Posted By: Marvel
Mon Apr 30 2012 15:41:00 pm
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| Courtesy of Romance Was Born |
Tenaciously opening 2012 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia like the thunderous force of their comic inspirations, Romance Was Born transformed Pier 2 at the Sydney Theatre Company into a super hero playground, complete with a gigantic paper-pop up set straight from the pages of a beloved Marvel comic book. Guests Jenny Kee, Catherine Martin, Sophie Lowe and Susie Lau (Style Bubble) were treated to a SLAM! KAPOW! and BOOM! and models were altered into modern day super heroes with sass as their super power.
Inspired by the almighty spectral power of color, Romance Was Born is drawn to the pop appeal of Marvel Comics and their iconic super heroes. An interest also sparked in the process of CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Key) printing which is used to produce these classic characters from the Marvel world. The CMYK printing technique of halftoning and the pattern like dot work of applying color is responsible for that instantly recognizable comic book style.
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| Courtesy of Romance Was Born |
"Working with Marvel has been a dream", says one half of Romance Was Born, Anna Plunkett. "Having access to such incredible graphic archives has been so exciting. The Marvel group has been really supportive in helping us reach our creative vision. It's been a terrific process seeing the collection come to life, and a real privilege to work with such an incredible respected and creative company!"
“Marvel is a brand steeped in tradition but is constantly innovating. The continued popularity, heritage and inspiration Marvel represents all over the world is a testament to the appeal of the brand to artists, creators, collaborators and fashion designers such as Romance Was Born. The collaboration is original, truly one-of-a-kind and speaks to the enduring appeal of the characters and stories of Marvel—with a dash of drama and high fashion allowing us to speak to fans of fashion and art in a unique way,” said Simon Philips, President, Marvel Entertainment International.
Mighty Fine: Dean Trippe Q&A, Avengers Tee Design Contest Winner
Posted By: Marvel
Wed Apr 25 2012 9:28:00 am
Mighty Fine: Hi Dean! Tell our WeLoveFine.com community a little about yourself - where are you from, how long have you been a designer, etc.
Dean Trippe: I’m a writer and illustrator from North Georgia, specializing in comics and children’s books. I’ve been drawing and designing almost as far back as I can remember. Really, it seems to me like everyone was drawing back in kindergarten. Anyway, I kept at it. I’m probably best known for my super hero webcomic, Butterfly [iheartbutterfly.com], and as the co-founder and co-editor of the super hero redesign blog, Project: Rooftop [projectrooftop.com], and other internet shenanigans (Barack Obama Looking at Awesome Things, the Draw Batgirl Meme, etc.).
Mighty Fine: Is drawing something you've always been interested in? And are your awesome skills self-taught or did you study design?
Dean Trippe: Yeah, I’ve always loved drawing. I guess it became a big part of my life when my friend Cedric showed me how to draw the Ninja Turtles in third grade. That was the biggest game changer. I moved schools the next year and instantly became the Kid Who Draws. I later graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Sequential Art (AKA comics). I’ve taken a lot of design-oriented classes, but to be honest, I have almost no understanding of the mechanical rules of composition, color theory, or design, despite the efforts of my professors. I don’t know why something looks right or not, they just do--or more often, don’t, and need to be fixed so they don’t look so weird.
Mighty Fine: As your style developed, who did you look to for influences and inspiration?
Dean Trippe: I think the thing I’m trying to achieve is a kind of unpretentious, visual sincerity? It might sound dumb, but I think that covers a multitude of my artistic limitations. A lot of my stylistic influences are visual, but not all of them. Paul Dini and Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series had the most profound impact on my storytelling and visual tendencies; Mike Wieringo (the best Spider-Man artist of all time, for my money) and Mike Mignola were my favorite contemporary comic book artists; Kurt Busiek, Alan Moore, and Grant Morrison wrote pretty much all of my favorite stories, which all deeply affected the way I understand the characters I attempt to depict visually. After college, I got into the decades-spanning brilliance of Jack Kirby and also Wayne Boring, who drew amazing Superman comics in the Silver Age, but often gets overshadowed by (the also incredible) Curt Swan. Wayne Boring has a special place in my heart, though. His lines were so clean and confident. I also think some basic late 80s, early 90s entertainment thinking affects my work. It’s not super obvious or anything, but years spent thinking about "Transformers," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and "Back to the Future" will definitely have an effect on your creative process.
