Welcome to the third Process Junkie installment featuring Hayden Sherman’s incredible ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN designs and character work. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 here.
We’re going to try to do these pretty regularly now — when we hit some good design milestones in the book — and last week’s issue #16 had a bunch (keep your eyes peeled next week for a design post that includes next week’s annual too. The Athena design is one of my favorites thus far). :D
ZATANNA. Obviously Zatanna is the very big design here — and we’ve already showed that off in Post 1 linked above — although I think we neglected to show the back of the jacket — which you can see here:
APHRODITE. I just… could not love this one more. It’s probably neck and neck with Hecate for my favorite Gods design from our run. This was, I believe, the very first sketches Hayden sent in for the concept of the character and the email thread just exploded with everyone going “okay. that’s genius. that design is locked.” Truly, what else can be said?! It’s a design that says so much about the idea of the character and all she encompasses so simply. To me it honestly feels like what an Aprhodite design always should have been:
DOCTOR POISON 2.0. She got her suit! This was actually a funny design challenge because I don’t think Hayden or I really wanted to change her perfect first costume, but since I’d written into the narrative that she was demanding a new suit (and subsequently basically forced Cale’s hand into giving her one) — our hands were tied. Fortunately, Hayden is a design genius and this new version really keeps the aesthetic of the original while still feeling more mobile and like a clear upgrade for whoever is inside:
ARA, THE MEN-FISH QUEEN. You don’t create a whole bunch of men-fish in a maze and reference their queen, without getting that queen on the table. She doesn’t have a huge role in this arc, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her show up again down the line as a multi-faceted problem for Diana:
MEN-FISH: And in case you didn’t see them in the previous post, this is Hayden’s Men-Fish design from the Maze arc — and you can see the ways Hayden tied these two designs together, while still letting Ara feel significantly different and like her own character.
CHEETAH. This is obviously not Barbara, but her identity will be revealed in issue 17. Obviously, people have a lot of feelings and ideas about Cheetah and there’s not much I can say for fear of spoilers, except that if you feel this design feels “unfinished:…. it is, and that’s by design:
GIGANTA. She has been incredibly fun to write (and I think Hayden would agree fun to draw — though in that case — A LOT of work). Her big issue for this arc is #17, out next month if “harder they fall” wasn’t enough of a clue for GIGANTA. Of all these villains that debuted, she’s the one most excited to be there which is… not great for Diana long term. ;D
Okay. That’s it for design today. But come back next week AFTER you’ve read the ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1 to see some of the designs Hayden did for that (and also a look at some of the designs Hayden did for THE PRICE arc)!
Take care of yourself and your neighbors out there. <3
Kelly
So, I have a genetic mutation that means I have, among other things, super muscles. And, I just gotta say, you and Hayden *consistently* capture what it’s like to be a woman with a body like that. Visually, emotionally, all of it. It’s such a unique experience of representation for me and I’m so grateful ❤️❤️
This is awesome!! ALL of the designs are awesome!! I'm intrigued by each of these characters too and Hayden has done such a great job :)
And, it's always a joy to see the joy that you have from writing :) and from the designs of the characters that you write :).
Last but definitely not least, I love what you said at the end: "Take care of yourself and your neighbors out there. <3"
Self-care is so important. And the last part reminded me of how important community is, especially now.
Have a great day, Kelly :). Take care and all the best as always!! :D