Are heroes looking more like models now?

[justinkos91]

Sometimes, when I read an X-book, I just cant help but think that some of these people dont look like heroes anymore. I know some changes are for the better (Rachel Grey, Madrox), but some for the worst (Storm). Remember a time when heroes looked like superheroes and you could distinguish them from an average civilian? Half of them look like models. I'm not saying it's a good or bad thing, but are there some heroes you wish would go back to the hero look? What are some changes you like in costumes, and some costumes you hate when it comes to changing of how they appear?

Here's a couple examples of what i mean:
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o296/justinkos91/BeforeandAfter.jpg

Wrong picture of choice for Rogue, but you get my point! Aren't they looking better than before? You like it better when they look good and fight crime, or do you prefer your heroes to look like heroes?

[pryde15]

models don't even look like that.

[Monty_Cristo]

yes. Shortpack's so thin that i can't even see him anymore.

[justinkos91]

models don't even look like that.

They're looking less like heroes, that's for sure.
Some changes are good, some are bad. What are your faves and least faves?

[pryde15]

They're looking less like heroes, that's for sure.
Some changes are good, some are bad. What are your faves and least faves?

If anything. They look like porn stars.

[limerick]

i think madrox has actually changed very little.he looks almost identical to the way he did in the fallen angels mini--maybe slightly different hair but otherwise similar.
as for rogue --newer look is definitely hotter.don't forget she was only18 when she joined the x-men.she's obviously a late developer

[Monty_Cristo]

If anything. They look like porn stars.

that's just a 3rd mutation brought about by exposure to Greg Land.

[justinkos91]

If anything. They look like porn stars.

Especially Emma Frost, but when hasn't she? :rolleyes:

[lockerogue]

If anything. They look like porn stars.

I'd say they are more in the middle. Not exactly pornstar but in between becoming one.

[marvell2100]

If anybody puts up anything by Rob Liefield I will come out shooting. NO QUESTIONS! NO MERCY!

[The Thunderbird]

Jean Grey was a model at one point. So it makes perfect sense that she looks like one.

[pryde15]

Jean Grey was a model at one point. So it makes perfect sense that she looks like one.

Jean doesn't look like a model.

[Squidboy]

The examples you gave weren't quite as drastic as, say Marrow's transformation from villain to X-Man:

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/308/87735-61722-marrow_super.jpg

As the art styles in the X-books changed over time, the characters had to develop their distinct look, and if it meant defining their appearance to do that, then some characters (like Rogue) had to go through a few changes in appearance. They're still nothing too major that destroys the character, and I can really only say off the top of my head that Monet is a character who was just changed out of nowhere, but that's just because some artists don't know how to do her skin tone correctly. I can't say that Land's Storm makes the character any less awesome as she was when Jim Lee drew her, because then you're just comparing artist styles, but both renditions of the character are good for what they were, and didn't alter Storm in a negative way.. unless of course, Land traced that cover from a pornstar being urinated on or something..

[Grapeweasel]

Lots of it is tracing over pictures of models...

[Psy J]

I actually think that Storm used to be prettier. Like in the DPS days.

And let's not compare NEX Dazzler to, say, Outback Dazzler... :eek:

Although, I guess you have to take into account ideals and standards that change over time. I'm sure that comic fans in that 1960s thought that Jean was perfect, and had they seen a picture of the way she looks now, they'd probably have said that she's too thin.

[Shaid O Gray]

...and didn't alter Storm in a negative way.. unless of course, Land traced that cover from a pornstar being urinated on or something..

And odds are good that he did just that. And that he'll re-use that same pic for Susan Storm and Emma Frost. Oh yes, odds are good indeed....:rolleyes:

As for the rest, they've all been impossibly pretty and handsome with prefect physiques most of the past 40 years. Exceptions are usually due to different people liking different art styles. I do wish they would draw them good-looking but not all so damned impossibly beautiful. Because when a character comes along that's supposed to be yet even more gorgeous than everyone else, they don't know how to draw it!

Case in point: Mystique as Foxx. Who, in most of her panels, actually looked uglier than Emma or Rogue or Lorna. (And Larocca drew one fugly Rogue) Always thought that was rather awkward.

[The Black Guardian]

Now? They've always looked like models.

