Project : Rooftop

Superheroes, Redesigned

P:R Approved: Erica Henderson’s Guy Gardner, Green Lantern!

Note: It seems as if Green Lantern is on the minds of many artists these days. Maybe it’s because of Geoff Johns’ finale on the Green Lantern title, or maybe it’s our own Green Lantern: Emerald Ensemble redesign contest. Or maybe it’s just because they’re that cool. Whatever the instigation, we’re glad to be showcasing this spirited take on DC’s Guy Gardner by artist Erica Henderson. This piece was recently posted on Henderson’s tumblr after a particularly tumultous trip on the NYC train system. This design, from the costume to the green projection and the bruised face are the quintessential Guy Gardner. Just try’n’ ignore him! – Chris A.

Great Scott — The Many Looks of Green Lantern Alan Scott by Jon Morris!

Note: As we work behind the scenes to judge, jury and comment on the entries for our Green Lantern: Emerald Ensemble contest, we present you another great article on the Emerald Sentinel’s colored costume history. This time out, Jon Morris wrote a piece about the many designs for the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott. – Chris A.

Green Lantern’s unique look was, according to creator Martin Nodell, inspired by the uniform of an employee of the New York Subway system and his own interest in the costuming of Greek mythology. The hybrid outfit, filtered through his own imagination, was as outlandish and memorable as his protagonist Scott anticipates it will be in a thought balloon at the end of his first appearance.

Read the full article »

Fan-Art Friday: Beast!

Note: Oh my stars and garters, P:R Faithful… the talent has come out in force for Fan-Art Friday: Beast. From first-time submitters to former P:R contest winners and P:R regulars, we have over 60 different artists’ submissions for long-time X-man Hank McCoy. Whether you like your Beast blue and furry or in his classic look, this post is a smorgasbord of fun. Feast on this Beast art! – Chris Arrant


Tyler Parker

Read the full article »

P:R Approved: Kris Anka’s Mr. Freeze!

Note: Not since Mike Mignola’s excellent redesign in Batman: The Animated Series have I been excited to see a new look for Mr. Freeze. P:R Regular Kris Anka delivers the goods here, making a convincing containment suit for Mr. Fries that melds his earlier look with haunting science fiction ala Fringe. And Anka went the next level with the coloring choices, with the flat colors for the suit contrasting witht he glowing blue and the haunting red googles. – Chris A.


Here’s what Anka said about the design:

Continuing as part of the daily bust series, when I approached Mr. Freeze I wanted to create some form of visual simplicity with the characters. Because of the visual nature of his power (glowing blue colour) I felt he would look great with that as a visual theme. I added the “Tron lines” to help define the figure within a silhouette. He could be drawn with his entire body fading into shadow, but the lines and the helmet would still provide enough information as to what he was doing, and it would be a cool visual look which would also contrast his red eyes.

P:R Approved: Thomas Branch’s Spoiler!

Note: The P:R Staff are big fans of Stephanie Brown, and seeing this recent redesign by Thomas Branch hits us in our weakspot. Branch really studied Brown’s Spoiler costume, as well as it seems her time as Batgirl, giving us something great here — and the addition of the lenses is a big bonus. – Chris A.

P:R Approved: Marvel’s Modern Drax The Destroyer!

Note: Marvel’s Drax the Destroyer is carving up aliens and enemies alike in the new Guardians of the Galaxy series, and it recently came to me just how great his current design is as compared to the retro-superhero suit he wore for most of his life. This bare-bones redesign of Drax first appeared in the 2005 Drax The Destroyer miniseries illustrated by Mitch Breitweiser, but I haven’t been able to confirm if it was Breitweiser who did the redesign. Although that’s still a mystery, this great panel by Michael Avon Oeming from a recent issue of the Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite Comics shows just how simple and iconic it can be. – Chris A.

P:R Approved: Eric Guzman’s Robin!

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.

The Garish Gear of Guy Gardner, Green Lantern

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. Classic

While 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.

Read the full article »

Deadlines Coming Up Soon!

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.

P:R Approved: Kenneth Rocafort’s Cyborg Superman!

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.