"Supers"
Comic-Con is coming to San Diego July 23-27 and for the 45th year in a row Wonder Women, Wookies, Klingons and studio executives will share a mutual love of comics and celebrate this art form’s contributions to our culture. Original comic art has become so much more than stories for kids told on newsprint: it has inspired wonderful films, given us American icons and had a significant influence on the world of graphic design. (Source.)
More specifically, we will be studying superheroes and super-villains today to better understand “what makes them tick” before you make your own super-characters.
Given the examples, what do you know about the characters, generally?
Characters page of the Superhero Database
- What descriptive or physical clues let them (readers/viewers) know who is a hero and who is a villain, why?
- What are some of your favorite superheroes and super-villains from comic books or movies?
- List it out: In your sketchbook, make two new lists—one for each super-character—and have the students brainstorm each character’s distinctive qualities; some things to consider are:
* Special powers—such as superhuman abilities, mutations, or scientific knowledge.
* Appearance—are they colorful, funny, serious, drab, dark, or menacing?
* Background—where did they come from, and did they go through a shocking experience that made them who they are?
* Public or “secret” identity—what is their social life like, do they have regular jobs, family, friends?
* Special equipment—such as tools, weapons, or vehicles.
* Place of residence—rural or urban, apartment or house, secret lair or in plain sight.
- Hand it out: Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer printout.
- Fill in the name of the superhero on the line for Item #1 and the name of the super-villain on the line for Item #2.
- Go down the lists on the board of the super-characters’ qualities and discuss the similarities and differences between the two. Fill in the worksheet with the class accordingly.
What do you think about heroes having so much in common with villains? What does this mean or suggest?
- Discuss choices the characters have made to show themselves to be “good” or “evil,” and whether or not such choices are straightforward or involve extraordinary circumstances.
- Do the characters appear to understand that their actions have consequences, and if so, how do they deal with this “enlightenment”?
Keep your Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizers until next class to use the comparisons as examples for working on your own superheroes or super-villains.
Assignment:
Design and create the likeness of your hero/protagonist or villain/antagonist from your Hero's Journey story (ELA).
Step 1: Pick up a blank worksheet to fill out about your antagonist and protagonist in YOUR Hero's Journey Story. It must be filled out COMPLETELY and checked by the teacher.
Step 2: Using the information you have already gathered, start to sketch out 3 possible designs for your hero/villain. Be sure to LABEL where and how the superhero embodies your story.
Each design should be 5 in tall, 3-4 in wide in your sketchbook.
*Show your possible designs to the teacher to discuss/choose the most successful design*
Step 3: Choose a hero template HERE that will serve as the basic outline for your hero/villain body form and position.
Remember: these are basic forms, you will add all colors, clothing detail, facial features, etc.
I chose this template: To create this final costume drawing:
Step 4: Open PhotoShop. Your dimensions should be- File Name: LastName_Super
Step 5: Pull in your template and stretch it to fit on your canvas space- try to fill as much of the space as possible without skewing your template.
Step 6: Copy your template layer. This is important! You should be working on different layers for each design piece of your super; this makes it easier to edit individual parts without harming others.
** Add details as needed ** Shading, texture, color matching, etc.**
Step 7: Slowly, start drawing out your super suit. Do additional research if necessary. Try including different textures and shapes into your design- get creative!
**NOTE: Create a new layer with each new part of the suit. **
** DETAILS MATTER **
Notice the difference you can make using the burn tool:
This hand is flat. And boring. This hand has depth & looks realistic.
Step 8: Once you are finished, check your work and make sure it is similar to your original idea. It is okay if small parts have changed- color scheme, textures, etc., but not major stuff.
*For example: Her face and hair are different, but most everything else is the same.
I changed these so her look would more embody a HERO than a VILLAIN.
Step 9: Upload your Super onto your site on a new page called, "Supers".
Step 10: Upload your Super to Google Classroom.
Step 11: Fill out a rubric and turn in to me for a grade and to be printed.
Step 12:Cut out your printed Super and mount onto black paper; turn in to me to hang up.
Great job, you're done!