. The only hope for the galaxy are Anakin’s own offspring –
the twin children born in secrecy who will grow up to become Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa. 
 
Episode IV A New Hope

Nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan begins Luke’s Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Empire. Although Obi-Wan sacrifices himself in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader,
his former apprentice, Luke proves that the Force is with him by destroying the Empire’s dreaded Death Star.
 
Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, Imperial forces continue to pursue the Rebels.
After the Rebellion’s defeat on the ice planet Hoth, Luke journeys to the planet Dagobah to train with Jedi Master Yoda, who has lived in hiding since the fall of the Republic. In an attempt to convert Luke to the dark side, Darth Vader lures young Skywalker into a trap in the Cloud City of Bespin. In the midst of a fierce lightsaber duel with the Sith Lord, Luke faces the startling revelation that the evil Vader is in fact his father, Anakin Skywalker.
Episode VI Return of the Jedi

In the epic conclusion of the saga, the Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star while the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts his father Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor. In the last second, Vader makes a momentous choice: he destroys the Emperor and saves his son. The Empire is finally defeated, the Sith are destroyed, and Anakin Skywalker is thus redeemed. At long last, freedom is restored to the galaxy.

Anime Has A Common Visual Style

by: Ben Pate
 
Anime is the latest buzzword all over the United States.
This term is derived from the Japanese word used for depicting animation and the world outside Japan uses it to refer to any work of animation from Japan.
This animation has illustrations that have been prepared by hand or created with computer and made use of in television shows, films, video games
and web-based series that include all types of genre.

This particular version of art has a common visual style that includes characters with large and wide eyes and pronounced expressions of the face.
Characters who get embarrassed or awkward may sweat heavily and also blush if they feel romantically attracted to any other character.
Japanese anime is a huge export of a cultural art form out of Japan and has been adapted into many languages.

Another highly admired type of Japanese animation would be the manga.
Manga is defined as a Japanese comic book that is read from back to front, opposite the western books.
A lot of the magna series number over 20 volumes and have become television shows.
One trend in the states has caused increased interest in Japanese culture.

Manga and anime memorabilia and collectibles are popular items to purchase.
Collectors have spent large sums of money buying all sorts of merchandise in this genre.
Due to its popularity, video game sales have soared and all things Japanese have become extremely popular.
Umpteen nonexclusive libraries now change wide mania collections and are commonly out of caudal because umpteen fans e’er blemish them out.
There are mania groups and clubs that provide to switch comics and conscionable get their worship for Asian inanimateness.

Rattling obsessed fans are described as otaku. Otaku is a Japanese word that is often made use of in the United States to refer to diehard anime fans,
however it carries a negative meaning in Japan. Some of these fans get dressed like their loved animated characters and term it as cosplay.
Cosplay also means costume play and the fans often come to the comic conventions dressed in costumes.
Such shows are usually called “comic-cons” and many of them take place each year across the nation.
There are new comic books on display, the creators of comic book heroes and villains come to meet and greet their loyal supporters,
and all sorts of related items are sold here too. You can choose to attend lectures, discussion groups, awards ceremonies, and screenings.
Toy collectors also participate with a view to discovering valuable specimens for their collections.

Below is the latest movie Goku charicater…

Top 10 Tips To Start Oil Painting Like a Pro

by: Ralph Serpe
(Although these are oil painting picture techniques, most of these still apply to models,
remember too, that you can use oils on model figures as long as you have based it with an acrylic coat).

LEARN HOW TO DRAW
You will be amazed at how much learning how to draw will help improve your oil paintings.
In fact, years ago art students were not permitted to paint until they learned the fundamentals of drawing.
Drawing gets you more in touch with value, line and form without the distraction of color.
Find a good book on drawing fundamentals and start there.

LEARN ABOUT COLOR

Nothing can confuse a beginner more than color.
You need to have a good understanding of color theory if you intend on producing high quality paintings.
Concepts like color temperature, hue and intensity are very important and should be studied.
Once you have a good understanding of color theory, you must then learn how to mix your colors.
There is much more to color mixing then meets the eye.
For instance, you cannot mix any old blue with any old yellow and get the perfect green.
Certain blues and yellows behave differently than others, so you must learn about the properties of each color.

