how not to redesign superhero costumes

[thehefner]

On the off chance that you read Wired.com, you should know that their list of 10 DC Comics Characters Deserving a Mass Makeover is utter shit.

Bizarro? A Bizarro not dressed in any way like Superman? He's defined as a twisted mirror to Superman. Anything else misses the point. Fuck you.

The Question? You think the Question's costume actually merits anything more than the perfection it already has? You think it needs an "ambitious costume change"? He has a fedora, trenchcoat, suit, tie, and no face. That's perfect. Fuck you.

Swamp Thing? Fuck you.

Gaiman's Death? I don't even like Death that much, I find her whole "sunny goth" thing kind of annoying. But just on principle, fuck you.

Dr. Fate's "character could also use some roughing up?" Oh really, you think that's what would improve Dr. Fate? That would do it? Fuck you.

And the capper to all this fucktardery can be found--where else?--in the comments section, where a person writes: "Death is the only character on this list that isn’t, for lack of a better word… ridiculous. DC really needs to look at their characters and come up with something imaginative and unique rather than putting new costumes on old superheroes. Why inst Jesse Custer on the list? Because he is a timelessly substantial character who will never need “dusting off” or reconceptualization."

Mr. Caruso? Care to weigh in on this?

...

Y'know, I don't normally get this worked up about things, but Henchgirl finds it sexy whenever I get into a geekrage rant, so I'm starting to let it out. Hope y'all don't mind. I'm going back to being nice now.

Seriously, you want character makeovers done right? Let Project Rooftop show you how it's done (well, once the photobucket issue gets figured out; what's going on there, dryponder?)

Comments

[kiffie.livejournal.com]

Clearly, the Question should be totally naked.

But keep the fedora. To cover his shame.

...sadly, now that I think about it, that's probably been drawn somewhere, likely as a convention commission.

[gnort.livejournal.com]

Does Swamp Thing even have a costume? I'm not sure how that's supposed to work.

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

Okay I seriously liked Julian's design in Long Halloween, wtf. And I love how all the different artists slightly tweak a character's look or costume to suit their taste; same with writers tweaking a character to their personal taste. I love that about comics. I love the interpretation aspect. When people don't do it, or are bullied into not doing it, I get frustrated. People, we barely have canon so much as guidelines, nowadays. Chill out.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I like that one too, although I'm also fond of his original thing where he had one basic over-the-top red-and-white costume, but he also wore different costumes for each heist!

Totally, I love the tweaking interpretation nature of comics. That's why these costumer overhaul makeovers just miss the point each time. Like, I agree that Martian Manhunter's costume is problematic, to be sure, but the thing they had him wear in the past couple years before they killed him off... ugh, what a lousy costume!

[swimpenguin.livejournal.com]

Well they were willing to mess up Superman (Electric Red and Blue?) years back, so nothing is technically sacred in comic-dom after that. Even if it should be. I still crack up from a media report several years back when execs were talking about trying to make the next Superman movie darker (before Returns came out) and it was suggested making his suit black, with the S symbol formed from blades that he could pull off his chest and fight with. Cause that totally says truth, justice, and the american way farm boy turned superhero.

[night-train-fm.livejournal.com]

...That Doctor Fate cover really is one of those perfect 'everything wrong with 90s comics' images.

And hey, looks like PR has got its pictures back up!