Ready to tug on Superman’s cape? Heck, tear it off and take the tights back to the drawing board! Project: Rooftop is teaming up with Pulp Secret and Jim Hanley’s Universe for a new drawing contest that breaks even our own guidelines. That’s right, Jimmy Olsen, in honor of the 70th anniversary of Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1 way back in 1938, P:R, P.S., and JHU are putting out the call for redesigns of the first superhero with Superman: Man of Style! Jim Hanley’s Universe has provided these incredible prizes:

Grand Prize (1) - The Superman No. 14 statue, Superman: Birthright TPB signed by writer Mark Waid, and Superman #676 signed by our own Vito Delsante, who wrote the issue!

Second Prize (1) - Justice League Animated Superman mini maquette and a signed copy of Superman #676.

Third Prize (1) - Superman #676 signed by Vito!

Along with our usual P:R Staff roundtable reviews, fan-favorite writer and DCU expert, Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, Superman: Birthright), will be joining in to guest judge the finalists! The winners will be announced on Pulp Secret the following day with commentary from the P.S. crew.

Send in your Superman redesigns to editors@projectrooftop.com, with the subject line, “Superman: Man of Style!” Please include your full name, age, website, and mailing address for prize shipment. International winners may be responsible for prize shipment. All the usual P:R Guidelines apply…except for #7, of course.

All entries must be received by June 15th, 2008!

(Check out Pulp Secret’s announcement of Superman: Man of Style in today’s episode, available here!)

Editor’s Note: These first two Iron Man redesigns were sent in to us after the deadline for Iron Man: Invincible Upgrade, but while we they weren’t entered in the actual contest, we wanted to spotlight them here. Also, check out the Honorable Mentions! - D.T.

Charles Rouse-Rodriguez (Larger Version)

Dean: Gosh there’s a lot of good going on here. The inset circle on the torso and the raised neck guard are the parts that work the best for me. I dig the simplified faceplate, but I think I’d rather have seen a more personable face there.

Chris: If only Charles would have turned this in before the deadline. Like Dean, I enjoy the indented circle on the torso as well as the neckguard, in addition to the backpiece. The faceplate reminds me of Eric Canete’s work on the recent Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin miniseries.

Vito: It’s funny how everyone, when drawing IM, draws him in segments and plates. I wonder what the thinking is behind that. Or maybe those aren’t plates…maybe they’re designs on the metal. Just makes me wonder why all you artists think alike in that respect. My favorite element on Charles’ submission is the collar…how it goes up around his neck. Looks like a football player’s neckroll, which makes him a “bigger” character. It makes sense to me because you have to believe there’s a guy under all that metal. I would have given this a solid 8 had it come in on time.

Rachel: I can’t get past the fact that he looks like he’s wearing mechanical panties over his costume. Otherwise, freakin’ awesome.

Jon Morris (Larger Version)

Dean: Haha, this thing is CRAZY. Jon described it to me as being a womb-like containment structure that Tony lives in, so the shape and appendages don’t necessarily have to reflect a human form. I could see this as a future Tony Stark, protecting his ailing body, perhaps from a harsh environment. The only thing I’d deduct points for is the color scheme. I think Tony’d go for a red tunic over a blue one, man. Power colors.

Chris: This is less a redesign and more a re-imagination. I can’t quite get my brain around it.

Vito: I’m with Chris. I can’t quite put a finger on this one. It’s certainly a lot of fun, but wow, how weird!

Rachel: Add a third to that list! I love the design, but I can’t wrap my head around it as Iron Man.

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

Art Grafunkel

Christian Pearce

More after the jump! -Dean

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