The gang over at Project Rooftop (the Superhero Fashion Site) are running a cool new contest in honor of the new Iron-Man movie and comic book series. Iron-Man: Invincible Upgrade is looking for creative redesigns of Tony Stark's armor, so I dreamed something up and sent it off to them today (click on the armor for a larger view). The contest runs through the end of March, so it'll be awhile before the judging starts..but I'll let you know if I win any of the fabulous prizes (or not).
Even if I don't win a thing, it's still fun to take a shot at redesigning the costume of such a classic character. What made the task such a challenge was the sheer number of times Iron-Man's armor has been altered and upgraded over the years. Unlike some heroes, whose costume designs are more or less static, Iron-Man has changed with the times as technology and design standards evolve...making the design of a truly original look somewhat elusive.
I didn't set out with a clear idea of where I wanted to go with the design, but after some rough sketching, I liked the "futuristic Samurai" look that was emerging, maybe with some Middle Ages mixed in there somewhere (must be the rivets). The gray metal accents are a tribute of sorts to Tony Stark's original gray armor, which ended up looking surprisingly good with the yellow and red color scheme.
Okay, now for the helmet. Yeah, it's pretty "out there", but I really wanted to make a break from the standard eye and mouth slits...and I liked the somewhat eerie look it gives him (although one man's "eerie" may be another man's "goofy"). Plus, with the death of the great Dave Stevens on my mind, it looks like a little bit of the Rocketeer may have snuck in there as well.
So, let's see where this thing goes.
Some of it I like, some not so much.I really like the gauntlet extensions behind tje elbow.Would have good ofensive/defensive potential.I like the red "samauri" portion of the helmet.And yes,incorporating the gray metal is a good recall of the old armor and a reminder that he's "Iron" man,not "colorful plastic" man.I don't care for the yellow faceplate.Looks like a bug.And a couple too many shield shaped components(10).And lastly,there seems to be a circle around his, um , "steel rod". But I give it a "B+".Not that I'm qualified except as a fan.
Posted by: Captain Average | March 14, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Hey, thanks for the honest appraisal, Cap. Yeah, I knew the face plate was a risk, but I rather like the "bug" like look. It sure helps the peripheral vision problem, yes?
Posted by: Mark Engblom | March 14, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Nice design Mark.
I really like the arms- nice way of incorporating the past. They also remind me of the Destroyer from Thor. The gauntlets are nice too.
I like the face plate, not so sure about the samurai helmet part though, to me it kinda makes him look like he has a "Prince Valiant hair cut". You did the hard part, it's really easy to be the Monday morning quarter back.....
This sound like a fun contest. I think I might try and give it a go myself.
I can rest easy knowing that no matter how awful my design might turn out, it will still look better than the mid 80's red and white go-bot look he had.
Posted by: Wes C | March 14, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Thanks for the feedback, Wes. It's always interesting to hear how others see it. This morning I was doubting the face plate a bit and sketched some conventional eye and mouth slits just to see what it looked like. It looked good, but I still preferred the dramatic departure you see above.
Hey, let me know if you end up taking a shot at it. I'd love to start seeing some designs by others.
Yeah, that 80's red-and-white armor was the absolute worst. It's just....wrong....not to have a red and yellow Iron-Man.
Posted by: Mark Engblom | March 14, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Do you guys mean the RED and SILVER armor he wore in the 80's? I love that armor!! I like the color scheme... That's why I like the silver metal on your redesign.
The thing I don't like on most IM armors is the skin-tight, always shape-changing "metal." You need some break in the metal for his joints.
Posted by: Z Ryan | March 15, 2008 at 12:12 AM
i definitely see the rocketeer in the face but there seems to be a little guy smith (from x-statix's) armor going on in the arms and legs and color pallette
Posted by: stephen | March 15, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Wow...good eye, Stephen. I wasn't aware of Guy Smith at all, so...as they say...."any resemblance is purely coincidental".
Posted by: Mark Engblom | March 15, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Great minds think alike.
Allow me to expose him to you.
this is your bot iron man versus guy "the orphan" smith
http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0604/XStatix_24.jpg
the avengers versus my team
http://www.zaldivacomics.com/images/comics/marvel/april14_04/x-statix_21%20(WinCE).jpg
and finally guy smith in full armor
http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/orphanxstatix4.jpg
I highly recommend x-force and x-statix if these pics catch your eye.
Posted by: stephen | March 15, 2008 at 10:03 PM
You can call it Red and Silver all you want to Z Ryan if that gets you through the night ;)
I know it was supposed to be silver, it just never "read" as silver, always looked like white with baby blue highlights. The yellow reads as gold much easier than the white as silver does.
Plus that goofy helmet...
Of course beauty is in the eye (slit) of the beholder.
Posted by: Wes C | March 17, 2008 at 09:17 AM
I'm also a fan of the Silver Centurion armor. I think it would good in "classic" colors, if they made it less bulky, which is my only complaint.
As an Iron Fan (until Grell started him on the road to suck--I left when a later writer made him Secretary of Defense), I like your design. I wouldn't mind seeing how it looked with a less cartoony art style (no offense), but in concept it looks good, even if it was a "What If" story, or SHIELD Director Tony wore it for some Japanese ceremony.
Posted by: ShadowWing Tronix | March 19, 2008 at 03:48 PM