[justinkos91]

Now? They've always looked like models.

If you look back at the 60s and 70s, not really though
It just seems their appearance is less heroic-like and more model-esque

Example:
Storm Before-
http://www.many-realms.net/master-list/comics/xmen145-3.jpg

Storm Now (before her crappy Astonishing costume, but still recent)-
http://www.majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/xmensneakpeekprev/X-MenDWS01Preview8.jpg

[Shade101]

What exactly does a hero look like? I'm curious to know. Do you consider all heroes to have bulging muscles with veins popping out?

And what exactly do you mean by Storm's change is the worst? I'm not following...

[justinkos91]

What exactly does a hero look like? I'm curious to know. Do you consider all heroes to have bulging muscles with veins popping out?

And what exactly do you mean by Storm's change is the worst? I'm not following...

No, not bulging muscles, but it just doesnt feel right. I'm not saying what a hero should feel like, but what i think, and im hoping to hear what others think.

[Shade101]

No, not bulging muscles, but it just doesnt feel right. I'm not saying what a hero should feel like, but what i think, and im hoping to hear what others think.

Oh, well what's wrong with Storm? You better answer me!:mad:

[pryde15]

No, not bulging muscles, but it just doesnt feel right. I'm not saying what a hero should feel like, but what i think, and im hoping to hear what others think.

Here's the thing. Models usually are flat chested, thin, and very tall.


Super Heroines usually have big boobs, and have curves. They are also at the prime of health, and physically strong.

And even today, super heroines have big boobs, curves, and look body builderesque.

[Black Vespa]

super-heroes looking like supermodels has been ongoing since the early nineties, by some key founding members of Image Comics, a couple of years prior to their mass exodus.

[Henry T.]

Jean doesn't look like a model.

Jean looked swell as a model before she started throwing up after meals. :mad:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/newmsgt/jeanmodel.jpg

[Yogaflame]

Yeah, I'm not really getting this idea either. Superheroes have always been drawn to be very attractive people, the men with bulging muscles, the girls with long legs, thin waists and huge t and a's. The only real difference I can see how is perhaps the Hollywood-ification of comics, where the heroes look like they just stepped off a red carpet or glossy mag.

[The Black Guardian]

If you look back at the 60s and 70s, not really though
Sorry. I'm just seeing page after page, panel after panel of models... since even before the 60s. Sure, there are rare exceptions, but they're just that: exceptions. It's just that what we expect of models changes with every generation. Models of the 60s (pre-Twiggy) would be considered too large today.

[pryde15]

Sorry. I'm just seeing page after page, panel after panel of models... since even before the 60s. Sure, there are rare exceptions, but they're just that: exceptions.

Here is the norm for models.

http://fashionation.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/twiggy02.jpg


The super heroines shown, do not look like that.

[Nite-Wing]

Here is the norm for models.

http://fashionation.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/twiggy02.jpg


The super heroines shown, do not look like that.
Dazzler does:biggrin:

[Black Vespa]

Here is the norm for models.

http://fashionation.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/twiggy02.jpg


The super heroines shown, do not look like that.


no...you're right, - that's what happens when they get their hands on the super-heroin.

[pryde15]

no...you're right, - that's what happens when they get their hands on the super-heroin.

LEAVE TWIGGY ALONE. :frown:

[XaviersMisprint]

i think what he means is that storm from the 70's and 80's was beautiful, but also very powerful, strong, independant, and not someone that people considered a sex symbol. sure, her clothes were rather revealing, but it was barely noticeable because her presence was felt in many other ways as opposed to just her "sexy image".

nowadays, they draw her to have her bikini-thing covering exactly her vagina and the back is usually a thong or realllly tight pants, and the breasts are usually huge and semi-showing, and they obviously try to show off how hot she is as opposed to how powerful she is. beauty is one thing to have, sex appeal is another. she's a weather goddess, not a sex goddess. i know what he's saying.

[Black Vespa]

LEAVE TWIGGY ALONE. :frown:

heh-heh-heh. sorry, i couldn't resist.

[The Black Guardian]

Twiggy really isn't the norm.

