With regards to Zbrush, check out www.pixolator.com. The forum there is full of hints, tips, tutorials any many excellent examples of what can be done with Zbrush. Well worth checking out. I know I have been banging the drum for Zbrush quite a bit, but having had v1.23 for ages and never getting to grips with it, I came across the site listed above, so started learning how to use it. Now I don`t model with anything else. Give it a chance :)