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Dean Trippe: I struggled with coming up with any kind of idea for weeks. I knew I wanted to use all the characters from the movie and something to do with the “Avengers Assemble” slogan. “Assembled” popped into my head, and I thought about doing some kind of Voltron-like assemblage of the main characters, and I settled on a playful kind of scene of the team climbing all over Hulk. The scene lent itself to simpler shapes and classic uniforms, so I went with those. I don’t think I’d drawn Thor in his original costume before, but man, I’m never not doing that again. It’s perfect.
Mighty Fine: Describe an element of "Avengers Assembled" that you are really pleased with how it turned out.
Dean Trippe: The smiles. Super heroes need to smile more. Cheer up, guys, you’re saving the world. I mean seriously, why wouldn’t Tony Stark custom weld a fixed smile into the Iron Man helmet? I almost always draw super heroes smiling and floating around clouds. I always think, “Maybe I should just draw a serious face this time,” but then, “Nah.” I guess it’s just my Silver Age fixation, but I liked it when most of the super heroes were pals and fought crime more frequently than each other. (That said, I’m a solid X in the AVX throwdown. Avengers rule, but MUTANT RIGHTS NOW.)
Mighty Fine: In your opinion, what design elements are best to keep in mind when you are working on a piece of art for a t-shirt, hoodie or other apparel?
Dean Trippe: Well, there are a lot of folks who have designed more shirts than I have, but I guess I always aim for simplicity, color choices that would work with other garments, and clear visual iconography. If you’re designing an item so folks will see it and share some sort of connective experience with it and its wearer, the design should be as clear and easy to understand as possible.
Mighty Fine: Are there any styles of art that you haven't really worked in before that you would like to try your hand at in the future?
Dean Trippe: I’d really like to get back to traditional media more, especially painting, which I’ve neglected for years since going digital, but right now I can’t foresee ever having the time.
Mighty Fine: What are some of your other favorite pop culture characters to draw, either other Marvel characters or entirely other properties?
Dean Trippe: I really like drawing super heroes. I’ve spent so long working on it, and regular clothes and actors’ likenesses are harder and less exciting to draw. Doctor Who is good, but I most enjoy drawing my son’s favorite super heroes: Batman, Superman, Robin, and Miles Morales, the new Ultimate Spider-Man. Though we just finished the first season of "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic," so I expect Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie are going to make the list pretty soon.
Marvel.com: Who is your favorite Avengers character and why?
Dean Trippe: It’s tough, because it’s a great team with an enormous past roster. I want to say Captain America, because he’s easily the best dude in the whole universe. But Black Panther’s like Batman but is also the king of the most advanced nation on Earth...and he doesn’t have his own movie yet? Put me down for Team Panther. Wolverine’s an Avenger, though, right? Still, T’Challa always wins. Then Cap, then Wolverine.
Marvel.com: Which Avengers character would you consider the most stylish and why?
Dean Trippe: That is a nightmare question. Dude, Jack Kirby designed most of these guys. They all look incredible. I guess I’d have to say Iron Man, since he can always update his look to the modern era without feeling too gimmicky when it happens. Upgrades are built into the character.
Marvel.com: What made you want to do this contest?
Dean Trippe: Somebody sent me a link. I’ve seen Mighty Fine contests before, but since they haven’t been super hero specific, I haven’t really thought I’d have much of a shot. People who want to help everyone they can and wear bright colors while doing it? It’s pretty much all I’m into.
To check out Dean's t-shirt design and the other "Avengers Assemble" contest winners, visit the WeLoveFine.com store.
Winners Announced For Mighty Fine's Avengers Tee Design Contest
Posted By: Marvel
Tue Apr 10 2012 10:20:00 am
Having kicked off in January with submissions, Mighty Fine's Avengers contest has delivered a terrific cross-section of fan art — running the gamut from pop art to art nouveau, traditional comic tropes to cutting-edge modern designs — to compete in this opportunity not only to have one's artwork receive recognition and notice, but to be made into official Marvel merchandise. Dozens of designs made the cut for the ratings period, and through the end of winter and into spring, thousands of fans from all over the world rated their favorite pieces in the competition. They are thrilled to announce the winners, including not only their grand prize winner but the judges' prizes chosen by Ryan Penagos, Executive Editorial Director of Marvel.com and Laura Hudson, Editor In Chief of Comics Alliance, two runners-up and five honorable mentions - all of which are superb additions to their shop.