Average model 1960: 5'7"; 130lbs; BMI: 20
Christie Brinkley (in her prime): 5'9"; 120lbs; BMI: 17-18
Cindy Crawford (in her prime): 5'9"; 130lbs; BMI: 19
Average model today: 5'9"; 115lbs; BMI: 17
Twiggy (when she became famous): 5'4"; 90lbs; BMI 15

[Black Vespa]

Twiggy really isn't the norm.

Average model 1960: 5'7"; 130lbs; BMI: 20
Christie Brinkley (in her prime): 5'9"; 120lbs; BMI: 17-18
Cindy Crawford (in her prime): 5'9"; 130lbs; BMI: 19
Average model today: 5'9"; 115lbs; BMI: 17
Twiggy (when she became famous): 5'4"; 90lbs; BMI 15

:rolleyes:

[pryde15]

Twiggy really isn't the norm.

Average model 1960: 5'7"; 130lbs; BMI: 20
Christie Brinkley (in her prime): 5'9"; 120lbs; BMI: 17-18
Cindy Crawford (in her prime): 5'9"; 130lbs; BMI: 19
Average model today: 5'9"; 115lbs; BMI: 17
Twiggy (when she became famous): 5'4"; 90lbs; BMI 15

Twiggy is one of the model's who helped form what the model community is today.

[The Black Guardian]

Twiggy is one of the model's who helped form what the model community is today.
That does not make her the norm.

[Black Vespa]

That does not make her the norm.

whoah. feeling a bit pedantic today, are we?

[The Black Guardian]

whoah. feeling a bit pedantic today, are we?
Have you met me? I always feel pedantic. Facts is facts.:tongue:

[pryde15]

That does not make her the norm.

True. but she did help shape what it is today.


It's not like it really matters, models are walking hangars anyways. They might look pretty, but their main job is to sell the clothes.

Nonetheless. Super Heroes look more like porn stars.

[Shade101]

i think what he means is that storm from the 70's and 80's was beautiful, but also very powerful, strong, independant, and not someone that people considered a sex symbol. sure, her clothes were rather revealing, but it was barely noticeable because her presence was felt in many other ways as opposed to just her "sexy image".

nowadays, they draw her to have her bikini-thing covering exactly her vagina and the back is usually a thong or realllly tight pants, and the breasts are usually huge and semi-showing, and they obviously try to show off how hot she is as opposed to how powerful she is. beauty is one thing to have, sex appeal is another. she's a weather goddess, not a sex goddess. i know what he's saying.

Oh I get what he's saying now.

[The Thunderbird]

Jean looked swell as a model before she started throwing up after meals. :mad:

When did that happen? :eek:

[Bamf25]

Actually you need to take some other things into account.

The biggest is the ideas about beuty and what is a model change alot over time. I think that they were always presented as attractive, but time moves on and tastes change. Marylinin Monroe was considered the sex symbol of the 50's, by todays standards she is "chubby". If you fail to take this into account then yes, characters have gotten sexier, but not if you look at drawings taken in historical context. Amrvel girl was a hot model after all in the 60's.

Sendond (to a lesser extent), Marvel used to have a very set inhouse style and had to appease a fairly strict Comic code. In the 60's and even into the early 80's characters were spposed to be drawn uniform between artists and books to the point where telling different artists appart by casual look could be difficult. Thus no artist could sex up a charater.

[Dagger]

I actually think that Storm used to be prettier. Like in the DPS days.

And let's not compare NEX Dazzler to, say, Outback Dazzler... :eek:

Although, I guess you have to take into account ideals and standards that change over time. I'm sure that comic fans in that 1960s thought that Jean was perfect, and if they were to see a picture of the way she looks now, they'd probably have said that she's too thin.
Just to let you know, FIRE CROTCHES ARE NOT PERFECT. THEY HAVE FRECKLES ON THEIR PRIVATE PARTS. That is all:tongue:

[Dagger]

Twiggy really isn't the norm.

Average model 1960: 5'7"; 130lbs; BMI: 20
Christie Brinkley (in her prime): 5'9"; 120lbs; BMI: 17-18
Cindy Crawford (in her prime): 5'9"; 130lbs; BMI: 19
Average model today: 5'9"; 115lbs; BMI: 17
Twiggy (when she became famous): 5'4"; 90lbs; BMI 15
Kate Moss changed all that, and models became more twiggy like than the super-models of the 80's and early 90's.

