DC’s swimsuit special artists on making superheroes recognizable but sexy

polygon.com:

The idea of a “superhero swimsuit” is admittedly redundant. A lot of them are practically wearing swimwear anyway! But that’s the scintillating irony at the heart of the superhero swimsuit special: Everybody knows this is kind of ridiculous from the get-go, so why not have fun?

It’s also demonstrably true that a good superhero redesign can be just as electrifying as a great superhero story, and just as challenging to pull off. DC Comics will be paying tribute to that challenge with — what else? — G’nort’s Swimsuit Edition.

The oversize issue will feature a reprinted story from the company’s 2020 summer special, as well as a new eight-page short featuring the Penguin in, quote, “the tightest bathing trunks you can imagine.” But most importantly, it’ll collect dozens of DC’s summer-themed variant covers — at least, the ones that feature swimsuits — drawn by dozens of the company’s top artistic talent.

And here at Polygon, we wanted to know: If so many superheroes are already in their unitards and trunks, what makes for a recognizable, stylish (and maybe even sexy?) superhero bathing suit?

So that’s exactly what we asked seven of the artists whose work will feature in this actually illustrated swimsuit special. Read on for their art, their answers, and an exclusive reveal of one of G’nort’s Swimsuit Special’s new additions: a fold-out pinup poster, just like that other special issue that rhymes with G’nort’s G’Illustrated.

Nicola Scott: I have two different answers, one cheeky, one not, both honest: It’s gotta fit in all the right places, and it really helps if the cut speaks to the character and their taste.

Terry Dodson: I try to make a swimsuit that echoes the character’s costume or namesake—so it isn’t hard for