SubscribeNote: Batman: The Animated Series inspired an entire generation of artists, and storyboard artist Matthew Humphreys is paying that forward with this set of inspired animated reboots of some of Gotham’s Finest. No Batman here, but he’s not needed with the style and substance on display. Check out Poison Ivy’s cloak, and the haunting redesign of Clayface! – Chris A.
Scott
/ December 16, 2011Oh man. These are absolutely spectacular. I adore this Batgirl and Harley is just too fun. I would watch every single episode of cartoon.
Tom Brazelton
/ December 16, 2011The dual face redesign on Clayface is absolutely brilliant. Really brings to fore Clayface’s life as an actor before his transformation, but with a perfectly evil twist!
Alex
/ December 16, 2011I dig everything but Batgirl. That purple unitard and thigh-highs just aren’t working for me.
That said, I LOVE Harley and Ivy! Those. Are. Amazing.
mordicai
/ December 16, 2011I’ve never been a fan of Batgirl in purple, but I get that that is the direction they are going. BUT wait, don’t let me seem like I’m complaining because these are AMAZING. So great. The Batgirl design is perfect (& reminds me of Aaron Diaz’s Huntress); the Catwoman design is even better; Ivy is fantastic– those snakevines, that cloak!– & Clayface? CLAYFACE IS INTENSE.
Bryan
/ December 16, 2011As usual, there are dissensions in the ranks, because I love Batgirl’s outfit but am not a big fan of Clayface. Everyone else in the set looks awesome. Definite (but fading) Timmverse influence here.
Dedpool
/ December 16, 2011ABSOLUTELY FLIPPIN FANTASTIC!!!! I’d watch this!!!! I reallt like the sipmle streamlined design of all the characters. I love ALL the ladies!!
@Tom- Exactly what i was thinking. it’s a completely different take and yet it works and makes sense.
Matthew
/ December 16, 2011These are pretty good!
but they look more in line with The Batman then Batman: The Animated Series
Graeme
/ December 16, 2011Batgirl, Harley and Clayface are excellent. Clayface in particular reminds of of Noface from Spirited Away – is that a deliberate reference? Very clever, though.
Catwoman doesn’t work so well for me – just a bit plain and simplistic.
RandomGirl
/ December 16, 2011Clayface reminds me of someone…wait… HOLY CHEEZITS IT’S THE JOKER!!!!
Joker-Clayface!
Alex Kobahr
/ December 16, 2011Clayface is the best by far.
pearl
/ December 16, 2011I like the style and the characters but PLEASE change BAtgil and Catwoman. They look like they are still from “The Batman” cartoon. I want this show to happen.
MatthewHumphreys
/ December 16, 2011Thanks so much for the feature and all the kind comments!
Bradford
/ December 16, 2011Love em’
Nene
/ December 16, 2011The designs are great, but I only like the proportions on Catwoman. Harley, Ivy and Batgirl look like they can be pushed over by a small gust of wind at any moment.
Sean
/ December 16, 2011Thumbs way up from me. Especially Harley
Ryan
/ December 16, 2011Holly beautiful design Batman. ( yeah, I went there)
I love these. DC needs to hire Humphrey as a consultant to fix the costumes in the Teen Titans comic.
Patrick
/ December 16, 2011These are amazing! Very original redesigns, slick and up to date. Something that easily could be used for an animated Batgirl series.
Taja Reyul
/ December 16, 2011I freaking love the Ivy in the cloak. That should be her costume more of the time–heck ALL the time!
Ren Malone
/ December 16, 2011These are all so inspired and brilliant redesigns! Every one of them. Clayface in particular. I wish the future version of Catwoman that debuted in the Batman Beyond comic book series was given an outfit more like the one above. She was so bland and really could have used some color, and the purple highlights here would’ve worked wonders for her forgettable costume. Something about Mr. Humphrey’s design reminded me of her though. I think it ‘s the shape of her cowl and the circular pads on top of her hands, along with the fact that it’s also Catwoman. Anyway, thanks for sharing! These are wonderful.
Ren Malone
/ December 16, 2011Also, is it just me, or do Ivy’s monstrous plants recall the prehensile tentacles that come out of the mouths of graboids from the movie Tremors? Bonus points for the nostalgia, Matthew!
Jack
/ December 17, 2011I have to say first off that I love the designs and would be all over a cartoon with this style!! Personally I think the colors on Batgirl need swapped so that black is the primary look of it. Cat Woman needs a different color for trim than purple. The black/purple look ties the Bat and Cat ladies together too much for me.
Now when can we see the rest of the cast done this way? :D
aengre
/ December 17, 2011More. More! MORE!
Isaiah
/ December 17, 2011I want this series so much.
kalorama
/ December 18, 2011This is some great stuff.
Maki P
/ December 18, 2011Once again I wonder: Why did they do to Harley??!!! (she’s so lovely here :’( *sniff*)
Mr. Q
/ December 18, 2011I should have posted a comment sooner, but I was out of town for a few days.
I saw these drawings on Matthew’s DeviantArt page and just fell in love with them. He captured each of these characters perfectly while offering his playful take on each on. You should definitely go to his DA page and read the descriptions for each post. It offers much more detail on what went into the design process. I am so glad that these were posted on this blog. =D And if you ever get a chance, look around for his Nightwing animated models. Those are worth the time to check out.
Mr. Q
Phil
/ December 18, 2011The girls are way too thin. I can accept some measure of stylization, but their proportions are completely off; midsections as big around as their wrists.
At some point, you need to have healthier images for girls. Why not give Catwoman a few curves? I am not saying chubby, but I am saying something else than this impossibly thin body.
Harley’s body is barely any thicker than her arm.
James W
/ December 19, 2011Great designs; bottom-left Batgirl sketch is a little troubling!
elala
/ December 19, 2011I really like all of these designs! Batgirl’s is very nice and colour balanced and I love the streamlined shape on Catwoman and the way the ears taper off her head.
Phil, it’s just a style. They look fine to me. I’ve seen styles that would make these ladies look obese. If you’re going to criticize people for making their characters too thin, start with styles that are supposed to be realistic.
The Brave
/ December 23, 2011Some amazing redesigns, a simple and lovely style, Poison Ivy e Harley are simpli spectacular, I also like the concept for Clayface, even I really don’t like the red one.
P.F. Bruns
/ December 23, 2011I came here to post something very like this. It’s particularly disappointing in that the male characters are given much the same weight-levels they have in the existing comics.
Comix Book Gurl
/ January 3, 2012OMG I love it!
Trevor
/ January 8, 2012Very Cool! Kudos!
Marilyn
/ January 14, 2012I love the designs. Love, love, love these. I’d watch every episode of this cartoon.
I just have one complaint. The purple in Batgirl’s suit. Change it to a light blue. Purple is Steph’s color. Blue is more Babs’s.
Edwin
/ March 20, 2012Clayface haunts me… a-mazing
FireStormer
/ July 10, 2012Ok…. we’ve got “Beware the Batman” coming when this is an idea? I’ve been watching this on deviantart (waiting for more)- waiting for a Scarecrow design… and people on about proportion, It’s a cartoon. Hopefully no one is going to model their body off a cartoon character. It’s supposed to be stylized.