These shirts are now listed in Mighty Fine's Marvel: Avengers category, which includes many classic, best-selling designs in their Minimalist, Pixel Art, Art Nouveau series and more! In addition, to celebrate the announcement of the winners, they are having Daily Deal sales on some of their existing Avengers favorites all week long - some designs will be up to 60% off! The entire category can be accessed here.
Without further ado, here are Mighty Fine's Marvel "Avengers" Design Contest WINNERS!:
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HONORABLE MENTIONS ($50 WeLoveFine.com gift certificate each):
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Marvel Swag: Iconic Cover iPhone Cases from PDP
Posted By: Marvel
Tue Apr 3 2012 12:57:00 pm
With covers featuring classic images of Wolverine, Iron Man and more, your iPhone can withstand any bumps and bruises from evil-doers! Check out the various cover descriptions below to select your favorite cover!
First of the six-issue comic book limited series, this marked the first time Eddie Brock received a series in which he was the main character and attempted to change Venom from an unambiguous villain to an anti-hero.
AMAZING FANTASY #15 (Aug. 1962). Cover art by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko.
With issue #15 AMAZING ADULT FANTASY was retitled AMAZING FANTASY and slated for cancellation. This issue marks the first appearance of Spider-Man — a teenager, but not a sidekick, and would have everyman doubts, neuroses and money problems. Although the interior artwork was by Steve Ditko alone, Lee rejected Ditko's cover art and commissioned Jack Kirby to pencil a cover that Ditko inked.
WOLVERINE #1 (Sept 1982). Cover art by Frank Miller
WOLVERINE was Wolverine’s first series as the title character. This issue also included the first appearance of both Lord Shingen and Yukio, who is unnamed in the issue, but later confirmed as the woman who saves him at the end of the issue.
THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 (May 1968). Art by Gene Colan and Mike Esposito
The "Golden Avenger" made his solo debut with THE INVINCILE IRON MAN #1. Lee said that "of all the comic books we published at Marvel, we got more fan mail for Iron Man from women, from females, than any other title...”
THE INCREDIBLE HULK - THE EVE OF ANNIHILATION #116 (June 1969). Art by Herb Trimpe and Dan Adkins.
This issue is the first appearance of the Super-Humanoid and primarily revolves around the Leader’s attempt to trap the Hulk while he pushes forward with his attempt to spark World War III.
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY - THE GRANDEUR AND THE GLORY #124 (Jan 1952). Art by Vince Colletta.
In this issue, Hercules returns to Earth after Thor rushes to Asia to investigate the Demon who has been amassing an army in the jungles of Asia. Also, Don Blake reveals his secret identity to Jane Foster after realizing that his constant disappearances have taken a toll on her psychological well-being.
Check out the designs below and head to the Marvel section at Performance Designed Products to get yours! Use the code "AgentM2012" to get 20% off and free shipping with your order! Valid through June.
Marvel Logo Pholo Shirts Available from Mighty Fine
Posted By: Marvel
Tue Mar 27 2012 13:01:00 pm
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| Avengers logo polo shirt from WeLoveFine |
Even when keeping it casual, sometimes it makes sense to dress it up a smidge. There are times when your favorite nerdy tee just doesn't seem appropriate. Which is where Mighty Fine's subtle yet awesome polos come in; they are the perfect wardrobe addition for those occasions when you need to be slightly buttoned-up but can still let your geek flag fly! The first six Marvel designs range from the iconic stars and stripes of Captain America's shield to the stark, crimson update of new webslinger Miles Morales' Ultimate Spider-man logo. Have a favorite in the AVENGERS VS. X-MEN saga? Choose from each--or if you can't decide, get 'em both!
Mighty Fine's polo shirts are 100% cotton with a soft, relaxed fit, and feature high-quality embroidery on each shirt's logo. Many new designs will be added to this category in the coming weeks, so keep checking back at welovefine.com!
