Superheroine Sunday: Power Girl Redesign Special

So it's been a while since I updated, but I wanted a break after finishing the Peej and T-Rex pic and story. However, I want to start creating posts beforehand and keep some regular features going so there's always something new each week.

One thing I want to do, and only made one, my initial, post of, is Superheroine Sundays, posts featuring art of my fave superheroines. And since I finished the Power Girl Pic, I figured I'd close out my work on her as of now with a post focusing on my favorite redesigns of her. Here we go!

Here's a quick history of Peej's costumes so far. According to famed writer Jimmy Palmiotti (who is awesome) in this article, "Okay. When the character was created Wally Wood was the artist that drew Power Girl, and he was convinced that the editors were not paying attention to anything he did. So, his inker said every issue I’m going to draw the tits bigger until they notice it. It took about seven or eight issues before anyone was like hey, what’s with the tits? And that’s where they stopped. True story." (Here's another great article on PG's famous bust.)
Here's the Power Girl I was introduced to in Palmiotti and artist Amanda O'Connor (who is also awesome) from their wonderful Power Girl Run.

But then in 2011, DC revamped their comic line and continuity following the "Flashpoint" crossover, and Power Girl got a new costume. Or rather, two.

(thanks to this article on what poor [and, again, awesome] legend George Perez went through as artist on that book)

The image on the left was what was initially designed, finally fixing what many people complained about, the famous/infamous "boob window". Not a bad costume, but not as...fun? Iconic? Memorable? Sexy? However you prefer to describe Peej's costume, it wasn't it. However, Perez got editorial demands to make further changes, and you ended up with the busy mess you see on the right. It's okay, kinda messy, no strong single element, but again, not like the old. Well, that changed recently as Peej returned to her classic duds.

But despite all that, I love seeing Power Girl's costume redesigned. Boob window or not, classic or not, I love seeing how many interpretations there are of this great character. As usual, DeviantArt.com and Google were invaluable friends!

This may be the best redesign I've seen. It's by an artist named Joel Carroll and it just does a lot right. Removes the boob window and adds pants but still manages to be sexy not by gratuitously showing skin (obviously something I don't have a problem with all the time ;) ) but by showing it in a different way; namely, her buff as hell arms. I love how powerful this Power Girl feels. Emphasizing her biceps really gives her a bruiser feel, but the pixy haircut and boots and gloves show of some of her playful personality. I love PG's costume as is, but if you want to go semi-serious and address the complaints about exploitation, this is the costume I'd want to see her in month in and month out!

On the other end, here's keeping her sexy elements but redoing them in a new way. This is by Kenneth Rocafort, and man do I love it. I love her hair being given a sexy stylish bob, the fade-in colors from white to blue on her gloves, and the superb version of her boob window. I may have to just outright steal that for a sexy superheroine of my own! The only thing I don't like is how serious she seems. To me, PG needs a dash of old school fun in her! However, that's just a style issue, not a design one, and this design is just wonderful.

Here's one I just discovered, by DA user Dichiara. While it feels a little 90s faux-armor-esque, I love how it incorporates elements from Superman and Power Girl's original design to be something new but identifiable as connected to Supes. Losing the cape gives her more of a bruiser feel as well. And another sexy reinterpretation of the boob window.

Here's another DA user, Mista-M, adding their take. It combines a lot of what I love about Joel Carroll's design but manages to cover even more skin but still be sexy. The fully clothed arms and legs just gives her a classy, classic superheroine feel, and the cleavage is also nicely done, showing not as  result of a boob window but rather a very natural feeling shirt and jacket top, like something you'd see people everyday wear. Again, a design I'd love to see in the comics every month!

Another great take, this one from Callmepo. I like how the cape ties into the boob window, and how just a little shoulder is shown to accentuate the forearms. And of course, the new shape of the cape is great too. Wish I could say more, but if DC wanted something new but also to keep the boob window, I'd vote for this!

This one by RoseMcClain does a lot of what I love about Mista-M's, namely making the cleavage seem a natural part of the suit rather than just a hole. But, the extra blue on the forearms above the gloves and boots, as well as the thick boots and thick feel of PG here, really do a lot to give her a bruiser AND fun feel. This does a great job of reinventing her costume and showing her personality as well. Very cool!

This is Power Girl as a band geek. *shrugs* Cute and hot, why not?! By Gekonum.

This is a redesign by Brett Booth, colored by DA user Kyomusha. Very sexy and strong feeling. I love how the cape seems to sit atop a strapless costume, forming what looks like a Superman S-shaped window. Kinda too 90s extreme feeling for me, but still cool.

Then, there's this image from awesomely-named DA user Tedkordlives. PG really feels the bruiser here, and honestly feels more like She-Hulk than herself, but does the closed window and open arms thing that Carroll does, and is overall just a fun piece.

Here's another take I love from Perpetual-Insomniac. Though the style is retro 20s, I love how the cape and window come from the O-ring neck on a normal type of dress. Mixes fashion and sexy function well. Love it, and the art style!

This series comes from Drayphly. While the skills are a little rough, I love his first take, a nice dress that has a sort of jacket feel for the cape. Very snazzy!

This sleek, sexy and strong suit comes from blogger London. Man, I really love this take! the lines give her a sense of sexiness without exposing skin, and love how they sleekly slide down her body and connect to her boots. Wish I could see how it looks from the front. Just a great design!\

Poor Tsbranch redid PG's costume about 3 or 4 times on his DA page, but these two I love the most. I hate that the top one has no pants, but I like it better than the no sleeves/with pants one he did that's like it. The bottom one though I honestly prefer to the current version of PG's classic duds. I love the blue line on her stomach and the segments, which I'm normally not a fan of on modern superhero costumes, look great here.

Next, a take by Kiarou. I love the hips and muscles on her, and the fun but sexy hair. And while it does do the extraneous line thing I'm not a huge fan of, it keeps them curved, fitting in with her curves, and makes them look great. I do love how he covers her chest but exposes her arms, and along with the exposed thighs focus on her muscles first and sexiness second. Would love to see this as an alt costume for a video game!

Alexis Kimble did the entire Super family, and did wonders with PG. I love the exposed thighs and chest hole now with an "S" over it, very hot, and I also love how formal it feels, with the top sweeping back over her rear like a dress jacket, and the way the cape folds over the shoulders. Very regal and hot!

Finally, (and again, an image that's not linking) is this famous image of Power Girl done in the style of the "Man of Steel" posters by Jeff Chapman To say it's hot and great would be an understatement. I doubt if PG ever shows up on the big screen we'll see anything resembling her classic outfit (and not even sure she should be in it), but this is the closest we'll get.

So what about y'all? Got a favorite version of her, or some art of her you love? Then share it. Hopefully I'll also get updates

edit 7-4-15: added two new entries.