DC characters you think would have less idealized bodies

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Before Neal Adams popularized the idea that all superheroes had unbelievably idealized bodies, our beloved heroes were a little more...pear shaped. It wasn't until Ted Kord started gaining a noticeable belly during the Bwa-Ha-Ha JLI era that readers saw any kind of superhero who didn't look like he spent all his free time at the gym or mainlining steroids.

Obviously, most artists are going to continue to depict superheroes with the bodies of fitness models and porn stars, but which characters do you think would probably have far less idealized bodies?

My vote goes to Lois Lane, whose supermodel body in Tom King's wonderful Batman & Catwoman / Lois & Clark Double Date issue ruined an otherwise great joke about Lois having trouble squeezing into Selina's costume. No matter how you try to work around it, Lois Lane is the mother of a 10 year old in her late thirties (at the youngest). She is simply not going to have the same body as she did in her early twenties, let alone the kind of body you see her generally depicted as having.

Anyone else?

[dietrich]

Before Neal Adams popularized the idea that all superheroes had unbelievably idealized bodies, our beloved heroes were a little more...pear shaped. It wasn't until Ted Kord started gaining a noticeable belly during the Bwa-Ha-Ha JLI era that readers saw any kind of superhero who didn't look like he spent all his free time at the gym or mainlining steroids.

Obviously, most artists are going to continue to depict superheroes with the bodies of fitness models and porn stars, but which characters do you think would probably have far less idealized bodies?

My vote goes to Lois Lane, whose supermodel body in Tom King's wonderful Batman & Catwoman / Lois & Clark Double Date issue ruined an otherwise great joke about Lois having trouble squeezing into Selina's costume. No matter how you try to work around it, Lois Lane is the mother of a 10 year old in her late thirties (at the youngest). She is simply not going to have the same body as she did in her early twenties, let alone the kind of body you see her generally depicted as having.

Anyone else?

I disagree about Lois. Nothing stopping her from having a child and still maintaining her body.

I don't believe any of the human heroines would be as booby as they are drawn. Most humans females would lose that fat if they were that athletic.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I disagree about Lois. Nothing stopping her from having a child and still maintaining her body.

There's a big difference between maintaining her body and being depicted as having the body of a 20 year old supermodel, particularly when the dialogue is making a joke specifically about how she isn't as fit as Catwoman.

If Lois was an actress or model, I could buy it, but she's a reporter with a full-time job and a 10 year old boy. Not a whole lot of time or money for personal trainers.

[Johnny]

Probably none to be honest. It's not that I feel some need to see bodybuilder/supermodel bodies in comics all the time, it's just that these characters are meant to be wish fulfillment fantasies, so might as well leave them as the type of characters people could strive to be, rather than try to reflect the real world where indeed the mother of a 10 year old in her late 30s or early 40s may not necessarily look like Clay Mann's Lois does. I think comics should just be comics, unrealistic and idealized and all. There's always room for representation of course, I just don't find anything wrong with prominent characters staying the way they are. Lois Lane is a prime example for that, being arguably the most prominent supporting character/love interest in comic book history, she will always be drawn as a stunningly attractive woman, whether she's a mom or not.

[dietrich]

There's a big difference between maintaining her body and being depicted as having the body of a 20 year old supermodel, particularly when the dialogue is making a joke specifically about how she isn't as fit as Catwoman.

If Lois was an actress or model, I could buy it, but she's a reporter with a full-time job and a 10 year old boy. Not a whole lot of time or money for personal trainers.

She doesn't need money or trainers. People have different body types. Lots of women only need to do stomach exercises to tighten the muscles stressed by pregnancy. Everything else pretty much can snap back especially if you are a hands on mum or a reporter that's always on her feet.

Yummy mummies aren't just actresses or models. Far from it.

She doesn't have to be as fit as Selina to fit into her suit

[kjn]

I think the main problem here isn't that comic book heroes gets idealised bodies. It's that they all get idealised bodies in the same way. (This issue isn't limited to comics, either.)

I think most comics artists would do well to do lots more croquis, both to help with body types, faces, and body mechanics. Because when you look at comic book heroes, most artists sadly are rather limited in the bodies and faces they depict. Men usually get at least two or three body types, but women are limited to a single one (with smaller or greater breasts). This also arguably goes for the age ranges as well; it is far more acceptable to show a middle-aged or old man that there is to show a middle-aged or old woman.