Marvel Logo Polo Shirts Available from Mighty Fine
Posted By: Marvel
Tue Mar 27 2012 13:01:00 pm
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| Avengers logo polo shirt from WeLoveFine |
Even when keeping it casual, sometimes it makes sense to dress it up a smidge. There are times when your favorite nerdy tee just doesn't seem appropriate. Which is where Mighty Fine's subtle yet awesome polos come in; they are the perfect wardrobe addition for those occasions when you need to be slightly buttoned-up but can still let your geek flag fly! The first six Marvel designs range from the iconic stars and stripes of Captain America's shield to the stark, crimson update of new webslinger Miles Morales' Ultimate Spider-man logo. Have a favorite in the AVENGERS VS. X-MEN saga? Choose from each--or if you can't decide, get 'em both!
Mighty Fine's polo shirts are 100% cotton with a soft, relaxed fit, and feature high-quality embroidery on each shirt's logo. Many new designs will be added to this category in the coming weeks, so keep checking back at welovefine.com!
Marvel Art Prints Now Available from Mighty Fine
Posted By: Marvel
Wed Mar 7 2012 10:35:00 am
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| Mighty Fine: Storm fashion art print |
Contributing artists for the new designs and products include Heather Carlton, Megan Lara and Forrest Card. Regular contributer Heather Carlton brings back her steampunk versions of our favorite super heroes! Megan Lara's Art Nouveau style brings a whole new look to our favorite heroines such as Rogue, Mystique and more. Lara's artwork accentuates and exemplifies the strength and elegance of the women of Marvel. Blending together serious and villainous with the absurd and ridiculous is Mighty Fine staff artist Forrest Card!
Don't forget to get your hands on some of the new Fashion Art designs as well! These spunky '80s style riffs on Marvel's super heroines will make you want to add the entire art collection to your home. Check out our gallery here on Marvel.com and visit Mighty Fine's site to order your favorites and more!
Marvel Pet Accessories Available Now at PetSmart
Posted By: Marvel
Tue Mar 6 2012 14:51:00 pm
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| Fantastic Four Dog Tee by Fetch available at PetSmart |
The line debuted in March 2012 and features a wide array of Marvel-themed pet products for dogs including toys and apparel. Additionally, a wide assortment of aquatic products will follow shortly after and all will be available in PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico as well as online at www.PetSmart.com.
PetSmart, Marvel and Fetch...for cool pets! will support the Marvel Super Hero pet program with an impactful marketing campaign. Highlighting the campaign will be in-store signage, online promotions and a sweepstakes exclusively for PetSmart Facebook fans on www.facebook.com/petsmart.com.
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| Spider-Man Black Bandana by Fetch available at PetSmart |
Steven Shweky, President of Fetch…for cool pets! added, "Fetch is approaching licensing from a different direction. Instead of using brands that would typically only appeal to children, Fetch has licensed brands that resonate with the ‘pet parent.’ Marvel is the perfect brand to reflect our approach.”
What other cool pet gear do you want to see? Tweet us!
Marvel Swag: Marvel Kawaii iPod Touch Cases
Posted By: Marvel
Tue Feb 21 2012 14:02:00 pm
These awesome covers, featuring super-stylized and super-cute renderings of fan favorites Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man and Wolverine, are compatible with all current 4th Generation iPod touch devices. Do you have an iPhone 4? Check out PDP's iPhone Marvel clip cases!
The Marvel Kawaii line cases are available now at PDP.com and in Apple stores for $29.99. Check out the awesome and adorable designs below!
Get yours today to stop evil-doers cold and be sure to check out PDP's full line of Marvel products!
Posted By: Marvel
Fri Feb 10 2012 12:44:00 pm
Available in summer 2012 wherever costumes are sold, you can don Iron Man's gauntlets, wield Captain America's shield or Thor's hammer, and even make mischeif as the Prince of Lies himself, Loki!
Scope out our full gallery of Avengers movie costumes for all ages below, and come back to Marvel.com next week for a peek at even mroe of Disguise's lovely wares!
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Enter Mighty Fine's Avengers Tee Design Contest
Posted By: Marvel
Wed Jan 25 2012 14:16:00 pm
Ever wanted to see your design on an official Marvel tee-shirt? Mighty Fine Tees is giving you the chance with their special Avengers Tee Design Contest, going on from now until February 12!
