TV Guide has an image of Michael Shanks as Hawkman, from the upcoming Smallville episodes “Society” and “Legends,” due out in January.
The jury’s still out on how exactly the Winged Wonder will translate onto screen — especially since the classic DC costumes (with maybe Green Arrow and Cyborg as exceptions) have been mostly danced around for years — but I will say that Topless Robot has a pretty funny write-up of all this.
“When we first see him, he is a shell of his former self with [an air] of cynicism,” Shanks told TV Guide. “He wears a lot of grief and guilt and pain over what happened to his friends and the society as a whole and his failures in letting that happen.”
What do you think, Rama readers? You dig Hawkman’s duds?
November 17th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I like the outfit – but the chest looks too small and the waist too big in that picture. Hawkman needs very broad shoulders to work, and if Shanks has them, that picture doesn’t show it.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:35 am
If you remember the Joe Kubert version of Hawkman back in the early 60′s… he was lean not a body builder… so that does not bother me… I am happy that the producers decided to go with his costume, wings and helmet! Hope Dr. Fate and Star Girl have their comic duds. The chest plate has to be there to counter the weight of those wings! I think we should wait to until we see the show! I have really enjoyed this years Smallville and hopefully when the show ends, Clark will be wearing the Comic version of the Superman suit? I would love to see a close-up of the Hawk Helmet?
November 17th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I never thought I would ask for a costume with plastic muscles (I am still waiting for someone other than Adam West to wear a Batman costume that you could actually do martial arts in), but this needs it. That is more Doveman than Hawkman. I still have high hopes for this episode, though….
November 17th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I can’t find a larger image but it doesn’t look that great from what I can tell, and what’s with the belly roll in the “armor”? It would have looked better with a Roman guard armor sort of deal ala Dogma .
November 17th, 2009 at 11:42 am
It has to be remembered that this is one static wire shot. In the program, Carter/Hawkman will probably be in only one or two standing, full-figure group shots. Otherwise he’ll be in action, in which case motion and cgi can cover a multitude of faults, or in closeup shots for dialogue. The costume looks fine. I would’ve wanted a much larger wingspan, but a) the wings are actually supposed to be for maneuvering, not lift, so that if Thanagarian technology existed they’d probably be adequate; and b) they’re probably quite large enough as they are to cause more than enough problems for the cast and crew. Michael Shanks is a good actor and I’m excited about seeing Hawkman; I think it’ll be great!
November 17th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I think Hawkman looks great! I agree that this has been a great year for Smallville. I look forward to seeing his interactions with Green Arrow. I hope he comes across like a prick…
What JSA member would you most like to see if you could choose?
I think the current Starman would be great…
November 17th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I think it is going to look so bad on TV. It doesn’t even look that great in a still pic. The design is fine, the execution and presentation is crappy.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Personally, I think they should have shirked the whole Earth I/ Earth II costume and gone with the more noirish “Hawk” from JSA: the liberty files.
But then again, I’m strange.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I love it and i think the effects will be great. I am so happy for hawkman to be in smallville. Fate and Stargirl will be great too. With the accuracy this season on comic book nods and Johns at the helm it will be a great event. I so look forward to this
November 17th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
He looks like he stepped right out of the Flash Gordon movie. Cue the Queen soundtrack, plz.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I think it’s the most literal translation we’ve seen on Smallville yet, and should please people who have been complaining that the show uses leather jacket costumes. It’s true that Shanks looks too skinny here, but that’s because we’re all used to the insanely unlikely anatomy of comic book heroes. This is what REAL people look like. Besides, he’s supposed to be a little past his prime, so his physique works fine, I think.
If there’s any flaw here it’s that proves literal translations often look silly on screen. But you can’t knock them for sticking to the material, because that’s what you’ve all been crying for.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
At least it looks better than the Condorman costume…
http://www.motivatedphotos.com/?id=30347
November 17th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I think it’s hilarious they keep bringing in these DC characters, in costume, yet refuse to put Clark in anything resembling a Superman outfit.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Folks, if you look close, there is a seam at the neck and arms. He is wearing an armored chest piece under the harness. I think it is the utility belt that is making him look huge in the hips. Straight on, I think it will look great. Its just not a great angle.
I do love the way the helmet turned out.
JeffBearCO
November 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
@Joseph … these are the JSA, which even in DCU continuity, existed many years before Superman.
