Tonaeru, a k a Chant, by Valerie Kawasaki, 18.

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Feats of artistic
strength

Young illustrators put
their creations to the test
in the Star-Bulletin's
superhero contest

WITH the mainstreaming of comic books, animation and anime, superheroes are everywhere, so we gave budding illustrators a chance to use their imaginations and create a hero of their own.

After sifting through stacks of drawings with lightning shooters and element tamers, we went less with flash and more with kinder, gentler superheroes who save the day with a minimum of collateral damage.

Our winners are:

» Age 6 and younger: Jasmine Wong, 6 1/2, who created Earth Girl, whose eco-conscious aim is to make plants grow to sustain life.

» Age 9 to 12: Kayla Vainerere, 10, who created BBQ Man, with grill attachments for his hands and legs. "He commands the flames and saves the day!" Kayla wrote, with a P.S.: "BBQ Man is my dad!"

Judges were particularly taken by BBQ Man's apron, with pockets for BBQ sauce, mustard and ketchup.

» Age 13 to 18: Valerie Kawasaki, 18, who created Tonaeru, a k a Chant, who "chants the sutras as the characters creep from her skin into her prayer beads. ... She shoots them at her enemies, having them freeze in their steps," after which she knocks them out or beats them up.

Kawasaki, who's been creating her own characters since she was 13, says she's becoming more interested in the animation and manga business. In coming up with her winning character, she said, "In the Buddhist religion the monks chant sutras, like the lotus blossom sutra for purity and grace. I thought it would be cool if that energy could be concentrated and formed into a power."

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Earth Girl, by Jasmine Wong, 6 1/2.

BBQ Man, by Kayla Vainerere, 10.

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Our "Sky High Superhero Contest" coincides with Friday's opening of the latest Walt Disney film "Sky High," about a school for superheroes. Each of our winners will receive a family four-pack of passes to an advance screening of the film, a "Sky High" prize pack, a $50 gift certificate from Software, Etc., and a copy of Game Informer magazine.

It was a tough decision to make, due to the creativity and drawing abilities of entrants.

Some heroes were practical, like 9-year-old Briant Pham's Dental Man, whose special powers include anti-cavity beam cannons, a floss/grenade utility belt and the ability to "shrink down to micro size" to get between teeth with his toothbrush boots.

There were also those who could harness the power of the arts to spread happiness and a drug-free message, like Rasta Man, created by Brittni Au, 15.

Samantha DeLeon, 12, came up with a lengthy back story for her hero Aurora T., born as an angel and possessed by a tiger demon spirit, giving her nine lives.

And the world needs more of 10-year-old Ross Villiger's Cerebral and Brainy, with the ability to "outsmart or smarten the stupid."

Thanks to all who entered, and congratulations to our winners. Keep drawing!