NLEx: 90's Superhero Design was not Cool

[divalea]

It was KEWL.

This was inspired by an email from Ron Perazza (honcho of DC Online) that suggested I do another NLEx along the lines of "Diagram of a Fox" but of a superhero. Choosing what sort of superhero to diagram was easy; fitting in all the visual cliches of 90's superhero design was hard.
I know I've missed things like ridiculous pecs, the shameless swipes of Arthur Adams' and John Byrne's work, and tracing of Japanese pinup photography and Shirow Masamune manga, but there's only so much one person can do. 



There's a warning here for comickers: we all love the words and visuals of the comics, cartoons, movies and books we fell in love with. Kill your darlings.

Comments

[lois2037.livejournal.com]

Ahhh... the '90s! :- )

[divalea.livejournal.com]

They seemed to be about ten years long.

[lois2037.livejournal.com]

They did, didn't they?

[shanejayell.livejournal.com]

LOL

^__^

Is it sad that I'd buy that character's comic even now? Especially if you wrote it tongue in cheek. *lol*

[divalea.livejournal.com]

It's not sad. Of course, I did write a comic with all this stuff in: Rumble Girls: Silky Warrior Tansie.

[shanejayell.livejournal.com]

Of which I own. :)

[uplinktruck.livejournal.com]

Perfect!

[divalea.livejournal.com]

Thenk yeh!

[divalea.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh! I like the new WW costume!

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

You have reminded me why sheer annoyance and irritation pushed me out of the genre around that time... thanx for nailing it!

[divalea.livejournal.com]

I wasn't too pleased with it, either. But it was more retailers speculating than the titles.

[the-kiggy.livejournal.com]

What turned me off American comic books in the 90's was Image (surprised?).
And then, Marvel and even DC started imitating them. Ugh.


By the way: that drawing reminds me of the angel Suzuka from Angelic Layer ~_^

EDIT:


Hmmm, maybe not that much.
^^UUU

[divalea.livejournal.com]

You know I liked a lot of the dolls in AL, except Hikaru. It was the 80's workout gear. Did not want.

[the-kiggy.livejournal.com]

LOL! 80's workout gear! That's so true XD

[gothwitch.livejournal.com]

Oh god I remember drawing characters like this back in high school. Ahhh pouches everywhere and stick waists that couldn't actually support the tit weight upstairs. I like the outer space drag queen boots. ;p

[divalea.livejournal.com]

It took me a long time to come round to the big boots. At least in cosplay, they balance out the feet visually.

Know what I liked? The coats. I loved the coats. The flow and drama of a cape, but with a measure of practicality.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

When you put all the elements together like that, it looks disturbingly like the current crop of Kirby homage designs....

[divalea.livejournal.com]

It does, doesn't it?

[jauncourt.livejournal.com]

I think I have a WHOLE BOX of comics that have this basic aesthetic. Lots of Marvel in there. SO true.

How does one fight bad guys with the inevitable wedgie? I never figured it out.

[divalea.livejournal.com]

You just don't get a wedgie, neither front nor back. Even though in real life, you certainly would.

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

OMG YES
You should (shouldn't!) see my high school sketchbooks, LOL.

[divalea.livejournal.com]

You should see my high school writing. Wait, don't. Awful stuff.