The only other character in anything like a costume is Oliver. Other heroes like Flash (Bart), Aquaman, Supergirl, Cyborg, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Twins, et. al, have not really worn their traditional costumes yet.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
If they are willing to go this far with costumes, why don’t they bite the bullet and make superman wear his? This is silly.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
The wings make me feel like I’m watching Barbarella, but probably the most accurate costume to date. I would expect nothing less from an ep that John’s has anything to do with. It’s certainly better than the “Cyborg” we got.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
it looks retarded but only in the context of the picture itself(framing etc.). I’m sure in close-ups and other positions, it might look pretty good. Whoever leaked this picture should be fired tho b/c again in this context it looks he jumped out that DC live action 70′s show. Whoever said they should have Jack Night on here was dead-on.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
GORDON’S ALIVE!
November 17th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
“I think it’s the most literal translation we’ve seen on Smallville yet”
I think Zatanna still wins that contest.
Oh, Michael Shanks, you seem destined to play unusual archeologists.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Announcing Hawkman is going to appear in Smallville is one thing, but actually delivering Hawkman AS Hawkman? That’s amazing!
Forget about gawking at his plastic muscle-vest!
Dude’s got the cowl, wings, and X-harness! It’s already a landmark moment for super-humanity on TV! Roll on Dr. Fate and that big-ass funky, funky helmet! Exclamation point!
November 17th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
he’s not jacked enough.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I met Michael Shanks while he was in London and have to say he looked a lot bigger than in the picture above. Shame. He seems to have dropped some wait.
I am sure Brian Blessed was free…..
But will reserve judgement till episode is screened. Would like to see what Dr Fate looks.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I guess I need to get new glasses. Is he standing in front of a painted background? maybe will look better on tv but that looks more painted than real.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Anyone remember that commercial with Hawkman? It was Butterfinger or Snickers even that look a bit better .
November 17th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Like Shanks, but should have picked someone a bit more buff for that outfit. Little surpised given their resistance to classic costumes on Smallville. Usually going with a color style instead of the actually costume. Still they could have made him look like “hawk’ from Buck Rogers.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
lol looks terrible! i thought you needed muscles to fight crime.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Looks like crap, come on plastic wings and way too small to lift this mock-up of a classic DC Comics character.
Why not make him wear a t-shirt like Clark “The Blur” does in this series to save the waste of good material.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Looks awesome! Great job on the costume.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
“At least it looks better than the Condorman costume…”
Nothing…NOTHING.Is better than the Condorman costume. This has been scientifically proven.
We’ll have to see how good this suit looks moving to make any real decisions. If the wings were CGI’d they might look quite nice. As a physical effect, I don’t know.
But this guy? Looks way too small for the suit. I am reminded of a description from The Full Monty that seems quite apt here.
Pigeon-chested Git.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I Love Hawkman and I will be watching this episode over and over and over again, Thank you Smallville.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
this show has always been on a downward corse when it came to its addition of characters to the story. not one has been accurate and this one just happens to be one of the worse. im wondering when this show will finally conclude
November 17th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
FLASH! AH-AHHHHH…defender of the universe
November 17th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Christian Bale’s suit in the Dark Knight was very much a suit you could do martial arts in, it was designed with that intent in mind, as was the Begins suit, but they couldn’t figure out how to make the cowl work in that first movie. The armoured plates in the Bale suits are in non-moving places with a few interlocking plates in the chest & abdominal region to allow for movement. It isn’t at all like the Keaton suit.
This Hawkman suit looks “ok”. It looks like it was done by the guys in Columbus who win all those Wizard awards but with a smaller “model”…
November 17th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Are you kidding me this costume is embarrassing to even look at, let alone watch it on TV. I feel bad for the actor who got the part. He looks like some 50+ leather man.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
@Ryan – I would argue that Aquaman, Zatanna, and Black Canary have all had what could be considered “costumes” (in addition to Green Arrow). Plus Doomsday and Metallo have hewed pretty close to their comic book versions. My main point was, the original reasoning behind “no tights, no flights” for the show has LONG since been rendered moot, yet they stubbornly refuse to make Clark “Superman” in any meaningful way.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Nothing can beat The Dark Knight Batman Suit I swear if it was not for the ears I would think they were having bale dress up as a black man
November 17th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
It looks awesome! I’m so happy they went with the comic book look even if people mock such things. (sidenote: And then they wonder why we don’t get Superman’s costume. Duh. If they’re freaking out over Hawkman, and whined over Dean Cain’s big “diaper” and Routh’s ballerina outfit, they couldn’t handle another go at Superman’s ridiculous get up.)
