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| The Flash (1990) |
The second season of the CW show The Flash airs today, so this is a perfect time to look back at the show that started it all back in 1990. Executive producers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo wanted to make a new type of superhero costume and turned to artist Dave Stevens to give him a new look.
Dave Lee Stevens was an American illustrator and comics artist who worked on The Rocketeer (1991), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983).
Click on the images to enlarge.
The costume design of the Flash was going to be radically different from the comics. After the popularity of Batman Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo decided to ditch spandex and make the costume a visual effect. They had worked with renowned comic book artist Dave Stevens on the adaptaion of his comic books The Rocketeer" and turned to him for the costume design. Bilson and De Meo made it clear that they wanted a costume with a sinister tone to it, that it shouldn't look like a guy in tights, and, most importantly, it should look like a makeup effect rather than a costume technique. Stevens gave the costume a darker tone, got rid of the yellow boots and turned the lightning bolts on his costume into strong lines.
You can see one of his original designs had angular lines and sweeping lines that flow towards the waist and boots.
"Unlike a Batman or Superman, who have things like ears and cape lengths that can be played around with," make-up artist Robert Short commented, "with the Flash, you basically have a guy who looks like he has been painted red. My initial reaction was that I had nothing to work with." Despite the challenges they came up with a unique latex costume. Together they made a powerful costume that looks great over 20 years later. Stevens went on to do many other works until his death on March 11, 2008 at the age of 52.
Learn more about Dave Stevens' incredible work at http://www.davestevens.com
Some images via Live Auctioneers
Click on the links if you want to see more of Dave Stevens' work or The Flash artwork on my blog.
What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen The Flash what do you think of the costume?
Official The Flash Summary
"Barry Allen, a police scientist, is working one night during a terrible thunder storm when a bolt of lightning crashes through the lab window, electrocuting him. Barry survives and soon learns that he is now able to move at almost incomprehensible speed."
Developed by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo
Starring John Wesley Shipp, Amanda Pays, Alex Désert and Paula Marshall.
Original Air Date: September 20, 1990
Official Site: http://cwseed.com/shows/the-flash-classic
© Copyright 1990 Pet Fly Productions and Warner Bros. Television. All rights reserved
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