Saturday, April 11, 2009

Vainly attempting to care


Someone remarked (after I threatened to create a blog devoted to hating on them) that I couldn't even keep up my original blog. I shrugged and told them to check out the name of my blog again. This apathy isn't just for show.


Recently I've been doing a lot of figure drawing. Seeing as I am constantly painting abstract images I thought I would challenge myself with some realism. So, over Christmas break I started sketching faces and figures. I pause videos when I watch them so I can sketch a certain pose or expression. I even started watching old superhero cartoons on youtube. These are surprisingly good sources for figure drawing basics. They're all wearing spandex so the shapes are simple and clear. The only problem is that I would like to draw someone who isn't over six-foot and absurdly over-muscled.

Haven't had much time for youtube cartoons lately, though. Too busy with school.


Anyway, as I watched these cartoons and read wikipedia entries on the various characters I kept thinking, Good grief, how many times can a character die before they actually stay dead? And how many superheroes will stumble in the pitfalls of cliche? And most importantly, do all the female heroes have to dress up in lowcut, mini-skirt, swimsuit outfits? They can't be getting much protection when they're fighting. They don't even have different outfits for Fall and Winter. They must be freezing! It must be a superpower that their legs are always shaved and their hair is absolutely perfect.


Then there is the problem that Marvel, DC and other comic book companies crank out the issues as long as they are making a profit. Writers are frequently changed and the character's origins, personalities, and even their deaths, are constantly changed to raise sales. So, what's canon? Um, all of it, really. Wait, it's canon that guy died? Three times? Uh, well, yes. You see, there was this alternate universe/dream sequence/mass hallucination . . . clone.


And would somebody please take off Clark Kent's glasses and realize that he is freakin' Superman?!


The point of this ranting is that I would like to write and draw my own comic books. Well, I suppose I would be doing Graphic Novels. Comic books are ongoing without a foreseeable end. I would like to have a story with a beginning, middle, and resolution that does not change. Mainly, though, I want to draw a female hero who wears a really cool outfit that is at least semi-practical.


Have a Blessed Easter!

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