PERSPECTIVE

Perspective in painting is one of the biggest hurdles for beginners.
Sometimes a painting just looks “wrong”, and often it is because the perspective in the painting is off.
Learning about perspective will teach you how to properly translate a 3-dimensional world onto a 2-dimensional canvas or other support.
Learning perspective is a necessary ingredient toward producing convincing oil paintings.
There is of course an exception to this, if you are producing an abstract work and your intentions are to warp the perspective.

MATERIALS

Materials to an oil painter are like what a guitar is to a guitarist.
A guitarist cannot play without his instrument nor can he play without understanding how his instrument works.
Your painting materials are your instruments.
They are what enable you to express yourself, so learning more about them is an absolute must.
Learn about the different kinds of brushes and what they do. Know your paints.
Not all colors behave the same. Some are more transparent or opaque than others.
Know your supports and the difference between them. The list goes on.

TECHNIQUES

There are a plethora of oil painting techniques that you can learn to create your paintings.
Techniques like wet on wet, glazing, alla prima, knife painting, etc. should all be explored.
Working with various techniques will help you develop your own unique style and help you to produce more interesting paintings.

START WITH A CONCEPT

I remember not too long ago, what a frustrated painter I was.
I had 10 or so incomplete paintings collecting dust in the corner of my small studio.
I would attempt to complete these paintings over and over again, until finally I had to take a step back and try and understand what I was doing wrong.
The reason I lost interest and was unable to complete these paintings, was because I did not have a concept in mind before I started.
I would start haphazardly without a clear vision of what I really wanted to accomplish. Concepts are methods for solving problems in a painting.
What do you want your painting to be about? When you have a blueprint or roadmap in mind before you start painting, there is no room for diversion.
You must stick to your plan.

MASTER YOUR BRUSH

A very important part of oil painting is having control over your brush.
Without good brush control , your effectiveness as a painter is limited.
Make sure you have the best possible brushes you can afford.
One of the biggest mistakes artists make, myself included, is not reloading the brush enough.
Make certain you always have enough paint on your brush so that there is always a layer of paint between your brush and the canvas.
Do not try and scrub the paint into the canvas. Paint your strokes and leave them be.
Don’t over work your brushstrokes.

FAT OVER LEAN

Follow this rule and you will reduce the chance of your paint cracking.
Each layer of your oil painting should have a higher oil content then the one below it.

ORGANIZED PALETTE

Having a clean organized palette is an essential part of good painting.
Get into the habit of laying out your colors the same way every time you paint.
Arrange your colors along the edges of your palette leaving a lot of room in the center for mixing.
Don’t be afraid to squeeze out a good amount of paint, especially your whites.
You will be more productive if you aren’t continuously stopping to squeeze out more paint.
Make certain to include all of the colors you think you will need to complete that session of painting.
It’s a good idea to continuously wipe your palette clean during the painting process.
Keep some alcohol handy so that you can keep the mixing area of your palette clean.

INSPIRATION

If you are ever feeling uninspired don’t get discouraged.
Try taking a walk outside, breath in the air, look around at the beautiful earth God created.
Try playing music while you are painting. You will be surprised how music can affect your painting.
Visit a museum or local gallery. Viewing other works of art can really get your creative juices flowing.

Watching the movie of what your model is based upon can give lots of ideas for colours, use stop motion to get detail.

2005’s “Stealth” was a major box-office disappointment. But it did provide fans with an amazing new swing-wing aircraft, the FA-37 “Talon” . With moveable forward-swept wings reminiscent of the much-rumored “Switchblade” fighter, the FA-37 fighter/bomber/interceptor was supposed to have a top speed of Mach 4.0 as well as the most advanced radar-evading technology in the American arsenal. Its range was purported to be 4,000 nautical miles.

• Scale: 1:72
• Material: Resin
• Number of Pieces: 36
• Landing Gear and Cockpit Included
• Master by Anigrand Craftswork
• Decals by Mana Studios
• Casting by Anigrand Craftswork

This resin kit requires assembly & painting.