Trading Card Tuesday: The Defender
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It’s the first Tuesday of the month, so you know it’s Trading Card Tuesday here at the New Futurists!
Big time thanks to everyone who read our introduction to this new ongoing feature last month. We really appreciate all of your kind messages and we can’t wait to take you on this journey into the Omniverse!
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If you’re joining us for the first time, here’s what you can expect: above the paywall: you’ll get a digital trading card featuring a character from the Omniverse along with design notes from artist Luis Valero-Suarez! Paid subscribers receive additional illustrations and sundry surprises from me. For instance, in today’s post paid subscribers can access a printable paper doll of our featured hero as well as a link to a digital version as a Photoshop (.psd) file!
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1938 – DEFENDER
The debut of The Defender! I actually designed this look after I had already designed his older superhero identities, so it was an interesting process getting to go back to create a younger and humbler version of Curtis Cooper. Ben and I had discussed going a more hands-on Appalachian upbringing vibe. Ben had also referenced the Golden Age Superboy comics where Clark Kent is a young hero going on whimsical adventures being an inspiration for this era. So, that’s exactly what I went for.
I found some photos of workers and farmers that used denim overalls and thought that was the perfect direction to take him in. Industrial denim and work boots. I figured the shirt could be part of his uniform from his military basic training and the rolled-up sleeves I felt added to the working man look. The mask is based on classic pulp heroes such as the Green Hornet and the Lone Ranger and even Robin in the Batman ’66 series. The symbol on his belt was actually designed by Ben. Overall, I really appreciate how simple and grounded this look turned out.
- Luis Valero-Suarez
The Defender is the keystone of the Omniverse. As Luis mentions above, he and I worked out some older versions of the character very early in the development of this project. I absolutely love Luis’s “Year One” design. Growing up in Southwest Virginia in the 1930’s, I imagine Curtis could have picked up a sturdy pair of overalls from LC King Manufacturing over in Bristol as he set out for adventure in New Cawkaigne. The pulp and Golden Age superhero nods are some of my favorite details of this design.
— Ben Bolling
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