Get ready to Vamp it up as Project: Rooftop joins forces with Harris Comics for our newest drawing contest focusing on Vampirella entitled Vampirella ReVamp. That’s right, in a P:R first we’re partnering with the publishing company of the character for an unprecedented contest. Open to professionals, amateurs, vampires and aliens, we’re putting out the call for redesigns of the vivacious Vampirella.

In addition to our usual P:R staff roundtable review, we will have three special guest judges for the finalists, Trina Robbins, Joe Jusko, and Dan Brereton. Writer and Herstorian, Trina Robbins created the original costume design of Vampirella. Artist Joe Jusko has done some of the most memorable art in Vampirella’s history, notably his distinctive covers and work in the fully painted book, Blood Lust. And Dan Brereton, the cartoonist & creator of The Nocturnals, and is working on a 2008 Vampirella Quarterly Halloween Special.

Harris Comics has provided these incredible prizes:

Grand Prize (1) - The winning entry will appear as a pinup in a future issue of Vampirella, and receive two comics signed respectively by Joe Jusko and Dan Brereton.

Second Prize (1) - A Vampirella wall poster illustrated by Jose Gonzalez, and receive two comics signed respectively by Joe Jusko and Dan Brereton.

Third Prize (1) - A Vampirella T-shirt illustrated by Stephen Segovia, and receive two comics signed respectively by Joe Jusko and Dan Brereton.

In addition to these prizes, the finalists selected by the judges will also be up on a fan poll at Vampirella.com for the “Fan Selection” prize of a limited edition Vampirella print.

Send in your Vampirella redesigns to projectrooftop@gmail.com, with the subject line: “ReVamp” Please include your full name, age, website and mailing address for prize shipment. International winners may be responsible for prize shipment. All the usual P:R Guidelines apply.

All entries must be received by Monday, September 8th, 2008!

Vampirella (R) and her likeness are registered trademarks of Harris Publications, Inc.

Editor’s Note: As previously announced over at Pulp Secret, the Superman: Man of Style winners have been decided! Congratulations to Grand Prize winner Ming Doyle, Second Place winner Kyle Latino, and Third Place winner Avi Bastermagian! We received nearly two hundred entries for this contest, so we’d like to show off a few more of ‘em, including two alternate entries from finalist Jon Morris, a late entry from P:R regular, Joe Quinones, and a bunch of honorable mentions. Enjoy! - Dean Trippe

Jon Morris (Large Version)
Note: Check out Jon’s explanation of his Phantom Zone Superman here! -D.T.

Jon Morris
Note: Check out Jon’s explanation of his Authority Figure Superman here! - D.T.

Joe Quinones

Note: Honorable Mentions after the jump! - D.T.

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Editors Note: The following 21 entries have been selected as finalists for the Superman: Man of Style contest. These entries were rated and reviewed by the P:R Staff as well as by our guest judge, super-scribe Mark Waid! The winners (the entries with the highest composite scores) will be announced on Monday over at Pulp Secret in a special video announcement! Check back here on P:R later in the week for the Honorable Mentions. - Dean Trippe

Art Grafunkel

Dean: This is one of the more radical entries we got! I’m surprised by how much this feels guy feels like he belongs in the Superman mythology. Maybe not Supes himself, but I dig the Kryptonian cleric-plus-techno vibe. Could easily work as a Zod, Eradicator, or possibly a new villian created by Brainiac? Any way you slice it, this is a cool look, but unless the Superman titles take a hard turn, it’s just not Superman. Totally wicked, though.

Jess: I’m with Dean: this isn’t Superman himself, but it’s definitely someone in his world.  I’m actually getting a Vandal Savage vibe from him, myself.

Rachel: I was thinking Mr. Sinister, but that might just be the hair and cape. Incidentally, this is one of a number of designs we got in which Superman is barefoot, something we haven’t seen with any other character.

Chris: Art is showing a metric ton of creativity here, but it’s taken him on a journey outside of who Superman is. But man, I’d love to see this guy face-off with Superman.

Joel: If Superman had been created in the Seventies for Warrior Magazine, this is exactly what he would have looked like. Grafunkel goes very the bold, creating a new image for Supesf rom the ground-up, but I think he misses the boat when it comes to the gadgets, specifically. At risk of stating the obvious, the essential, timeless appeal of Superman is that he is a Man who is Super. That is, he is the basic human experience raised to the level of hyperbole. Gadgets get in the way of this by making the character a specific sci-fi conceit, rather than an enduring metaphor-mask.

Vito: It’s definitely “out of this world” which is not only the norm with Art, but also the whole kit and kaboodle with Superman.  He kind of looks like one of the Obsidian Age characters from the Joe Kelly JLA run, though.  I like it, but I think we all agree that this isn’t exactly Kal.  And is he packing Kryptonite on his belt?

Waid: Blurgh.  Really creative, but zero to do with Superman.

Avi Bastermagian

Dean: I think if Superman were created within the last ten years, this is about what he’d look like. It’s a little on the generic side, but it definitely feels like a Superman to me. I like the wide red bands on the gauntlets, pants, and boots, but the cape-over-the-neck-guard look is a bit cumbersome. I’m also missing the yellow in this normally primary-colored hero.

Jess: Oh, I like this.  If Kon had grown up to be Superman, this is what he would have worn, no question.

Chris: WOW. Finally, no underwear on the outside but giving the man some pants. I like this so much that to find something wrong with it, I’d maybe say the chest symbol could be changed up to be less morose. But otherwise, way to go Avi!

Rachel: Avi’s design is really, really sharp, but I miss the bright colors–this strikes me as a darker Superman, both literally and metaphorically. Even though it’s even further from that costume than from the original, it immediately made me think of the Superman of the alternate-reality Justice Lords–enough that I actually went and checked to see how close it was to Justice Lord Superman’s actual costume (not remotely, by the way).

Joel: Jess hit it right on the nose with this one. This would be a great costume for an adult Kon-El. It’s well designed, with a balance of large color areas and linear elements, and the repitition of red throughout the black areas. I like that there are two black tones: those with gray-blue highlights, and those with red. The only area that bugs me is where the black turtleneck ends. It’s awkward that the cape almost, but doesn’t attach along that line, and then the top of the S-shield doesn’t quite relate to that curve, either.

