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Underground > Comic Books >

Top Notch Costumes (& character designs) [PICS]

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17:23 / 21.10.05

I realize this probably goes without saying...but I'm going to go ahead and say it anyways...

17:48 / 21.10.05

Oh, but Bats has had a lot of iterations, some bad (AzBats, Adam West, George Clodpiece), some good (Batman Begins, Burton's flicks, the Bruce Timm shows). Hmp. It's interesting I reference mostly the televised versions... Anyway — Batman's "costume" is classic — in that it merely is a horned cowl and scalloped cape. Everything underneath it is flexible. Armor, leather, bulletproof vest. Even the bat-logo changes often. The Batman costume allows for infinite creativity on the part of the artist as well as the writer.

Personally, not too keen on the Alex Ross interpretation, ...but I think Batman has transcended comic books.

17:53 / 21.10.05

Chad, you make an excellent point.

17:59 / 21.10.05

let's not forget the er "finned" gloves. I'd dare say with out them we wouldn't have had those flairs on wolverine's boots. Maybe his gloves are the predacessor to the spiked bracelette?

18:02 / 21.10.05

I don't know that I like the idea of something 'transcending' comic books, in the same way I'm not comfortable with something transcending any medium. Crosses over, cross-pollinates, rocks many a..., or what have you but... does the Last Supper or the Mona Lisa transcend painting? Does Munch's Madonna?
Something might transcend a genre, I'll leave that open, but a medium? Isn't one just as good as another, depending on the product and its purpose? They're all communication, after all.
And I like comics as a concept better than most mediums, so....
And bringing it back on track: So many great costumes only work in comics. In illustration. Like, Dead Man; Boston Brand would look quite shit if given more than five minutes live-action screentime.
And for the record, best costume goes to Pete Wisdom because it is incredibly lazily designed, simple, and it is definitely a costume, unified and singularly identifiable and he wears it all the fucking time. Or Catwoman, because, similar to how any team that follows Captain America is immediately an Avengers-level legally-sanctioned deal, everything she wears is a costume. I also like her 'The Cat' costume, the old one.

18:06 / 21.10.05

I gotta defend my statement

You don't, you know, Mr O. You really don't have to.

Or at least not about Ultimate Thor anyway - I'm guessing that a lot of us guys out here in cyberspace are still waiting around for your further, and promised, thoughts about that 'Wifegate' business though.

Don't let us down.

18:16 / 21.10.05

I guess what I meant what that Batman is a very successful franchise outside of being a comic book. Almost all my experience with Batman has been framed as an on-screen presence. And for most people, that's what they see. That's what I meant abouot transcended... that the "classic" costume is determined by the consensus, now on TV. Which is a good thing for comic books, in that it allows for more wild and more accepted interpretations.

miss wonderstarr

18:29 / 21.10.05

Personally, not too keen on the Alex Ross interpretation,

I agree with those who are a bit bored of seeing superheroes as paunchy, jowly friends of Alex Ross, but the Batman above seems to be the 1939 Bob Kane version, in terms of logo, soft gray suit and ear-length.

18:32 / 21.10.05

guns too?

18:49 / 21.10.05

Alex Ross: such beautiful art.

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH

18:57 / 21.10.05

Does anyone else suspect that part of the reason Alex Ross gets such acclaim is that some stupid people - fans and industry types - think his "painterly" style helps to legitimise the medium?

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

18:58 / 21.10.05

But it's ART!

18:59 / 21.10.05

*raises hand*

How I wish Bruce Timm could slap each of their faces.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

19:00 / 21.10.05

The exclamation mark there accidentally undercuts the very serious point I was trying to make about the sobriety and lack of fun that is to be found in any SERIOUS, worthwhile art.

19:26 / 21.10.05

Have to get back to the trancends the medium-vs.-genre bit when I've got more time and collected some thoughts...

Would the word mythologized sort of fit for how just about anyone within our demographic "pop"culture can summon up some recognizable image of batman?

[personal aside] As a kid my Pops (then a tailor) whipped a near perfect repleca of the Adam West Batman cowl and cape (scaled to a 5 year old me). The rest of the costume consisted of the batman logo, in patch form, sewed onto a grey sweatshirt and jeans. Cherished memory.[/personal aside]

I think there are a combination of elements in the batman design that would make that character recognizeable. Not all of them would have to be present, as CHAD says -

"Batman's "costume" is classic — in that it merely is a horned cowl and scalloped cape. Everything underneath it is flexible."
But there's a sort of minimal requirement. Would a bat drawn onto a t-shirt and a trash bag work?

ON THOR.
I always felt he never looked VIKING enough. Not sure if the Ultimate design is any more "viking;" the beard helps. However the Techie look makes for a more contemporary apeal.

miss wonderstarr

19:32 / 21.10.05

I think Ross' art looked great when it first appeared (Marvels?) but the novelty's kind of worn off. It was impressive to see superheroes depicted so "realistically", with every clothing-crease and stubble-shadow lovingly painted, and perhaps more strikingly, with such distinctive, individual, believable faces. Ross' Batman and Superman would be recognisable out of costume just by their facial structure and expressions. I'd double-take in the street if I saw the guy he uses as the model for Batman. You can't say that for many, more traditional representations of the characters, where Batman's just any generic jaw and a cowl, with the costume rather than the face serving as recognisable icon.

