via projectrooftop
Note: Artist Daniel Govar (winner of our recent Aquaman: Sea Change contest) has taken his mind and drawing hand to the second generation of Marvel’s X-Men, the New Mutants. This are characters close to Daniel’s heart as well as more than a few fans, and these innovative designs are a testament to that. – Chris A.
Cannonball was the first in my doodles where I think I nailed down the idea for the uniformity in each of the costumes. I wanted them all to have a unique quality that spoke to their region, in cut and style, but also retain the group motifs. For Cannonball – I knew I wanted greys and blacks for his colors, and played around with a few round shapes and patterns early on, abandoning those for something that bespoke “speed”. I remember turning tight in the comic was always an issue for him, and thought retractable tail-fins would work. The military bar strips at the top of his flight jacket I thought were just to touch to say “leader.”
This was actually the first I did. Thought the tattoo version the best way to preserve the uniform look of her character when she was all flamed up. In her orange and red outfit- I wanted something off the shoulder so her tat was visible, and thought the curves and peaks in the boots, top, and bottom were nods to her fiery nature.
I wanted her costume to truly function – the idea being that the lower portion of her costume peels back when she transforms, to either side and she has a place for her shoes as well. Again, I wanted to keep the duo-tone leathery look as a constant, but with Irish nods – braids, knotwork in belt and top… This one is one of my favorites.
Bobby – coming from money, I figured would have the nicest threads. I also saw him as slightly detached from the others – not having any particular buddy or pal. I originally gave him an all white loose-fitting uniform, with an X badge belt-buckle, but the more I thought about him the more I pictured posturing wrestlers. I tried going for an ornate version of a WWE belt. I gave though to giving him an “X” tattoo as with Magma, only inverted – sort of the yin-yang of each other, but abandoned that idea.
Her outfit was probably the toughest for me to wrap my head around. She has such a mish-mash of styles going on by default with the Eldritch armor, and demon portions – bringing in her own identity – was hard without going too far one way. The badge/communicator X and the duo-tone leathery motifs being the pieces that married her to group. I tried to give what was there of the cut and blade style to be Russian with a twist.
