Trading Card Tuesday: The Serpent

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Eleanor Sharpe is one of the more haunted and brooding people to carry the mantle of The Serpent. For some reason, when thinking of what she would look like out of the cowl, I kept picturing modern day Kristen Stewart. I really dig her sort of grunge / punk style and I think it fits a character like Eleanor who is a bit of an outsider, more so than her predecessors. She kind of reminds me of some other Marvel and DC characters who are stepping into the world of a pre-established male character but still carving their own space within that legacy, characters like Laura Kinney and Kate Kane, so I definitely drew some inspiration from them. A sleeker yet striking take on a classic look. I definitely wanted her to appear the most snake-like out of all the Serpents. I kind of see her as the first Serpent to replace the daggers with retractable blades in her gauntlets, for practicality purposes. I gave her a whip too because it goes with the snake theme and because I thought it would be a great visual for action poses.

- Luis Valero-Suarez

Looking back over the initial character notes I shared with Luis, I was struck by how much I lobbied for tactical body armor and a more militant look for Eleanor’s version of The Serpent. I’m glad Luis took the VIBE of my ideas and translated them into this sleek design. I was definitely thinking about Kate Kane as Batwoman when I first imagined this iteration of the Serpent. Luis’s references to Laura Kinney Wolverine also got me thinking about the unique challenges Eleanor would face as the first woman serving as the Serpent— and specifically a queer woman who is doxxed by a supervillain! I love the retractable blades in her gauntlets and the addition of the whip to the Serpent’s arsenal— such a visually dynamic way to show off her advanced combat training! Eleanor carries a heavier burden than many of her predecessors, but she’s not resigned to tragedy. The KStewart punk style perfectly conveys the tenacity at the heart of Eleanor’s character.

— Ben Bolling

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