The DC characters REDESIGN thread - Part 1

[Artistsean]

Here's my new Batman design:

That makes me think he was sleeping in his undies when his place is attacked and he quickly puts on his mask/cape and belt. No time to put on the full costume, only the essentials.

 

[Syncos]

Here's my new Batman design:

... His belt doubles as a Banana Hammock? Nice feature.

 

[Polaris23]

Haha, that's brilliant. It's a WW when she's at the beach. Or pleasing her boyfriend.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

This is a great lesson in how to NOT create a character design. The artist essentially succeeded in doing nothing but adding clutter and dozens of lines. With the possible exception of Aquaman, none of these designs have a single iconic feature on them. Even Superman's S is drowned out by that shirt/skin-tight jacket. The simplicity of Aquaman is the only one that could actually work on the page or on screen. (I won't even mention the Batman design. It doesn't look finished.)

You're right, adding dozens of "clutter lines" is definitely NOT how to design a costume. I mean there is no way a costume with a bunch of lines would ever be iconic...

























....

 

[camp Blood]

it's ok for him since it's web pattern and his name starts with spider

same reason why cap america can pull off a red white and blue flag costume

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

it's ok for him since it's web pattern and his name starts with spider

It's also okay for him...

...Mostly because he can do whatever the f*** he wants.

It's funny, despite what Kieth says, Spider-Man's costume looks nothing like a spider. Spider's are not traditionally red and blue (although they come in all colors). What about the eyes? The border around the eyes? Spider's don't have eyes like that. Actually the reason Spider-Man has lots of lines, according to Ditko was that no matter what angle you look at him from Ditko wanted you to know for certain it was Spider-Man and not someone else (a classic scenario for some heroes with similar color schemes). Point is Kieth is just wrong. "Using less lines" is something you tell a graphic designer for an advertisement because you don't want a icon or symbol (like Superman's "S" or Batman's "Bat" or the X-Men's "X") to be overly complicated because it must be reproduced several times over and usually not always in color. For example my companies letterhead would be something that needs to be simple. Costumes don't. Ghost Rider, Thing, Man-Thing, Swamp Thing, Galactus, Spider-Man, (some of) Wolverine have very complicated costumes to draw, and it doesn't make them less iconic.

 

[camp Blood]

I'm not saying lines ruin the suit but to many lines like the new JLA suit make it look ugly and since there all the same color blue it makes them stand out

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

I'm not saying lines ruin the suit but to many lines like the new JLA suit make it look ugly and since there all the same color blue it makes them stand out

The new JLA suits are "stupid" in my opinion because they didn't redesign them at all. They simply took the old costumes, took away the briefs, and added lines to them. Yes, Spider-Rob's bro added some lines sure, but they came with some pretty hefty changes (the least of which being Batman, which looks essentially like the movie costume with a mouth cover). Also they made the mistake of having Jim Lee redesign the whole Justice League (along with several others). For the big seven everyone should've been redesigned by a different artist. Jim Lee makes them look like Jim Lee redesigned all of them, therefore there isn't a hint of creativity or individuality to his redesigns. It's almost as if they are wearing the Stan Lee era matching X-Uniforms.

 

[camp Blood]

I actually like the superman overcoat design for some reason probably because it's so orginal

 

[Artistsean]

I found this on Dev. Art. Some redesgins an artist is working on for a fan Dc reboot series. Please keep in mind it's a WIP:

Very nice redesign. I love the new Superman look, much like how DC is now designing Supergirl, he looks very alien (his clothing). Like this was traditional Kryptonian garb. I don't even think its needed, but if the lighter blue coat was the same color as the darker blue (or vise versa) it maybe help it, or may not. I like it like this, so I don't know.
Wonder Woman's costume reminds me of the Wonder Womanesque Planetary story. Where the Amazonian type is wearing bright white and gold, and looks like some sort of heavenly warrior.
Batman's is very cool too, he reminds me of some sort of gargoyle or something. Like he was made of stone, which if he was trying to scare criminals would come in handy.
Green Lantern makes me think of when Jack Black was signed on to play Green Lantern a while back, like this could have been what he would have looked like.
Aquaman is my least favorite, but not because of the design just because it reminds me of the design where he had a hook hand and I just didn't care for that in the comics. But still he looks good.

great job. I'd love to see much more of these designs, especially the DC Big 3. And maybe how these redesigns would effect all other characters like Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Wonder Girl, Supergirl, Bizarro, Powergirl, Superboy, etc.