Vito: I think you hit it on the head, Jess.  This is Superb—er, Kon El, all grown up and taking the mantle.  I really like it, and this could easily be a 10, but just like with Art, this doesn’t say Kal to me.

Waid: A really sleek take incorporating the classic elements.  More yellow would have brought the score higher.

Charles R. Rouse-Rodriguez

Dean: Okay, aside from the rocket-pack, I think this is fun as all get out. I don’t see Supes needing the extra technology (this is a costume redesign contest, not a character redesign contest), but the scifi action uniform suit is very cool for an alien hero like our Kal.

Jess: This strikes me as what Clark would have worn if he’d landed on Rann instead of Earth.  I like the sash and the piping (and I love dorky little Clark Kent off to the side there), but like Dean I don’t know why he needs all the bells and whistles.

Chris: Not a Superman to me, but this would rank high as the official space suit for Kryptonians.

Joel: As discussed with Grafunkel’s piece, I don’t think Superman needs all the doo-dads, and this costume is all doo-dad. This looks like a space-adventure suit worn by someone who doesn’t have innate powers.

Rachel: You know what it is? It’s an action figure costume–the kind with all sorts of little fiddly bits that your cat inevitably eats. That said, it’s a pretty damn cool design; I could see it as, for example, the government’s “official” look for a superhero from space. And I like the idea of Superman’s costume giving him a means to collect and store solar energy (I’m guessing that’s what the circle doohickeys on his chest and hands are).

Vito: I’m going to go a little higher as it’s really innovative and really true to the sci-fi/pulp origins of Superman.  Dean’s right…the jetpack is a little too much to suspend disbelief on, but I dig it!

Waid: I like the drawing a lot more than the actual design–it’s just a little too gadgety for a guy who doesn’t need gizmos.

Fernando Lucas

Dean: Whoa that’s neat. The “S” symbol being a representation of Krypton exploding is way too tragic for Supes to actually wear it, but gosh it’s clever. Similarly, Supes losing sunstone crystals all the time in flight or battle just doesn’t seem smart (unless they’re inert, not being control crystals, I suppose). I think it needs a cape, but I totally love the concept.

Jess: The idea is really cool, but in execution it…well, it kind of looks like a chicken suit.  Even if there were a way to make it look less feathery, I feel like a hero encased entirely in crystal is not the most approachable guy in the world, which doesn’t strike me as being particularly Superman-ish.

Rachel: I think Jess’s concerns are right on the money: this Superman is literally pretty prickly, and while a spiky power suit has its advantages, I just don’t think it fits the character. Superman is all about approachability–he’s a symbol as much as he’s a superhero–and this costume broadcasts the opposite. I do love the concept, though–it’s super cool and hella evocative. It could even make for a pretty rad Superman villain, if you just tinted those crystals green…

Chris: This is a very striking imagine, but my practicality-sense ™ is rinigng off. This could be a one-time power-up suit for Supes, butI don’t see him wearing this much bling — Lois would get jealous!

Joel: I love this design, and am kind of in awe of the creative reinvention on display, here. It’s a brilliant application of the Donner Kryptonian crystal technology, and that S-shield is simply an act of genius. I love that the crystals are constantly growing and breaking off into confetti, giving Supes a Miracleman-style Tinkerbell effect. What happens to those fragments? Do they dissolve? Are the gathered up by collectors and sold on eBay? Do they sink into the earth and quietly grow into… something? I agree that it doesn’t have the approachability that is key to Superman’s appeal, and the boots look a little unconsidered, but that all that’s keeping this from a perfect score.

Vito: I love the idea, but the execution is a little…I don’t want to say flawed, because it’s quite ingenious.  It just reminds me too much of Doomsday in its concept.  I like Joel’s Miracleman explantion, but I wish I could get behind this more.

Waid: Glurgh.  No offense, ’cause it’s imaginative, but it’s just so cold–and, worst of all, I really think the one thing Superman doesn’t want to be reminded of every time he looks at his own insignia is that his planet exploded violently.

Jared Axelrod

Dean: Jared one-upped everyone else by actually constructing his steampunky Supes! I’ve seen a few similar designs of the character in my day, but this one sure is spiffy. I’m not sure I see it working for Supes in the comics, but it’s an interesting enough Elseworldsy take that I’ll cut it some slack. Very cool.

Jess: I have a total weakness for steampunk, and this is just fantastic.  I love the goggles, the way the cape attaches, and the…boot covers?  Spats?  Whatever, they’re excellent.  Dear DC: I now request several hundred Victorian Superman stories featuring this costume, Sherlock Holmes, and possibly bayonets.  Love, Jess.

Rachel: It’s worth noting that Jared’s costume isn’t a stand-alone–it’s part of a marvelous steampunk redesign of the entire Justice League, The Guild of Justice-Minded Citizenry. Where were these guys during Fights, Flights, and Tights?

Chris: Reign of the Supermen. I’d love to see Clark institute a Superman program with Jr.s, and Jared would be an able-bodied pick.

Joel: Wow, well this gets points for realization of vision. I love the asymmetrical cape connection, but would like to see how the rest of the cape connects in the back. Action spats, epaulets, and filigree collars should, clearly, be a part of more superhero costumes. The belt needs a little more weight and interest, and I’m not sure about the relationship between the pentagonal buttoning and the little S-shield. The two shapes being so close to one another is awkward.

Vito: I think Jared really went the extra distance with the top…but the bottoms don’t look as inspired.  Granted, all of the classic Superman elements are represented, but for something so steampunky, I would like to see something a little more ornate on the legs, perhaps s-shields going down the sides, and maybe a darker red.

Rachel: Yeah, I’m with Vito here. The spats are nice, but the plain red field of the pants sticks out against the ornamentation of the rest of the costume. Even continuing those brass buttons from the spats up the sides would help lend it a more unified look.

Waid: Indifferent.  More appreciative of the craft and dedication than of the design.  Don’t dig the huge not-S chest symbol.