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| Mighty Fine's Avengers Tee Design Contest |
Marvel's elite team of super heroes is hitting the silver screen, and to celebrate, Marvel presents the biggest Avengers design contest in the galaxy! The rules are simple: All designs must incorporate Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk, but beyond that it's your call. Assemble your best and brightest ideas and let's see your super designs; you could win cash and prizes, and have your design turned into official Marvel merchandise! The top prize could reach up to $2,500 cash!
GUEST JUDGES: Ryan Penagos, executive editorial director of Marvel.com and Comics Alliance's Laura Hudson!
Full run-down of prizes is available on the contest page, as well as complete rules, but here are three important rules to highlight up front:
-Submissions must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. PST on February 12, 2012.
-Up to five entries are allowed per artist. Contest is open to US residents only.
-Entries MUST incorporate ALL FOUR CHARACTERS--CAPTAIN AMERICA, THOR, HULK, IRON MAN--but may also include Hawkeye or Black Widow. Avengers logo CANNOT be utilized in the design, nor can the likenesses of the actors who portray the characters in the films.
Mighty Fine: Heather Carlton Q&A
Posted By: Marvel
Thu Dec 29 2011 14:49:00 pm
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| Mighty Fine: X-Men Werk |
Mighty Fine T-shirts artist Heather Carlton is living the dream--turning her “fan art” into a career transforming the Marvel characters into everything from 8-bit characters to Kraftwerk. Born and raised in Southern California, Carlton began collecting X-Men cards at the age of eight, and her love of comic book art blossomed into a passion for animation with the X-Men cartoon in the 1990s. In art school, her love for illustration led her to a career in the apparel industry. Along the way, she says, the art of Marvel comics always pushed her to improve her own work. Below, Carlton tells Marvel.com about her designs, her favorite artists, and what glam rocker is secretly a retired super villain.
Marvel.com: Your work ranges from 8-bit designs to twists on old-school comic styles, like your Doctor Strange t-shirt. Which Marvel artists provide the most inspiration in your work?
Heather Carlton: As a kid I was first sucked into comics with Jim Lee’s X-MEN #1, then I found myself really liking Nightcrawler in Alan Davis’s work on the original EXCALIBUR series. I really like seeing different styles, so throughout the years it’s been fun to follow Marvel as different artists have taken on the titles, like Mike Allred’s bold return to Jack Kirby's classic look, and even Kia Asamiya’s super bishounen-styled X-men. Alan Davis is probably my all-time favorite, though.
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| Mighty Fine: 8-bit X-Men |
Marvel.com: Who’s your favorite Marvel character to draw?
Heather Carlton: Magneto, for sure! But recently my sketchbook is nothing but Mister Sinister. He’s a challenge with his original cape design. And for years my sketchbook was nothing but mohawk-era Storm....
Marvel.com: What’s your favorite Marvel t-shirt design you’ve done for Mighty Fine?
Heather Carlton: Ooh, that’s kinda hard to say...I tried to do an Alan Davis-style Nightcrawler that simply said “Ladies?” But I think he was too devilishly handsome for the men’s department to handle! It’s hard to pick a favorite because every day I feel like I’m just drawing fan art. I love it all!
Marvel.com: Your 8-bit Marvel characters have been extremely popular. What’s your favorite old-school 8-bit video game? What’s your favorite Marvel video game?
Heather Carlton: As for actual 8-bit games, "The Legend of Zelda" is my favorite. For Marvel, the ones I played the most were 16-bit such as "X-Men 2: Clone Wars" on the Sega Genesis.
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| Mighty Fine: Beastin' |
Marvel.com: Super heroes are known for their perfectly proportional physiques, but 8-bit characters? Not so much. Which Marvel character do you think looks coolest in 8-bit format?
Heather Carlton: I really like the way my Marvel villains piece turned out. But Iceman is always the coolest. Pun intended.
Marvel.com: Your X-Men/Kraftwerk mashup is brilliant. If you were to mash up other Marvel teams with bands, who would be the next team to become a band? What band would they be?
Heather Carlton: “Mister Sinister and the Nasty Boys” are so glam/goth rock! I seriously need to make a rock poster for them!
Marvel.com: On the flip side, what real-life musician would be the most likely to have secret super powers? Do you think they’d use those powers for good, or would they become a super villain?
Heather Carlton: David Bowie is clearly a gracefully retired super villain. ’Nuff said.
Heather Carlton’s Marvel designs are available at welovefine.com.
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