Superheroes!

I have never been one to draw traditional superheroes or care for the typical look of perfectly muscular macho / morally superior superheros, but this topic, 'Reconsidering the Superhero' is a topic I am most interested in. I love the nonconventional superheros and 'superhero stories'. Watchmen, Hellboy, Batwoman, and Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman', are examples of stories and superheroes I have always admired. I love Darwyn Cooke's work, especially in DC: The New Frontier (Side note: I got to have dinner with Darwyn Cooke and some artists after a convention, and along with his incredible work, is an awesome dude!) Anyway, the few specific examples I want to underline in this response are Watchmen, Hellboy and Batwoman. Alan Moore has a brilliant way of depicting superheroes in a very nonconformist manner. Along with the costume/aesthetic of his characters, it is their backstories that pull them out of the customary image and idea of superheroes. Unlike Superman, these heroes have real human weaknesses, their emotions sometimes conflict with their responsibilities as 'heroes', they became the people they are because of traumatic, disastrous and/or very real human experiences or accidents. They are individuals with very different looks and characteristics. My favorite Watchmen characters are Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, and the Comedian (<Love/Hate relationship with him).

Rorschach is the Anti-hero, in that he is not nice, or handsome, or charming and lovable and definitely doesn't fit the standard of a conventional hero. He is fed up and tormented, and borderline psychotic. He does good because he feels that he has to, not because he wants recognition or reward.

Dr. Manhattan... I feel for him. a character living in a quantum universe would not perceive time with a linear perspective, which would influence the character's perception of human affairs. Moore also wanted to avoid creating an emotionless character. he sought for Dr. Manhattan to retain "human habits" and to grow away from them and humanity in general

Comedian could be describe as ruthless, cynical, and nihilistic, and yet capable of deeper insights than the others into the role of the costumed hero. I love his look, I love his attitude, I hate that he attempted to rape silk spectre though. -__-

Altogether, they are the Watchmen. Their story focuses on the personal development and moral struggles of the protagonists as an investigation into the murder of a government sponsored superhero pulls them out of retirement.


The next character I am most impressed with in terms of reinventing/reconsidering the superhero, is Batwoman. A character designed to completely change the conventional super hero. First and foremost she is a strong powerful woman. The modern Batwoman is written as being of Jewish descent and as a lesbian in an effort by DC editorial staff to diversify its publications and better connect to modern-day readership. Described as the highest-profile gay superhero to appear in stories published by DC, Batwoman's sexual orientation drew wide media attention following her reintroduction, as well as major praise and minor criticism from the general public. One of my favorite DC artists working on the newer Batwoman comics is JH Williams. His breaking up of panels and use of texture in the comics is phenomenal. I love the way Batwoman has been depicted in terms of looks (She is not overly sexualized), and designed as a human character with controversial personal/human qualities.

I started to develop my own character, Pigeon Girl (*laugh it up*), but she was a very serious character heavily influenced by both Watchmen and Batwoman. She had the attitude of Roarschach, the look of Batwoman, and powers similar to Night Owl's. She lives in a world comprised of rodents (rats, mice, vermin) and predominantly birds. Her villain was Vultress (who is later revealed to be Pigeon Girl's sister), and PG's sidekick is Diabla, a bitchy angsty motorbike-messanger who doesn't take anyone's shit. Anyway, it sounds ridiculous but don't all "Reconsidered Superheroes" at first?