project: rooftop

You are currently browsing the archive for the project: rooftop category.

Wonder Woman Redesign. Blech

June 29, 2010 in batman!, comics, comics news, CSBG, DC Comics, project: rooftop, wonder woman | 6 comments

I mean I’m torn…do I want Diana out of her super impractical strapless swimsuit bustier?  Of course I do.  Do I want her to be in some cheesy garish 90’s jacket/pants/bustier combo that has no lasting iconic imagery?  No…no I do not.  I’m all for having Diana a bit more covered up and practical…but this is a swing and a miss for me.

Read more and get fan reactions on CSBG.  And the original DC Source Blog Post.

I wish DC would have pitched this to Project Runway.  They already did some great Wonder Woman designs when it was just for fun, imagine the response they would have gotten if DC was genuinely looking for a re-design.

http://www.tencentticker.com/projectrooftop/2007/11/26/wonder-woman-wardrobe-war-winners/

Also…Corey Walker probably could have done this in his sleep.  He’s done about 154 Supergirl designs over the last year or so and most of them are fantastic.

http://corenthal.blogspot.com/search/label/supergirl

I mean…from an iconic standpoint how does it compare to something like Batman…?  Wonder Woman deserves more.  I’m bummed out.  In fairness, I think DC is trying…I just think this is a failure that should have been left on the drawing room floor.  I don’t suppose this means the new #600 JMS reboot (which releases Wednesday) is doomed…but it certainly doesn’t bode well for me at least and I was pretty hesitant to begin with.  Le sigh.  Another day in comics.

Tim Gunn and Superheroes…I Think I’ve Died And Gone To Heaven

April 30, 2010 in art, artists, awesomeness, comics, fashion, feminism, feminist rants, project: rooftop, superheroes | 1 comment

In case you guys missed this a few weeks ago (in addition to being featured originally on Comics Alliance, it was also picked up by two of my favorite sites – Project Rooftop and Jezebel) here is part one of a great interview about superhero fashion with the illustrious Tim Gunn and comics historian Alan Kistler for the series Crazy Sexy Geeks.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQwU7uUPcU&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

As I said in a comment on Jezebel when it popped up there…I don’t really want to criticize either of these guys and this interview IS completely awesome….HOWEVER (isn’t there always a however?) I find it pretty frustrating that two such smart guys are just skipping over a huge part of the problem of the idealized body types (I’ll give Tim a pass since he’s not a superhero expert).  The issue is not inequality between male and female superheroes because they are both idealized forms…of course they are…the problem is what those forms are BASED on. For the most part men get idealized ATHLETIC forms, which denotes power, ability, and strength (etc); while for the most part women get idealized MODEL/PORN STAR forms, which denotes beauty, sexuality, and far too often submissiveness.

And this same theme carries through to costumes and posing. Women get posed sexually, men get posed powerfully.

Yes, both sexes wear spandex, but the men are fully covered up (with a few usually logical exceptions – Namor comes instantly to mind) while women are subjected to swimsuits, thongs, fishnets, heels, unzipped body suits, skirts, bare midriffs, boob windows, and beyond (as well evidenced in their discussion in this clip) without any regard for if that fits their “character” the same way it makes sense for a character like Namor.

So while I still love this (and both these guys) it’s frustrating to see them blow off such a complicated issues with “see? it’s the same inequalities and idealization for BOTH the men and the women”.

It’s not.

If it was there wouldn’t have been a discussion of women in that clip as being portrayed as vulgar and slutty. Those characters are NOT vulgar and slutty (not that there’s anything particularly wrong with those characteristics) but it’s unfair to pigeonhole them as such because men have designed ridiculous costumes for them and given them idealized porn star figures for years.

Okay, end of rant (although I’ve been working on a post that delves more deeply into this issue…so of course expect to see more in the future).  If you liked this first clip of Gunn and Kistler, check out part two here.

5 Minute Marvels – Catwoman!

April 23, 2010 in art, artists, comics, dean trippe, five minute marvels, project: rooftop, superheroes, tim miner | 2 comments

I took some time (five minutes to be exact) to draw with Tim and his lovely girls again for 5 Minute Marvels.  I chose Catwoman, and the girls (and Tim) really outdid themselves…I love how they’re incorporating color…I need to be less afraid of color.

