Let’s Talk About Really Good Looking Character Design…Seriously.

January 7, 2011 in art, artists, comics, marvel comics, superheroes, x-men | 15 comments

So let me just say, if more superhero art (and design) looked like the following Oliver Coipel cover for Wolverine & Jubilee #1…I would be reading more comics (and bitching A WHOLE LOT LESS).  I first thought this was a Stuart Immonen cover…and it has some great Immonen like qualities (highest of compliments coming from me)…but it’s Coipel and I have to give the man props because there is SO much right in this simple image.

First and foremost Wolverine is short.  Smaller than Jubilee style short. He’s also a bit stocky.  These are great things.

Now, onto Jubilee.  First of all, she looks at least a bit Asian…which is so rare, and a huge step in the right direction at a minimum.  Secondly, she’s very slight and slim and not crazy curvy and stacked like every other woman in comics – she’s got small proportions that befits the history of the character.  It’s so fucking refreshing I had to stare at it for full minutes to understand the wonderfullness (not a word!) that was occurring.  Lastly, the fashion forward-ness of Jubilee’s costume…it’s completely streamlined and refined and super cool (and hot) while still being both appropriate for superheroing and totally retaining her identity within the update. The yellow jacket and large pink-ish sunglasses are just unmistakably Jubilee…but paired with a slick black catsuit…I just…I am swooning over this.

AND a zippered costume that is zipped up?  PLEASE. MORE COMICS LIKE THIS.  ALWAYS. FOREVER.  BRING IT.

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15 comments

  1. ross’s avatar

    ross on January 7, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    the first thing that popped into my head when i saw the title of the post was “HAZMAT?!?!?!?!” this is good too, though. 😉

  2. optionalplayer’s avatar

    optionalplayer on January 7, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Olivier Coipel is one of my favourite artists. I do not believe he can do any wrong.

  3. Brendan T’s avatar

    Brendan T on January 9, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    The one thing that could make this better? Switching them around so each character stands under their name. But that’s a nitpick, and this is a great cover. The series proper looks really, really good too and is written by the super-talented Kathryn Immonen. I was hoping to tradewait it but…I think I need this one in singles. Especially at $2.99.

  4. Nick Marino’s avatar

    Nick Marino on January 9, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    Brendan — good call. That would help a lot. Another thing I want to see? A better Wolverine mask!!! Get that stupid mini-fin Astonishing/Cassaday mask off of him! It looks like he’s wearing a kids costume or something. BTW, I tweeted about this but it’s worth mentioning…. Chinese Jubilee! Finally!

  5. Fiona’s avatar

    Fiona on January 9, 2011 at 5:57 pm

    I’ve never seen Jubilee look so cool!

  6. optionalplayer’s avatar

    optionalplayer on January 9, 2011 at 6:04 pm

    If they were under their own names and had the same posture, they would practically be back to back. While I agree with the idea, if they kept the same pictures, it would look really corny. :-p

  7. Mo Walker’s avatar

    Mo Walker on January 10, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    I agree, love Olivier Coipel’s cover design. I have been impressed with his stuff since his Legion of Super-Heroes run. Jubilee’s look reminds me of some of Jim Lee’s stuff from the early 90s.

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cq-h1RCj4yI/SqujBeJmH4I/AAAAAAAADAA/mJ7htphttKI/s1600-h/X-Men-Poster+copy+jim+lee.jpg

  8. Keith Bowden’s avatar

    Keith Bowden on January 10, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    Sweeet cover. I agree it should have been flopped so they’re under their respective names, but this is very nice.

    And according to Bill Cosby, “Wonderfulness” is a word. :)

    http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61SQ8yaQxkL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

  9. Nick Marino’s avatar

    Nick Marino on January 10, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    @Mo: Great image!!! This is my favorite Jubes pic of all-time (another Jim Lee/Scott Williams piece):

    http://www.audioshocker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/jubes-pg1-uxm-276.jpg

  10. 1979semifinalist’s avatar

    1979semifinalist on January 10, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    @ross: Whee! Jubilee!

    @optionalplayer: Loving all the love for this image and for Coipel, but let’s not get crazy with “can never doing anything wrong”…for example the grouchy 10 year-old child face of Gambit in this otherwise sweet image! 😉

    http://blog.1979semifinalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/alt-x-men.jpg

    @Brenden T: It’s funny the placement doesn’t bother me that much…I actually almost think it’s funny…but you’ve definitely got a point and that kind of stuff does usually bother me.

    @Nick: I’m with you on “chinese jubilee ftw!” But what’s so wrong with Wolvie’s mask? I’m down with it!

    @Fiona: I know, right?!

    @Keith: Well, if I’ve got Cosby’s stamp of approval then who cares if it’s right…amirite?!

  11. ross’s avatar

    ross on January 11, 2011 at 1:28 am

    Coipel sometimes also has the sliding bellybutton thing going on. look at Storm in that Age of X pic you linked, Kelly; obviously everybody’s different so there are almost always exceptions, but if your navel is below your hip bones, you got problems. XD

  12. 1979semifinalist’s avatar

    1979semifinalist on January 11, 2011 at 10:52 am

    @ross: Yeah, that bellybutton is quite low…I guess I’m so used to seeing artists do it that I rarely notice it…which I guess is part of the problem.

  13. optionalplayer’s avatar

    optionalplayer on January 11, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    Ah, now that you bring it up, Gambit’s face looks a lot like Thor during Siege.

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