I had to think a while before figuring out how to represent the invisible plane and aquatelepathy. The Bat-Signal is a lot easier, conceptually.So now the entire series, once printed out and hung on my wall should look something like this (depending on how I arrange them; what do you think?):
Freakin' awesome!
ReplyDeleteThe ripples in the water are especially nice.
It's a shame that, in the new post-Flashpoint universe, the Martian Manhunter's got nothing to do with the JLA, because the Apex City skyline would be a beautiful nightmare.
Yeah, I think it'd be nice if you could include an Apex City/Star City one as well.
ReplyDeleteHeh, those "ripples" are meant to symbolize Aquaman suing his aquatelepathy.
ReplyDeleteI only have room from three such poster on the appropriate wall. Of course, I do have other walls :-)
Problem is, each of these images is as, well, dignified as I can make them. I want to be respectable enough as art so they they are good decor even if you don't know the comic books they are based on.
The Martian Manhunter and Green Arrow? Hm; how do I put this ...? Let's just say that "dignity" isn't exactly their hallmark. How do you depict Star City and Apex City?
Actually, Star City I can Imagine pretty easily. West Coast city on the water, with some mountains in the background. And there's the old 'Arrow-Signal" of green flawing arrow in the sky, which nowadays of course would all be done with lasers.
But Apex City? You tell me... I mean without a falling meteor or one of the buildings being on fire, how would you know...?
The word "ingenious" is the first one that come to mind.
ReplyDeleteYou know, if you took out (or obscured/altered) the bat-symbol on the Gotham one, the uninitiated might never have any idea that there's a comic book connection, making them more likely to judge it on the merits as art without preconceptions. And let me tell you, Scipio, this pieces work wonderfully as art on their own. The lines and colors are great and how they each relate to the other pieces as variants on a theme is very satisfying to look at. I'm no qualified expert but I knows what I likes and I likes these.
-Citizen Scribbler
Just one suggestion: Could you include blue windows or outlines in Metropolis? The skyline is so close that it could break up all the yellow in the lower half of the picture.
ReplyDeleteScribbler: thank you very much for your kind words! I enjoy art, but have zero talent for drawing. Fortunately, thanks to modern tools like Photoshop and the internet I now have ways to create some of the things that I see with my mind's eye, that my own hand could never make.
ReplyDeleteThank you for noticing my effort to balance the compositions with one another in the placement of various horizontal and vertical elements. It's not particularly subtle, but it is simple and effective; I guess like comic books themselves are.
I had, in fact, originally composed the Gotham City one without the bat in the signal. Do you think I should return to that? I changed because seemed, well, inaccurate, I guess.
Nathan: I wanted to avoid windows breaking up the silhouette of any of the skylines (except where it's kind of 'built-in', as in the Washington DC skyline). And with the blue sky I would be afraid that blue windows would make it look like the buildings have HOLES, LOL.
ReplyDeleteHowever, you have give me an idea for breaking up all that yellow that just might work. What would you think about my adding....
an elevated train?
Stunning. Absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be pleased to know that I recognized the ripples as an expression of telepathy. They're also an expression of his being "king of the sea" (which goes a step beyond the telepathy): his dictates are to be obeyed. Besides sending out from a stationary spot, the ripples also guide back towards that spot, where Aquaman is what stands between the sea and the land, and vice-versa.
ReplyDeleteI told you I thought the ripples were especially nice!
The Apex City skyline would of course feature a silhouetted squirrel climbing a building, a dude with fire shooting out of his nipples, and the Martian Manhhunter spanning a bridge with a car driving over his butt. Also, everyone has ice cream cones.
The Apex City skyline would of course feature a silhouetted squirrel climbing a building, a dude with fire shooting out of his nipples, and the Martian Manhhunter spanning a bridge with a car driving over his butt. Also, everyone has ice cream cones."
ReplyDeleteHm. Yes, that would be a fairly elegant way to depict it. But I would also have to work in the Statue of Atlas and at least one crashing meteor.
Nathan, I have added an elevated train to the Metropolis segment. I hope you find it more attractive now; I think I do.
ReplyDeleteThe train works for me! It adds something for Superman to grab the tracks of as it runs over his back.
ReplyDeleteAlso, just occurred to me: Superman's streak goes faster than the el - which means he's "faster than a speeding locomotive."
ReplyDeleteThink we got our homage to the origins covered.
Heh, yes, that was my intention, glad you got that.
ReplyDeleteI've nothing new to say; I just wanted to add to the accolades. The very idea for this series is genius, and the execution is superb. Seeing these pieces made my night.
ReplyDelete