Picked by the pros …

Cartoon writer and artist team up to select SuperBowler Art Contest winners

USBC's SuperBowler Art Contest that ran in the Fall 2007 edition of US Youth Bowler created a lot of excitement among USBC Youth bowlers as well as among your USBC headquarters staff. Who knew that so many talented artists and storytellers could be found bowling in USBC Youth leagues?

Contest entrants aimed to create the ultimate bowling-themed superhero, each with its own cool hero name and unique superhero powers.

Magazine staffers were rescued from the formidable task of determining the contest's grand prize winner and five runners-up when Peter David and Todd Nauck, the writer and illustrator of Marvel Comics' Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series, agreed to take on the challenge.

The grand-prize winning entry, The Bowlenator, was submitted by Gerry Sann Rivera, 15, of Hilo, Hawaii.

"The Bowlenator uses his right arm as a long-range cannon that shoots out bowling balls at a tremendous speed and force," Gerry wrote. "His left arm is disguised as a bowling pin, but is actually used for close-range combat since it shoots out bowling alley oil at villains. Once the villains are distracted from the oil on them, The Bowlenator hits them with his adamantium bowling pin leg until they get knocked out and stop causing harm to the innocent. His suit of armor is his last hope of defeating villains, since it is virtually indestructible. He also uses his bowling ball mask to hide his identity."

"The Bowlenator visual was great," David said. "The art was strong, the name was funny and we loved the bowling-oriented powers."

Gerry's grand prize includes a new Brunswick Fury Pearl bowling ball and ball bag, supplied courtesy of Brunswick, a sponsor of the contest.

Artists of the five runner-up entries each received a USBC tote bag, handy for carrying their art supplies and comic books.

Pin Blaster, by Tony Lave Jr., 14, of Wayne, Mich., has an on-board control center, ball launcher and a laser eye to detect changing oil patterns.
Whiplash, by Katlyn Carlson, 14, of Wichita, Kan., has amazing powers of accuracy, speed, agility and strength.  "When she throws a stink pin, stun pin or mini exploding bowling balls, she always hits her mark," Katlyn wrote.
Spfear, by Chelsea Shettler, 15, of Grand Junction, Colo., has a name pronounced like the word sphere but spelled s-p-f-e-a-r according to Chelsea "to give the name a more sinister ring." She explained that Spfear saves New York from treacherous villains by creating energy balls of varying sizes, weights and temperatures that she can throw at high speeds. "Propulsion from her hands also enables her to fly long distances," Chelsea wrote. Like Spider-Man or Superman, Chelsea's superhero has an alter-ego. When she's not fighting villains, Spfear is mild-mannered Chloe Johnson, a 24-year-old champion bowler and skater with college degrees in physics and chemistry. "Her powers do come in handy when competing against other bowlers," Chelsea wrote.
Hombre Tres Ciento (300 Man), by Zack Brittsan, 13, of Whitefish, Mont., "has the power to turn his enemies into pins and has the ability to shape shift into a bowling ball," Zack wrote. Hombre also has super bowling strength, a bowling ball bazooka, ball grenade launcher, pin bombs and a pin saber (Zack's favorite).
Super Split Girl, by Amber Spino, 15, of Kingman, Ariz., is proud that she can use her crime-fighting abilities and still wear high heels. She can smash villains with her pin mallet and her bowling ball blaster. If those tools aren't enough to vanquish her enemies, Super Split Girl "also has superbreath to knock over pins," Amber wrote.