 

[camp Blood]

the reason I think GL looks like that is because he might be a firefighter

and not all firefighters are pretty-boys with six pack abs but they do have to be fearless in a job that sends them into firey hell every day

 

[spider_rob]

The new JLA suits are "stupid" in my opinion because they didn't redesign them at all. They simply took the old costumes, took away the briefs, and added lines to them. Yes, Spider-Rob's bro added some lines sure, but they came with some pretty hefty changes (the least of which being Batman, which looks essentially like the movie costume with a mouth cover). Also they made the mistake of having Jim Lee redesign the whole Justice League (along with several others). For the big seven everyone should've been redesigned by a different artist. Jim Lee makes them look like Jim Lee redesigned all of them, therefore there isn't a hint of creativity or individuality to his redesigns. It's almost as if they are wearing the Stan Lee era matching X-Uniforms.

IMO, they should have got a younger, fresher artist to redesign all the DC suits. Jim Lee is kind of a been there, done that artist. Marvel did a good job by hiring Hitch to do a lot of the Ultimate Redesigns. Guy took modern sensibilities and applied them to classic characters, like Iron Man, Cap', FF...

 

[spider_rob]

the reason I think GL looks like that is because he might be a firefighter

and not all firefighters are pretty-boys with six pack abs but they do have to be fearless in a job that sends to into firey hell every day

Actually the firefighter look was just a coincidence, but it would fit the character. They do have to be fearless to run into a burning building.

To be honest, I did base the design on the rumor Jack Black was gonna play GL. I feel GL is one of the superheroes who could actually be sorta' fat and outta shape, but his mind is sharp and his will strong. I think it gets kinda boring that all the male DC superheroes have the same build, basically.

 

[camp Blood]

i really like the idea of a firefighter GL from brooklyn, and i agree what part of the GL core requires you to be a super fit pretty boy. you can be a quadriplegic and still be a GL

 

[Artistsean]

To be honest, I did base the design on the rumor Jack Black was gonna play GL. I feel GL is one of the superheroes who could actually be sorta' fat and outta shape, but his mind is sharp and his will strong. I think it gets kinda boring that all the male DC superheroes have the same build, basically.

That would actually make a great GL character, and would have been a good movie maybe. Sure people shut it down because it was Jack Black and not a GL from the comics. But imagine if Jack Black was in it, playing this type of character who no one thinks is a hero because he is out of shape, but his mind is sharp and his will is strong and his imagination is powerful. And he saves the entire world. That would have been great. Sure I would have been upset that it wasn't Hal or John, or Kyle, but it would have made a nice movie.

I still really want to see all the other characters like Robin, Nightwing, Superboy, Powergirl, Wonder Girl, based on those designs.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Actually the firefighter look was just a coincidence, but it would fit the character. They do have to be fearless to run into a burning building.

To be honest, I did base the design on the rumor Jack Black was gonna play GL. I feel GL is one of the superheroes who could actually be sorta' fat and outta shape, but his mind is sharp and his will strong. I think it gets kinda boring that all the male DC superheroes have the same build, basically.

There are very few non-traditional looking heroes out there. Green Lantern would be an interesting hero for that particular type of build because as you say the ring doesn't seem to care much for physical prowess. I mean that one Green Lantern from the comics looks like Humpty Dumpty.

 

[camp Blood]

all i did was color the body suit so its not much of a redesign

but i was thinking since superman is powered by sunlight what if his suit was a alien solar panel suit that absorbed so much sunlight the suit appears dark dark black

 

[camp Blood]

based on the space suit from returns

 

[cin0]

Anybody got any designs for Green Arrow or Connor Hawke. I always thought Connor needed a new look.

 

[Mario_Galaxy]

all i did was color the body suit so its not much of a redesign

but i was thinking since superman is powered by sunlight what if his suit was a alien solar panel suit that absorbed so much sunlight the suit appears dark dark black

Very cool

 

[camp Blood]

thanks

 

[captaintass]

They all look rather horrible.

 

[keith_v]

It's also okay for him...

...Mostly because he can do whatever the f*** he wants.

It's funny, despite what Kieth says, Spider-Man's costume looks nothing like a spider. Spider's are not traditionally red and blue (although they come in all colors). What about the eyes? The border around the eyes? Spider's don't have eyes like that. Actually the reason Spider-Man has lots of lines, according to Ditko was that no matter what angle you look at him from Ditko wanted you to know for certain it was Spider-Man and not someone else (a classic scenario for some heroes with similar color schemes). Point is Kieth is just wrong. "Using less lines" is something you tell a graphic designer for an advertisement because you don't want a icon or symbol (like Superman's "S" or Batman's "Bat" or the X-Men's "X") to be overly complicated because it must be reproduced several times over and usually not always in color. For example my companies letterhead would be something that needs to be simple. Costumes don't. Ghost Rider, Thing, Man-Thing, Swamp Thing, Galactus, Spider-Man, (some of) Wolverine have very complicated costumes to draw, and it doesn't make them less iconic.