[Maestro]

I want to read about beautiful people.

[The Black Guardian]

Kate Moss changed all that, and models became more twiggy like than the super-models of the 80's and early 90's.
She did bring back the Twiggy appeal, but she never fit the norm. Model agencies still look for slightly taller and slightly heavier. Even today, she's seen more as an exception than a rule.

All of this still proves my point. Comics have always shown model physiques for their times. It's just that society's standard of model physique has changed. Jean in 1963 appeared as a typical model in 1963. Storm in 1975 appeared as a typical model in 1975. If anything, we see less heroes looking like today's models (most still look like models decades ago, and even that recent picture of Storm shown above wasn't a typical picture of Storm in today's books).

[maigen]

Let's face it these people work their asses off they would have perfect bodies. Perfect hair and skin? Doubt it. Actually they should have scars all over there bodies from the numerous injuries they've endured (except the ones with powers that override this). And when it comes to hair it would take an exceptional amount of maintenance to keep it full of luster-especially for those flyers.

However, as long as both the women and men are horrendously sexy I'm game.

I do think some of their outfits are a bit over the top. No one wants to be concerned with camel toe when trying to save the entire human race.

[MarvelGirlBoy]

I miss Gert :frown:

I think that it's sad that when a character is created, if there is to be any consistency in how they are drawn, features that are to be retained must be exaggerated. Artists change around so much these days (not necessarily a bad thing) that either the character's traits/'flaws' have to be an explicit part of their character or future artists unconsciously retcon it out to make them generically beautiful. Storm/Wolverine/Beast/Rachel/Emma are some examples, but the one that pains me most is thin Angel Salvadore. She was so rad and exotic, predepowered, now she's yawn - I guess because Morrisson never had her actually point out that she was larger than a size 6.

Not that I'll mind when Land traces Keira Knightley for Martha Johansson...

[austinwells]

Yeah.......absolutley...They looks like a MOdel rather than a SuperHero..

Its Ok to be like Model, but it won't go with every super hero.

[Libaax]

I liked Wolverine when he looked more like a monkey than a pretty boy from a soap.

In Claremont days he was ugly,short,hairy.

Best of all he wasnt a short Arnold before. In the 90s he became big muscles.

I miss Gert too, i thought she was so cute and refereshingly didnt look like a porn star like most female superheroes. No wonder she was killed off....

The goth,the lesbian hot chicks survived though. Dont want to sound like a cynic but i see why they survived and not Gert.....

[justinkos91]

If anything. They look like porn stars.

But Rogue can't be touched :redface:

[k.i.n.g.]

I want to read about beautiful people.

This is largely why most mainstreamers are drawn insanely good looking and fit.

I can't imagine living at Xavier's and not banging half the team.

[Josef F.]

This is largely why most mainstreamers are drawn insanely good looking and fit.

I can't imagine living at Xavier's and not banging half the team.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/3529/118000-105506-beast_super.jpg

[Excelsior]

I miss working class heroes. Not the band, you pirates!!

[k.i.n.g.]

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/3529/118000-105506-beast_super.jpg

Been there. Done that.

[MartinRedmond]

Your avatar looks like a David Boreanaz photo, Justin.

[Libaax]

Heh since when does Madrox look like Angel :P


I like Madrox look cause he isnt too good looking,sure he has pretty boy face most of the times but he looks some nerdy too.

He is also skinny, which doesnt make him look like other heroes that the usual Arnold muscles.....

Also i have never read X-factor before this current series so there is only one Madrox look for me.

[sephirothskiller]

Here is the norm for models.

http://fashionation.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/twiggy02.jpg


The super heroines shown, do not look like that.

Holy crap her eyes are too big for her face. Creepy.


I think the only character who changed too much for me was Peter Parker. He should have stayed a geek. Making him into a cool everyman sort of broke the point of him.

[AppleBottomJeansBootsWithDaFur]

I see no problem with this, I myself am an ugly person, I do not want to look at a version of myself in a comic book. Pretty them up more I say.

[justinkos91]

Your avatar looks like a David Boreanaz photo, Justin.

It's Madrox drawn by Raimondi
He draws the best X-Factor in my opinion :smile:

[justinkos91]

Holy crap her eyes are too big for her face. Creepy.