Ming Doyle

Dean: This is the highest rating I’m giving out, and with good reason. Ming has taken a solid design route and imposed it over the Superman mythos, redesigning not just Supes, but Kara and Conner as well (good gosh, I’d love to see that kid back and sporting these wicked duds)! The new take on the S shield is magnificent, and the inclusion of multiple shades of blue into the uniforms is brilliant. I love how otherworldly these costumes look, but totally retaining the superheroic appearance and instant recognition for each character. Ming’s removal of the much maligned red undies is the best I’ve seen. And I just can’t get over how much story there is in this single piece. We’ve clearly got our SuperFamily back together, working more often from the same base of operations at the Fortress of Solitude, and even Superman updating his costume in the step towards greater unity with his namesakes. I love it to bits. To me this design walks a strange, perfect line between feeling like a Silver Age comic and and Ultimate-ized take on the characters. Good show all around, Ming. I think everyone else is just playing for second from here on out.

Jess: I am trying really, really hard not to give Ming full marks just for including Kara and Kon, because I tend to be extraordinarily partial to Superkids, but this is just fantastic all around.  I love the piping and that Clark is the only one wearing a cape.  I love that they seem to have incorporated elements of each other’s costumes - the fellas have Kara’s extra-long sleeves with the pointed elements, and much of Clark’s costume is reminiscent of Kon’s debut outfit, like the black elements and the narrow belt (thankfully minus some of the more dated aspects, like the fade).  I love Kon’s boyish short sleeves and the fact that Kara looks strong and capable and, you know, fully clothed, but still very sassy and teenaged.  I would absolutely buy a comic with this on the cover, in a heartbeat.

Rachel: Ming has consistently set the bar for costume redesigns, and she does it again here. This Superfamily is clearly alien–I love the way the logo has changed so that it’s no longer immediately legible as an “S”–and just as clearly superheroic. The subtle variations between the costumes–Clark’s cape, Kon’s sleeves, Kara’s skirt–and the extent to which  the characters keep their individuality but still have such a cohesive look blow me away. Looking more closely, I’ve also noticed that those variations are reflected in *all* the costumes: Kara’s boatneck, for example, echoes the neckline of Clark’s cape and the dark section at the top of Kon’s shoulders, and the red sides are a common note for both Kara and Kon. My one complaint about these, and the one reason I knocked off a point, is that they’re awfully busy–I think they’d lose a lot in small panels, and I have trouble imagining them drawn by anyone but Ming.

Chris: The drastic simplification of the “S” logo into what it is sets the tone for my whole interview. This would be a Superman who’s finally at peace with his dual homes of earth and Krypton, and accepting both Lois and the Superkids as family. This is a really inspirational piece.

Joel: This is a great illustration, and there are a lot of wonderful elements to these costumes (the S-shield, the two blue-tones, the characterizations, etc.), but, to my eyes, these designs are just a little too busy. I think it’s the yellow piping, which breaks things up too much. And mid-shin is a very awkward place to end a boot. I’d suggest either moving the boot tops a few inches higher or lower, and switching the piping to the lighter blue.

Vito: Ming, if we could bottle up whatever otherworldly talent that you, Jemma, Daniel, Joel and Dean have for superhero design, we’d make a mint.  Every child in America that has grown up at the feet of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko comics would drink that potion in a second.  But I’m digressing from the actual design here.  The idea of a uniform design among a “family” of characters isn’t new.  I think the only family in comics that doesn’t adhere to that thinking, at least nowadays, is the Batman Family.  So, it’s great that the thinking behind a family design went into this.  But for the actual designs, she really found a way to update Superman himself without going to far from what we know, and that made for a killer design.  And then she pushed it further by taking that design and switching it up for his supporting cast.  The one that catches my eye the most is Kara.  Remember the Supergirl contest?  The one element that makes or breaks Supergirl is her skirt and I think that’s the one problem DC has with the character; how do you put a teenage girl in a mini skirt without making her too sexy for her age?  Ming’s design totally shatters any artist’s or writer’s conception of what she (Supergirl) can be and what she can look like and that’s all based on the strength of that Superman design.  I’d be interested to hear from Ming as to which character she visualized first.  She’s an amazing artist, that Ming Doyle, and it’s hard not to give her a 10.  My heart might belong to Kyle’s design, but my head is right here.

Waid: This is really great.  Not too noodly, and extra points for designing something that adapts well to Supergirl, as well.

Jon Morris

Dean: Jon’s Sun God Supes is the following: Wicked. Fourth World. Shiny. Excellent. It’s so Herculean and happy, I can’t say anything against it.

Rachel: I’m giving Jon’s design a full extra point because of how thoroughly it breaks from the traditional representations of Superman. Most of these–even the best of them–lean very heavily on the “real” costume, and the ability to make such a dramatic departure from such an iconic look deserves notice. Maybe this is what Superman would’ve ended up if he had crash-landed on Themyscria. Also, while it doesn’t have anything to do with the costume, the pose and facial expression on this are awesome. They totally crack me up: I bet this Superman always says everything in a loud, declarative voice and is super enthusiastic.

Chris: What if Superman crash landed in ancient Rome? That’s what this hits me over the head with. I don’t think he could pull this off in 2008. But maybe I’d like to see him try.

Joel: Argosy Action Superman! Beyond the obvious virtues of this fun drawing, what I really like about this design is that it really could have been what Superman looked like, if Joe and Jerry had been paying less attention to circus performers and more to Supes’ pulp magazine predecessors (”Clark Kent! Golden Warrior from Another World!”). And then, all superheroes costumes would be derivations of this! The gold armor looks futuristic enough to balance the Classical inspirations. The solar eclipse buckle adds some nice mythic undertones. I’m a little worried about whether or not that cape is a tripping hazard, and the feet are a little footie-pajamas for my taste.

Jess: It seems like it might be a little awkward to go around in - the leather truss would poke him in the ribs every time he bent over, and if that S-shield is raised it would be poking his armpit rather uncomfortably when he put his arm down.  I’m also not sure why he needs gauntlets if he’s super strong and invulnerable.   I definitely give it major props for creativity, though.

Vito: Sun God, huh?  I can see it.  In fact, this is very New Gods meets Greek Gods.  Not too far off the original intention of…well, any comics, really!  The one thing that throws me off is the cape.  It looks uncomfortable to me.