November 17th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Um… that doesn’t look like a photograph. That looks like painted concept art…
November 17th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Err…words escape me. I’m almost embarrassed for Shanks. Personally, I’m hoping the cinematography will compensate but it’s looking preeetty bad right about now.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
“Believe it or not,
I’m walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free-.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it’s just me….”
November 17th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Is that an actual photo? Because the whole thing looks like a conceptual painting to me.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
The pic isn’t great. Sadly, I think the Hawkman from Legends of the Super Heroes was more impressive. Or maybe even the Hawkman from the Snickers ad in the 90s (?). It’ll probably look better in motion on the show. I’m not slamming it, but the pic isn’t a good presentation.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
The Blue Meanie sez that eating Butterfingers for energy was cheating…and boy, was he pissed!
November 17th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I’m actually surprised they went all the way with a classic costume. Apart from him not being as muscular as everyone here is crying about, I’m quite impressed and hope it translates well to tv between now and then.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Or maybe it was Baby Ruth. Whatever.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I can’t believe people are okay with this. Context is everything, as someone said. It could be a flashback to the JSA time (complete with terrible costumes), or without any cgi/fx work put into it could be incomplete.
But just the photo alone, with nothing else… that’s got to be the worst superhero costume put to film while trying not to deliberately suck. Captain America with the rubber ears, you have been dethroned.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
seeing that proves that sadly hawk man is one of the characters who does not work in live action for the out fit looks cheesy and sad to say if they get around to hawkgirl she will look the same was hope doctor fate is better looking. at least the wall is in the episode
November 18th, 2009 at 2:56 am
Nobody looks good in the Superman costume. Nobody. Every single person to have ever worn the costume looked ridiculous. Just like the faithful Batman costume looks ridiculous, which is why no one has worn that since Adam West. Which is also why the Superman costume should never be used in any live action incarnation. That’s the truth. But some people can’t handle the truth.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:39 am
It looks sad… really sad. They should have gone with the Hawkworld look and got rid of those embarassing feather dusters
And Condorman rocks…
November 18th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Tiny man.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:20 am
It kind of reminds me of the hawkmen from the 1980 Flash Gordon movie. But then again, they could have based those costumes in the Flash Gordon movie from Hawkman.
So far, only Superman’s costume has translated well on the big and small screen (one could argue that Wonder Woman’s costume also translated very well on the TV show).
I think Marvel has an edge on how well their character’s costumes are tranlated to the big screen.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I’m pretty sure it looks better when they get finished doing all of the editing and camera work for the actual show. In all honesty the still shot does have flaws but it looks way better than anything I was expecting. Believe me. They are not going to let this thing air without making sure it looks good on camera. Especially with Geoff Johns involved. People should stop complaining and enjoy the fact that they are actually going to bring the JSA to live action at all. I want to see what they do with Stargirl and Dr. Fate
November 18th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I’ll reserve judgement until I see the episode. I’m glad they didn’t try to reinvent him for the show though, and all these guest appearances from the DCU are a treat.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I’m glad to see others think it looks more like a painting than an actual photo.
November 18th, 2009 at 11:06 am
“Nobody looks good in the Superman costume. Nobody. Every single person to have ever worn the costume looked ridiculous.”
Wow, I disagree. I think Superman’s outfit is simple enough that unless someone is wildly out of shape (as West was for Batman, no matter what he says) it looks pretty good on a real person. I still think the Returns costume tried to hard to “cool up” the outfit with the tesselated design, raised “S” logo, etc. Reeve and Reeves both looked good, So did Cain and Alyn.
The more outlandish an outfit starts to get (masks, wings, etc) the harder it is to make a real-world analogue look right. Flash looked bad (the decision to go with a foam muscle suit was a big part of the failure there) Wonder Woman looked great, it all depends on the outfit.
November 18th, 2009 at 11:26 am
does anyone else find that the wings seem a bit too small to support a person that size?
November 18th, 2009 at 11:53 am
…Okay Smallville producers… you got some reaction. Let us have a better look at the Hawkman costume and a peek at Dr. Fate and Star Girl. I like what I see. I like what I hear. I have enjoyed the series this year. Give us another peek.
PS. It is not too late to give us the Martian Manhunter in costume. You have the right attitude and the right actor. It is time!
November 19th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
“Nobody looks good in the Superman costume. Nobody. Every single person to have ever worn the costume looked ridiculous.”
Christopher Reeve says hello.
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