Project CBRunway 3: Challenge 4

[mattbib]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/mattbib/My%20Drawings/Project%20CBRunway/PROJECTCBRUNWAYSEASON3.jpg
CHALLENGE 4: GOING FOR GOLD

This is Project CBRunway. You're either in or you're out. Who will be CBR’s next big comic character designer?

Good morning, designers. Welcome back to the runway.

The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books during which the medium enjoyed a surge of popularity, the archetype of the superhero was created and defined, and many of the most famous superheroes debuted.

For your fourth challenge you must create and design an original Golden Age character. This character may be male or female, powered or unpowered. The costume may consist of natural or synthetic materials.

You will be judged on originality and creativity, and how well your character evokes the Golden Age.

In addition to the required written description explaining material, functionality and design inspiration, you should include a short origin for your character, also to be reflective of the Golden Age.

Submission Requirements

Artwork may be done in any medium but should be in color. In other words, you cannot submit a black-and-white drawing and claim that it's actually some other color.
Artwork may be no larger than 550-pixels wide and 800-pixels long.
Entries must be inserted into your post, as opposed to attached, using such services as Photobucket (http://photobucket.com/) or imageshack (http://imageshack.com/). If you are unable to use such a service you may e-mail (mattbib@comcast.net) your entry and we will host the image for you for the duration of the competition.
All submissions must include a written description of the costume, explaining, to the best of your ability, material, functionality, design inspiration, etc.You have only five days, through Midnight PDT of Monday, March 31, to post your design within this thread. Failure to complete this challenge will result in immediate elimination from Project CBRunway. There will be no extensions or exceptions.

marvelboy2004 and captainbosh, you won the third challenge and are safe from elimination... unless you fail to submit an entry.

Post any questions, comments, or concerns about this challenge in this thread, however please do not comment on submissions until the voting thread is posted this coming Tuesday.

Designers, make it work!

[Shade101]

The Golden Age of comics was in the 30's-50's correct?

[mattbib]

Most would say it was over by 1950-1951. There are plenty of resources online regarding various Golden Age companies and their characters that you all may find useful.

[Shade101]

Most would say it was over by 1950-1951. There are plenty of resources online regarding various Golden Age companies and their characters that you all may find useful.

Oh ok! Lol, that's why I asked because I wasn't sure. I don't know why I was thinking it was in the 1930's -1950's.:o

[Your Imaginary Pal]

for those who don't google
What Wiki Says About it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_Comic_Books)

oh and by the way
Sweeet.

[mattbib]

With so few restrictions this challenge offeres a lot of room to flex your creative muscle. But really...just as much room to hang yourself. Remember your audience. Different people may view the GA differently...there was a wide variety of characters and art styles during the period. Think about risks that might be worth taking in your designs.

[Your Imaginary Pal]

Does it even have to be a superhero?
I mean there are kids, animal charcters, westerns, romance, etc...is this challenge open to all these or would you prefer pulp/superhero types?

this length of rope you gave us, it seems it's attached to a pipe on the ceiling, and it has a strange knot and loop on the other end. It's also right next to a chair, with note tha has specific instructions.
"Stand on me, then kick me away."

Strange. Very Strange indeed.

[mattbib]

Does it even have to be a superhero?
I mean there are kids, animal charcters, westerns, romance, etc...is this challenge open to all these or would you prefer pulp/superhero types?
The challenge requirements are in the first post. :)

[ZacharyLovesYou]

Seems a tad derivative of the Golden Age-themed challenge from last season...

[mattbib]

Seems a tad derivative of the Golden Age-themed challenge from last season...
Maybe, in that they both involve Golden Age designs. But that was a redesign challenge. Designers actually have to create something original in this one. Plus there were only five participants in that challenge and 20+ in this one. Hardly redundant...

[Spidey]

Jeez, made it by the skin of my teeth. Again. This one should be fun.

[pryde15]

This sounds fun, I will have to think about my character :D

[Dazzler]

LADY DAY
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2370932268_4c074ded68_o.jpg
STORY:
Ruth Fagan wanted to be a famous singer, but times are tough in 1946 San Francisco. She simply couldn't get a job, either because she didn't have the talent or because she was the wrong color. Sometimes, it was hard to tell. Having no family to help out, and needing to make ends meet, Ruth got by the best way she knew how: Taxi Dancing. For a nickel a dance, she would simply dance with a man for one song. She could make more money each night giving lonely sailors and drunken businessmen 5 minutes of her time than she ever could as a secretary.
Of course, sometimes the gents didn't remember they were paying for her time, not her body. One night in particular, a "john" forgot his manners and got a little grabby. Promptly, he was thrown out of the club, much to Ruth's relief. Unfortunately, he waited for her shift to end and followed her home.
To his surprise and dismay, Ruth fended off the attack more than successfully (a month in traction for the cad, they say), but not without sustaining a cut to her face that ended her sight in one eye and any chance of a life on the stage.
Now, with a certain amount of resolve to make her life by her rules, Ruth has opened "Lady Day's," a nightclub in San Francsico's raucus Barbary Coast. Each night, she (and her incredibly well-paid and well-protected stable of dancers) caters to the same lonely sailors and drunken businessmen, but this time on her own terms. Namely, you don't disrespect the ladies or you may just go home with a souvenir. Like a cast on some very important body part.
Rumor has it that it's not unheard of for Lady Day to strike out on her own at night to avenge the women of the city who have been victims of violence. In a town that can get a little too rowdy for its own good, that could end up being a helluva lot of avenging. Rumor also has it that more than one two-timing louse has stared down the barrel of Lady Day's revolver...although no one can say for sure. And she isn't talking.

COSTUME:
I wanted something that reflected her singing aspirations, so I went with a conservative, but stylish number with a sequins trim. She's not a super-hero, or even really an action star...she's just a lady with a club that has to look the part. I wanted something light in color that would represent the sky/day as well as popping off her dark skin.

INSPIRATION:
She's inspired by several kinds of characters and people like Billie Holiday, The Spirit, and Lady Luck. I wanted to do a sort of Lady Spirit, but someone that he would occasionally meet rather than being the star. I wouldn't put her as the forerunner in a book, but something more of a grounded, earthy, but filled with mystique kind of supporting character.

--Dazz

[pryde15]

I just finished my initial design, now I am drawing the actual picture :D

[Solaris]

Still working on my pic (in computer, already have it drawn and scanned)---the written part and research are done. This is the looong part of the process, sigh.

[ZacharyLovesYou]

I think people are giving the "story" part of the design a little too much importance. I mean, we're required to make a write-up for our designs but I think it's ridiculous to see "Loved the design! Would've been my pick if the story was better, though..."

[mattbib]

Yes, this is a design contest after all. The write-ups are supposed to be brief.

[End of Time]

why not impose a limit, say... drop the background, just explain the costume?

[ZacharyLovesYou]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w30/ZacharyLovesYou/GoldenGhost.jpg

WHO IS THE GOLDEN GHOST?