Cate, Grace, and Tim's Catwoman!

Anyway, if you haven’t checked out 5 Minute Marvels yet, you should.  They’re sweeping the internet with tons of great artists from Ross Campbell to Colleen Coover sending in original work for the site, and it’s just a great thing to see kids and parents drawing together…superhero or otherwise (although I’m obviously pre-disposed to superheroes!).  Tim’s site has been really catching on – recently getting featured on Wired and Whitney Matheson’s Pop Candy – not to mention a slew of great comics sites like Robot 6, Comics Alliance, and Kate Beaton’s site – so don’t fall behind – get there before the rush!

My 5 Minute Catwoman!

On Tim’s other site Marvel Smartass he currently has a great interview up right now with Project Rooftop and comics creator extraordinare, Dean Trippe, so check that out while you’re at it.

Supergirl by Dean Trippe

Same Bat Time…Same Bat Channel…

January 15, 2009 in art, artists, batman!, cartoons, comics, competition, project: rooftop | 2 comments

batman

Calling all Bat fans, Project: Rooftop has announced its latest contest, and it’s a good one…design the new Batman…Batman 2.0 if you will, for his most likely successor, Dick Grayson (aka Robin, aka Nightwing) after Bruce Wayne’s untimely (and lets hope non-permanent) recent demise.

Ready…steady…GO!

I am terrible at, and do not enjoy drawing men (even awesome Batmen) so I may have to not participate this time yet again, but I’ll definitely do some sketches and give it a try.  If anything remotely interesting comes out of it I’ll post…promise.

Learn All About Vampirella…

September 30, 2008 in cartoons, comic of the day, comics, entertainment, project: rooftop, x-men | Permalink

Apparently some of you are woefully uneducated when it comes to Vampirella…let me educate you.  Above is an awesome sketch of Vampirella by the legendary Bruce Timm. Below is a totally different less cartoon-y (and more like she is usually handled in the comics) version of Vampirella by the brilliant Adam Hughes.

And here’s a link to Vampirella on wikipedia so you can read all about the strangeness that is the creation of this totally slutty looking “heroine” (anti-heroine?) known as Vampirella.

Why don’t you, my valued readers, know about these things?!  I know how much you appreciate me for bringing you this vital knowledge that surely you could not have gotten through another day without…no thanks are necessary…

For more fun, here’s some other great Adam Hughes superhero-ish art.  The X-men, or rather X-women (my girl Rogue on the left there)…

And a great one of Catwoman

And I don’t even read Powergirl or know much about her except that her costume is stupid considering her physique and that they did a fun Project:Rooftop on her, but this image by Hughes is fantastic.

Project:Rooftop ~ Vampirella

September 29, 2008 in art, artists, cartoons, comic of the day, comics, project: rooftop | 9 comments

The Project:Rooftop VAMPIRELLA results are in. And below is the submission that I never submitted. I’m totally pissed at myself, but I was behind in getting it finished and then my confidence ebbed right away and then I shelved it. It would have been fun to participate…myabe next time.

Here’s the first sketch:

And this is the final version that remains, you guessed it…uncolored…

Project: Rooftop? I say Project: AWESOME.

May 14, 2008 in art, artists, cartoons, comics, entertainment, project: rooftop | Permalink

How did I not know about this!?! Proof that the internet is a big big place and that I don’t have enough free time on my hands if you ask me. If you’re into Superheroes, Design, Art, Fashion, or especially all of the above, head on over to to Project: Rooftop.

It’s a great idea, inspired by things like Project Runway; the (semi-recent) Batgirl Meme; and all sorts of great things that run wild on the internet in regards to art and superheroes. It reminds me of Illustration Friday in that it plays on that same creative internet spirit that unites and actually evens the playing field for artists both known and unknown, but it’s a little more developed and complex (read: I won’t be participating anytime soon…but maybe someday). Also there are prizes! Definitely check it out when you have a free handful of moments.