My suggestions would be to make it less cartoonish and more dark comic. Also, we've updated the contest brief because we've had to change the name to Merlin's Stars. Due to licensing issues we'll need to de-emphasize any likeness to Einstein. Make it more merlin/wizard-esque. longer hair, maybe a goatee, you can add shoulders and hands with an active stance, but no more than a half body.
some direct feedback from the owner along the same lines:
although we like the dimensionality and detail a lot, we don't like the emphasis on "magic" and less like merlin is going to hypnotise us.
We want to go with a merlin that has less voodoo streaming lights around his head and seems like he is more grounded like a human. This merlin had brilliance, but it is a grounded intelligence. Like einstein. So less of an ethereal look and more grounded.
1) Ask question no 4 above (avatar in the next X man movie)
2) The powder blue does not work. It looks like a kids coloring book. We are looking for an older audience. Think the move "airbender". Let's just go with white background for now.
Thanks for the new design. We really appreicate you taking a risk and going outside of hte box. But this new design looks too much like a college emblem. We’re looking for a Merlin that looks like he came out of the woods. This Merlin looks too professorial.