Archie Williams III was a class act movie star-turned-super hero. His publicists thought it'd be a great idea for his image; jumping onto the "mystery man" bandwagon that was getting so popular on the time. He had no "powers" or special skills besides acting, but that wasn't important. He just needed to show up at the right place at the right time, pull a kid or two out of a staged fire and smile for the camera. This drove the public wild. Williams was already the hottest name in town, and now that he was putting on the tights and saving lives, there was nowhere to go but up.

As his popularity flourished, his personal privacy was destroyed. Williams couldn't blink without the blinding flash of the paparazzi camera to capture it. Children wanted to be him, men admired him, women were eating up whatever the tabloids had to spit out. Everyone was trying to get the scoop on Williams until one day, a nosy freelance photographer would get the money shot of the century; the photograph of Archie Williams III in the loving embrace of another man's arms. It was a different time then, and that kind of publicity would end his career and unknown to him, it would ultimately end his life.

It wasn't a kind of special night. If anything, it could've been any night of the week. Williams had a couple of drinks and thought it might be a good idea to just walk it off; he didn't live to far from the local bar anyway. Maybe it was the drinks talking, but he swore he could've heard several footsteps following him. Alley cats, he thought, must be alley cats... Then again, could be nothing, he had been drinking. Little did Williams know, the sound of footsteps weren't those of any alley cat, but a far more sinister sort. Williams began to walk a little faster. He was only a couple blocks from his loft, now.

Somebody started to call for him. Then another. A whole gang of voices started shouting disgusting slurs at him. By now he was running for the door. Fumbling with his keys, a hand covered his mouth and some others dragged him into the street before he could unlock anything. Williams would not die a hero's death. There would be no tale of some valiant effort or stand off against unspeakable odds. He would jumped, beaten, and murdered. Archie Williams III would die in a hate crime, all because of simple minds attacking a man for what they didn't understand. In his last breath, William's swore that his assailants would pay...

Now, from beyond the grave, Williams returns to his city to haunt those with hearts full of hatred and malice, to torment those who prey on the fearful, and to defend those too weak to defend themselves. Though he is dead and buried 6 feet below the earth's surface, Archie Williams III has returned from the unknown afterlife as THE GOLDEN GHOST!!!

Costume:
I came up with the name first... I dunno, something about THE GOLDEN GHOST! sounds nice and old school... I could hear it being shouted on a radio show. So I went with ghostly things like a huge cape and skull motif. Now, when I think of Golden Age costumes, I think of something loud, and swashbuckler-y with a mix of circus/gymnastic clothing. I also think of barrel-chested, classic, handsome so I went with said traits topped with slick, blond hair. I also love the triadic color scheme of red, blue and yellow so that was a must.

Powers:
As described, The Golden Ghost is, well.... A ghost. He can appear as a solid form, but he can also turn invisible, pass through objects, float/fly, etc. You know, ghostly things.

[wshaunpennington]

The Merciless Mistress Malice and Her Magnificent Manmade Minions

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee210/wshaunpennington/MistressMalice2-3.jpg

Backstory:

Dolly Darling was the beautiful daughter of a Russian immigrant and a down and out toy maker. She became the mistress of her father's doll making craft, but was put out of business by mass production and industry. Thrown into the streets of New Columbia by her money-grubbing landlord, she soon turned to mugging Johnnies for food and money, and stealing clothes from discount fashion boutiques on the Boulevard. She found herself reduced to living in an abandoned tenement with drunks, vagabonds and other homeless women and children. After seeing how many had been left behind, poor and dejected, she began to nurse a vile hatred for conventional society and the ways of industry.

One night, while searching for her next mark, she spied a faint purple glow from a deserted alleyway. Drawn to investigate, she found a shimmering ball of greyish purple wax. It seemed to pulse with her thoughts, and was much more malleable than any substance she had ever used to create. She took it back to her squat and began to make a ballerina figurine for one of the little girls. As she was placing the finishing touches on the figure's hair, it sprang to life, and began to dance. Dolly soon realized that it was responding to her thoughts, and that she could control its movement.

At first she used the wax to entertain the homeless children, but her cultural outrage and antisocial tendencies soon led Dolly to think of more nefarious ways to use her discovery. She found that as she shaped the wax, it would expand and contract at her command, becoming the exact amount she needed for the shape she was sculpting. Soon, she had created an army of wax figures to do her bidding, each figure based on a face found on the American money she was so cruelly denied.

The first task for her mannequins was to hijack an armored car. Soon after, she sent them to rob a bank, then to rob a jewelry store, and then, to rob an art museum. She used her ill-gotten gain to buy the deed to her building and turned it into a secret mansion for the other denizens of the streets, allowing them to live there only if they would commit themselves to a life of beauty through crime.

Word of her power spread though the underground, and both police and organized crime grew to fear her name. However, her capers have recently drawn the attention of New Columbia's eminent superhero, Dr. Sun. Will his solar powers be enough to battle her monsterous army of wax commanders in chief, or will he also grow to beware the Merciless Mistress Malice and her Magnificent Manmade Minions?

Powers:

Mistress Malice can sculpt and control the movements of life-size figurines made from irradiated wax. These figurines can follow simple commands, such as "fight", "steal" and "destroy" and understand basic targets. She also commands a small army of humans who will stop at nothing to protect their mistress and home from harm. She rarely enters combat directly, but when threatened, she skillfully uses her cane as a bludgeon. Her most dangerous weapons though, are her passion for crime and her disgust for those who would follow the laws of a society that would leave women and children in the streets to die.

Inspiration:

My last few entries have been wearing modified streetwear, and I wanted this character to be slightly different. I headed down to the library and did some research into 40's couture and decided to base her costume on a dress I found on a Russian burlesque dancer. Much of the fashion I discovered was jewel toned, and had a satin finish, and I wanted to reflect this in her character. I added opera gloves, a mask, and a belt to give her the more costumed vibe that my previous entries lacked. Fishnets were a must during the golden age, because women couldn't afford synthetic nylons, which were rationed due to the war effort. Most golden age characters had costumes that were dual-colored, and I chose black and green because of her love of crime and money. I prefer to be able to imagine my costumes on real people, so it is still based in real clothes, but is a bit more fantastic. My initial face-model was Joan Crawford, but as she progressed, she began to feel more like Regina Spektor, and I think she ended up being a reasonable synthesis of the two.

[wshaunpennington]

why not impose a limit, say... drop the background, just explain the costume?

The concept of the contest is "focusing on character and costume design", according to the first post. I enjoy the character's histories as much as I enjoy the visuals.

[Dazzler]

The concept of the contest is "focusing on character and costume design", according to the first post. I enjoy the character's histories as much as I enjoy the visuals.

Seconded. I think the histories play an important part of the design process...otherwise, to me, it's not as interesting. Plus, you can see how well people took the origin and story into mind when designing. It's a package deal.

--Dazz

[ZacharyLovesYou]

Seconded. I think the histories play an important part of the design process...otherwise, to me, it's not as interesting. Plus, you can see how well people took the origin and story into mind when designing. It's a package deal.

--Dazz

What if you're making a design simply for the sake of design? It makes sense to brief others on your costume, its functionality, and what inspired you, perhaps. But I still think it's silly to be expected to write some kind of origin story on top of that, making half of CBRunway a writing contest.

