It was me. I was the one who redesigned Black Canary's costume in the mid-eighties. I did away with the fishnet stockings. I gave her the godawful headband and the cowl neck. I'm not proud of it. But you've got to understand--this was Post-CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS DC. Everything was going to be new, and whatever wasn't new, would soon have to be. Or so it seemed. I was still a teenager back then, lurking the halls of DC, trying to get my first regular series, 'MAZING MAN off the ground. And I originally got my job at DC by designing characters. Len Wein said that Black Canary was going to have to be redesigned anyhow. And I didn't see why, because I always thought her costume was so nifty. But, I figured, hell, if it HAS to be redesigned, let me be the one to do it. My original sketch was different, all grey and black, no blue. No headband, but a feathered head piece. Bad ass feathered head piece, not a pansy one. Len and Marv Wolfman asked me to change it. And then they bought it. And then Brian Bolland burned it.
Also around that time, I redesigned Elongated Man. This one seems to have faired a little better with the fans as well as the pros. Brian Bolland never burned this costume. Carmine Infantino drew it once or twice. Bruce Timm and his designers and producers even used it for their JUSTICE LEAGUE series (surprise Bruce! I work for you even when you don't know I work for you!). It's even been used on Mattel toys. I'm kind of proud of that. I should get money for that.
Sometime, remind me to tell you the story of how I redesigned the FLASH for Len and Marv.
An all new Flash, not a speedster, but like a laser-guy, for the Post-Crisis Universe. It never got off the ground.
12 comments:
Thanks for coming clean! Elongated Man's lavender is way better than the thing he had before that, so good work
For what it's worth, I didn't hat that Canary costume. I've seen much worse, especially back then!
And I didn't know that you did that Elongated Man design it until now, but now that you mention it, that "em" looks like your lettering style- so that would have been my first clue...
"Hate", not "hat". Sheesh.
haha he really did burn it didn't he?
it is a very 80's take sir. but yeah, i don't know if i can argue for you on this one, those fishnets and that jacket are pretty hot!
haha we all make mistakes, and the 80's was a good time for a lot of those!
wheee!
Your drawings are great!
Elongated Man, in his mourning period usually wears a suit now though. Its a great design, but while Canary's suit was burned, Elongated Man's suit was raped and murdered away.
But si, its muy cute.
Confession's good for the soul. Dinah and Dibney aside, every evening I say a li'l prayer for the return 'MAZING MAN.
Bless you all for hearing my confession.
No worries, Johnny B, I dug what you meant!
Well at least your design wasn't slutty! :D
It wasn't your fault. Fishnet trumps...well...everything. Everytime.
Awesome-- Ralph's my very very favorite, and I adore that outfit.
So you're forgiven for the Canary one.
I didn't mind that Canary cossie, was less keen on the Ralph outfit. Lavender - the scent of death!
Tell us about the new Flash! I remember hearing he was coming our way, but he never arrived!
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