This thesis is a fanciful design handbook for the connoisseur of comic books and/or design. It explores the lives, needs, and wants of two of DC Comic’s (One of the two largest comic book publishers in the world, and the oldest.) most prominent heroes: Superman and Wonder Woman. The following aspects of each character are thoroughly researched: How they came to be, what their powers are, who their enemies are, where they live, and why they protect. An understanding of their histories and personalities define their requirements of architecture and design. Their powers, weaknesses and need for secrecy dictate both design necessities and constraints.
The book opens with the introduction of Milo Maker who explains his customized work for such special clients. He explains that now, for the first time ever, he is allowed to share some of his designs and their implications. In both schematic format and comic art a tour is given of some of his designs, Wonder Woman’s hideaway on the mystical island of Themyscira, and Superman’s mobile Fortress of Solitude.
There are a host of terrific characters to work within the DC Universe, and in the past the designs for their secret homes have been inconsistent and unfathomable. Wonder Woman, with her background in Greek mythology, culture and architecture is a wonderful place to start. Superman, with his alien birth and star-flung story, is the perfect character to discuss a more modern, more technologically advanced design. The limited times that fortresses are shown in comic books they either serve as a backdrop to the storyline or are drawn with no continuity or reality. Every creator has his or her own drawing technique and concept of the heroes' private retreats, providing an overall incongruent picture of the privates spaces the heroes inhabit. In depth studies provide problems and answers to which design fundamentals are applied, to create unified design plans for fictional spaces.
Notes
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Masters of Arts
Publisher
Corcoran College of Art + Design (Washington, D.C.)
Masters Theses from the Corcoran College of Art + Design
Rights
The Corcoran College of Art + Design has non-exclusive publication rights. Permission is granted to quote from the thesis with the customary acknowledgement of the source. Copyright for each article is retained by the author. Republication in any form requires permission from the author of the thesis.