[pryde15]

I like the character backgrounds, I think it adds a little extra something to the character. But in the end this is a Design contest not a who can come up with the best backstory. I personally would not having a bad backstory agains them, as long as it is a good design and fits the criteria for the Challenge.

[Hi-Fi]

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6647/mademoisellecyanideni3.jpg

MADEMOISELLE CYANIDE

Origin:
Isabelle Seberg was the daughter of a big crime lord in Paris, France. So she grew up listening and spying on her father’s reunions and learning his way of conducting business: big guys as body guards, torture, bribery and blackmail. She liked that. A lot. But then, her father suddenly died in a car crash on the streets of Montmartre and when Isabelle realized, there was no more money, no more mansion, or great food and great wine. There was just a cruel and hard reality: her father’s fortune was gone. She cried for one night. And never cried again after that.

Isabelle left France and came to the United States with one goal in mind: to become as powerful and rich as her father once was. She quickly established an enormous crime empire in New York City, by seducing her way to the top. She knew who had the financial and physical power and that’s who she went for: politics, gang leaders and crime lords. And after using them for her purposes, they were rewarded with DEATH! Meanwhile, she built a small army of body guards, just like her father taught her. She became MADEMOISELLE CYANIDE.

MADEMOISELLE CYANIDE’s favorite way of killing is by poisoning her enemies with cyanide. She carries a good amount of the highly toxic substance in a little compartment attached to her ring (Classic, right??). Every time the New York City police department find a crime scene with the victim’s body full of cyanide, they just know: MADEMOISELLE CYANIDE claimed another soul to her collection of murder!!

Inspiration:
So I went for the classic Golden Age villainess: sexy and deadly. I tried to incorporate classic features to the character, like the long, elegant and wavy hair, the cigarette holder, the obligatory fishnets and the large puffy sleeves on her blouse.

She doesn’t have powers. She’s just an old school maniacal villainess. The kind that seduces the hero. The classic femme fatale with a touch of Mexican soap-opera villainess.

[Dazzler]

What if you're making a design simply for the sake of design? It makes sense to brief others on your costume, its functionality, and what inspired you, perhaps. But I still think it's silly to be expected to write some kind of origin story on top of that, making half of CBRunway a writing contest.

There's nothing wrong with that. But, like it says, the voting is subjective, so some people are gonna put more importance on the origin story than others. Personally, I like reading them. Other people won't put as much importance n it.

--Dazz

[WhiteRose]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/RedThorn/CCI00119colourfullinscription.jpg

THE END-WORLDER

Barry Thomson was your average working stiff, dodging the draft to go to War. That is, until the Powers That Be threw him into the not-too distant future where he witnessed the End of the World, before being thrown back into his own time.

Now, using the Omega Medal and End-Belt given to him by the Powers, Barry has a new lease on life. He sets out as the END-WORLDER, fighting crime and injustice and trying to prevent what he has seen from transpiring.

INSPIRATION - THE GOLDEN AGE

The Golden Age was this wonderful period where superheroes were just so full of joy BEING superheroes. The writers were imaginative and crazy, and the artists didn't waste a line or draw these men and women as anything BUT men and women, instead of the insanely steroid-pumped, dark and just plain bleak heroes that you see more and more often today. You had stories like Lois locking her head in a lead box so Superman couldn't see what was so horribly wrong, or rainbow Batman. And then there's the numerous stories about Captain America punting Hitler. Or about seventy-five thousand different stories about 'Jimmy Olsen's new powers!'

I wanted to do something in the vein of Superman or Shazam, or the other heroes created in the 40's; a big fella who puts on tights and saves lives, and just...gets new powers. Like, all the time (Super-ventriloquism, anyone?). And even though his origin has a little bit of a dark tinge to it, he's just so damn happy to have these gifts. And though he knows he's got The End of the World to fight off, he's trying to enjoy every second he's got left.

THE COSTUME

Keeping the materials simple: Danger-red Spandex suit, dark leather boots. All very end-of-the-worldish. His Omega Medal and End-Belt are from the future; Both working in unison to grant him certain powers relating to how the World ends.

For instance, say the world ends with a nuclear war. The image on his belt buckle shifts to that of a mushroom cloud, and End-Worlder is now able to fire radioactive blasts. Or say it ends with a meteor hitting the Earth. Belt buckle shifts to an image of space rock and suddenly he is 1000 times stronger than usual because of Earth's gravity.

So every time the world advances, there are new ways that it could end. End-Worlder stops one crisis, there's always another. You can have a field day with the possibilities!

[wshaunpennington]

There's nothing wrong with that. But, like it says, the voting is subjective, so some people are gonna put more importance on the origin story than others. Personally, I like reading them. Other people won't put as much importance n it.

--Dazz

For me, the origin gives a character a second chance to shine if the artwork wasn't immediately visually stunning. It also gives the creator a chance to show the audience things about the character, rather than tell them, which often works much better.

[Solaris]

http://album.hanamoira.com/albums/userpics/10003/stryped1.jpg

Strype Banner leads the Glory Brigade, a special group of defenders who fight the Nazi Menace and their allied Axis Powers.


Costume & Inspiration:

Designing a new costume based on the American Flag isn’t easy, since so many have done it before. However, I decided to give it a go, since his name and group name are heavy allusions to the three most popular nicknames for the American Flag: Stars and Stripes, The Star-Spangled Banner, and Old Glory.

Obviously, Golden Age Costumes don’t normally have much in the way of pouches and gear! After examining the costumes of the day, I decided to keep it simple: just Strype, with no extraneous gear, not even a cape. Like many of the period, his flair is supposed to come from the costume itself. The flag ripples on his arms, boots, and the three stripes across his torso give added movement and excitement to his costume. The stars placements provide balance, both in color and in giving a flow that compliments the stripes (and you can't see it, but there's a 13th star on his left arm---the pose precluded showing it). I decided to give him a mask: many Golden Age heroes wore masks, it carried the blue up to his head level, and finally, since his origin is a mystery, I figured he likes to keep his real identity secret.

The neckline and the “shorts bodysuit” feel are a strong nod to the basis for many of the first superhero costumes (again, from this era): the circus strongman outfit. The fabric is an early version of what we'd call Kevlar, invented by his teammate Audey Weld, which can withstand piercing and stabbing, and is heat-processed to a body form Audey made. It's a fairly flexible material with a slight elastic quality, which conforms well to the body. The boots are a thicker version of the same material.

Why did I go the “patriotic/flag/superhero route?” Because I think it epitomizes the era more than anything else. Patriotism in comics was overwhelming during the time period, and the plethora of war comics and stories of heroes who fight the evil of the enemy speaks for itself. I knew Golden Age comics had heroes like Captain America, Wonder Woman, Shazam!,etc. fighting in the war---once I researched it, I found there were many more, including The Shield, Captain Freedom, The Human Torch, (The Red Flame?), and Airboy, all fighting the enemy.

I think Strype Banner and his Glory Brigade would’ve fit right in with the comics of the day.

I couldn’t resist doing a full faux-cover (mint condition, not faded), instead of just a pose---I was having so much fun with it I couldn’t stop myself. I also studied the art styles of the Golden Age, including linework, inking, coloring, typical styles, proportions, poses, background colors, and color palettes. I tried to incorporate all that in my attempt to design a character who would fit right in with others of the age.


