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An Exercise in Character Design: Mike Lunsford's Reasonably-Dressed Superheroines

By Rain Noe - April 4, 2013

in Fashion Design

For a superheroine, packing must be easy; their outfits are so skimpy there's barely enough fabric to fit into a purse. You could argue that male superheroes also wear costumes that leave little to the imagination, at least in terms of tightness, but it is female superheroes in particular that are depicted in practically stripper-esque outfits.

Fans have noticed, of course. On comic book forums you'll find comments like the following:

For one month I think DC should switch the male/female costume designs in all their titles. Wonder Woman would put on battle armor or something that shows no skin below the neck and Superman will put on knee high boots and skin tight biker shorts.

Others find the skimpy costumes irritating for practical reasons, in true comic book geek style:

...Huntress's "sexy" uniform makes me nuts. She doesn't have superpowers and there are important organs in your abdomen. Somebody cuts or shoots her abdominal aorta and it's all over.

In any case, artist Michael Lee Lunsford has started populating a Tumblr with his illustrations of, well, reasonably-dressed superheroines. Some of them are even wearing proper pants.

Lunford points out that he has no agenda, and is just doing the sketches for fun:

Point of this: An exercise in character design, attempting to clothe the heroines nearly all the way and not making them painted-on, while still keeping the look of their original costumes in some way. Hopefully keeping them looking as iconic as the originally were. Just showing what can be done with a costume breaking outside the barrier of the norm.

NOT the point of this: some moral code I'm trying to push on you.

What we'd like to see next: An industrial designer breaking down superhero gear, ID-Sketching style. Is Batman's utility belt made of injection-molded plastic with living hinges, or machine-sewn Cordura based on the MOLLE system?

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GRS

11 years ago

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I like the fantasy of comics. When characters are brought down to earth and become practical, it loses something....
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adicahya

11 years ago

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I grow reading superhero comics since like 4-5 years old. But, today, i don't even introduced comics to my 3.5 year old son. This skimpi outfit is one of the reason..i feel them to sexy for kids.
I would be happy if this "concept" gain traction in mainstream comic industries.
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Andy

11 years ago

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Project: Rooftop has tons of stuff like this if anyone finds that kind of thing interesting. I do.
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bob

11 years ago

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whoah whoah whoah if comics looked like that maybe it would force me to face my fears and talk to actual women
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Charlie

11 years ago

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Makes a lot of sense to wear protective armor when necessary and if not, wear clothes to make you feel comfortable while fighting crime - female superheroes are not there to show their bodies, after all.

Side note: and what if the female superhero wants to wear something fashionable and comfortable at the same time?
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Cameron

11 years ago

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Nothing wrong with a modesty agenda. If anything, it makes the characters more attractive and believable.
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scott

11 years ago

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Those uniforms are pretty awesome to be honest, Wonder Woman looks like someone that will beat your willy ass like Chuck Norris.

As for the ID sketches for superheroes? I'd like to say "challenge accepted" and put on some cool-guy sunglasses, but someone else will have to pull that one.
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