Waid: Very creative, but not very Superman-ish.

More finalists and the P:R Staff entries after the jump! - D.T.
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We’re just five days out from the deadline for Superman: Man of Style entries, but I’ve heard from a small number of folks that their submissions are getting bounced back from our usual editors@projectrooftop.com address. I think I’ve corrected the problem, but to make sure everyone who wants to enter has a fair shot, I’ve sent out confirmation emails for every entry we’ve received. If you’ve gotten that confirmation, then you don’t need to do anything.

But if you haven’t heard back from us, then we don’t have your entry. Please send it to our new email address, projectrooftop@gmail.com.

Remember to include all the information required in the contest rules. Thanks! - Dean

Ready to tug on Superman’s cape? Heck, tear it off and take the tights back to the drawing board! Project: Rooftop is teaming up with Pulp Secret and Jim Hanley’s Universe for a new drawing contest that breaks even our own guidelines. That’s right, Jimmy Olsen, in honor of the 70th anniversary of Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1 way back in 1938, P:R, P.S., and JHU are putting out the call for redesigns of the first superhero with Superman: Man of Style! Jim Hanley’s Universe has provided these incredible prizes:

Grand Prize (1) - The Superman No. 14 statue, Superman: Birthright TPB signed by writer Mark Waid, and Superman #676 signed by our own Vito Delsante, who wrote the issue!

Second Prize (1) - Justice League Animated Superman mini maquette and a signed copy of Superman #676.

Third Prize (1) - Superman #676 signed by Vito!

Along with our usual P:R Staff roundtable reviews, fan-favorite writer and DCU expert, Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, Superman: Birthright), will be joining in to guest judge the finalists! The winners will be announced on Pulp Secret the following day with commentary from the P.S. crew.

Send in your Superman redesigns to editors@projectrooftop.com, with the subject line, “Superman: Man of Style!” Please include your full name, age, website, and mailing address for prize shipment. International winners may be responsible for prize shipment. All the usual P:R Guidelines apply…except for #7, of course.

All entries must be received by June 15th, 2008!

(Check out Pulp Secret’s announcement of Superman: Man of Style in today’s episode, available here!)

Editor’s Note: These first two Iron Man redesigns were sent in to us after the deadline for Iron Man: Invincible Upgrade, but while we they weren’t entered in the actual contest, we wanted to spotlight them here. Also, check out the Honorable Mentions! - D.T.

Charles Rouse-Rodriguez (Larger Version)

Dean: Gosh there’s a lot of good going on here. The inset circle on the torso and the raised neck guard are the parts that work the best for me. I dig the simplified faceplate, but I think I’d rather have seen a more personable face there.

Chris: If only Charles would have turned this in before the deadline. Like Dean, I enjoy the indented circle on the torso as well as the neckguard, in addition to the backpiece. The faceplate reminds me of Eric Canete’s work on the recent Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin miniseries.

Vito: It’s funny how everyone, when drawing IM, draws him in segments and plates. I wonder what the thinking is behind that. Or maybe those aren’t plates…maybe they’re designs on the metal. Just makes me wonder why all you artists think alike in that respect. My favorite element on Charles’ submission is the collar…how it goes up around his neck. Looks like a football player’s neckroll, which makes him a “bigger” character. It makes sense to me because you have to believe there’s a guy under all that metal. I would have given this a solid 8 had it come in on time.

Rachel: I can’t get past the fact that he looks like he’s wearing mechanical panties over his costume. Otherwise, freakin’ awesome.

Jon Morris (Larger Version)

Dean: Haha, this thing is CRAZY. Jon described it to me as being a womb-like containment structure that Tony lives in, so the shape and appendages don’t necessarily have to reflect a human form. I could see this as a future Tony Stark, protecting his ailing body, perhaps from a harsh environment. The only thing I’d deduct points for is the color scheme. I think Tony’d go for a red tunic over a blue one, man. Power colors.

Chris: This is less a redesign and more a re-imagination. I can’t quite get my brain around it.

Vito: I’m with Chris. I can’t quite put a finger on this one. It’s certainly a lot of fun, but wow, how weird!

Rachel: Add a third to that list! I love the design, but I can’t wrap my head around it as Iron Man.

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

Art Grafunkel

Christian Pearce

More after the jump! -Dean

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Editor’s Note: The following entries are the winners and finalists from the Iron Man: Invincible Upgrade contest announced earlier this month, with prizes provided by Westfield Comics of Middleton, Wisconsin. We received an nearly 80 entries. To determine the winners, the P:R team, Joshua Crawley of Westfield Comics, and our special guest judges rated and reviewed each submission.

Our special guests this week are writer Matt Fraction (Casanova, The Immortal Iron Fist) and artist Adi Granov (Iron Man, Necrowar). Matt is the writer of Marvel’s new ongoing series, Invincible Iron Man, and Adi’s fan-favorite redesign of the Iron Man armor led to his helping design the new film’s version of the character. - Dean Trippe

GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

Daniel Krall (Larger Version w/ Extras!)
Composite Score: 76.5 out of a possible 80 points.

Dean: 10. This is my only perfect rating, so let me ramble on about it for a minute. What Daniel’s done here is not simply show off a neat alternate version of the character. With this one illustration, he’s rebuilt him, including character traits and building a story that informs the design. This Iron Man is the Howard Hughes-inspired Tony Stark. He’s proud of his work. He’s bringing us into the future. The actual design goes far beyond the fun of this magazine ad illo, though. It looks functional. It’s stainless steel and rivets. When I was a kid, I grew up playing in my grandfather’s garage, while he built an RV-4 plane. The serious grounding in a brains, metal, and hard work world really sells this one for me. The red and gold racing stripes feel more Tony Stark to me than I would’ve expected. I like that it looks aerodynamic and tough, but also that there are possible weak points that could be exploited by an opponent in a fight. I think that’d just look awesome. And that Stark Technologies logo is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. (And don’t miss the infinity symbol / “i” in on the chest.) I absolutely want to read this Iron Man’s adventures.