Origin:

Strype’s origin is shrouded in mystery; one day he appeared on the scene, saving an embattled unit on the German Front. Before long, others with special skills and abilities had joined his cause, and together they formed The Glory Brigade! These champions of Justice take the fight to the Germans and their allies on every front, from France to Africa, helping our brave soldiers in the fight against Ultimate Evil!

Strype knows a lot about tactics and strategy. He is a skilled hand-to-hand fighter with some acrobatic skills as well. His strength, dexterity, endurance, and damage resistance are higher than normal human. As a heroic fighter and patriotic symbol, Strype and his team inspire Americans and Allies, often arriving in the nick of time to save the battle and many Allied lives.

His team consists of:
Agent True-Blue, their Intelligence-gatherer, who ventures into the dark heart of the Nazi Regime to gain valuable information on Nazi Plans,
The Patrioteer, second in command and ace-pilot,
The Monument, ex-circus strongman and now a fighter for freedom,
Audey Weld, mechanic and inventor who keeps their gadgets and vehicles running smoothly,
And Liberty Belle Oakley, crack shot and granddaughter of famous marksman Annie Oakley.

[Solaris]

For me, the origin gives a character a second chance to shine if the artwork wasn't immediately visually stunning. It also gives the creator a chance to show the audience things about the character, rather than tell them, which often works much better.

I agree. I also have noticed many people reading the descriptions, then looking at the art and going "where is this or that in your design?" or "I don't think your design matches the character you created." Yes, the contest is primarily about design (not story OR the art)---but you *get* the design from the character concept, and having at least a little backstory helps explain what that character concept *is*, IMO. :)

[Tre Styles]

I think people are giving the "story" part of the design a little too much importance. I mean, we're required to make a write-up for our designs but I think it's ridiculous to see "Loved the design! Would've been my pick if the story was better, though..."

Yes, this is a design contest after all. The write-ups are supposed to be brief.

why not impose a limit, say... drop the background, just explain the costume?

The concept of the contest is "focusing on character and costume design", according to the first post. I enjoy the character's histories as much as I enjoy the visuals.

Seconded. I think the histories play an important part of the design process...otherwise, to me, it's not as interesting. Plus, you can see how well people took the origin and story into mind when designing. It's a package deal.

--Dazz

What if you're making a design simply for the sake of design? It makes sense to brief others on your costume, its functionality, and what inspired you, perhaps. But I still think it's silly to be expected to write some kind of origin story on top of that, making half of CBRunway a writing contest.

I like the character backgrounds, I think it adds a little extra something to the character. But in the end this is a Design contest not a who can come up with the best backstory. I personally would not having a bad backstory agains them, as long as it is a good design and fits the criteria for the Challenge.

There's nothing wrong with that. But, like it says, the voting is subjective, so some people are gonna put more importance on the origin story than others. Personally, I like reading them. Other people won't put as much importance n it.

--Dazz

For me, the origin gives a character a second chance to shine if the artwork wasn't immediately visually stunning. It also gives the creator a chance to show the audience things about the character, rather than tell them, which often works much better.

I agree. I also have noticed many people reading the descriptions, then looking at the art and going "where is this or that in your design?" or "I don't think your design matches the character you created." Yes, the contest is primarily about design (not story OR the art)---but you *get* the design from the character concept, and having at least a little backstory helps explain what that character concept *is*, IMO. :)


I think that these are all valid points, and I would like to add that I think that when we think about a design contest, we do forget the vital part of a design is that backstory/origin. Why would a character wear a certain thing or not? What purpose is serving? Now, if this were strictly a design contest, focusing on costumes only, then why the need for a backstory? I think the intent is for it to be a mainly costume design contest, but I think in the wording of the rules, it can be subjective to different viewpoints. Let's look at the actual rules Matt posted for this one in particular:


The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books during which the medium enjoyed a surge of popularity, the archetype of the superhero was created and defined, and many of the most famous superheroes debuted.

For your fourth challenge you must create and design an original Golden Age character. This character may be male or female, powered or unpowered. The costume may consist of natural or synthetic materials. You will be judged on originality and creativity, and how well your character evokes the Golden Age.

In addition to the required written description explaining material, functionality and design inspiration, you should include a short origin for your character, also to be reflective of the Golden Age.

The bold and italics are mine of course. I think they illustrated my point.

Now Matt can further clarify, and he did say that design is the most important factor in this contest, but in the wording, I think that when I think of character design...it involves more than just a costume. You are designing a character. So in essence, the contest is in some people's eyes about story and the costume. Just like real life comics are about art and story. Just my thoughts here.

All that said and done, my entry won't have a very long story origin anyway. lol. ;) :cool:

[End of Time]

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/EndofTimeIX/CBRgld.jpg

Remember when comics were still about adventure and fun?

Matt Mercy is a high flying adventurer in the year 2001! On Mars he battled the evil Martians, who vowed to destroy the earth with a big giant laser! He single-handedly saved the colonies on Venus from diabolical Chinamen and mad Communists! On earth he discovered the ancient city of Atlantis, and prevented the Nazis from taking hold of the city’s hidden secrets!

Matt Mercy had it all!

But one faithful day disaster struck, kids no longer cared for the future. Science made it all too clear that there was no sentient life on Mars, and a colony on Venus was as unlikely as water catching flame. Nazis didn’t scare people anymore, Chinamen stopped being evil, and the only things left to battle were Communists and a steadily declining readership.

Matt Mercy, hero of the year 2001 stopped fighting the forces of evil on April 3rd 1958, when they pulled the plug on his series…

The costume…

Bright colours, yellow, red, blue, and white, a cape, and wearing your underwear on the outside, all made from the same stretchy material. Armed with a silly helmet and a faux pas futuristic zap-gun, Matt Mercy is a role model for countless young American boys.

The inspiration.

Simpler times, simpler requirements for a costume. Bright coloured stretch, always a simple design, something that should be recognizable. A cape for the coolness factor. Stars to remind the readers that this really is an all American hero.

In 2001 we’d all be living in domes on Venus, and Mars would be old news by then. Science and patriotism, all the way to the stars, to show those damned Nazis and Commies and Chinamen, that nobody messes with the greatest Nation on the face of the earth. Heroes back then embodied an optimistic outlook on the future…

Heroes who would be utterly miserable in the world of today, because the sense of wonder and innocence has long since been replaced with cynicism, sarcasm, gore, and rampant commercialism.

Matt Mercy’s 2001 is infinitely more attractive than our 2008. Because back in that strange version of the year 2001, we’d have real heroes to save us from impending doom…

If you were Matt Mercy visiting 2008, you'd be a depressed wreck as well.

[deanlegion]

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2609/theocelotbgpj5.jpg

Origin
Jake Duncan owned a nightclub and his girlfriend, Lavendar Lullaby (stage name!) was the star singer. One night, as a gimmick, Jake arranged for a live,
caged, big wild cat to be onstage. When his contact arrived, he had an ocelot. Jake was disappointed and angry... it wasn't anything impressive like a lion or tiger or panther or somethin'!

