Proper depiction of Supergirls' physique

Rarely in the comics do I see what I consider a proper portrayal of Supergirl's body type. She's Kal El's cousin, and she's hardly going to be anorexic. Yet she's often drawn with skinny, featureless limbs that make her look underdeveloped and weak.

What she's supposed to be is superhumanly fit, with muscle tone that's off the map, just like Kal El, but obviously in a far more compact package. Visually, I envision her body shape would be somewhere between a gymnast and a professional dancer. She's also supposed to be a teenager, so she'd look like a superb athlete of that age.

The team of penciller Ian Churchill and inker Norm Rapmund in an occasional assignment for DC Comics come the closest to "realistically" depicting a girl with the strength of thousands. They "get it" about the muscle tone without going overboard.

Let me know if you agree, or have what you feel are more appropriate depictions:

velorian.org/sg_churchill_01a.jpg

velorian.org/sg_churchill_02a.jpg

Shadar

I am not deep enough into the material to know where Superman had his physique from. Was it genetically, influence of the sun, or just plain bodybuilding (or heavy working on a farm)? How relates this to his cousin?
I bet from the beginning the artists had some cute model in mind. Maximum sexual attraction.

But i love the version we see on your two samples. If you ask me this is the right version

I don't know what led Kal El to having all those muscles either, other than it probably seemed natural for the artists to draw him that way, given that his main attribute was super strength.

Well, that's Kara's greatest power too. Which presented a conundrum for the artists and writers, which they wimped out on by making her super cute and slender and often petite. A few issues in the 80's showed her looking a bit less anorexic, but this was all before it was fashionable for a pretty girl to also be really fit.

They tried to get it right with Powergirl, and put some meat on her bones, sometimes some serious muscle, although they went way overboard with the gigantic boobs and turned her into a joke.

My contention is that Supergirl today should look totally different than she did in the 20th century. Strong, fit young women are more mainstream today (at least outside of the fashion magazines). Yet, outside of a few pages here and there in the comics, she's portrayed as being more anorexic than ever.

Here's another excellent example of how she should look, with terrifically toned arms and abs.

velorian.org/7379.jpg

When drawn this way, is easier to believe that she can bend steel bars in her bare hands.

Shadar

In the 2 first pictures, I don't like her feet ! Not very sexy.
for my part, I prefer the 70's comics representations of Supergirl.

The 70's were definitely the "cute" era.

Obviously, everyone's mileage varies on "realistic", given we are talking about a fantasy character.

That said, I once made a collage of classic 70's images.

velorian.org/adventure_collage.jpg

Enjoy,
Shadar

Of course, now that we're in the 21st century, she'd be six feet tall and a knockout.

Perhaps something this this, with the proper addition of a miniskirt and top.

Where's a good enhancement artist when we need one? This picture needs a uniform.

velorian.org/kara01e_1050b.jpg

Shadar

Hello Shadar !

Thank you very much for your excellent collage of Supergirl 70's images.
Just look : as you said she was very cute and she's got legs too !

I've lost all my Supergirl comics for when I was young. You seem to have a interesting collection of Supergirl comics. So could you post other pic of Supergirl 70's comics featuring her in feat o super strength action ?

Here are the original scans that I pulled for the collage... some feats of strength here:

velorian.org/Adventure_Comics_420-00.jpg
velorian.org/Adventure_Comics_418-15.jpg
velorian.org/Adventure-Comics_411-08.jpg
velorian.org/Adventure_415-29.jpg

And yes, she definitely has legs.

Shadar

Well Shadar, thank you very much for those great pictures that's remember me good times when I was reading Supergirl comic books.

I remember story where Supergirl was fighting an evil Woman in Miami, for that I could rmember. The bad woman created an enormous wave but Supergirl used her sperbreath to frizz and transform it into an iceberg. Then she lifted the iceberg and throwed it in space : that's was my first contact with Superwomen and probably the origin of my interest.

I haven't seen this comic anymore since I was young. May be you know what I'm talking about despite of my bad english and my approximatly description. :oops: If you have this comic, please could you send some pictures ? If you don't have it, maybe you could have some comics featuring Supergirl using her Superbreath ?

In anyway, thanks a lot for your post !

I have it, along with the part two of that. It was a gal in a green witches outfit (minidress and hat), and she got Supergirl to change the alingment of the moon, which was going to really increase her magic powers. Science was going to come to an end, and magic would rule. Her name escapes me at the moment. I will see if I can't dig those two issues up.