Joel: 10. Man, you said it, Dean. Who will take my subscription check? I want to read this Iron Man’s adventures! Looking at this and Daniel’s great Nick Fury and Black Widow designs, I think we can all agree that Daniel should be assigned an ongoing book set in Marvel’s early Cold War era. While this is definitely not an Earth-616 solution, Daniel really goes the extra mile with his period detail. The suit itself looks oddly Byzantine at first glance, with its elaborately overlapping plates, but it also looks like the product of an Atomic Age aviator’s imagination, combining both plane and pilot’s high-altitude suit.

Chris: 10. Wow. From design to presentation and even the storytelling aspect. If Marvel were to ever do a similar project to Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier, this would be the kind of thing that would go great with that.

Vito: 9.5. Doggone that Daniel Krall. Seriously. I guarantee you that fine print is hysterical. But this piece hearkens back to his Black Widow/Nick Fury piece from a few months back. This is Tony Stark as Howard Hughes and it fits with what Daniel has done before. In that review, I said that the highest compliment I could ever pay an artist on a piece of artwork is that it inspires many stories, and Daniel does that again. What really clinches it for me is the use of a flat colored iron with just simple red and yellow detailing. If he’d use that “refrigerator suit” gray, I might have added the extra .5 point.

Josh: 10. The best hybrid of traditional and ultimate Iron Man armors. I love the rivets. This has no effect on my rating, but I fear for anyone who’d have to draw that too many times. And any chance I can get a giant copy of this for my wall?

Rachel: 9. I struggled over whether to give into peer pressure and make this a ten, but I just can’t do it. I love the look, I love the concept, and I love the art. But the design is just too busy for me. It’s detailed to a point that detracts from its iconicness (is that even a word?), and it’s not something I could see working within the constraints of an actual comic.

Adi: 9. Hard not to be in love with this one… The amount of thought and work that seems to have gone into this is very impressive. Stan Lee said that he was inspired by Howard Hughes when he created Iron Man and this is a superb development of that line of thinking, as if this Tony Stark was a contemporary, maybe even a friend or rival, of Rocketeer. I love that Stark logo too! I was going to give this a 10 but the chest and rib area look a bit unresolved and busy. But overall just a superb concept and execution.

Matt: 9. Awesome. And not just that it considers both the Iron and the Man, or that it gives Stark technologies a makeover, but as a considered document and piece of design, I love the whole vision.

SECOND PRIZE WINNERS!

Sam Bosma
Composite Score: 69.5

Dean: 9. This design is just golden. Heh. I dig the godlike feel here. It’s angelic, it’s futuristic, and it’s solid. The lit circuit lines on the chest and arms are nice, and the overall form is slick and simplified, but still very Iron Man. I totally dig it.

Joel: 9. With the placid-expression on the face plate, the paler color scheme, and the pose of a descending angel, this looks like an armor redesign Tony worked on while vacationing in Nirvana. Repulsor-blast our karmic chains, Enlightned Iron Man!

Rachel: 9. This is an Iron Man who wouldn’t look out of place on the pages of New Frontier. The face caught me–it’s simultaneously simpler and more expressive than most of the designs I’ve seen–and the armor has just the right amount of detail and texture.

Chris: 9. This is surprisingly haunting, especially for a usually cold piece of armor. It makes me think music for some reason. This is something I’d love to see more of.

Vito: 9.5. Wow. Words fail me (for once). I’ve never seen Sam’s art cross the P:RT desks before now, and I think we’ve all been missing out. This is a great piece! There’s elements of Tron here, and really, how can you go wrong with Tron? I also like the inversion of the red and gold.

Josh: 9. The pose, the extra circles, the inversion of colors; all great. Similar to the entry I tagged for a runner-up vote, this reminds me of something I’ve never seen, and may not have been intended: what if Iron Man visited Jack Kirby’s Fourth World?

Matt: 8. Why don’t I love this? I should. I feel like I should. I’m disconnecting from it and I’m not sure why. I think, like Joe’s, I don’t believe there’s a man inside…

Adi: 7. Beautifully executed image. One thing which removes emotion and life from this design is the lack of any expression in the face. Makes me think that it’s an actual robot as opposed to a man in a robotic suit. But it’s a lovely design, well balanced and consistent. And the overall feel is great with him descending like some kind of mechanical angel.

Ming Doyle
Composite Score: 63

Dean: 8. Ming explained her design as being the Asia-aimed export of the Stark Industries Iron Man persona. So in America, we’ve got Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, but in Asian markets, we’d have Iron Man, celebrity spokesperson! I actually think this is pretty in line with Tony’s built-for-business, multiple market mindset. The actual Iron Man design here is also delightfully retro, and has an especially cool faceplate. I dig this whole concept. It’d be an interesting storyline to pursue, having the Iron Man character be popular with teens and tweens, while older folks might recognize the problems in elevating an icon of American military might to Hello Kitty-like fandom.

Joel: 9. A real strength which Ming brings to her designs is the breadth of visual influence. Although her geek cred is unimpeachable, it often looks to me as though she’s constructing perfect superheroes without ever having actually seen one before—she makes none of the material and aesthetic assumptions that so many of us seem mired in, even when we’re trying to bust out of them. The banded armor-sections are a nice contrast to the more solid-looking plates. And that jet-assembly(?) on the lower legs is amazing! I’m not sure I get what’s going on with the yellow circles on the inner elbows, and the shoulders seem a bit unresolved. But, all in all, this is a wonderful drawing, and wonderful concept, and a wonderful redesign.

Chris: 8. With some designs it’s hard to put aside the obvious storytelling going on and just focus on the designs. This is one of them. Can’t… concentrate…. Iron… man… as.. Japanese… toy… to much… to resist…. KAWAI!!

Vito: 9. I think the thing I like/love about this design so much is that it presents Iron Man as a cultural icon, something that even we, as geeks who grew up with Iron Man, can’t imagine. Iron Man, to many, is a Black Sabbath song about a guy who was turned to steel in a magnetic field. So, what Ming does is more than just redesigns a costume; she reimagined a world where Iron Man is Spider-Man. And in doing so, she realized that only in Japan, where Ultra-Man is as popular as Godzilla, would Iron Man BE a true social and cultural icon. Like I said, this piece is more than just a costume redesign.