Jake and Lav took the cat home after the show, and actually began to find it
quite beautiful. The ocelot began to glow! Somehow, Jake was transformed because of the energies coming off the cat. He developed great strength, quick reflexes, the ability to see in the dark. Suddenly, Lav was grabbed out of the room.

Who took Lavendar Lullaby? How did Jake get these great powers from a jungle cat? In the coming issues of THE OCELOT, we see Jake take on thugs, we travel to Peru, and we meet Lav's high school nemesis... Mary Mauve!

Inspiration
The Ocelot is heavily inspired by Batman and Catman and any other golden age character based on an animal. I used to have a grey tabby cat named Ocelot when I was a kid, and I've always thought ocelots were pretty cool.

Costume
Let's assume Jake saves Lav from the kidnappers. She encourages him to use his powers for good. She sews up a costume for him inspired by their new pet and from the remants of her stage outfits.

[Tre Styles]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9/TreStyles1/JusticeStarFullColor.jpg
Inspiration: When I thought of creating a character, I had this name already, but the character was a modern version. The character (and his sister) were legacy characters, but I had never designed their predecessor, so this challenge was perfect for that. In the Golden Age, one of the major themes with superheroes was patriotism. I wanted to reflect that here, and I also wanted to reflect that sidekick theme as well. As was stated, this the age where the archetype of a superhero was cast, so I wanted it to give a vibe of a young adult "Superman" meets "Captain America" type.

Costume: The costume reflects the patriotic nature of the character and the genre of the Golden Age. I wanted a simple enough costume that could be considered close to an archtype. I wanted it to be able to realistically fit into the golden age. So, after going through several color patterns, I just went ahead and gave Justice a red, white, and blue cape fastened with 2 golden stars with a red spandex body suit which has a star and the "J" in the middle.Of course, the blue gloves, boots,"outer" underwear, and a red domino type mask to complete the deal. The Golden age costumes were simple enough to give you the basic idea about a character, and that's what I was going for as well.


Origin: Justin Star was always into heroes. He loved reading about the old Western heroes, and hearing the stories his grandfather told of the legendary Justice Pioneer, his own great-grandfather. Justin also was extremely interested in the newest form of heroes, "the mystery men" especially the American Way. He always dreamed of becoming a hero, and decided that he would one day go into something like law enforcement or the miltary. His wish came sooner than he thought. He was 14 years old when Dr. Dominicus came to town trying to hypnotize the entire population with his Nazi beliefs. The American Way and the Crusaders were engaged in battle, and Justin happened to be right in the middle of it!

In a crucial moment, Justin distracted Dr. Dominicus allowing The American Way and Lady Truth to get the upper hand. During the battle, Justin was exposed to an experimental gas that Dr. Dominicus had dropped. This gas would end up giving Justin superstrength and speed 10x's that of a normal man. Impressed by the boy's prowess and bravery, The American Way took him as his protege, training him as a mystery man's sidekick. Justin became Justice Star, Crusader of Justice. He even had his own tagline " And the "J" is for Justice!" Justin would go on to form the Star Teen Brigade, which later became Justice Star and the Crusaders. He also fought alongside The Mysteryman Society of America who were essential in turning the tides of World War II around.
(I really tried not to be too long with this one. lol)

[Shade101]

Poison Silhouette

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/Dukkus/PoisonSilhouette01.jpg


The tale of the Poison Silhouette begins with a lonely young woman named Rita Langley. Beautiful though she was, she did not feel beautiful inside. Victim of an abusive husband and a perverted and egotistical boss, Rita was to her boiling point with men. Rumors say that one night Rita’s husband returned home from a night out on the town with a lovely red-head named Jessica. That night Rita told her husband that she was 3 months pregnant with his child. Her husband then gave into a fit of outrage and beat her savagely. Rita was pregnant no more. After a night out to dinner with her husband, Rita expressed her frustration to him. He threw her out of the car, and told her to find her own way home. As Rita proceeded down an alleyway, a mugger assaulted her. After pilfering her belongings, the attacker shot and killed Rita. Soon after the mugger ran off, the shadows in the alleyway began dancing, and twisting, and turning. Several ethereal howls and voices sang in the night. Voices of other victimized women. The shadows intertwined in one black entity and dove into the soul of Rita. Rita awakened. And the Poison Silhouette was born.

Costume

Poison Silhouette prefers to wear simple everyday clothes. She bears no emblems or gadgetry. She relies on her newfound powers for that. She usually wears a dark large collared coat with obsidian buttons, and matching ebony gloves. She wears a single red scarf around her head that flows in the winds as if it had a life all it’s own. It also is a significant warning to all who dare oppose her. She is also outfitted with ruby red peep-toe pumps. Red is her favorite color. So vibrant. So meaningful. So deadly. Witnesses describe the beautiful Poison Silhouette carrying a syringe filled with deadly toxins and poisons. They imagine that she came across this syringe working as a nurse. Witnesses also claim that the fabric that she wears is unlike any they’ve seen. The fabric she wears shifts and stirs at her command into any outfit she wishes. Some even claim it’s not fabric at all. They say it’s some sort of shadow that envelopes her.

Powers

The Poison Silhouette was gifted with a multitude of ethereal powers. The most frightening would be her apparent teleportation through shadows. Onlookers claim that they’ve seen her dive into pools of darkness and reemerge through a different shadow. Some also claim that she commands the shadows to protect innocents and herself. Along with these shadow powers is her ability to commune with the spirits of past women. She is able to call upon these spirits for aid or information. Never think that walls can’t talk. Poison Silhouette is also gifted with the mystical knowledge the female spirits have passed down to her. She has shown great use of these abilities. Some say that the Poison Silhouette lingers in dark alleyways at night with her syringe in hand. Waiting for the poor, predator of a man to try and take what is not his to take. And then plunge the syringe of toxins into his skull and teach him a lesson, he will never forget.

[captainbosh]

http://www.patdavid.com/cbrpr/bullet.jpg

The Bullet

Dr. Becker “BB” Bainbridge was working in his laboratory late one evening when he accidentally created a powerful lubricant. The substance was so slippery that when applied to his pen, Bainbridge was unable to hold onto it, and it fell to the floor. The substance on his pen also prevented him from retrieving it. After several minutes his patience wore thin and he kicked it out of frustration. The pen flew through the air like a bullet until it pierced his laboratory’s far wall. Amazed at what he had created, he dubbed the new substance bulletex.

Dr. Bainbridge decided that his new found creation could be put to good use for the benefit of all and decided to embark on a career as a superhero. Thus the Bullet was born.

Skills and Costume
The Bullet possesses the normal human strength of an individual who engages in moderate regular exercise. The Bullet’s suit is completely coated in bulletex and allows him to run, punch, or kick without being slowed by friction. The Bullet can reach speeds of up to 30 mph, and because of the lack of air resistance he can sustain that velocity for extended periods of time without tiring. The bulletex formula on his costume is so slick that it is nearly impossible for an opponent to grab him.


Inspiration
Superheroes back in the day were like living, breathing corporate brands. Simple, clear, identifiable, and all of it packaged neatly, and stamped with a powerful logo. The Bullet was my attempt at trying to achieve all of that.

