This week we'll plunge into Concept Art . Basically, when a movie, a cartoon, a video game or a comic is made, someone needs to think the shape and function of things in this virtual environment. Starting from the characters morphology, costumes and objects, to the architecture of the surrounding buildings or the shape of the scenery and even the creatures that live in it. The more detail and thought is put into it the more convincing that created world will be. In fact, the more the world is fantastic or far from our own reality, the more effort it takes to make it feel real or at least plausible. So for the next 7 days I'll show you some of this creation process through the redesign of some already existing superheroes.
And here is The Wolverine.
Tackling Wolverine because i really hate the place where Marvel comics places this guy: #1 X-men. Logan was not meant to be this leader, spokesperson or even the mutant icon he turned out to be. I personally preferred when Wolvie was this short Canadian mutant with a shorter temper, a guy on the hokey bench only for the fights.
With this view in mind i started with the mask. Wolverines mask is one of the coolest in comics unfortunately he uses it only from time to time and never in the movies (sniff). I wanted him to have the mask but also feature his crazy hair, for the fur element . Given his super powered scent, I left his nose uncovered, it also brings out the luchador in him. The mouth-less dark face is an attempt at bringing his design closer to an actual wolverine as well as solidifying the anti-social vibe i liked about the character.
The pants were inspired by the mounties, but i added the three level pockets for practical (shirtless guy needs his carrying places) and iconographic (the three claw slash) reasons.
The brown leather gloves have opened ridges from between the fingers to the back of the hand so he can pop his claws freely. He is wearing steel toe boots, not because he needs it (he has adamantium laced bones) but because of the theme (animal hide layer over metal core) which is fitting.
When it came time to accessorize the character, i dwelt into his long history, so he has his Weapon-X dog tags, his X-men suspenders and his Japanese Mempo. The latest is used to circumvent the lack of mouth in the mask design, to cue to his blood lusting savagery and weird sideburns.
Colors are closer to his brown costume that rocks but is seldom used.
If you find the illustration unfinished it's because i really enjoyed to see Wolverine in a more free, primitive rendering than is done in most comics.
And some doodles...