Josh: 7. I’m a fan of the stream-lined design while also adding the giant boots, but what really catches me is the potential for a theme song: “New New Iron Man” to the music of the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Ranger theme.

Rachel: 8. I love it when artists like Ming and Daniel Krall create a larger context around their drawings. The break from traditional superhero design fascinates me as well–as Joel commented, this is the kind of superhero you’d design if you’d read about them but never actually seen one, which is a perfect reflection of the aesthetic Ming set out to capture here.

Matt: 7. I dig the contextual stuff– the bowtie clips are great– it pulls up bigger design issues to me… font choices, layout, etc. I wish the suit itself was more alien, somehow… I sort of tune out around the legs. I love it up to the waist, I love the– whatyacallit– the slats and stuff.

Adi: 7. I’d give this a higher rating because I am in love with the drawing and the concept. It’s really hard not to be won over by the sheer fun of this image, and as such it’s a fantastic representation. The suit design itself seems underdeveloped and relies on the style to do the “talking.” I love the helmet/shape of the face plate, and I really like the material the upper arms and his sides are made of. Lovely image overall.

THIRD PRIZE WINNERS

Joel Carroll
Composite Score: 62

Dean: 9. As usual, Joel’s got a serious handle on amping up this character’s design without losing any recognizability. The way the blue circle lights are inset into the armor is so cool. I prefer Iron Man designs that include a little blue, by the way. It rounds out the primary color scheme and keeps the red and gold from being too boring. The red detailing on the gold of the torso and arms is also super slick. This Iron Man is ready for his own animated series ASAP.

Joel: 8. An impressive-looking figure, this design has the weight and solidity of the best Iron Man designs. There’s just enough of the brawler’s stance and proportions mixed in with the high-tech. I love the rhythm of the gold and red lines, especially through the torso. I think it stumbles a bit on practical issues, however. Or, at least, my understanding of them. Parts of the armor are unhinged: the crotch and wrists, for instance. Others are elaborately hinged, like the ankles and elbows. So, is this metal flexible or not? The admittedly cool-looking blue circles tend to show up in what might be jointed areas, but don’t appear to serve as articulation. What is their purpose? They don’t seem appropriately placed to be either attitude jets or repulsors.

Rachel: 9. Those blue circles seem to be a running theme in a lot of these designs–think our contestants were working together? I don’t think they’re joints here, though–if they were, the placement of the ones on the legs and hands wouldn’t make any sense, since they’re below the knees and wrists. The lack of consistent articulation is definitely the biggest con here: the design looks gorgeous and extremely visually cohesive at first glance, but it loses credibility at the level of details, when the reverse should be the case. I think that actually brings up an issue that may come up more in these designs than in previous P:R reviews, which is feasibility. Iron Man’s suit a) is built around a person, and b) has to serve some specific functions, and as such, it has to have a stronger basis in real-world engineering and anatomy than do most costumes. There’s also the working assumption that unless it’s otherwise obvious, the working assumption is that any element of Iron Man’s costume is rigid: where you put seams on Nightwing’s outfit will affect how it hangs, but where you put them on Iron Man’s will determine whether or not he can bend his wrists.

Chris: 8. Joel turned in a really great piece, and what I enjoy most about it is the play between the hard-shell elements (the helmet, the boots and the gauntlets) over the seemingly more pliable exosuit. I’m all for Iron Man being the “armored hero”, but in this modern times with all the crazy tech Stark has, having the hardest stuff for the heads, feet and head with more movable everything else just works out great from a realistic standpoint. And me, I dig the blue circles — it hearkens back to the original designs, and also provides an exhaust and intake ports.

Dean: Yeah, that sort of stuff doesn’t really bother me any more than any previous Iron Man costume. Here’s what Mr. Carroll had to say about the materials in his Iron Man design. “Eliot R. Brown had an incredible idea about the suit’s individual skin tiles being electromagnetically hardened and softened per millisecond, depending on the internal movements of the pilot….explaining why some IM suits seem like cloth, but still hard as steel. I’m applying the “Brown” tile effect as an overall starting point for the smooth exterior.”

Josh: 7. A solid harkening back to the 1990’s modular suit with enough to make it new… but not enough for it to stand out. It also looks like the most likely to actually show up in the comic. Don’t get me wrong, though, it isn’t bad; it just seems a little vanilla. My only realm qualm is the design of the waist joint, which doesn’t have the same contour as the torso and leg plates. I do really like the inset chest circle, as well as the back vents(?).

Vito: 9. I had to step back a second and really digest this design. It’s easy to say that Joel’s designs are winners; hands down, he’s one of the strongest artists we’ve seen. This is as close to my own personal vision of what Iron Man is…my mind’s eye view of Iron Man. It really is the pinnacle of what Iron Man is; a high-tech knight of the round table. So, if I’m so high on it, why not a perfect score? Because in my mind’s eye, I see this helmet/mask combo. That, right there is all that keeps Joel’s design here from being the quintessential Iron Man costume.

Josh: The pointy helmet rules all others!

Adi: 6. I like the style and the drawing quite a bit and based on that my rating would be higher, but the design itself doesn’t say Iron Man as much as it should. I could see the simplicity fitting well in an animated series in the vein of Teen Titans. I think addition of some hardware and details on the torso would add more interest and make it seem a bit more mechanical and less as if made of fabric.

Matt: 6. I’m with Adi and Josh here– there’s some really great technique and style to the drawing, but the design strikes me as somewhat backwards-looking in comparison with the character’s design history… it seems like a step back. I don’t mind retro, necessarily, but this feels like a suit that would have a prefix like “cyber-” attached to it…

Jemma Salume
Composite Score: 58.5

Dean: 8. As usual, Jemma brings some serious fun to her design. It looks more Iron Lad Revisited (which would be GREAT) than Iron Man to me, but I totally dig the thin, slightly bug-like feel. The large size of the palm-mounted repulsors make me think they might serve new or at least additional functions. And I especially like the faceplate here.