[marvelboy2004]

Victoria Virtue
Land Girl

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r147/marvelboy1977/goldenagehero.jpg

BACKSTORY
Victoria Virtue found herself suddenly alone for the first time in her life. Her mother had died years before and she had been raised by her retired boxer father along with her four brothers. The war arrived and her father and brothers were called to duty. She went to stay with an aged aunt on her farm in Perthshire and became a land girl. However, along with the farmers, factory workers and builders, the male superheroes left the country to do their bit too. Just like in the munitions factories and farms, the women of Britain took over. Thus Victoria became Land Girl to protect her home from enemies. She took her father’s prize boxing belt and the spade she used in the fields every day and made a costume to inspire those left behind. She is supported by an army of land girls who will heed her call to battle should the need arise.

POWERS
Victoria Virtue- Land Girl has no superpowers; just a sense of justice and a wartime woman’s fighting spirit!

INSPIRATION
During WWII, the men of Britain went off to fight in the war, leaving their wives, mothers and sisters to keep Blighty running. Women took over in the munitions factories and on the land, this second group of women becoming known as Land Girls. This is what Victoria is based on. I took the Saltire and the Lion Rampant to show her Scottish origins and tried to keep her costume very retro. Instead of the femme fatale route, I chose the Wonder Woman/Captain America one. I got to draw jodhpurs!

[spaghettikiss]

The REVOLUTIONARY
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa53/spaghettikiss/04-the-REVOLUTIONARY.gif
ORIGIN: During WWII, Truman had funded many Super Soldier projects in the hopes that he could make American soldiers an unbeatable force. When his research team (located 50 feet beneath the Lincoln Bedroom) finally succeeded in creating a working serum, the war had expended so much of the U.S. budget that funding was cut from the program. Only a limited amount was created. Truman wanted to put the serum to good use and decided to use it on one man who would serve a symbol of hope and patriotism.

With his Advisors, Truman chose New Yorker Paulie Grotto. As a civilian Paulie ran a deli with his father. As a soldier, Paulie had earned the purple heart and the medal of honor before being sent home with shrapnel in his legs that left him cripple. When approached, Paulie agreed to the program immediately.

After taking the serum, Paulie could not only walk again, but had the strength of 10 men and could fly. His senses were heightened so that he was intensely aware of his surroundings. As a seasoned soldier, he was immediately sent back overseas to aid in the fight against the Nazis. Sometimes used to inspire Armies to fight when feeling broken and beaten and sometimes used to infiltrate Secret Nazi camps on his own, The REVOLUTIONARY was a Patriotic force to be reckoned with!

INSPIRATION: Everyone loves to root for an underdog and as Americans, the most famous and patriotic version of the underdog is the Bluecoat soldiers of the Revolutionary War as they took on the British army. I really wanted to do a patriotic character and I really wanted to do something different with the costume. There were so many designs based off of the flag in the 30’s – 50’s but the only one that actually referenced time period outfits at all was the Uncle Sam character from Quality Comics. To get both of these concepts across I created a cape based costume that took much of its design from the bluecoat soldier’s outfit. The hair was also a throwback and I really tried to make it scream out revolutionary times without losing a sense of hard edged toughness.

[Dentalboy]

Hey there! Just a quick note to anyone not taking part in this competition or those taking part that have finished their entries that I have a thread that you might be interested in knowing about.
In view of the recent successful designing superheroes for the 50 states of USA I thought it would be fun to do a similar design exercise if you like for drawing a superhero for each of the countries in Europe.
Come to my thread at http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=215419
and pick a number there to be given your country!

Lots of fun!

[pryde15]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k303/cpsm1092/scan0074-1.jpg


Inspiration
Ok so with this challenge, my real inspiration was Wonder Woman. During that era in time, a strong female was unheard of. So with my design, I tried to insert very feministic views (for that time period).

Costume
The Candy Striper is based off of just that, a Candy Striper. I incorporated the stripes into the semi-skirt. But a big deal back then with the super heroines was showing off their legs, so I had a little V connecting the top to the skirt, and then an upside V cutting the skirt into 2, which comes off looking sort of like an M. I tried to make panties very conservative looking, since back then crotch shots were unheard of. Ballerina shoes for mobility, much like what Wonder Woman had at first (until she switched to High Heels). With the top piece I wanted it to show off her boobs (ala Wonder Woman or Black Canary) but I still wanted it to be very conservative. So I tried to give the top part of the costume a pantyhose effect, with it being see through but still sturdy material. I gave her the typical 50s mask to conceal her identity, and the Nurse hat to tie it back into her power.

Backstory
During the Great War, Sandy Cunningham worked day and night at the Hospital as a Candy Striper trying to help heal her soldiers of the good ol' US of A. But the day a platoon of radioactively infect soldiers came in; her life would change for ever.

The day had been pretty uneventful; Sandy had spent most of it "gabbing" with her friend Shelly about the latest news from the Allies. When the echoes of screaming men rang down the halls. They immediately went to investigate, to find a platoon of radioactively infected men in one of the infirmaries. Much to their dismay, when they tried to leave, they were stopped and told they were under quarantine, because they might accidentally cause an epidemic of poisoning in the hospital. So there they stayed for the remainder of the Night, Sandy valiantly tried to save the poor mens lives, but unfortunately failed. She worked late into the night, losing soldier after soldier, until she could stand no more and fell to the ground unconscious. The next morning when she awoke she found everyone else unresponsive, including Shelly. She screamed out her name and gave her CPR, trying to get her to wake up, but nothing would work. She sat in the mute room, sitting on the floor in a feeble position sobbing quietly, when she heard the moan of another. She quickly wiped her tears and walked over to his bedside. The man moaned in agony, and grabbed Sandy's hand, for comfort. As he did this, Sandy's hand began to glow a miraculous gold. The mans moans subsided, and the sickly green tone covering both of their bodies disappeared. Sandy has cured them both.

Once she realized what she had done, she became the super heroine known as "The CANDY STRIPER". Shortly after the Government seeked her out and she was admitted into the Super Program, which sent super-powered Americans to the front lines to help take down the Nazis. Their she saved many lives, and helped overthrow the Nazi Regime.


Powers
The Candy Striper has the ability to heal others & herself.

[Aljira]

whew!!! just got back from frolickin in the beach and then some...

you guys are amazing!!! i love you guys!!!! mwah mwah mwah(i'm still high! hahahah)


i'll start on my design right away!!!

[Aljira]

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/psiwar/galaxy3.jpg

Galaxy Girl

Betty Jones was always the weird girl in St. Scholastica's School for Girls. Bookish with really unruly hair, she was bullied by the rich beautiful girls... she eats alone in a corner of the cafeteria...always reading...always talking to some animal in the garden...


days before spring, they were attacked by aliens!!! green skinned, large black glaring eyes, and with slimy arms and fingers - they started grabbing the girls in the dorms, placing them in pods, and transporing each one to the hovering spaceships outside. screams and sounds of stun beams flooded the halls of St. Scholastica - but even with this confusion, betty was able to escape and hide in the school garden. while trying to calm down and thinking of a way to save her classmates, a few of her animal friends started gathering around her, gently guiding her to this secluded area in the woods where another hovering spaceship is located.

a militaristic looking middle-aged man was beamed down from that ship, he then immediately explained to her that he is part of this galactic police force hell bent on defeating an evil alien empire named, Vushuari. and it's this evil alien empire, who are now abducting her classmates, ready to turn them into slaves. He then told Betty, that she was chosen by the galactic police force, to protect this planet from the Vushuari.