And there are good models around, if you care to look for them. Sports was an early inspiration for at least Superman (inspired by the old strongmen shows), and looking at different sports, especially athletics, should be a no-brainer. For Flash a long jumper. For Batman and Black Canary a decathlete. For Superman and Power Girl a discus thrower (I like his old slightly chubby portrayal). For Wonder Woman a javelin thrower. For Catwoman a pole vaulter.

Lois Lane can still have an attractive and fit body, and if she had chosen she might have become a successful athlete herself. But that was potential and some time ago. Catwoman is an Olympics-level athlete.

[Denirac]

John Constantine

[SixSpeedSamurai]

When it makes sense. I really dislike slim looking Batman and Superman, I think they look really funny. On the other hand, there is no reason for GL and Flash to be over muscled.

What gets me (and this might be moreso in movies) is when you have the hero who has given up or doesn't care anymore. Drinks, smokes etc, yet they are still ripped. Arsenal comes to mind with the way they've been having him battle his demons lately. Wolverine in Logan is guilty as well.

[caj]

Rond Vidar in Legion of Super Heroes was always drawn as a regular man - in that awful purple costume - who worked at the Time Institute and was a good friend to Brainiac 5. So I was kind of confused when he 'died' and then came back as a super buff Green Lantern. Who knew that dying could help you build 25 pounds of muscle???

[CaptCleghorn]

When it makes sense. I really dislike slim looking Batman and Superman, I think they look really funny. On the other hand, there is no reason for GL and Flash to be over muscled.

What gets me (and this might be moreso in movies) is when you have the hero who has given up or doesn't care anymore. Drinks, smokes etc, yet they are still ripped. Arsenal comes to mind with the way they've been having him battle his demons lately. Wolverine in Logan is guilty as well.

Flash, I can see having very developed legs. he run and runs a lot. (Barry, Wally, or Jay). Without a professional knowledge of what muscles are affected more by distance and sprint running, a detailed assessment of the legs would be basically, muscled.

GLs I get. Obviously we'd expect some level of fitness, but six-pack abs aren't as necessary to use a power ring.

[Osiris-Rex]

I think the main problem here isn't that comic book heroes gets idealised bodies. It's that they all get idealised bodies in the same way. (This issue isn't limited to comics, either.)

I think most comics artists would do well to do lots more croquis, both to help with body types, faces, and body mechanics. Because when you look at comic book heroes, most artists sadly are rather limited in the bodies and faces they depict. Men usually get at least two or three body types, but women are limited to a single one (with smaller or greater breasts). This also arguably goes for the age ranges as well; it is far more acceptable to show a middle-aged or old man that there is to show a middle-aged or old woman.

And there are good models around, if you care to look for them. Sports was an early inspiration for at least Superman (inspired by the old strongmen shows), and looking at different sports, especially athletics, should be a no-brainer. For Flash a long jumper. For Batman and Black Canary a decathlete. For Superman and Power Girl a discus thrower (I like his old slightly chubby portrayal). For Wonder Woman a javelin thrower. For Catwoman a pole vaulter.

Lois Lane can still have an attractive and fit body, and if she had chosen she might have become a successful athlete herself. But that was potential and some time ago. Catwoman is an Olympics-level athlete.

I like Amanda Waller because we have a woman tough a nails but isn't built like a supermodel. We need more women that look like Amanda Waller in the comic books.

[titanfan]

There was a plot in Guy Gardner where he used the ring to get himself buff. So it's possible that other Lanterns are doing it too. Yeah it's technically a violation (personal gain), but the Guardians probably overlook it since it's relatively harmless and you can make the argument they need to be in physical shape anyway.

[caj]

Bouncing Boy/Chuck Taine

[ultradav]

In general, there should be more variation in breast sizes. While you could argue super heroes should be fit looking based on what they do, that doesn't really apply to breast size for women. If anything they should generally be smaller.

[j9ac9k]

Niles Caulder
Computo (Danielle)
Human Bomb
Red Tornado (Ma Hunkel)