Nothing like a hot shower to warm up your brain cells! Her name was the Enchantress.

Of course, if we update the very slender 70's SG look to 2008, and perhaps catch her in a moment where she's not expected to be photographed, she might look at bit more like this:

velorian.org/sg_70s_to_2008.jpg

Better muscle tone, but not exactly muscular either.

It also answers the question of what she wears under that skirt.

Now if I could only draw a decent costume on her.

Shadar

If you don't have it, maybe you could have some comics featuring Supergirl using her Superbreath ?!

I looked through a lot of my stash and it is tough to find comics featuring Supergirl using her Superbreath. At least it was for me. But I did have an image commissioned with it as the main theme.

www.superwomenmania.com/imagebank/bank/sarge/SGalbusbig.jpg

Enjoy.

Very Good pictures Sarge395 and Shadar !
And Ace191 : Thank you for this "brain cells shower" that's remind me good things ! Is it possible for you to post some pictures of Supergirl VS Enchantress ?

A bientôt !

Where's a good enhancement artist when we need one? This picture needs a uniform.

velorian.org/kara01e_1050b.jpg

Shadar

rocinate.deviantart.com/art/Supergirl-Lightning-64571623

Is it possible for you to post some pictures of Supergirl VS Enchantress ?

I looked around the stuff I have in the house for about an hour and I can not find it. This means that it is in a box somewhere in the garage. As it is currently 112 degrees outside, I don't think I will be looking for it right now!

What a shame !
I'm so disappointed ! :cry:
Hope you'll find it when it'll be good time !

I've always felt that the Supergirl of 1983 and 1994 were some of the best renditions. '83 had subtle tone but more curve. '94 has more tone but less of a "realistic" feminine curve ~ especially in her hips.

Dec 83
Jan 84
and the four part mini series in '94 come to mind.

I agree with Shadar that the body type they have given SG in this last run has not been my cup of tea.

Today Al Rio and Benes seem to do the character the best justice.

Artnico asked for it and, well, here goes:

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img113.imageshack.us/img113/7435/supermanfamily204010qs5.jpg

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img120.imageshack.us/img120/9097/supermanfamily205000fcpv9.jpg

img395.imageshack.us/img395/4310/supermanfamily205002yo0.jpg

img113.imageshack.us/img113/2363/supermanfamily205003oz7.jpg

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img113.imageshack.us/img113/5012/supermanfamily205011jl1.jpg

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as can be notices page 8 of second part is out. Tried to get it from 2 or 3 fifferent sources but in all happens same, image can't be opened.

So when ace get a moment to fight against the heat and post a scan here sure would be really welcomed for that

Enjoy it all and greetings from here.

Thank you very much!

I got a 403 on the first link, even when I copied and pasted instead of clicking. Is that just me? The other pages came through fine.

You're mostly welcomed yaracyrrah.

And yes, first number cover is out so here goes again:

img293.imageshack.us/img293/9708/supermanfamily204000fcos2.jpg

In case someone else find that other page doesn't work let me know here and will replace it.

Wooooooooooooooooow,
AlB, my amigo from Spain, what a great collection of Supergirl vs Enchantress pics there! @@ I just found this post today and I have to say 'WOW!' some really good scenes going on in those pages. I really like Supergirl in the late 70s-80s too, but of course, I prefer my SGs to have some muscle on their bones! (not this awful fascination with anorexic teen heroes that seem to be thrown at us- Overall, a perfect 10 for Al's efforts for bringing us Supergirl, thanks for sharing these with us!

Fonzie

MY GOD ! This Supergirl's comic is Amazing ! :shock:
Words are missing to thank you for your great post Albais ! That's remind me so much memories of my childhood.
It was the first Supergirl's comic I read. Damned ! I didn't remember that she had strength to move the entire moon ! She's really hot in this comic, I love the way she's drawed : her face, her mouth, her legs... And she's so powerful ! It's 20 pages of pure power demonstration !

I don't know how to thank you for this Albais, you're a cool man !

Thanks a lot for those kinda words yaracyrrah, Fonzie and Artnico, a lot of thanks really.

It was my pleasure to help u in search of the comic, but still must remember fact that it's incomplete and i'm sure asap will have here the page that remains for complete all.

Anyway very appreciate for comments, glad to made u happy with it...

I think I read somewhere that the original Supergirl artist modeled her after Marilyn Monroe.

I liked the original and the 1970s version with powerful legs, but I prefer the miniskirt over the hot pants.