Today super hero costumes have advanced beyond anyone’s expectation. Moving forward I believe we will discuss a whole range of costume topics that never seemed possible prior to CGI. The inclusion of this media and the time period that spawned it; the Modern age is poorly titled; it is the present time poorly designated between themed eighties to the present day. Let’s face it like the museum of modern art the term modern eventually passes and then the name purely lasts as a short sighted reflection on the part of it’s namers. Today logics go into superhero apparel that were unheard of prior to the 1980s.
CGI Super Heroes
Just as Christopher Reeves’ physique was a natural requirement for the creation of the super hero role other characters would later make it necessary to stretch even farther beyond the bounds of normal human dimensions, sizes, contours, casts and colors. Unlike what was created for Batman’s costume for Michael Keaton, a extensive manufacturing or gym training alone, could not recreate these heroes. For these reasons computers, or computer graphics had to render or participate in the creation of most of these heroes. One should not be surprised that most are of a Marvel origin.
Silver Surfer
Pleased with their ingenuity, the first live action short film, Silver Surfer was a hit at high-end computer conferences like Siggraph long before the character was a live action hit in movie theatres. Audiences available at the advent of this technology could only marvel at the technologies potential in comparison to its modest roots. It’s amazing how much the technology advanced between the presentation of the character between its first articulation and it’s final appearance in Director Tim Story’s 2005 ‘s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”. Clearly this character would never have even been seen without the appearance of this technology.
SPAWN
In comics, Image comic’s Spawn’s huge distinction is he is one of the biggest selling African-American heroes in super hero history. For all of the pride this reality must provide the Black community, one can only assume that the terms of his popularity must diminish some of the less ideal aspects of his origin. In the movies, Spawn is one of the very first heroes to appear entirely or partially in CGI, sorry Green Lantern. The most distinct continuously animated aspect of his costume was his extended cape, sorry Batman. Frequently rumored for a sequel, Spawn isn’t the only hell-originated hero in this category yet he was certainly one of the first and more spectacularly rendered even for the technologies’ relative immaturity.
The Incredible Hulk
Due to the lack of sophistication in computer technology, the first rendering of the incredible Hulk on TV was a result of Body building training. By the time it was time to propose a new Hulk presentation, the technology was ready to render a character that would be difficult to cast with any normal actor. To sometimes mixed reviews, 2003 the Hulk and 2008 Incredible Hulk were both hits do the audience’s amazement with the Green Goliath yet it was the scripts and less than effective marketing that were less than incredible.
Human Torch/Ghost Rider
Similar in fiery effect, the Fantastic four’s Human Torch (Johnny Storm) and the Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) are another two heroes who it would be difficult to represent without CGI. Number one the impression of a continuously roaring flame is a difficult effect to have to sustain. Number two both heroes project flame effects as well. Animators have none-the-less succeeded in charming fans by reproducing the most consistent imagery that fans find representative of the characters.
Dr. Manhattan
One of the subtlest and incidentally the most distracting of comic book heroes is the Watchmen’s Doctor Manhattan. He on one hand is one of the most compelling heroes from the last 20 years, yet his constant nudity is a constant challenge to male fans of the character. CGI makes it easy to represent his nuclear powers, his ability to grow and shrink, and this odd naked yet fairly removed appearance.
The Thing
CGI has made a whole cast of previously (un) representable characters visible to audiences. With Marvel’s plans for an entirely CGI Thing (Ben Grimm) we can only expect that this trend will continue with us into the future. I seriously doubt the next incarnation of this character will resemble the picture posted above.
Information pertaining to CGI supermen at:
For a definition of the modern age of comics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Age_of_Comic_Books
Image of Silver surpher:
Silver surpher character likeness TM and copyright 2010 Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.
Image of Incredible Hulk:
Incredible Hulk character likeness TM and copyright 2010 Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.
Image of Human torch
Human torch character likeness TM and copyright 2010 Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.
Image of Ghost rider
http://www.greatnewmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/ghost-rider-superhero.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.greatnewmovies.com/2010/07/16/%25E2%2580%2598ghost-rider-2%25E2%2580%2599-movie-nicolas-cage-confirms-his-role-and-the-directors/&h=400&w=400&sz=33&tbnid=tE1gveORhTSzVM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dghost%2Brider&zoom=1&hl=en&usg=__TFkTRVVlyVeqgb2G8_ik9u1yL30=&sa=X&ei=Ea5xTLyNKsH98AaWs4GADQ&ved=0CEoQ9QEwBA
Ghost rider character likeness TM and copyright 2010 Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.
Image of Dr. Manhattan
Dr. Manhattan character likeness TM and copyright 2010 Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.
Image of the thing
The Thing likeness TM and copyright 2010 Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.
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