Bit of a slow year again, but here are the 10 finalists I have chosen this time around. I was worried for a sec... was kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel there, if you catch my drift... :p

Without further pointless drivel on my part, here they are! As usual, clicking on the entrant's name will take you to the image you're voting for. For which you are voting.

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Akuryou13 (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/62188370/) - A nod to Slick's wondrous "Believe in Me" (http://islick.deviantart.com/art/quot-Believe-in-me-quot-70146557). The effects look pretty nice, but he missed the mark on the actual original context pretty badly... Oh well, what are you gonna do? It looks neat. :p

Cisken1 (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/60374967/) - Cisken opts to put Zero in a nifty futuristic-looking cybersuit thing, complete with matching nifty futuristic-looking cyberbike thing. Certainly fairly original, and sharp-looking to boot.

Gardy Looo (http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2729/zeorhk1.png) - Attempting to steal Cisken's cybersuit thunder, Gardy counters with this battle-scarred rendition. I have to say, I really like that sword, and as usual, Gardy exhibits an impressive knack for making MS Paint, or something similar enough, look really nice.

HuntaKilla (http://forum.team17.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=30928&stc=1&d=1195471051) - Everybody knows this is a real favorite of mine because it's the snappiest avatar I've ever had. Like, anywhere. Ever. Um, the one linked here is the 2x-sized non-seizure version, of course. Har.

Melon (http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=606335&postcount=183) - Almost missed this one because there was no image in the drawing contest thread...! :p A short comic paying tribute to Ground Zero from the days of old. Demonstrates Melon's endearing style of art and humor.

MtlAngelus (http://forum.team17.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=30687&stc=1&d=1190947964) - A very professional entry. Something about the subtle, real-looking colors and the smooth lines... I just want to caress it with my eyeballs. Also an excellent facial expression for Zero.

Paul.Power (http://forum.team17.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=30331&stc=1&d=1185008190) - Gotta love Paul for sticking to that cardinal final rule of the competition. Paul's comedy entries are as traditional as the contest itself, and this one got a good long chuckle out of me.

Slick (http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7914/scan0006ne0.jpg) - Slick resurfaces with another of his trademark pencil drawings, beautifully shaded, expressive, and an apt homage to Ground Zero of the days of old.

WormsMatt (http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff290/MattWorms/WormMinigunArt.jpg) - Certainly an underdog entry, this one isn't so professional, but somehow its charm and style appealed to me. Maybe because the atmosphere, minigun and cigar reminded me of Soldat.

Xinos (http://forum.team17.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=30491&stc=1&d=1188331115) - The tiniest entry to the competition thus far, as far as I can remember, this is a sort of customized emoticon, if I recall correctly. It's kind of cute. There was a more normal version lacking the green visor, but you know where to find that if you want it, right? :p

Yep, there you go. Vote. Put down the sticks, I'm getting welts.

Some excellent entries, but I'm won over by Slick's pencilly goodness.

Yes, Slick's pencilly goodness is awesome!

I Like most of 'em, but I vote for melon because he put a lot of efford in it. :)

Are you trying to suggest that the other's didn't put effort into theirs? But thanks.

I'm going to have to go with Slick here. I found it hard to decide, but Slick's blew my mind when I first saw it, and it still does, so it get's my vote.

Slick wins, once again. Why does that not suprise me?

couldn't decide between slick's, HK's, or Cisken's, and since everyone going for slick, I'm going for the underdog, cisken!

edit: and should I have just asked what the context of the picture was? that way I might live down the fact that I didn't try to stick to it? :p

Burning up in atmospheric entry. :p

Hmm, HK or Slick? That's a tough one.

Think I'll have to go with Slick though.

I have to say, I'm a big fan of Slick's entry myself, but I'm a little surprised to see him running away with the vote so much! I still haven't voted yet, myself... as always, just can't make up my mind yet.

Hooray, I'm off the mark :p

at least you got 1 vote. look at aku, he has none.

at least you got 1 vote. look at aku, he has none.I never have and never will. doesn't matter what the quality of my art is, I'm not allowed to get votes.

you'll learn that around here :p

I voted for MtlAngelus.
Looks like Slick will win, however.

HEY ZEOR!!! WHERE IS MY ENTRIEZZ?!1!!!111?!

no, seriously. my HUNCHBACK ZEOR and the Zero & Stranglo3k adventures crap (check my dA)

HEY ZEOR!!! WHERE IS MY ENTRIEZZ?!1!!!111?!

no, seriously. my HUNCHBACK ZEOR and the Zero & Stranglo3k adventures crap (check my dA)You can only fit 10 items into a poll, so Zero chose the ten best (in his opinion) to go through to the final.

I think cisken has a great piece of art so I voted for him.:)

Gardy Loo gets my vote. :p

Underdogs FTW.

Pencily goodness!

I entered.

I mean, it wasn't the best.
It was downright pathetic.

But jeez, I should be in the poll.
:p

I entered. I mean, it wasn't the best. It was downright pathetic. But jeez, I should be in the poll.I don't really care if I'm late or not. I just wanted to draw Zero.
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5817/zeroeq7.png
...Yeah, okay.

I voted for Gardy Looo because i love MSPaint more than life itself

If it was actually gimp or something don't ruin this for me :(

I voted for Gardy Looo because i love MSPaint more than life itself

If it was actually gimp or something don't ruin this for me :(nah, it was paint. gardy only uses paint to my knowledge.

...Yeah, okay.

OKay, you win.
I should be more consistent.

Wow. Two votes for me. That's two more than Aku. TAKE THAT.

Yeah, sorry. :p

Wow. Two votes for me. That's two more than Aku. TAKE THAT.

Yeah, sorry. :poh come on, there's practically an anti-fanclub for me. people actively go out of their way to come up with reasons to NOT vote for me.

oh come on, there's practically an anti-fanclub for me. people actively go out of their way to come up with reasons to NOT vote for me.It's true! I'm not voting for Aku because his clothing is grey which is anti-patriotic!

Realizing that the poll would close in 1 hour and 20 minutes, I've used my vote to break a tie for 3rd place.

Another Slictory.

Realizing that the poll would close in 1 hour and 20 minutes, I've used my vote to break a tie for 3rd place.

Well thanks for robbing me of my tied third place :p.