Joel: 8. With the tipped-up toes, slender proportions, pastel color scheme, and snow-boarding stance, this elfen design may look a bit young for Tony, but would make a great Iron Lad! The orange and yellow elements interact in a graceful, dynamic way that I think would look good from most angles, and, as Dean mentioned in another review, a little light blue can really pull an Iron Man design together. I like the look of the extra-large palm-repulsors, although they’d make it hard to close one’s hands. Perhaps they slide down onto the forearms when fine manipulation is called for? Bonus-points for giving Iron Man a nose!

Rachel: 7.5. This is another Iron Man that I think belongs in cyberspace. He’s exaggerated and streamlined at the same time–an Iron Man fan avatar, perhaps?

Chris: 8. Wow. I’m sold. Shades of Neon Genesis Evangelion design work by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, but wholly original and striking.

Vito: 6.5. Chris, you might have something there, but what it really brings to mind for me is a computer animated short I saw a couple of years ago displaying the animation of the Transformers that would be used for the Michael Bay movie. I can see Jemma’s IM busting a move. As always, Jemma has a little bit of funk in her designs and this Tony Stark is dancing back up for George Clinton.

Josh: 7. Evangelion Iron Lad? I’m there, even if I preferred RahXephon. I think what I like most about this design is the extra bit of yellow on the face-plate, shoulders, and boots most Iron Man designs don’t seem to have. I think it balances well with the added red to the legs.

Matt: 7. This is fun. I like the pokey bits and the expressive lines in the design. I wish the body-form took its cues from the design, and it was less rigid and… well, human? I get an almost insect-vibe off of the design and wished the forms followed that function somehow…

Adi: 6.5. A fun idea. A more organic, less threatening and overall more fantastical take on Iron Man. The mobility looks restricted because of a lack of practical joins, or alternatively it looks as if made of a flexible material. Overall it reminds me of a costume more than a mechanical suit.

Darren Calvert
Composite Score: 58.5

Rachel: 8.5. Okay, can we stop for a moment and just admire the curlicues on this one? I’m not normally much for ornamentation, and I don’t think it really fits the character, but this is just a gorgeous design. The details remind me of Noh masks or old teak carvings, and it has that same untouchable grace.

Joel: 6. It’s frilly, alright, but is it frilly enough? I like the notion of a Baroque-inspired Iron Man, but I think it should be pushed so much further than this. After all, what’s the point of being moderate about excess?

Rachel: This can’t end anywhere good. We’ll have Iron Man dripping with lace, playing a harpsichord, and no one wants that. Harpsichords are so tinny!

Dean: 8. Oh you guys, you’re totally missing the concept here! This is Iron Man(darin)! Tony looks like he’s taken over the Mandarin’s evil empire and has incorporated some of his longtime foe’s design elements into his armor to signify the corporate takeover. I’d like to imagine this being part of a storyline where Iron Man has convinced the Mandarin’s henchfolks that he’s really the Mandarin who has killed Iron Man and appropriated Stark’s armour, while at the same time telling Pepper and Rhodey that he’s still Tony inside, just running Mandarin’s empire to help tilt the balance towards good. The reader might not even know which is true! Anyway, solid design. Darren’s really got a handly on making costuming feel three-dimensional, which is especially important in armor design like this. I’d totally like to see this Iron Man in action, though I might’ve included Mandarin’s rings (maybe incorporated into the armour around the heart?) to push the concept a bit further.

Joel: Ah, good point. I should have noticed the Chinese logograms in the background. I like your “Who’s behind the mask?” storyline. This design could still be taken further. Definitely needs the rings, perhaps another color or two, and some other decorative elements than the curlicues. And, you know, a transistorized harpsichord.

Chris: 7. Yes, villainous is the right word. That slender chin… those swirls. I can imagine Stark twirling his mustache under there somehow.

Josh: 8. I think everyone else has already said the stuff needing to be said about this. One thing I would have liked to seen is a little more yellow in the boots and gloves, similar to yellow added in the chest plate and the red added to the legs. My only other thought, and I’m not adjusting my rating for this (nor the coloring comment posed earlier): who could draw, or even color, this on a monthly schedule?

Vito: 8. If not for Dean’s Iron Mandarin explanation, I might have gone lower, but I do appreciate the effort in design here. This works as a What If…? or as a villain. Either way, I’m in.

Matt: 6. Rachel’s right– mad props to the curlicues. My biggest problem is that all those bits feel like surface to me– you’ve got these really great details on a pretty standard suit of armor, almost. Very much like the first piece to me– design flourishes aside, it feels like Iron Man circa 2002.

Adi: 7. I like the overall look and feel of it a lot. The surface treatment is especially nice; smooth curved areas meeting sharp edges and chamfered plains… very nice. I think it needs to be taken further and refined. As it is some areas seem underdeveloped, such as knees, and could use the same attention the helmet or the calves got. It’s a really fun concept, a Mandarin Iron Man.

P:R STAFF ENTRIES

Dean Trippe
Composite Score: Ineligible!

Dean: My main idea was to aim for sleek robotic simplicity. I feel like the tightly-jointed panels might have expandable parts with various concealed capabilities. I also wanted to make sure Iron Man looks impervious, but non-threatening, so that he doesn’t scare kids when he’s rescuing them!

Rachel: 7.5. I REALLY want this Iron Man to be made of candy. I also really like Dean’s use of curves instead of angles for the armor joints–it really changes the feel of the costume without straying too far from the original design. This is an Iron Man I could see fighting in VR (which, come to think of it, would be a really cool extension of the character and fit well with Stark’s obsession with staying on the cutting edge of technology).

Joel: 9. Tony Stark: Director of PEZ. My comment when I first saw this design was “Geez, Dean, even your armor looks young and hopeful!” This is a really nice design. While so many of the best designs seem to be thematic variations on Iron Man, this is one of the few that I could see showing up in continuity. It’s a completely different approach to the shapes used in Iron Man’s designs, and yet it fits solidly in the character’s visual identity. I love the two-toned fingers, and am completely enamored of the modular-plate notion. I’m not sure about the “bolts” on the temples. They look good in this picture, but I think would look oddly clunky and Frankensteiny in other views. And I wish the arms had wrist-articulation.