I think the only character who changed too much for me was Peter Parker. He should have stayed a geek. Making him into a cool everyman sort of broke the point of him.

Spiderman would be so relatable to so many
as long as he lost the glasses
how else could he fit a mask on his face? :tongue:

[jrc_burgess]

If anything. They look like porn stars.


This is so true.
Pixie's change from sweetly annoying little air-head girl to another twenty something with big tits and artificially sculpted super-body was such a stupid move. Any appeal she had before has been replaced with a half-arsed attempt at sex appeal.

Another example; The Stepford Cuckoos. Changed from recognisable and cool idea of super intelligent creepy little girls to... well, just look at Warsong. A fantastic story marred only by the fact that someone felt the need that for most of the story the girls would be in their PJ's, and not many of them at that.

It just seems to me that many writers can't wait to take the young female characters and sex them up.

And don't evven get me started on Emma. At least when she was in the the Hellfire there was a reason for her stupid costume, albeit a tenuous one, but now... If ever there was a more unnessercary character added to give the fanboys a few wet dreams then I've never seen her!

[justinkos91]

This is so true.
Pixie's change from sweetly annoying little air-head girl to another twenty something with big tits and artificially sculpted super-body was such a stupid move. Any appeal she had before has been replaced with a half-arsed attempt at sex appeal.

Another example; The Stepford Cuckoos. Changed from recognisable and cool idea of super intelligent creepy little girls to... well, just look at Warsong. A fantastic story marred only by the fact that someone felt the need that for most of the story the girls would be in their PJ's, and not many of them at that.

It just seems to me that many writers can't wait to take the young female characters and sex them up.

And don't evven get me started on Emma. At least when she was in the the Hellfire there was a reason for her stupid costume, albeit a tenuous one, but now... If ever there was a more unnessercary character added to give the fanboys a few wet dreams then I've never seen her!

Wonder which character will be next... :confused:

[jrc_burgess]

Wonder which character will be next... :confused:

Kitty is saved from the silly magic bullet by aliens who exude hormones or something and becomes a sex freak.

Sooraya comes out as a bisexual nympho with a foot fetish.

Wolverine discovers he gets turned on by blue hair and has a polyamorous threeway gay marriage with Kurt and Hank.

I have heard serious rumours that Xavier turns out to be really dead after all and the thing recently wandering around turns out to be Magneto's old sex robot.

You may laugh but there have been stupider plotlines over the last few years.

[Christopher O]

This is how Storm should always look.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/someguy024/Fierce/StormBigHair.jpg

Basically, Olivier Coipel should always draw her.

[justinkos91]

This is how Storm should always look.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/someguy024/Fierce/StormBigHair.jpg

Basically, Olivier Coipel should always draw her.

I assume she was traced from Tyra Banks :rolleyes:
That or Naomi Campbell

[greenshoes713]

I assume she was traced from Tyra Banks :rolleyes:
That or Naomi Campbell

Who are you to accuse a legit artist of tracing?

She looks nothing like either of those women. Racist.

[Christopher O]

I assume she was traced from Tyra Banks :rolleyes:
That or Naomi Campbell
Considering that it's Olivier Coipel and not Greg Land and the fact that she doesn't look like either of them, I'd say she wasn't traced at all.

[justinkos91]

Considering that it's Olivier Coipel and not Greg Land and the fact that she doesn't look like either of them, I'd say she wasn't traced at all.

My bad, had the two mixed up :redface: Posted on a few boards that was about/mentioned recent Uncanny recently . She still looks good though. Got confused there... to the guy above you, I'm not a racist

[k.i.n.g.]

This is how Storm should always look.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/someguy024/Fierce/StormBigHair.jpg

Basically, Olivier Coipel should always draw her.

That's a good look, Chris.

I was never crazy for her vampire V-hairline...sometimes it's drawn practically to the middle of her eyebrows, but Coipel seems capable of rendering her well.

[jarrod]

Basically, Copiel should always draw everything.

[justinkos91]

That's a good look, Chris.

I was never crazy for her vampire V-hairline...sometimes it's drawn practically to the middle of her eyebrows, but Coipel seems capable of rendering her well.

His art looks familiar. Did he do any art for House of M?
Looks familiar :rolleyes: :confused: