Athletic Body Diversity Reference for Artists (and others)

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I have this fuzzy idea in my head of what an “athletic build” is supposed to look like, and like everyone else’s it’s been shaped by TV, Hollywood movies, magazines, and of course comics.* To say those are flawed examples is a MASSIVE understatement :)

There’s knowing that “strength” and an athletic build come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and then there’s seeing: photoshoot of various Olympic athletes titled ‘The Athlete’.

As J. Daniel Sawyer puts it, “If you’re an artist, or a writer, and you live somewhere that the influence of Hollywood reaches (i.e. everywhere), it’s very easy to forget that being “in shape,” “fit,” or “athletic,” doesn’t mean the same thing as “lean,” “6-pack abs,” or “what I saw on the cover of Vogue this month.” ”

* I’m not touching the debate on whether it makes any sense for supernaturally powered heroes to look athletic or heavily muscled: that only ever seems to come up as a derailment tactic in criticisms of the inequal way that super women and super men’s bodies are portrayed.

7 thoughts on “Athletic Body Diversity Reference for Artists (and others)”

  1. In the 1990s, I seem to recall an artist drawing Power Girl with an athletic build (heavily-muscled arms, broad shoulders, and a thick neck). Apparently, she looked “too masculine” for the fanboy wankers who insisted that she needed to be returned to her normal streamlined, large-breasted self immediately. It’s always been a slippery slope drawing an athletic build on a female character. Looking at the photos in the links above, it makes me wonder why artists don’t diversify their figurework. In the current “Legion of Super-Heroes” title every “athletic” female character seems to be drawn with the exact same body type: thin enough to not make a bulge in their skintight outfits with enormous, perfectly-spherical breasts and flawless complexions.

    I would love to see athletic superheroes, both female and male, that represent the full spectrum of body types. But in a society of airbrushed, manufactured sex symbols and sexist attitudes toward body type, what chances are there?

    • It’s encouraging to see that some artists are interested in diversifying their characters (as seen in the comments section of that post) – however that’s a manga group, not superhero artists. It would need to be posted to Newsarama to get noticed. I can only imagine the fanwanky comments it would get >_<

      That point you note about the current Legion is one of the things that’s put me off picking it up (the redesigned costumes and poses don’t help). I’ve read only a little 1990s Power Girl so I don’t know if I’ve seen those issues, but I’m appreciating Sami Basri’s current work on POWER GIRL.

  2. The strongest men on a football team are the offensive linemen. Male superheroes should look more like this instead of ripped ab eye candy for creepy fangirls.

    • Right. Male artists are drawing ripped male superheroes for fangirls *cracks up*

      Insert football metaphor here about missing the point about “strength”.

      • “…Right. Male artists are drawing ripped male superheroes for fangirls *cracks up*”

        Same here. They don’t have to be like Mr. Universe. Nor have the glorious “six-pack” that most are drawn with.

        “…I would love to see athletic superheroes, both female and male, that represent the full spectrum of body types. But in a society of airbrushed, manufactured sex symbols and sexist attitudes toward body type, what chances are there?”

        It depends on where you look for your inspiration. I don’t watch much shows that feature “manufactured sex symbols”…(i actually watch CSI)..but

        I pointed some stuff out here:

        http://ealperin.blogspot.com/2010/03/question-of-day-what-positive-images-of.html

        The differences of men and women in sexuality here:

        http://ealperin.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-do-you-think-men-and-women-are-held.html

        And the “role” of women here:

        http://ealperin.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-do-you-see-role-of-women-in-todays.html

        A previous “Question of the day” that I had in class a while back: ” Why do you think it’s more socially acceptable for women to be homosexual than it is for men?” posted here:

        http://ealperin.blogspot.com/2010/03/why-do-you-think-its-more-socially.html

        Heck, the guys could even be drawn like the “Love & Rockets” characters. (at least they LOOK normal) I guess that’s why I love Jamal Igle’s work; he draws normal head-to- body-proportions for chicks.Though, his faces for Steph and Kara in World’s Finest #3 looked kinda similar..But either way…It depends on who (or what) you look at nowadays. (Jersey Shore doesn’t work for me. Just a stereotypical show. I’m sure the people are nice…but they …Oh.. forget it. It isn’t worth posting.)