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Description
This Challenge was to design a Golden Age Character (comics from the early 1930's to around 1950). Here's my submission:

Strype Banner leads the Glory Brigade, a special group of defenders who fight the Nazi Menace.

Costume & Inspiration:

Designing a new costume based on the American Flag isn’t easy, since so many have done it before. However, I decided to give it a go, since his name and group name are heavy allusions to the three most popular nicknames for the American Flag: Stars and Stripes, The Star-Spangled Banner, and Old Glory.

Obviously, Golden Age Costumes don’t normally have much in the way of pouches and gear! After examining the costumes of the day, I decided to keep it simple: just Strype, with no extraneous gear, not even a cape. Like many of the period, his flair is supposed to come from the costume itself. The flag ripples on his arms, boots, and the three stripes across his torso give added movement and excitement to his costume. The stars placements provide balance, both in color and in giving a flow that compliments the stripes. I decided to give him a mask: many Golden Age heroes wore masks, it carried the blue up to his head level, and finally, since his origin is a mystery, I figured he likes to keep his real identity secret. The neckline and the “shorts bodysuit” feel are a strong nod to the basis for many of the first superhero costumes (again, from this era): the circus strongman outfit.

Why did I go the "patriotic/flag/superhero" route? Because I think it epitomizes the era more than anything else. Patriotism in comics was overwhelming during the time period, and the plethora of war comics and stories of heroes who fight the evil of the enemy speaks for itself. I knew Golden Age comics had heroes like Captain America, Wonder Woman, Shazam!,etc. fighting in the war---once I researched it, I found there were many more, including The Human Shield, The Human Torch, and Airboy, all fighting the enemy.

I think Strype Banner and his Glory Brigade would’ve fit right in with the comics of the day.

I couldn’t resist doing a full faux-cover, instead of just a pose---I was having so much fun with it I couldn’t stop myself.

Origin:

Strype’s origin is shrouded in mystery; one day he appeared on the scene, saving an embattled unit on the German Front. Before long, others with special skills and abilities had joined his cause, and together they formed The Glory Brigade! These champions of Justice take the fight to the Germans and their allies on every front, from France to Africa, helping our brave soldiers in the fight against Ultimate Evil!

Strype knows a lot about tactics and strategy. He is a skilled hand-to-hand fighter with some acrobatic skills as well. His strength, dexterity, endurance, and damage resistance are higher than normal human. As a heroic fighter and patriotic symbol, Strype and his team inspire Americans and Allies, often arriving in the nick of time to save the battle and many Allied lives.

His team consists of:
Agent True-Blue, their Intelligence-gatherer, who ventures into the dark heart of the Nazi Regime to gain valuable information on Nazi Plans,
The Patrioteer, second in command and ace-pilot,
The Monument, ex-circus strongman and now a fighter for freedom,
Audey Weld, mechanic and inventor who keeps their gadgets and vehicles running smoothly,
And Liberty Belle Oakley, crack shot and granddaughter of famous marksman Annie Oakley.

Description
This Challenge was to design a Golden Age Character (comics from the early 1930's to around 1950). Here's my submission:

Strype Banner leads the Glory Brigade, a special group of defenders who fight the Nazi Menace.

Costume & Inspiration:

Designing a new costume based on the American Flag isn’t easy, since so many have done it before. However, I decided to give it a go, since his name and group name are heavy allusions to the three most popular nicknames for the American Flag: Stars and Stripes, The Star-Spangled Banner, and Old Glory.

Obviously, Golden Age Costumes don’t normally have much in the way of pouches and gear! After examining the costumes of the day, I decided to keep it simple: just Strype, with no extraneous gear, not even a cape. Like many of the period, his flair is supposed to come from the costume itself. The flag ripples on his arms, boots, and the three stripes across his torso give added movement and excitement to his costume. The stars placements provide balance, both in color and in giving a flow that compliments the stripes. I decided to give him a mask: many Golden Age heroes wore masks, it carried the blue up to his head level, and finally, since his origin is a mystery, I figured he likes to keep his real identity secret. The neckline and the “shorts bodysuit” feel are a strong nod to the basis for many of the first superhero costumes (again, from this era): the circus strongman outfit.

Why did I go the "patriotic/flag/superhero" route? Because I think it epitomizes the era more than anything else. Patriotism in comics was overwhelming during the time period, and the plethora of war comics and stories of heroes who fight the evil of the enemy speaks for itself. I knew Golden Age comics had heroes like Captain America, Wonder Woman, Shazam!,etc. fighting in the war---once I researched it, I found there were many more, including The Human Shield, The Human Torch, and Airboy, all fighting the enemy.

I think Strype Banner and his Glory Brigade would’ve fit right in with the comics of the day.

I couldn’t resist doing a full faux-cover, instead of just a pose---I was having so much fun with it I couldn’t stop myself.

Origin:

Strype’s origin is shrouded in mystery; one day he appeared on the scene, saving an embattled unit on the German Front. Before long, others with special skills and abilities had joined his cause, and together they formed The Glory Brigade! These champions of Justice take the fight to the Germans and their allies on every front, from France to Africa, helping our brave soldiers in the fight against Ultimate Evil!

Strype knows a lot about tactics and strategy. He is a skilled hand-to-hand fighter with some acrobatic skills as well. His strength, dexterity, endurance, and damage resistance are higher than normal human. As a heroic fighter and patriotic symbol, Strype and his team inspire Americans and Allies, often arriving in the nick of time to save the battle and many Allied lives.

His team consists of:
Agent True-Blue, their Intelligence-gatherer, who ventures into the dark heart of the Nazi Regime to gain valuable information on Nazi Plans,
The Patrioteer, second in command and ace-pilot,
The Monument, ex-circus strongman and now a fighter for freedom,
Audey Weld, mechanic and inventor who keeps their gadgets and vehicles running smoothly,
And Liberty Belle Oakley, crack shot and granddaughter of famous marksman Annie Oakley.