Rethinking Irma Vep (TQP0121)
One of the best features of Warren Ellis’s old Engine forum was the occasional call for redesigns of old/disused/public domain characters. Ellis has resurrected the notion on his current forum, Whitechapel, 
and he picked a doozy to start out with.
Irma Vep is a character from a 1916 French serial “Les Vampires.” She is, essentially, a French goth ninja jewel thief in a black winged bodystocking.
There is absolutely no way to improve on this design. It is simple, elegant, functional, and stylish.
I tried just the same.
I am not what one would call a great artist. “Serviceable” is the term I’d use. And god help me if I’m drawing anything that isn’t a person or something I can use a ruler for.
But I like thinking of new ways to look at old designs. So expect these periodically, as Ellis puts up the requests.
I also recommend heading to the Whitechapel site proper (linked above). The post just went up yesterday, so it’ll take a while before submissions start pouring in, but when they do, look out. People have some brilliant, gorgeous, and terrifying ideas in their heads.
And who doesn’t want to see the results?
November 25, 2008 at 10:24 am
The good news is that, unlike at Whitechapel, here we can fill out the remake/redesign imperative with text, too, if we want, rather than just fan art. I think that this is an activity that has merit, but Ellis eschews it for obvious and sensible legal reasons.
December 2, 2008 at 10:55 pm
This is very good! As good as some of the other submissions were, I think it’s important that Irma Vep’s face be kept unfussy and minimally adorned and you’ve done that here. Her face, like that of most “lethal seductresses” is one of her most important weapons. Vampiresque characters were written as hypnotically beautiful only for the need to attract humans and be easily trusted. That’s why totally sinister faces don’t work—you can’t be an effective vampire if people always run away from you in disgust. You also can’t get away with theft unless you’re very beautiful, in which case, judges let you go free more often than the uglies.
I also liked how streamlined you’ve made her outfit. Cumbersome weaponry and constrictive, frou-frou clothing must work against the winged-vampire-ninja lifestyle.
Here’s a striking picture that made me think of this character. It’s by Serge Lutens, who was a photographer before going into perfumery:
http://i27.tinypic.com/jahq3b.jpg
I also thought of the Gloria Swanson “Vanity Fair” photo shoot; the image of her face covered by black lace. The lace reminded me of a mod, ninja face covering (and who isn’t going for that look?). It’s striking and almost creepy at first glance but the longer you look at it, the more docile it seems (very vampiric!)
Gloria Swanson photo:
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/media/source/vanity_gloriaswanson.jpg