Monday, October 30, 2006

Legion Of Substitute Costumes: Spider Girl

bbhead100906 Here's a new addition to my burgeoning list of design challenges: recostuming anyone who was ever rejected by the Legion of Super Heroes. The idea grew from a single cartoon of Polecat that I drew while waiting with Jeremy in the DMV (he promised it would only take a minute and then when we arrived there was like, three hundred people ahead of us). So to pass the time I started sketching. Then next thing I knew, I'd devised costumes for the original roster of the Legion of Substitute Heroes and a bunch of others, besides! And here's the first one I'd like to show you. It's very nearly Halloween in your backwards, superstitious era (praise be to the Luck Lords) so in honor of that I present: Spider Girl! (Creepy!) Let's take a gander at the "before," shall we? Here's Spider Girl getting all her hopes and dreams crushed by a lame pun:

adv323spidergirl

I'd feel sorry for her, but c'mon! Trying out for the Legion of Super Heroes without having even a modicum of control over your powers is like auditioning for American Idol without any singing ability. You're just asking for a snooty foreigner with huge jugs to tear you a new one. Still, Spider Girl didn't exactly put her best foot forward, now did she? First there's that nasty, dry, fly-away hair (SUNSILK!!! Sorry, I don't know what came over me) and then there's the costume. She's not exactly "dressing for success." The ultra-realistic spider web design is neither attractive nor intriguing -- it's merely gross. And the copious-yet-haphazard rusching makes her look like the world's sultriest trilobite. No sir, I don't like it. Here's how I would have attired her:

legionspidergirl

You go-go-go, Spider Girl! Except for some modishly-slicked bangs in the front, most of her hair is pulled back from her face. I also would have introduced the lady to a handy little invention called "conditioner." Now, that's the kind of hair you want to throttle you into unconsciousness. I added a mask because it's fun and mysterious, and it goes with the Halloween party feeling of the costume, and also because it's about the only thing that makes the outfit a costume and not just a dress. *nervous laughter* And what a dress! It's a charming little number in a violet-gray fabric that is slightly sheer, and worn over a darker body stocking. That way she can enjoy wearing something with a high hemline and not come off like looking like a pole dancer, Supergirl. Er, *ahem* and the entire ensemble is finished off with black silk slippers (with treads on 'em, for action!) and some fun bangles. There ya go, honey. Don't forget what I said about the conditioner.

9 comments:

Vegeta said...

Why does she call herself Spidergirl anyway? Becuse Medusa was taken?

Anonymous said...

Vegata, Spider-Girl says so herself...because she her hair can be like a web and ensnare people. Maybe she didn't put her best foot forward with mastery of her powers or her costume, but she at least explained that her power has SOME connection to her codename, unlike SOME members of the Legion (I'm looking at YOU, Cosmic Boy!). I wonder if Medusa, Spider-Girl, and Godiva have ever met? They could form the Legion of Living Hair!

Blockade Boy, it's great to see you back to redesigning superhero costumes! You are so good at it, and I like checking in each day to see what you've come up with. I look forward to seeing what you do with the rest of the Legion Subs!

Anonymous said...

Medusa was introduced in FF #36, 1965. Spider-Girl was introduced in Adventure 323, 1964.

Who might have borrowed the concept from whom?

Jon the Intergalactic Gladiator said...

I think she looks pretty good in her original version, she just needs to get that haor under control and maybe change that shirt a bit. I kind of like the web around the collar. Of course, the BB update is hot, va va va vooom. If I wasn't married, I might take a trip to the future to ask her out. Spider Girl doesn't deserve such shoddy treatment from those other Legionaries.

Marc Burkhardt said...

Oh, that's it kids. You're in for it now.

Spidergirl is crying and she's calling her big sister Medusa over to kick some tail.

Marc Burkhardt said...

Oh, that's it kids. You're in for it now.

Spidergirl is crying and she's calling her big sister Medusa over to kick some tail.

Nepharia said...

Shoot. There's not enough conditioner in the world for THAT much hair. But it's nothing that a set of scissors couldn't handle, he he he....

Anonymous said...

Hm... That redesign looks sort of familiar for some reason ...

*cough-cough* (Cobweb) *cough-cough*

Jeremy Rizza said...

Glad you all like it!

Jon: "Web around the collar?" Wasn't that from a laundry detergent ad?

Nepharia: Maybe her nemesis should be a drunk middle-aged mom who gives little girls bad pixie cuts.

Isaac: I respectfully beg your pardon (whilst angrily pumping my fists and gritting my teeth). Cobweb looks cheap and skanky; my Spider Girl outfit is girlish and cute. But we're all entitled to our opinions, aren't we? *mutters to self*