Betty agreed. He then gave her a small device to be worn like a watch. When activated, she changes her appearance and she's imbued with a pro bodybuilder's strength, above average speed, and the power of flight. she can fire beams of great force from her headgear and from her belt. she was also given limited telepathic abilities, with which she can use to talk to animals. she also has a small spaceship of her own.



golden age?

Darna (Philippines' very own superheroine) and Japan's Shaider.

yeah, it's a weird combination of sorts but i do think i definitely channeled that golden age feel very well.

as for the look? that headgear, the light blue spacesuit with the weird sort-of coil on the shoulders, smaller cape for a cute more female look, and yeah...the shorts!!!..because those bikinis dont exist in the late 40's yet.


hope you guys like it.

[Aljira]

whew. that was quick!

[mattbib]

Less than sixteen hours, designers. Make it work.

[Solaris]

So far I count 15 submissions, out of the 21 remaining contestants, so that means six people still have to submit.

[Your Imaginary Pal]

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h125/Baqula/phenom-comix2.gif

Back-story:
Enter Norman Newman, the most unnoticed attraction in the big top.
He's the janitor for a traveling circus and carnival. He led a pretty unremarkable life, especially compared to all the acts he had to clean up after. Until one day there was a robbery at the big top. An extortion ring was muscling the tent manager, who refused him the night’s take. The thugs began burning down the tents and shooting at the acts. Norman stumbled upon the Magician, Presto Ernesto, who was shot and Presto conferred all his mystic knowledge upon Norman, just by gazing in his eyes. Norman learned the secrets of the Zodiac and of Presto’s Astro-Belt, which gave its wearer the abilities of all the signs of the zodiac. He was also given his magicians cape, which gave him the ability to levitate. Norman had to find a way to stop these goons. So he went to the wardrobe room pulled a strongman’s suit and put on the gifts of Presto. He used his newfound powers to put out the flames rescue the rest of the circus crew and subdue the crooks in no time at all. A local newsman saw this “costumed Phenom” save the day. It was front page news, and the Phenom was born. Normal Norman Newman was now newsworthy flying high for freedom as the Phenom.

Costume:
The outfit is a simple stretch cotton basic strong man uni-tard., bright colored purple with yellow trimming. The emblem on the chest is a 12 pointed star which, each point representative of the 12 signs of the zodiac the four points on the diamond inside represents the four elements the signs are housed in. The boots and gloves are colored to compliment the suit itself. He also wears a deep blue violet magician’s cape with a red velvet lining; he also has a golden belt with the signs of the zodiac marked around it.

Powers:
He has the ability to levitate from the magician’s cape; he also has a wide array of abilities that Presto gave him through eye to eye hypnosis, including…eye to eye hypnosis, telepathy and slight clairvoyance. The Astro-Belt gives him the various strengths of the zodiac’s signs. Ramming power from Aries, The strength of a bull from Taurus , the ability to disguise himself as anyone’s perfect twin from Gemini, a hard crabs shell shield from Cancer the crab, The roar of the lion and courage from Leo, he can purify and heal from Virgo, balance of justice from Libra, Sting blasts from Scorpio, accuracy from Sagittarius the archer, long jumping of a goat from Capricorn(when coupled with the levitation gives long flight), He can create rain because of Aquarius, and breathe underwater thanks to Pisces. He can also manipulate the elements only slightly, Fire, Earth, Air and Water. He is a Phenom, he can do it all, and if it’s something that doesn’t quite fit, he can do that too, if he needs to.

Inspiration of the Golden Age:
Bright colors and fanciful manes, you had Captain Marvel, Wonder Man, Superman, and the Dynamic Duo, so I figured someone PHENOMENAL would fit in pretty well.
I was watching the documentary on the New Frontier DVD and someone mentioned that the Golden age heroes were more magical ,like the Alan Scott Green Lantern and Captain Marvel, silver age heroes were more based in science. I figured a circus origin would fit, because the Big Top used to be a big deal. In an era before great special effects or color in movies, it was a time before television and way before video games, theater was your outlet for entertainment. And the Circus or carnival was special because it wasn’t there all the time. And we all have heard that a circus is the greatest show on Earth.

[atoningunifex]

http://alyxchance.com/cbrunway3/missmystery.jpg

Name: Miss Mystery
Alter Ego: Helen Konstantine, Helen King
First Appearance: Mystery And Suspense Comics# 13 (July 1944)
Known Allies: Archibald McBain, The Enigma Twins (Cheery and Pip Longbottom), Stupendous Guy, The League of Masks
Known Enemies: Stavros Konstantine, Killer Twister, Madame Grimm, Crocodile Jones, The Society of Column Five

Origin:
Helen Konstantine grew up in the lap of luxury, wanting for nothing. She had all the best clothes, all the best schools, all the best teachers. It wasn't until she was 19 that she discovered that her father was the head of the notorious Konstantine Crime Family. Vowing to live an honest life, Helen rechristened herself Helen King, dyed her blonde hair brown, put on a pair of glasses, and went to work for mystery writer Archibald McBain. McBain was a good writer but didn't have much common sense. In the course of researching one of his pulp stories he ran afoul of the Konstantine. In order to save her boss Helen donned a red wig and a Halloween Ball costume. Calling herself Miss Mystery, she saved her hapless boss. McBain, completely besotted with Miss Mystery, devoted himself to chronicling her adventures. Miss Mystery spends half her time getting her trouble magnet boss out of danger, half her time fighting off a wide array of costumed thugs hired by her father to kill her, and all her time tossing off snappy one-liners.

The Inspiration:
Rita Hayworth meets Black Canary meets Phantom Lady in Central City.

The Costume:
When designing the costume I wanted something somewhat iconic, somewhat superhero-esque, and somewhat Spirit-esque,

I think a lot of the costumes of the Golden Age were based more on actual clothing than costumes are today. When I started out thinking about the general design I played around with skirts and shorts and superhero-y tights. Eventually I started leaning more towards a Hollywood Glamor style costume, something that Miss Mystery could move in but also look smokin' hot in. I think the outift I came up with evokes that Hollywood feel and crosses a little into Spirit territory with some Good Girl Pin-Up art trappings thrown in for good measure. The red wig is my little Rita Hayworth nod.

Color-wise I wanted a simple palette. After debating red and blue, and red and yellow, and green and blue, I decided on green and yellow-partially because I wanted to use colors I don't normally use.

The large question marks and the open shirt were designed to give the costume an iconic feel. Hopefully you'd recognize the costume even if it were just laying on the floor in the background of a panel.

