Recently in Ms Marvel Category

When Ms. Marvel’s debuted in 1976 with this John Romita (I assume) designed costume,  I kind of took it for granted.  But like Spider-Woman’s costume, I kind of think it’s pretty nifty now!

You can see in the original model an effort to make it look like Captain Marvel—with the star emblem on her chest and the diamond shaped mask.  Instead of a cape, she had these impractical sashes running down her back.  The open midsection, revealing Carol Danvers perfectly flat abs, is a classic Romita touch.  He used that same design on the Femizons and Satana,

Apparently someone decided the open belly look wasn’t all that hot.  By 1977, artists had started drawing the costume top as one piece.  It’s like a mash-up between Baywatch and superheroes.

Dave Cockrum redesigned Ms Marvel’s costume into the black version that we’ve known for over 30 years.  John Byrne once make a joke about how much this costume resembled Storm’s.

But old costumes never really die…eventually they find a way back!  Dark Reign provided the perfect opportunity for Karla Sofer (Moonstone) to don the classic outfit in her impersonation of Ms. Marvel.  The past few issues of Ms. Marvel have featured one titanic super-powered catfight between the old and new versions.  I’ve been enjoying this decompressed battle in all its misogynistic glory…and not feeling at all bad about it!

I’m amazed by how sexy the old costume looks now.  But it’s not strictly the old version.  The boots, which used to be smaller, now are thigh high boots.  Her gloves are as long as a formal evening gown—going 3/4 of the way up her arms. 

Romita’s costume looks good from every angle—front, side, and back!  Especially in this shot from behind and just above a scene where Karla throws a guy to his death just for kicks.  I’ve always liked Moonstone, no matter which series she’s appeared in, for her utter ruthlessness and conniving.

I think this butt thong look was always there, but modern artists can really accentuate it.  Notice that the rotating artists on Ms. Marvel can’t draw the costume consistently.  Here the boots and gloves are much shorter, like the original design.

Mike Mayhew has done a recent commission featuring the classic costume.  I love this piece in black and white. 

I think seeing the original costume has reminded us again how great John Romita’s original designs were.  It’s like Spider-Woman’s costume.  For years no one gave a shit about it.  Then we see David Finch drawing it and suddenly it’s one of the greatest costumes of all time!

Should the classic costume stick around, even after War of the Marvels and Dark Reign?  I like to see a way for that to happen.  I’m almost wishing that Karla wins in the end.

If you haven’t had enough of classic Ms Marvel today, check out a risqué parody from Photon Torpedoes: Ms. Marvel’s Quest For Liberation!  Nuff said.

Dave Cockrum was a master of costume design and among his many creations were the outfits for Storm and Ms. Marvel.  John Byrne, after he took over the X-Men, made this observation...

From the booklet for the 1978 Comic Art Convention.  Nuff said.