The problem with Ross as I see it is that firstly, his stuff reached a saturation point and it sometimes seemed you couldn't get away from his particular style -- secondly, that he's mainly good at big posturing poses and heroic stances, or reinterpretation of older images. That is, he's an ideal artist for posters and covers, not for the storytelling function of interior art.

19:44 / 21.10.05

Dead Man; Boston Brand would look quite shit if given more than five minutes live-action screentime.

I'm rather fond of the skeleton or dried-up corps version of him as illustrated by Kelly Jones and later Alex Ross. A CGI version of that form verses the pre-dead circus performer (ala Cirque Du Soliel) could be wachable in a Hellboy or Cronenberg type of way. IMO

And I'll admit to enjoying Alex Ross's draftsmanship in watercolor and correct anatomy. Though I've heard some harsh words about him from a friend who's mounted and framed some of his work.

19:56 / 21.10.05

Phallic?

Bah! These are MEN, with MANLY ARROWS and MANLY HELMETS and lightning and that.

I really liked the Uncle Sam book Alex Ross did -- in part, I suppose, because it wasn't really a "hero" book.

20:00 / 21.10.05

Oh, and BEST DESIGN EVER:

Losers.

It's even more best when you can just make out the outlines of his trunks.

Because he is an alien, but a surfer alien. And there's something human(ish) hiding under that metal shell.

Footnote: I love PATricky's tailor-dad story. That's the sweetest Halloween ever.

09:08 / 22.10.05

also;

perfect -

16:02 / 22.10.05

Star Boy

Follows the rebooted Legion's basic design code (stripe of colour on the legs and legion belt) but manages to look as though it was always meant to look this way, if you follow me.

Just a gorgeous superhero costume and I love the simplicity of the star logo. I've also got a weakness for apparently-functionless big-fuck-off gauntlets.

16:37 / 22.10.05

Juggernaut has always been one of my favorite villains, and, for some reason I can't seem to verbalize, I've always loved his costume/armour. It all seems to be functional, as well...

...Except for the brass knuckles on his forearms and biceps...I have no idea what the eff those are for.

The helmet is a my favorite part though. It says "Stay the hell out of my head" while, at the same time, remains stylish and maintains a certain amount of approachability.

I mean, if you like getting your ass handed to you.

Gift-wrapped.

Haus of Mystery

12:44 / 24.10.05

I've been meaning to post this one for days:

...I've always loved the simplicity of the question, the sharpness of his suit, and the blank face. It's devoid of many things I love about superhero costumes (the colour, vibrancy and sheer fucking impractically of the things for example) but is still to my mind one of the strongest and most iconic visualisations. Denny O'Neil gave him a mullet, open neckked shirt and a copy of 'The art of War', butthe character should always be in the suit' fedora and raincoat. Rorschach was great, but 'The Question' was there first. I wish someone would collect some of Ditko's Charlton stuff man.

10:40 / 25.10.05

Be pure, be vigilant, behave

11:03 / 25.10.05

yes nemesis! fucking yes! all bent and wrong and what exactly does his mouth look like 'irl'? the episodes where it'd just be him and torquemada impaling each other on spires and stuff...that's it, off to google abc warriors (i used to fancy joe pineapples a bit, then went off him when he started dressing as a girl. i'm less confused about things these days.)

11:51 / 25.10.05

phwoar! check out the cannon on that!! etc.

don'tfancy yours much: with this chap the visual appeal is similar to hellboy's i think - unbalanced and asymmetrical, tiny wee legs and huge fat smushing bod and arms -

lonely as a cloud...

12:19 / 25.10.05

Reminds me a little of:

Armoured Gideon rocked!

13:16 / 25.10.05

I loved that Simon Bisley picture of Joe Pineapples when younger.

Nemesis was just great, the whole Victoriana thing, and Torqumada was the pefect flip to him, supposedly perfect human, but physically just as twisted and broken and alien looking. The artist (not Kevin O'Neil - who I loved) that did some of the later, time traveller stories, was perfect with Torq, jsut had him comletely bent out of shape and looking like he had no bones and was pure evil.

Hey, Cloud, did Armoured Gideon have a catch phrase - part of my brain seems to remember him shouting something, but can't remember what.

13:19 / 25.10.05

annihilate!

(not a fave of mine actually, too-cute artwork and overtly 'funny' tone to the strip which wasted an utter kick arse premise)

lonely as a cloud...

13:20 / 25.10.05

I *think* it was "ANNIHILATE!!!", or something like that...will check...

13:23 / 25.10.05

Gumbitch, what is that guy with the canon? He looks frikken' hardcore. Look at that knife. Thats a big knife.

I also appreciate the non-chalant foot placement on his slain enemy's head.

He looks kind of like a 'Ghost' from Starcraft...Except I think they had these sweet guns that were so huge they were absurd. But in a cool way.

13:26 / 25.10.05

That's Joe Pineapples, punk.

Haus of Mystery

13:41 / 25.10.05

Armoured Gideon (such a clunky title) did feature the best Bill Savage cameo ever though, when he turned up as an anachronistic shotgun-toting racist. Simon Jacobs was a weird artist. Wonder what happened to him?

13:42 / 25.10.05

Punk? Is that my new nickname or something?

And Joe Pineapples sounds cool. Kind of like Bazooka Joe. But with a bazooka.

13:47 / 25.10.05

bill savage, there's a beautifully designed character: prison bod + beergut, five o'clock shadow, donkey jacket, 12 bore shotgun - Bosh! no mucking about.

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