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This is an observation, not a solicitation. For the record.

Posted on 2007.12.22 at 19:39
Current Music: Pandora.com - Atlantis Nights - Hudson Bell
One of the things I often think about, when I'm writing a story, is what the lead character looks like. And I'm often tempted to commission a portrait from someone over it. This is especially true when I'm writing superheroish stories.

I almost never go on to commission, mind. It's an idle thought at most.

My lead character is a forty-two year old woman with a normal human body who wears normal clothes while she goes around the country interviewing people.

As God is my witness, I have no idea who I would even contact to do that. It's not like most working superhero artists have much experience with that sort of thing.

EDIT: Okay, let me be blunt. Blunt clearly works better.

"Wow. I'm writing a superhero story, but the lead is someone who isn't often represented physically in mainstream superhero comics, in as much as she A) looks her age and B) isn't a physical ideal of any kind. I find it interesting that there are not many examples of this type at Marvel or DC, where a 42 year old is either depicted, generally, as 22 and hot as a supernova or 64 and decrepit. As a side note, she also has normal proportioned limbs and shins, which is not always seen in comics either."

Better?
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Comments:

Wednesday
[info]weds at 2007-12-23 00:53 (UTC) (Link)
Terry Moore, if you don't mind Generic Terry Moore Face, or any artist who worked on an issue of Sensational She-Hulk with fortysomething Weezi in it.
(Reply) (Thread)
Mason Kramer
[info]masonk at 2007-12-23 00:57 (UTC) (Link)
So... John Byrne?
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
Wednesday
[info]weds at 2007-12-23 01:01 (UTC) (Link)
Much of the run was done by other artists.
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Demiurgent
[info]demiurgent at 2007-12-23 02:33 (UTC) (Link)
Weezi was one of the best parts of a good series.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
Wednesday
[info]weds at 2007-12-23 02:48 (UTC) (Link)
Well, duh.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
LurkerWithout
[info]lurkerwithout at 2007-12-23 01:09 (UTC) (Link)
If only you had access to some kind of pseudo-community filled with artists...
(Reply) (Thread)
Peter Venables
[info]pvenables at 2007-12-23 01:13 (UTC) (Link)
So what you're saying is that you think it might be hard finding someone to draw a normal-looking person?

man, you aim too high.
(Reply) (Thread)
Gwalchmai
[info]mephron at 2007-12-23 01:18 (UTC) (Link)
I don't want to sound rude but I had an excellent commission done by someone else I know, who's on LJ as [info]ninjahijinx.

This here is the picture he did, of a superheroine. I think you might like his work.
(Reply) (Thread)
Paul Gadzikowski
[info]scarfman at 2007-12-23 01:50 (UTC) (Link)

You may be making the same error an editor once observed many prospective superhero artists make about drawing superhero comics. You don't just draw superheroes. You have to be able to draw the world they live in too. You can't just be able to draw Superman well, you must be able to draw Clark Kent well. And Lois Lane, and a tree, and a skyscraper, and an orange juicer, and a spaceship, and ...

Pick your favorite superhero comics artist. It'd be an insult to assume s/he can't draw anything you want.

(Reply) (Thread)
Demiurgent
[info]demiurgent at 2007-12-23 02:21 (UTC) (Link)
You are mistaking an oblique comment about the lack of variety in mainstream comics for a literal belief that professional artists can't draw realistic women.

(Some, of course, can't, but that's neither here nor there. :) )
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
Demiurgent
[info]demiurgent at 2007-12-23 03:17 (UTC) (Link)
And... hm.

Actually, given how Lois is usually drawn... I'm not sure that's a good example. Lois isn't a normal looking woman, most of the time. She's a supermodel. As are most adult female women in Marvel and DC comics, really.

Which actually is the point I'm making. One thing you just don't see in mainstream superhero comics -- with, as always, exceptions -- is normal looking women. Women who lack some form of idealized proportions and stunning appearance.

(And for those who seem to be missing the point -- of course there are lots of Webcartoonists who draw women with variation. They are not who we're discussing here. Nor am I bemoaning my inability to commission Barb. Look at the title of the post. :) )

Edited at 2007-12-23 03:17 am (UTC)
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
LurkerWithout
[info]lurkerwithout at 2007-12-23 05:00 (UTC) (Link)
You and your oh so useful "points" and "post titles". Bah on them! Bah and fie!
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
Wednesday
[info]weds at 2007-12-23 05:36 (UTC) (Link)
I presume that, by "stunning", you mean "that nipple smacked me square in the face when she turned around, and now I have a concussion."
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
Royce Day
[info]jeriendhal at 2007-12-23 09:12 (UTC) (Link)
I know you're just editorializing, but if you really want to commission something like that someday, I'd recommend my friend [info]chaypeta, who draws the sci-fi comic Terinu. She actaully does draw female humans, even young ones, as human beings. And her older ones look like their age without being grotesque.
(Reply) (Thread)
ryanestrada
[info]ryanestrada at 2007-12-24 05:43 (UTC) (Link)
I hear there's this website cartooncommune.com where you can have commissions done. I mean, that's the rumor on the street.
(Reply) (Thread)
Roni
[info]roniliquidity at 2007-12-24 12:21 (UTC) (Link)
You can borrow a photo of my Mother in law? She's a little older but close.

What I often do it look to pictures of friends, family, stock photos whatever to get a basic starting reference. It helps with the concrete details.
(Reply) (Thread)
(Anonymous) at 2008-01-02 22:29 (UTC) (Link)
Hey --I'm 43--and I think pretty normal looking--okay I color my hair, but not too far off my old color



Your sister
(Reply) (Thread)
Demiurgent
[info]demiurgent at 2008-01-02 23:38 (UTC) (Link)
Your hair color looks good on you, actually.

But admit it -- you've never seen yourself in a comic book, have you?
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
(Anonymous) at 2008-01-07 19:22 (UTC) (Link)
Damnit--you're right.
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