Chris: 8. This is classy. It almost reminds me of a suit he’d wear for official gatherings or some such. Like the Olympics.

Rachel: I think both the bolts and the modular plates contributed to my idea of this as a VR Iron Man, because they visually evoke electrodes or temple plugs and digital vectors.

Vito: 8. Know what this could be? His new exo-suit that he wears under his armor. Is that the Extremis? Well, if he was actually able to use the Extremis epidermis as armour, this is what it would look like. I think the one thing you’re missing in this, Dean, is the absurdity of what makes Iron Man’s classic armor classic and that is the short pants. Why would he even need short pants/trunks? It’s dopey, but it’s one of the things I love the most about Iron Man’s classic look and this, my friend, is a classic looking IM, regardless of what my rating is.

Josh: 8. I like the addition of blue and greyish, but I feel like a touch too much yellow got lost. Dean, do some of those expanding bits have lots of yellow? The plates radiating and following the curve of the neck is a really nice touch.

Adi: 7. Fun and playful, it immediately put a smile on my face. I feel that it needs a few more Iron Man cues to make it entirely successful; the chest light being lit up as that’s an important part of the Iron Man mythos (with his heart the the whole repulsor technology). The bolts on his wrists and sides of his head seem to clash with the overall sleek look. I really like the treatment of, what I assume are, separate panels on his torso, the horizontal curves especially draw very elegant and powerful shapes.

Matt: 8. Chris said it– classy. Great stuff. The sleekness of the design, the thoughtfulness of the design… just terrific. I love the blend of contemporary sleekness and the classic Iron man suit. If this was a show, I’d watch the hell out of it.

Joel Priddy
Composite Score: Ineligible!

Dean: 9. Joel’s nanoliquid armour idea is the direction I’ve most often pondered about for the character. The twist Joel’s got going here is that the physical features of the Iron Man form are a bit childlike, despite housing an aging Tony Stark. As usual, I’m smitten with designs that imply story elements, so this one’s getting a solid rating from me. I also really love the holographic controls.

Rachel: 8. There’s been at least one hero who goes from child to adult when he suits up, but I’m intrigued (and a little creeped out) by the idea of an adult who looks like a kid in costume. And it’s more than just the face–the proportions of the body are definitely more a child’s than an adult man’s.

Chris: 6. The main design doesn’t really work for me, but the floating head on the bottom left seems intoned with alot of personality and a different suit of armor… which I’d love to see more of. Going back to the main armor shown, it reminds me a hell of a lot of Vision more-so that Iron Man.

Vito: 7.5. There’s something…otherworldly about this. Almost ethereal. Like it could be either, as someone said earlier, a VR avatar of Tony, or, and this might be more radical, the New God version of Iron Man. I can totally see this as Tony’s self-image, but it doesn’t look like battle armor to me.

At this point I have to ask the panel…anyone else having trouble writing “armor?” Because I keep spelling “armour,” and I can’t front like I’m from Canada or the UK. Not with a name like Vito.

Joel: Wait, this isn’t Vito Thistlewaithe, of the Shropshire Thistlewaithes? Well, then who have I making snarky comments to all these months?

Josh: 8. I keep typing “armour,” too, when I’m not typing “colour.” I won’t claim to be from Canada (nor the UK), but I won’t deny it. Also, as I’ve been working my way up from the bottom, I find the New Gods reference interesting, since I hadn’t seen this before writing that. I definitely see it here, though I didn’t at first glance. A discrepancy in age and proportion between the two images I can write off, unless there’s something we aren’t being told about the design. Back on track, what I really dig here are the toes! And being a fan of the “retro” face-plate with the points, I really like the design here of the face. The more I look at it, the more I’m liking it, but the more I’d also really like to see this armor reflect Tony’s age as he is in the mask cutaway view (which is rad in and of itself).

Joel: I drew this right after reading Michael Chabon’s New Yorker article about superhero costumes. Thinking of Iron Man’s armor as Tony’s “True Skin” seems distinctly creepy. What does it say about a person that they’d wear a machine as flesh? It can’t be a sign of a healthy self-image. I like to imagine middle-aged Tony Stark not understanding why the other superheroes are uncomfortable with his new youthful-machine-flesh-suit.

Adi: 7. I am kind of torn about this one. As an idea it’s fantastic. I like the idea of the youthful, or even ageless, alien design and the implications of “issues” someone wearing it would have. The execution is very simple but conveys the design perfectly. The reason i am torn is that I am not sure it fits the character of Tony Stark as he is in the comics. He is a playboy and an occasional alcoholic, and I am sure he has some image issues, but he seems rather comfortable in his own skin and the Iron Man suit is more of a sports car to him, a mean looking hot-rod, rather than a mask behind which to hide and/or project a different personality.

Matt: 7. I think this is a tremendous design– for a different character. I look at the armor and I think of youth, of innocence and optimism, hope and pioneerism… all the great, wide-eyed science fiction stuff that a character like Iron Man brushes against from time to time… and then I see old soul-patched Tony and it feels like an old man dressing up like a teenager. Is that weird? I dunno, all this stuff is so subjective…

Runners Up after the jump! - Dean
(more…)

From May 7th to September 1st, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will be presenting Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, an exhibition exploring “the symbolic and metaphorical associations between fashion and the superhero.” (Thanks to Ming Doyle for the link!)

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Editor’s Note: The following redesigns of The Rocketeer are presented in honor of the character’s creator, Dave Stevens, who passed away on March 10th. Mr. Stevens’ signature character’s costume remains so exceptionally pure and memorable, it hardly warrants revision, but in honor of his life and work, we asked several of our regular contributors to send us their ideas. We present them here without criticism. More information on Dave Stevens can be found here and here. - Dean Trippe

The Rocketeer by Joel Carroll

The Rocketeer by Ming Doyle

The Rocketeer by Joel Priddy

The Rocketeer by Daniel Krall
(Larger Version)

Joe Quinones, P:R regular and new cover artist on Teen Titans Go!, the Johnny DC monthly based on the Teen Titans animated series, has been posting studies of the major characters (Raven, Robin, Starfire) over on his blog. His newest one, Cyborg, features a slick, but subtle, redesign of Vic’s translucent armor elements.

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