Sta.sh
What a self important sounding journal title that is...ugh..anyway I think it's time to streamline the journal since I've been doing a lot commissioning and a lot of people have swung by to see just what American Star is.
Some Background. I created American Star as a visual concept a few years ago as a byproduct of something else, and while I found her design striking I never really explored her as anything but a vague idea. When I started playing DC Universe online (nerdy! or is it geeky?) I created a female character and I thought it would be cool to replicate her in that world. Little did I know that, that would be the catalyst for me to start obsessing over how to make her more substantial to me (FYI I did start with a male character but never liked him as much).
American Star Basic Bio:
Alias: Danielle (Dani) Walker
Height: 5' 10"
Eye Color: Blue
Hair: Blond
Bust: C
Facial Feature: Small mole under the outside corner of left eye
Actor Likeness: Skyler Samuels [link]
Powers:
• Flight
• Energy Projection
• Heightened Endurance, Strength & Durability
Personality: Is fun and optimistic, but a touch reckless. Was raised with a strong morals and desires to help others but can suffer bouts of insecurity. I still struggling to understand her powers.
(I have more fleshed out in my head but I'm a worse writer than I am an artist so it's been slow process to get that translated. Also I had a lot of the same ideas as in the book Wearing the Cape [link] and I am struggling to reconcile that and the fact the author did an amazing job that I doubt I could come close to living up to)
Costume Designs/Reference:
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Alternate Costume:
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Her main costume is my design and is influenced by world war era patriotic imagery with an updated flair. Her alternate costume is based off of a design in the DC Universe Online game with a few tweaks. There is a reason why her costume and name are patriotic that will be included in her origin story.
The Full American Star Commission Gallery: [link]
Fan Art!:
Fan art is always ALWAYS appreciated!
I've been asked the following at various points:
Why is her costume impractical at best and degrading at worst? In my (biased) opinion I don't think her main costume is degrading or impractical (any more than other super heroes anyway). I deliberately tried to design it so that it covered most of her body. The midriff area was left bare for aesthetic reasons to set off the shield design integrated into the top of her costume not in an effort to be overtly sexy. The alternate costume is more fanservicey I will admit but it is intended to be a homage to the Power Girl unitard type costume. Maybe this is my fault but I give very little direction to my commission artists and generally like to let them use their creativity to draw her how they like. They pick which costume to draw or create their own. I never give directions such as "Giver her huge breasts" or "Maker sure her ass is in the shot". While I don't mind that type of thing when artists do it, I can understand why it would bother some. Ultimately though I believe in letting the artists follow their muse to be creative.
Blonde haired, blue eyed, white girl...stereotype much? I'll cop to it. I wanted the girl next door type of visual and to me that was the image in my head. I will say that if ever get around to getting her story told, I have plans to have the cast be diverse in an organic way, but I'm a product of a white homogeneous upbringing though, and that darn agent identity is hard to think around sometimes, but I try. Even if it isn't apparent yet.
Commission wishlist:
+ many more 
