When she isn’t channeling animal powers to fight crime with the Justice League, Vixen — aka Mari Jiwe McCabe — rolls as an international fashion model. So why does her costume look like one of Tina Knowles’ rejected sketches from the 1999 Destiny’s Child Tour?
Of course, there’s no shortage of fashion crimes against female comic book characters (Star Sapphire’s stripper-inspired getup comes to mind), but there’s something especially jacked up about Vixen’s situation. The woman is a runway model, and she’s in a mustard-colored bodysuit with a butterfly collar and an animal tooth belt? For real? Liya Kedebe or Gisele wouldn’t be caught dead in that madness.
Maybe this seems like a quibble, but a superhero or villain’s costume is, for better or worse, his or her calling card. Vixen is by far the most prominent black female superhero on DC’s roster, but her spectacularly unimaginative yet tacky costume suggests that she’s nothing special — just another random chick in Spandex. As Manhunter and Catwoman’s costumes demonstrate, even a simple bodysuit can make a powerful (and sexy) design statement.
Some enterprising person at DC ought to get Lifetime on the phone and pitch a Vixen costume redesign challenge for the next “Project Runway” season. While they’re at it, they might want to offer up Star Sapphire, too, because that fuchsia shit is just crazy.
It’s always bothered me that Mari is a runway model, yet dresses ridiculously. You may think her current costume is bad, but check out her original costume. Yuck!
http://justiceleaguedetroit.blogspot.com/2008/07/vixen-1-nov-dec-1978.html
The Irredeemable Shag
http://onceuponageek.com
http://firestormfan.com
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I’ll have to agree with Shag on this one– Vixen’s original get-up needed to get out. Vixen’s gone through several terrible costumes, but I like the basics here, even the mustard yellow. I could tolerate variations (tan?) but no more purple leather, for God’s sake!
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The original costume is TRAGIC. I agree that this is preferable, if still an affront to the eyes. Where is Zac Posen when you need him?
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Even though I have to admit the costume is horrible, dated and way-overly-derivative, Joshua Middleton managed to, somehow, make it work.
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At least Vixen is a fierce heroine with interesting powers … and gorgeous. That can make up for a lot.
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Haahaaahaa!
You probably coughed up a lung when you saw Wonder Woman’s Star Sapphire get-up!
I’ve been seeing the WORST female costume designs hit the comic pages lately!
They really should hire people to design their costumes instead of putting stuff like that New Wonder Woman #700 costume out!
It’s definitely a gender thing!
(Superman and Batman didn’t get horrible costumes for their 700th issues!)
I’d hate to see the rejects!
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Man, that Star Sapphire nonsense took us over the edge! In fact, I’m pretty sure we ranted about it shortly after it debuted. Ugly, ugly, ugly! I totally agree that publishers should bring in credible designers when they want to revamp a costume, and it would make a great Project Runway challenge. Thank you for sharing the laughter!
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