[escapegoat]

The Human X-Ray

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s201/tylerragan/TheHumanX-Ray.jpg

Origin:
Gary Grant was working late one night in his lab on a top secret government project involving the use of x-rays to reveal concealed Nazis. Suddenly, Nazi spies appeared in an attempt to sabotage the experimental device. Cary attempts to fight them off, but a stray bullet strikes the x-ray device, causing an explosion that destroys the building and everyone within. However, Cary miraculously survives, but is forever changed by the energies released by the x-ray device. Now he fights Nazis and criminals as…The Human X-Ray!

Powers:
The Human X-Ray’s body unconditionally collects all forms of radiation around him and transforms it into x-rays. His body is permanently charged in this state, which he can easily contain within him until he consciously discharges it. With this energy, the Human X-Ray can fly and become intangible. He can also emits x-ray beams to weaken and disable his foes. He can also reveal things behind walls and other obstructions.

Costume:
I wanted to make the Human X-Ray look like a silhouette of a body with a visible skeleton inside it. I added in a few costume details so that people didn’t get the impression that he’s naked, since the x-rays eliminate the appearance of any normal clothing. The shorts, boots, belt, and bandolier are all lined with lead-based dyes, so that they can remain unaffected by the x-rays emitted from him. The bandolier gives a nice x shape to act as a symbol to represent the character’s name. I arranged the eyes to glow red, rather than show a couple of eyeballs, to give an eerie effect instead of a creepy one. The boots also help save the bother of drawing all of them bones in the feet. ;)

Inspiration:
I had a bunch of ideas for this round, and settled on this one after seeing a couple that were too similar in theme to what I was originally planning to create. Science-based heroes were not a common theme within the golden age, but it did have its share of them. My obvious inspirations were a couple of other “Human ___” superheroes (In other words, the Human Torch and the Human Bomb). I originally thought of the “Human Laser” but I shortly discovered that lasers didn’t really hit the mainstream until the late 50’s. I guess every energy-type weapon up to that point was a ray. So I thought of x-rays, and bingo! I had my character.

[mattbib]

Four and a half hours to go, designers. Carry on.

[pryde15]

There are only 3 designers left who still need to turn in their design.

[AnkaleRa]

The Copper Courtesan

http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs30/f/2008/091/4/e/Challenge_4__Copper_Courtesan_by_jelloconcoction.j pg

History:
A victim of poverty in France, Yves Cuivre turned to a prostitution to support herself. Soon she became quite a "catch", as one might say. She was the mistress to many powerful men. At the age of twenty, a Nazi general took a liking to her and offered her a new life. Enchanted, Yves accepted his offer and became his bride. As the wife of a high ranking Nazi officer, Yves had access to a lot of information and technology. With these, she trained herself and became a force of evil for the Third Reich. Taking her vision to the US, Yves became the Copper Courtesan, a thorn in the side of America.

Abilities:
After much training, Yves has excellent marksmanship. With a gun, Yves can hit nearly anything. Yves also has extensively studied every facet of history, science, philosophy, and language, so she is incredibly intelligent. Yves also has access to a large amount of technology.

Inspiration:
I wanted to make a woman that seemed like she could be a good old fashioned Wonder Woman villain. And I wanted to channel the simplicity of the Golden Age. The name was mostly inspired by Moulin Rouge, but it definitely felt like something from the Golden Age. And the Golden Age was about fighting Nazis. Nazis are evil.

Costume:
As I said, the Golden Age was about simplicity. Hence the costume is rather simple. It has the common place gloves, domino mask, high waisted belt, and high heeled boots. It shows skin, and very seductively. The color scheme is simple, comprised of two basic colors. I wanted to throw in something a bit different with the cleavage cut-out and somewhat small skirt. And to throw some copper in there, I gave her a belt buckle and gun.

[Affinity]

MISS SWATCH

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2025/challenge4wa5.png

Elementary school art teacher Georgina Molloy assumed the class field trip to the acrylic paint factory would be uneventful as usual, but little did she know that the maintenance was underpaid and overworked! A faulty screw sent the second grade teacher to her supposed doom -- and supposed it was indeed! Reborn from the colorful pits of acrylic paint tubs, MISS SWATCH's newfound strength and reinforced color theory lead her through a hilarious series of adventures in school, life, and romance!

The Concept
The Golden Age is one of the clearest, more easily defined eras of comics. I certainly don't mean by years, since that's always debateable, but in terms of the holistic feeling and interpretation of the era, everyone can almost certainly agree on its joyfulness. Hardly fabulous like the seventies or eighties, the Golden Age was instead fun. Superheroes frolicked on adventures and characters experienced crazy hijinks and love stories and space adventures to Mars; it was a blur of action and adventure and romance, all swept under the jolly mantle of the Golden Age.

I really wanted Miss Swatch to convey this sense of excitement and enjoyment. The era is easily defineable in terms of style, and the hallmarks I picked up on were the pointed breasts and high waisted shorts; awkward and clumsy today (mom jeans!!) but hardly faux pas in the 50s.

Bright, simple colors are a throwback to the simple coloring of comics back then. Throw out the Wacoms and Photoshops and even the PrismaColor markers and examine the wonders of limited printing that may have once been a hinderance but is now a staple. She's supposed to be cute and quirky and fun, without Infinite Crisises and years of rebirths and lease renewals. She's Miss Swatch, and she'll punch the Forest Green out of you!

[Spidey]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/Spyderizzle/Round-4.jpg

Bio:
Rex Johnson was an elected science adviser for the US across the seas in the European theater during WWII. His job was to investigate any new technology that was confiscated from the Germans. He mostly dealed with high class weaponry and rocket technology. One day he was escorted to a cleared out Nazi armory since the classified weaponry couldn't come to him. Upon entering the armory Rex' party was ambushed! Everybody died except Rex who barely escaped with his life. An year later and a fully recovered Rex vowed to help end the war by more involved means. He wanted to cross enemy lines without any help. He trained with the British SAS and worked on various bombs to help aid him in combat. He then donned his makeshift costume and became Dr Atomic. After the war ended he came back to the US where he continued fighting evil.

Costume:
I tried to combine a little of all the old sci fi and pulp comics that I liked from the era. A doctor's smock, gloves and goggles which are reminiscent of a mad scientist, but with a nobler agenda. His boots and flight pants are taken from the Rocketeer/Sky captain type heroes. His pouches ( I didn't want to add too many) are were he stores his various armaments; bombs, smoke grenades, blinding powder, etc. There's no detective type stuff in his bags or first aid kits, none of that. He isn't Batman. I wanted to give purely offensive stuff.

Inspiration:
I didn't want to go directly the superhero route so I added some sci-fi, classic pulp elements in there. I made him a doctor, because smart heroes are easier to look up to than vigilantes and thug like heroes.

[howyadoin]

Outstanding work, kids. I wanna read a book with all these characters in it.

[LewMoxinsghost]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/Spyderizzle/Round-4.jpg


I'd totally buy this and listen religiously to the Dr. Atomic radio hour, saving up my cereal box tops for the Dr. Atomic Secret Decoder Ring. Nice work!

[Spidey]

Heh, thanks. If he did have a radio hour I promise the secret message wouldn't involve Ovaltine.
I just noticed the DC logo is from a superman title, oops!