HUNTRESS work in progress Day 1

I'm working on a HUNTRESS: YEAR ONE variation costume for a friend. She's a completely different size than I am so I had to create a new pattern tracing over one of mine and adjusting it. We've looked at different fabric and decided to go with the Matte Metallic in Black for the main part of the suit. For the contrast color which is purple, we'd going with a great shade that's really vibrant in Milliskin Matte Tricot.

Luckily I happen to have the trade paperback of Year One so I compared those images to ones I had found on ComicVine. As it turns out there's a lot of subtle variations.No surprise there. Every artist put his own flare into a character. There are times when the purple looks like a "V" shape in the front but other times when it looks like a separate vest. I'm going with the vest look after consulting with my friend about how she didn't like the style where the purple actually looks like a bathing suit over the bodysuit. We've also decided to go with a black crepe for the cape rather than purple so that it can used for other characters; modifying designs this way is one of my essential tricks. Whether a wig, belt, boots or gloves aren't perfectly accurate don't mean as much to me personally as getting use out them because this stuff is not cheap. It's often labor-intensive if I've built the piece myself and/or expensive for the raw materials. Versatility is key!

Using the Kwik Sew 3052 figure skater pattern as a basis, I traced over the initial pattern onto muslin. I took some time to drape spandex over my dress form (again it's my size but I just needed an idea of the vest shape). Then I sketched on the muslin while referencing that panel above until I came up with lines that I hope will work. I highlighted the final lines in fabric marker. Traced that muslin with a different muslin so that I'd have the one original full-length suit pattern and then use the second to cut up into individual pattern pieces for color blocking.

So far, it's about 3 hours into the project. Time for a nap.

I completed the rest of the documentation at AmberUnmasked.com

Romance Comics making a comeback? I hope so!

After falling in love with the era that brought us BLACK WIDOW/CLAIRE VOYANT and MODESTY BLAISE, the super spy female counterpart of James Bond, I learned that Titan Books was going to be releasing tributes to more golden age comics, in particular Romance Comics. I hope to be added to the press list for when that comes out.

Jumping ahead of the books, Marvel Comics has been getting some merchandise out on the shelves. I picked up this little purse at Wal-Mart (of all places - I only go in that store about four times a year) and I learned from my twitter & tumblr friend Betty Fellon that there's a matching wallet.

See you in Pittsburgh!

These are the costumes that I'll be wearing in Pittsburgh: my Dark & Strange Alice in Wonderland and my Susan Storm of the Fantastic Four. You'll be able to find me at the booths of PAUL STORRIE, STORMWATCH COMICS, and JOE SINNOTT. I'll also be taking as much as it allows to walk the floor visiting other great talent like Josh Lyman, Jay Fife & his model Lola Lynn, Andy Harmon, Stauffer, and Ken Haeser.

Thanks for voting! Here are the counts:

ALICE: 24
SUE: 13
FIRESTAR: 12
POWER GIRL: 12
ACE: 7
TWILIGHT GUARDIAN: 1

Help me pack for Pittsburgh Comic Con. Need to choose & pack tonight!

Help me choose what to wear in Pittsburgh! I need 2 outfits for Sat & Sun at this weekend's Pitt Comic Con. I'm leaning towards the Ace & Alice ones. I'll be working several booths: Paul Storrie (writer), Stormwatch Comics (shop), and Joe Sinnott (legend).

Best Gender Swapped Justice League from WonderCon

Photo by Lynx Pics

I wish I had seen this in person but sadly I have never been able to attend WonderCon. This costumed entourage is truly one of the only times I have ever seen gender swapping in costuming done well. The characters maintain their integrity and stay within typical comic book design. "Crossplay" just usually comes across as bogus slutted up girl dressed as a male character. This Justice League was definitely high caliber.

Quickie edit: Roxanna clarified for me - "what we're doing is actually neither crossplay (trying to pass as a character of the opposite sex) or even gender bending (playing with gender identity within a character) - we were sex-swapping. So my understanding is then that "crossplay" would essentially be the same as "drag" - meaning if Steven were trying to actually be Power Girl instead of male-inspired variation of the character. Correction duly noted. :)

I know they reworked official identities so that use of "man" and "woman" were switched with "lass" or something to make the gender identity work but I don't have the list so I'm just going to try and explain based on the real characters' names.

Members:

Photo from Tallest Silver's facebook

Little Hotshot as GREEN ARROW
Roxanna Meta as AQUA"MAN"
Steven Meissner as POWER "GIRL"
Tallest Silver as BAT "MAN"
Clyde Max as WONDER "WOMAN"
Tat Zee as PLASTIC "MAN"
Mia Ballistic as GREEN LANTERN
Catherine Pow as THE FLASH
Kit Quinn as SUPER "MAN"
unknown: BLACK CANARY, VIXEN

To learn more about them visit their facebook page, UNITED UNDERWORLD.

CGS SUPERSHOW, Reading, PA - Apr 30-May1, 2011

If you haven’t heard me talking about the COMIC GEEK SPEAK SUPERSHOW (April 30-May 1) then you haven’t been paying attention. This is my favorite show of the year because of it’s casual atmosphere, great shopping, huge opportunities to learn about indie and mainstream creators and of course, the rocking post parties at Third & Spruce.

My plan is inspired by 24-Hour Comic Book Day. I’m going to have a booth where I will be constructing my Black Widow (from The Twelve) costume right at the booth and hope to get it finished early enough to actually have some time wearing it. Since I can’t do 24 hours straight, it’ll be spread across the two days of the show.

Check out my interview with PETER RIOS from CGS.