Note: Batman can’t be limited to one time and one place; in comics we’ve seen him go everywhere from the prehistoric age to the far-flung future, and now pro artist Ted Naifeh is taking the Dark Knight to the Art Deco age. Inspired by magazine illustrator Russell Patterson, Naifeh’s dreamt up a 1920s Gotham replete with Batman and his assorted rogue’s gallery. Seeing Harley Quinn as a flapper is a no-brainer. – Chris A.
Note: DC’s Batman has one of the biggest families in comics. This tight-knit group of orphans, runaways and self-made men and women have each shown themselves to have a style all their own. And artist Jen Zee has taken time to show off former Batgirl Cassandra Cain in her new guise as the Black Bat as seen in Batman Inc.. – Chris A.
Note:In recent years many of the official super-hero redesigns have leaned into hyper-detailed realism: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But this design by video game character artist Mark Vick of the Batman from Batman Beyond really showed you when it can work. – Chris A.
Note: X-Men have always had a unique sense of style, but artist Kevin Wada has been taking that up a few notches with his series if fashion-focused X-Men portraits. And this new piece takes the cake, as he works up seven X-Women into a Vanity Fair-esque pin-up. – Chris A.
Here’s how Kevin describes each individual outfit:
From left to right:Rogue. Green high-waist pantsuit with bull shoulders, dark chocolate obi lacquer belt, hot orange gloves with powder blue stitching, rising flight gold earrings, gold-weave chest necklace plate.
Ms. Marvel. Iridescent black/red bolt dress, Marvel star bangle, Ms. Marvel sunglasses, dark navy suede Warbird booties.Emma Frost. Pure white corseted leotard, lustre gun-metal stockings, baby blue darling heart belt, blonde ambition bangles, chastity pearls, blue chiffon wrap, diamond crochet necklace, diamond/crystal “fuck me” platform pumps.Polaris. Powder blue/green sakura blazer, candy black hot pants, coral sash obi tie, teal “suneate” platform wedges, skull enamel earrings.Storm. ”Setting Sun” column dress with matte tight-drape top, gold dangle uncanny earrings, wire lightening crown, gold “talons and claws” ring series.Psylocke. Purple ballet stretch top with low cut back, butterfly puff skirt, Japanese “S” lacquer heels, “psi” wrap gold chain.Sage. Black single shoulder bathing suit, navy sari with gold trimmings, gold password lock belt, black choker and arm band, dark black blank screen sunglasses, computer chip tattoos.
Note: Gentleman artist Nate Bellegarde returns to the P:R parlor with this updated and slightly militaristic new take on the X-Men. Cyclops’ eye-globe is a beaut to behold! If you like this and want to see more, Nate’s started a unique thing on his blog where you can request him to draw specific things for a small fee. – Chris A.
Note: Our friends at Superhero of the Month are doling out the entries from their recent Starfire contest, and amongst the entries was one that stood out to both Dean and I. The winner hasn’t been declared yet, but This design by Blair J. Campbell gets high marks from us for being inventive, cool, and just plan fun-looking to draw. Great looking work! – Chris A.
Here’s what Campbell said about the design:
Rather than go the ultra-sleazy route that seems to be popular these days, I decided to go retro-chic. I designed the costume to be an homage to the ’50s style “space girl” look — still being sexy, without giving it all away for free. As for her skin, I tried to give her an almost translucent, glowing quality. Her power is actually radiating from within her body, much like an actual star. I imagined that the hair would be so much of an actual flame, but something along the lines of plasma and solar flares. It’s constantly shifting and morphing.
Note: Is too much a good thing a bad thing? Of course not, especially when it comes to Kevin Wada‘s dramatic takes on Marvel’s mutants. This time out, he takes on four more men and women, including a version of Bishop so inspired I made it my wallpaper! Take time out to soak in each of them — if you don’t, you’ll be missing the best parts! – Chris A.
Note: I don’t know about you, but the recently launched Wolverine And The X-Men has been a breath of fresh air in Marvel’s mutant comics — and that was only doubled when artist Nick Bradshaw took over. Following after Chris Bachalo is a challenge unto itself, but Bradshaw excelled and also introduced us to a future team of X-Men featuring some of today’s teen mutants all grown up — and some merged with other concepts. Quintin Quire as Phoenix, with a tinge of Charles Xavier? A Brood as X-Man? Lapsed X-men fans might not know who any of these are, but you can’t help but enjoy the decisions and maybe — just maybe — want to give this title a look. Here’s sketches Bradshaw did of the future team, taken from this Newsarama.com interview with writer Jason Aaron. Be sure to click on each image to blow it up — the small notes Bradshaw makes are worth reading! – Chris A.
Note: I’ll let Kevin Wada‘s art do the talking on this one. If you like these, check out Part 1 and Part 2. – Chris A.
Note: For an artist working full-time in super-hero comics, sometimes when you have some free time you want to experiment. Wonder Woman artist Cliff Chiang did just that a few years back with a series of illustrations imagining a band of Japanese superheroes inspired by the heroes of the Justice League. In what Chiang describes as a mix of DC, old school anime and kaiju, this take was almost greenlit by DC a years ago. Just imagine. – Chris A.
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