2017 Comic Book News Archives
January 19, 2017: Examing Superman's Upcoming Costume Change
The following article was published in the Superman Homepage "Big Blue Report" newsletter, which was emailed out to subscribers on January 15, 2017. I thought it was also worth posting here on the website for all to read...Superman is once again undergoing a change in costume.
It's only a relatively minor change, but the ever-evolving look for Superman remains a process in which DC Comics and its artists feel the need to continually make tweaks here and there.
I'm not against change. But at the same time I'm not in favor of making changes for the sake of making changes. If there's a requirement for it within the story being told... great. But if you're just making changes to leave your personal mark or for a gimmick... then you're not going to get my support.
There are fans who claim, "Superman's costume has remained the same for 70 years! Why change it?!" That's not exactly true. Superman's costume has been changing and evolving since Day 1. Even Joe Shuster himself made a number of changes to Superman's look over the first year of drawing Superman within the pages of "Action Comics" back in 1938.
Even on the cover of "Action Comics #1" itself Joe had drawn Superman wearing boots with straps wrapping around his shins, only to apparently change his mind once the coloring took place. I could go on and on, listing various aspects of the costume that have changed over the years... but that's no the point of this column.
And I'm not definitely not writing this to challenge those fans who feel angry or dismayed at the changes. Who am I to tell them how to feel? Every fan has their own personal feelings on what Superman's costume should look like... Just like every artist who draws him has an image in mind when doing so.
The latest costume design, which will debut on the cover of Superman #20 to be released April 5, is very similar to what he's already been wearing over the last few months. However the biggest change is the return of the red boots. Since the "Rebirth" era began in 2016, Superman had been wearing blue boots with red trimmings. The return to the red boots is a welcome one.
The red trunks are still not part of the new costume... and I frankly don't see DC Comics going back to them any time soon... if ever. Personal feelings aside, I think they've just moved on from that look.
The other big change is the belt. The mostly red belt (like the boots) appears to be shiny... perhaps metallic, but it could just be the inking and coloring that make it look that way. The two strips of red (or one strip with a seam or indentation in the center) dips at the front to allow for the placement of a shield shaped yellow/gold "buckle". There's not "S" in the shield buckle, it's just the same diamond shape. I think it looks good.
The "S" on the chest looms large. The red cape comes over the shoulders and attaches at the upper chest the way it should. No high collar, not cape-clips, just a majestic cape.
The blue costume has no seems, no metallic sheen, no long sleeves, no additional design elements. It's simple. Classic.
Personally, I think this may be the best Superman costume design I've seen in the comic books over the last six years.
Regards,
Steve Younis
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2017 Comic News
Listed below are all the Comic News items archived for 2017.- January 7, 2017: Taylor and Byrne Talk “Justice League/Power Rangers” Crossover
- January 13, 2017: Superman to Get New Comic Book Costume
- January 18, 2017: Free Digital Chapters from DC Super Hero Girls Comic Book
- January 18, 2017: DC Comics Raises Comic Book Prices, Adds Digital Codes
- January 19, 2017: Examining Superman's Upcoming Costume Change
- January 20, 2017: “Injustice 2” Prequel Comic Book Coming April 11
- January 24, 2017: New Superman Costume - Poll Results
- February 15, 2017: Artist Jorge Jimenez Talks About “Super Sons #1”
- February 16, 2017: New Writer Taking Over “Trinity” From Issue #7
- February 22, 2017: Tom Taylor Talks “Injustice 2” and Supergirl's Backstory
- March 1, 2017: What is Mr. Oz's Secret Plan for Superman?
- March 9, 2017: Twenty Years On - Dan Jurgens Talks About Electric Superman
- March 9, 2017: “Superman: The Golden Age” - A Free Fan Comic
- March 22, 2017: Dan Jurgens and Peter Tomasi Talk About “Superman Reborn”
- April 11, 2017: Tom Taylor Discusses “Injustice 2” Comic Book Series
- April 12, 2017: Dan Jurgens Unites Superman's Villains in “Action Comics #977”
- April 25, 2017: Favorite Superman Comic Book Story - Poll Results
- April 26, 2017: Dan Jurgens Clears Up Superman's Mixed Reality
- April 26, 2017: DC Super Hero Girls Creative Team Free Comic Book Day Signing
- May 1, 2017: Superman Artist Viktor Bogdanovic Signs New Deal with DC Comics
- May 3, 2017: Dean Cain Promotes Free Comic Book Day
- May 11, 2017: Video - Top 10 Superman Comic Book Stories of All Time
- May 15, 2017: Geoff Johns Teases “Doomsday Clock”
- May 15, 2017: DC Comics Announces “Metal” Comic Book Event
- May 15, 2017: Shopping - Top 10 Superman Comic Book Stories of All Time
- May 16, 2017: Tom Taylor on the Connection Between “Injustice 2” Comic Book and Video Game
- May 22, 2017: Dan Jurgens Talks “Revenge” and the Future of “Action Comics”
- May 30, 2017: Comic Book Reviews - Poll Results
- June 19, 2017: Video Interview - Tom Taylor Talks About “Injustice 2” Comic Book Series
- July 6, 2017: Watch as Jorge Jiminez Draws Superboy, Jon Kent
- July 8, 2017: DC Entertainment at San Diego Comic-Con 2017
- July 23, 2017: Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. Creating “Superman: Year One”
- July 31, 2017: Bryan Hitch Leaving “Justice League” Comic Book
- August 3, 2017: “The Oz Effect” Lenticular Covers Revealed for “Action Comics”
- August 14, 2017: John Romita Jr. Talks “Superman: Year One”
- August 30, 2017: Rorschach Featured on Lenticular Cover for Doomsday Clock #1
- August 31, 2017: New Story and Creators Announced for SUPERMAN #31 and #32
- September 12, 2017: “Action Comics #987” - Who is Mr. Oz?
- September 15, 2017: DC Comics Updates Lenticular Cover to “Action Comics #988”
- September 15, 2017: New Creative Team for “Justice League” Comic Book
- September 16, 2017: Champion of the Oppressed - Superman Protects Immigrant Workers
- September 22, 2017: First Trailer for “Doomsday Clock”
- September 25, 2017: Henry Cavill Celebrates National Comic Book Day
- September 26, 2017: DC Entertainment Announces New York Comic Con 2017 Schedule
- September 28, 2017: DC Comics Celebrates Justice League Movie with Variant Covers
- September 28, 2017: Celebrate Justice League Day on November 18
- October 4, 2017: Superman #34 Variant Cover to Celebrate 800th Adventure
- October 5, 2017: Star-Studded Celebration Planned for Action Comics #1000
- October 11, 2017: Dan Jurgens Talks About Why Superman Still Resonates
- October 12, 2017: Exclusive - Steve Orlando Talks About Supergirl
- October 16, 2017: DC Comics Cancels Superwoman Comic Book
- November 10, 2017: DC Comics Announces DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out Series
- November 14, 2017: DC Comics Fires Eddie Berganza Over Sexual Harassment Allegations
- November 15, 2017: Superman Exhibit Pivotal to Brian Michael Bendis Joining DC Comics
- November 16, 2017: Limited Edition “Superman #75” Variant Cover at ACE Comic Con
- November 20, 2017: Everything You Need to Know Ahead of “Doomsday Clock”
- November 22, 2017: Fans See in “Doomsday Clock #1” at Midnight Fan Celebrations
- December 1, 2017: DC Comics Launches New Cover Designs
- December 9, 2017: “Death of Superman” Panel From ACE Comic-Con
- December 19, 2017: Where is “Action Comics #1000”?
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