Note: Eric Guzman‘s work returns to the site today, this time with a new take on an old favorite: Robin. Guzman’s designs gives him the armor a crimefighter like Robin would need, but also understands that too much armor is a bad thing for someone as acrobatic and stealthy as the boy wonder. – Chris A.
Note: With today being the final deadline for our Green Lantern: Emerald Ensemble contest, P:R contributing writer Vito Delsante shared with us some epic snafus in costuming for one particular Green Lantern, Guy Gardner. – Chris A.
As a product of the 80’s comic scene, Guy Gardner was (and still is) my favorite Green Lantern. And I have no real reason to like the guy, pardon the pun. He’s obnoxious, egotistical, and a bit of a danger to everyone around him. Those might be the very reasons why I like him, but I wouldn’t call those admirable traits.
Guy has had a rough go, costume wise, in his career. Some of his choices…hmmm, not so much. So, while they might not be as hideous as the title suggests, let’s take a look at some of Guy’s “shoulda-zigged-when-he-zagged” costume missteps.
1. ClassicWhile there’s really nothing wrong with the Joe Staton-designed costume, you have to point to the top of this dude’s hair and wonder, “Double u, tee, eff.” I went to school with plenty a bowlcut (and plenty a mullet, while we’re at it), but there is no good reason for a superhero to have one. A supervillain? Maybe. In looking back at it, I wouldn’t be surprised if Guy’s bowlcut was there to make us think this guy is a jerk. The way the front offsets his eyebrows…it gives his face a square shape and almost acts as a mono-brow above his actual brow. A mono-brow gives the look of no emotion, hence a villainous shape. Despite the fact that I’m not a fan of the haircut, it does work with the character, if you follow my extremely convoluted and oddball logic.
Note: Listen up, P:R hopefuls! Both the deadlines for the Green Lantern: Emerald Ensemble contest and the Fan-Art Friday: Beast are imminent. All entries for Green Lantern: Emerald Ensemble are due in by 5pm Eastern time on May 16, 2013. Fan-Art Friday: Beast entries are due at 5pm Eastern time today, May 15, 2013. Good luck! – Chris A.
Note: The New 52 ain’t all bad. Superman artist Kenneth Rocafort has given new life to one of the most memorable (and sometimes derided) DC creations from the 1990s: Cyborg Superman. Moving past the cyborg stereotype perpetrated in the 1990s, Rocafort’s design melds Otomo aesthetics with the segmented armor approach of the New 52, making it actually work. The fact that this also looks like a Bruce Campbell gives this one bonus points. – Chris A.
Note: Once again we return to the dusty corners of the comics bin, finding those discarded characters that have fallen into the public domain and brought them back with new life, new vigor — and a new design! Project: Rooftop’s RetroFix returns with theBlue Lady by Patrice Martinez!
Lucille Martin, an adventurous novelist, was returning from a vacation in China when she met an elegant Chinese lady. This lady asked Lucille to safeguard a package for her. In the event that she should be meet with foul-play, she was to deliver the package to Chin Liang in Washington, DC. The lady also gave her a bluebird-shaped ring which was said to grant superpowers to the wearer. One night, the power went out, and Martin knew that people had come for the package. While hiding in her bedroom, she began playing with the Bluebird Ring, but it fell off and she then stepped on it in the dark. This released some of the gas within it, which Lucille breathed in, not noticing until it was too late. The gas she inhaled gave her the strength of ten men, resistance to up to .38 caliber bullets, and heightened reflexes. The effect lasted for at least a day.
Note: Check out the RetroFix and final design after the jump! – Chris A.
Note: People sometimes make jokes about Aquaman, but there’s no joking when talking about his half-brother Ocean Master. P:R Regular Kris Anka recently targeted Orm here in great new iteration of the Bob Cardy design. The buttoned cape has a certain regality fit for a member of the Atlantean royal family, and Anka’s reforged Ocean Master’s mask to make him less like Merman from Masters of the Universe and something more tyrannical and threatening. – Chris A.
We asked Anka about the design, and here’s what he said:
This was done as part of a series of daily bust redesigns. I attempted to adapt Ocean Master’s previous versions into something that wasn’t super corny that could actually be taken seriously as a villain. I adopted a lot from the Young Justice version, which I feel was the best out of his already existing designs.
Note: Part of what makes heroes heroic is the example they make for others. And this piece by Camilo Otálora shows DC’s power trio as free-wheeling children in a heart-warming reimagination of what Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman can be. Today’s spotlighting of this is as much a ‘thumbs up’ to the regular wear design of the heroes as is the illustration Camilo did. Bravo! – Chris A.
Note: Talk about a character who’s grown. This one-time New Mutant Danielle “Dani” Moonstar has gone through more changes than a butterfly, twisting to the tides of creators and editors’ whims but coming out of it a thoroughly complex and exciting character. Moonstar is a Cheyenne mutant whose was inducted into the Asgardian order of Valkyries. Although her psi powers are robbed from her, she remains a vibrant character and Thomas Branch has given her the wardrobe to match. I might recommend a tweak to some of the colors to make her stand out more, but all-in-all this is invigoratingly great. – Chris A.
Thomas had something to say about his redesign, so here it is:
Talk about a character that gets SCREWED. Mutant, not a mutant, Valkyrie, not a Valkyrie. I can do this one thing with my powers…no that’s boring, lets get her to do this power. Now I tote guns. *sigh* Sheesh, lady sit down and have a cup of tea.
So as far as *I* Know (thanks wiki) Dani’s been restored to Valkyrie status again, sorta. WHATEVER. THIS Dani is the Herald of Hela. Much like the Silver Surfer, Dani must answer the call of her Mistress.
Her look has pulls from Valkyrie, Sif, and Hela. The waves in her armor is to represent flight or air, the skulls for the lost dead that she must seek out, and her chest insignia is Hela’s headdress design. Of course, Dani has some of her Native American details like her feathers and the necklace. Armed with a ‘big sword’ and her bow and arrows, she’s a force to be reckoned with.
She’s even got the skull eye thing going, but you probably can’t see that.
Note: Longtime P:R commentor Thomas Fummo makes his solo debut here with a take on Marvel’s resident magic man, Doctor Strange. Fummo brings his lush illustration style here, taking advantage of the Doctor’s rather decadent looks and gives him a visit to the tailor. Strange isn’t a super-hero in the typical variety, and Fummo sees that and instead makes him an adventurer of yore. – Chris A.
Here’s what Fummo had to say about the redesign:
It’s not really much of a change, really. Definitely no re-imagining this time. I literally just took some of the key costume elements and tried to make them look less ridiculous. I combined the poofy shirt and cape into one, long coat, turning that spiky collar thing into raised lapels. I wanted him to look half shaman, half victorian occultist: hence the forehead marking and victorian cravat, waistcoat and knee-high boots.
Note: Remember when Metallo was one of DC’s scariest supervillains? Eric Guzman does, and has taken the sinister cyborg and put him back in his rightful place. Beat that, Superman. – Chris A.
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