Nope, sorry, but I'm not wrong. Spiderman gets away with the webbed pattern because the webbed pattern IS the symbol, not the spider (Same way Shocker is identified by the netting on his costume). You could show a random person 100 different S's and they would be able to identify the one that Superman wears. Show people 100 different spider logos, they'd have no clue which one is Spiderman's. Spiderman's webbing is also just a basic shape repeated over his body a bunch of times, making easy for the brain to remember (people have an easy time remember basic patterns like tiles of dots).

And if you think Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Swamp Thing, and Galactus are iconic, then you don't have the slightest clue about iconic imagery (Thing is debatable, but he, like Spiderman, uses a repeating pattern). Kids in a third world country would never recognize those characters the same way they would recognize Batman or Spiderman. Hell, most kids not familiar with the comics wouldn't be able to identify those characters (Although it doesn't matter what Ghostrider's costume is, He's got a FLAMING SKULL for a head! That's his main symbol, and that's all anyone is gonna look at). Even Wolverine's costumes are completely dispensable. They are in no way iconic, only popular to those familiar with the comic. His iconic features are the claws that come from his knuckles and his bizarre haircut. Think of Weapon X, even with no clothes, he is still instantly recognizable as Wolverine.

It's not opinion and it's not that hard to understand, the human brain is not designed to remember extremely complex images. Spiderman works because it is a repeating pattern and it's not competing with any other major symbol (seriously, the spider on his chest and back are throw-aways, its the web pattern that is the prominent feature).

If you refuse to believe this concept, think of all the iconic characters Rob Liefeld (sp?) and Todd McFarlene (sp?) have designed compared to classic comic artists (Liefild and Mcfarlene specialized in overly complex charater design). Between them, there's maybe 2 or 3 characters that can even be maybe considered iconic. Venom is by far the most iconic out of the 2 or 3 (with Spawn and possibly Deadpool being the others), and wouldn't you be shocked to know that his design was also the most basic out of all of them.

 

[spider_rob]

Nope, sorry, but I'm not wrong. Spiderman gets away with the webbed pattern because the webbed pattern IS the symbol, not the spider (Same way Shocker is identified by the netting on his costume). You could show a random person 100 different S's and they would be able to identify the one that Superman wears. Show people 100 different spider logos, they'd have no clue which one is Spiderman's. Spiderman's webbing is also just a basic shape repeated over his body a bunch of times, making easy for the brain to remember (people have an easy time remember basic patterns like tiles of dots).

And if you think Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Swamp Thing, and Galactus are iconic, then you don't have the slightest clue about iconic imagery (Thing is debatable, but he, like Spiderman, uses a repeating pattern). Kids in a third world country would never recognize those characters the same way they would recognize Batman or Spiderman. Hell, most kids not familiar with the comics wouldn't be able to identify those characters (Although it doesn't matter what Ghostrider's costume is, He's got a FLAMING SKULL for a head! That's his main symbol, and that's all anyone is gonna look at). Even Wolverine's costumes are completely dispensable. They are in no way iconic, only popular to those familiar with the comic. His iconic features are the claws that come from his knuckles and his bizarre haircut. Think of Weapon X, even with no clothes, he is still instantly recognizable as Wolverine.

It's not opinion and it's not that hard to understand, the human brain is not designed to remember extremely complex images. Spiderman works because it is a repeating pattern and it's not competing with any other major symbol (seriously, the spider on his chest and back are throw-aways, its the web pattern that is the prominent feature).

If you refuse to believe this concept, think of all the iconic characters Rob Liefeld (sp?) and Todd McFarlene (sp?) have designed compared to classic comic artists (Liefild and Mcfarlene specialized in overly complex charater design). Between them, there's maybe 2 or 3 characters that can even be maybe considered iconic. Venom is by far the most iconic out of the 2 or 3 (with Spawn and possibly Deadpool being the others), and wouldn't you be shocked to know that his design was also the most basic out of all of them.

Venom was basically the alien costume with a grin on it. McFarlene didn't design the alien costume. And I just remember Liefield and McFarlene's characters are looking totally generic in the first place, including their personalities and back stories. Witchblade and Darkness are kinda' popular and they're basically just wearing diarrhea with random blades spouting out of it.

 

[keith_v]

Venom was basically the alien costume with a grin on it. McFarlene didn't design the alien costume. And I just remember Liefield and McFarlene's characters are looking totally generic in the first place, including their personalities and back stories. Witchblade and Darkness are kinda' popular and they're basically just wearing diarrhea with random blades spouting out of it.

Hahahaha truer words have never been spoken. And now we have games like Gears of War to carry on the legacy of horrible costume designs complete with massive shoulder pads and giant ankle armor.

Here's my take on a Superman set in the 50's. The first pic is just the costume design, the second one is a figure I sculpted in Maya and will use for the final painting (I started doing figures in Maya just recently because it's a lot more fun and absorbing than doing color comps).