We've never seen quite so much of our favourite characters.
(Image credit: DC Comics)
Since the 1960s, Sports Illustrated has been serving up a mix of fashion, glamour and controversy with its annual Swimsuit Issue, known for its cover shoots featuring models and celebs. Now DC Comics is giving its superheroes the same treatment, peeling our favourite characters out of their capes and skintight suits.
Getting in just in time for the end of summer, the G’nort’s Swimsuit Edition features a range of popular DC characters cavorting at the beach in trunks and bikinis, including Batman, Wonder Woman, Poison Ivy, Nubia, Harley Quinn, Aquaman and, er, the Penguin. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it seems to be a hit with fans (see our character design tips for ideas for your own work).
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Natasha Irons, Supergirl, Superboy and Power Girl by Otto Schmidt(Image credit: DC Comics)
The G'nort's Swimsuit Edition main cover(Image credit: DC Comics)
Adam Hughes' variant cover(Image credit: DC Comics)
You can leave your mask on(Image credit: DC Comics)
A 1:25 variant cover by Pablo Villalobos(Image credit: DC Comics)
Nightwing by Nicola Scott(Image credit: DC Comics)
Harley Quinn by Hélène Lenoble(Image credit: DC Comics)
Catwoman by Terry and Rachel Dodson(Image credit: DC Comics)
Nubia by Derrick Chew(Image credit: DC Comics)
Aquaman by David Talaski(Image credit: DC Comics)
Superhero costumes often don't leave a great deal to the imagination, but still DC Comics has decided to reveal even more. It says G’nort’s Swimsuit Edition gathers "some of the splashiest, steamiest, swimsuit covers from DC’s best talent, all in one place for the very first time".
There are several variant covers, and fans are being encouraged to recreate one by Scott Campbell and Tanya Lehoux on the beach using Gotham Magazine artwork on the back cover. Each copy also contains a random centerfold which may include Poison Ivy, G’nort himself or Nightwing and Barbara Gordon drawn by Jorge Jiménez.
Fans can recreate this variant cover by J. Scott Campbell (Image credit: DC Comics)
What? You want stories? Well, there is a new 8-pager called Baewatch that features The Penguin "clad in the tightest bathing trunks you can imagine". That's written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson with art by Meghan Hetrick, Marissa Louise and Steve Wands.
I finally got my hands on the special edition one-shot of G'nort's swimsuit and it's great!lot of amazing variant covers too, and this is the version with my centerfold of Nightwing and Batgirl with Alex Sanchez colors! on sale next week! so run for your copy! #nightwing #bargirl pic.twitter.com/3WD5sZe3WsAugust 25, 2023
The 48-page comic also boasts art from Michael Allred, Sweeney Boo, Amanda Conner, Derrick Chew, Jeff Dékal, Terry Dodson, Jenny Frison, Megan Huang, Mikel Janín, Joëlle Jones, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Hélène Lenoble, Emanuela Lupacchino, Gleb Melnikov, Paul Pelletier, Joe Quinones, Daniel Sampere, Otto Schmidt, Nicola Scott, Babs Tarr, David Talaski, Pete Woods and more.
G’nort’s Swimsuit Edition is released at comic book shops and online today. A Kindle edition is available from Amazon. For more comic inspiration, see our picks of the best graphic novels and the best comic logos.
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Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.
