DC Comics Goes Steampunk In February With ‘New 52′ Variant Covers

In February 2014, DC Comics will be bringing the increasingly popular sci-fi subgenre, steampunk, to their New 52 lineup in the form of variant covers. The covers will span their most popular titles from Action Comics and Batman to Justice League and Wonder Woman. A collection of artists including Dave Johnson and Klaus Janson will be providing the covers.

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The covers will feature all the trademarks of steampunk, which is a sci-fi subgenre that is generally set in an alternate Victorian era where steam and clockwork have become the predominant technology. These covers feature it all – from dirigibles and steam-powered machines to cog-driven robots and brass button covered apparel. So, so many brass buttons!

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You can check out the full list of comics getting these variant covers and their artists below, along with previews of the covers.

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New 52 Steampunk Variant Covers:

Action Comics #28 variant by Dave Johnson
Aquaman #28 variant by Richard Horle
Batgirl #28 variant by J.G. Jones
Batman #28 variant by Howard Chaykin
Batwoman #28 variant by Dave Johnson
Batman / Superman #8 variant by Tommy Lee Edwards
Batman and Two-Face #28 variant by Matteo Scalera
Detective Comics #28 variant by Klaus Janson
Earth-2 #20 variant by Dan Panosian
Flash #28 variant by Howard Chaykin
Green Lantern: The New Guardians #28 variant by Klaus Janson
Green Lantern Corps #28 variant by Howard Chaykin
Justice League #28 variant by Dan Panosian
Justice League Dark #28 variant by Tommy Lee Edwards
Justice League of America #12 variant by Matteo Scalera
Nightwing #28 variant by Tommy Lee Edwards
Superman #28 variant by Dave Johnson
Superman / Wonder Woman #5 variant by Dan Panosian
Teen Titans #28 variant by Jason Pearson
Wonder Woman #28 variant by J.G. Jones
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Steampunk picks up steam

Steampunk style is influenced by the mad scientists, time travelers and gothic characters who populate the classic science-fiction novels of Jules Verne, Mary Shelley and H.G. Wells. It is a grungy, gear-churning vision of the future from those stuck in the Industrial Revolution.

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While steampunks have not yet crashed the local heritage celebration, scheduled for Oct. 10-12, they have inquired about the event, said Suzanne Parker, chairwoman of the festival that celebrates the early years of Durango, from 1881 to 1912.

Their interest validates an idea that has been kicked around for some time by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the Strater Hotel, Durango Discovery Museum, costume shops and others: Durango really needs to host a national steampunk convention.

“We think Durango is a great backdrop for it. It is so rich with history,” said Loreli Thayer, whose store, Gussied Up, sells vintage Victorian and steampunk outfits.

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Durango has a steam engine train, a restored power plant from 1893 that once ran on steam and a Victorian hotel. Even the restrooms at the new El Moro restaurant and saloon are in steampunk style with a high-tank toilet, artisan wallpaper and a mirror framed with 100-year-old pavers.

Durango’s Old West location could attract steampunks, too.

“The Wild Wild West” TV series from the 1960s and its 1999 movie adaptation with Will Smith and Kevin Kline are considered influences on the genre for the way they blended a historical setting with futuristic contraptions.

Thayer has seen how the steampunk craze has caught on nationally. In San Diego, she encountered steampunks at a celebration for the restoration of ships from the 1800s.

Not everybody might be into the literature, but people do love to dress up, she said. People seem to love the style.

David Schranck, general manager for Rail Events, which organizes activities around the Durango train, noted that steampunks typically are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s and willing to spend upwards of $500 on a costume.

“It’s amazing how people are decking out,” Schranck said.

“I think it’s a really great demographic for Durango, the railroad,” Schranck said. “We are definitely interested.”

Schranck said one idea that has been discussed is for the train to take steampunks to a midway point in town, such as the fish hatchery, where the steampunks could then parade down the Animas River Trail to Durango Discovery Museum.

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A steampunk party has been the museum’s major springtime fundraiser for the past two years, attracting about 150 people from around the Four Corners, said Ashley Hein, a publicist and event coordinator for the museum.

“I was surprised by how people got dressed up,” Hein said. “There’s almost a cult following.”

The museum will host another steampunk party in March.

While steampunk is catching on, Hein said she does “feel I have to explain it. We’re getting there. I think everybody’s explanation is a little different.”

As a genre of science fiction rooted in history, a steampunk convention in Durango faces an age-old problem: Is there a big enough venue to accommodate it?

Schranck thinks Durango would need meeting space for 1,000 people.

Durango just doesn’t have a place. Organizers are stuck on this point.

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“The discussion goes round and round,” Schranck said.

Local steampunks make do with their own parties.

Candice Rose Seay, a bartender at Moe’s, recently organized a steampunk party at the bar to celebrate her 24th birthday.

She wore goggles, tights, elbow-length gloves, a necklace with a firefly and a corset.

“It’s kind of like gonzo burlesque,” Seay said.

Seay figured steampunk would be good for a party theme because it’s “different, a little bit ahead of the curve” but still somewhat universal in its appeal.

Seeing women in corsets and tights, Matt Cranston, a man in the crowd at Moe’s, said he understood some of the attraction.

“I’m really ignorant about steampunk, but I think it’s sexy as hell.”

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Books foster a love for all things Steampunk

I've been focused on all things "steampunk" lately, so I thought I'd review some of the books I've found in the steampunk genre.

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What is steampunk? That's a great question, but hard to answer. The best description I've found was by Thomas Willeford in his book, "Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos." He explains that "Steampunk has graduated from a simple science fiction genre into a growing subculture. Its style is based on the clash of history and anachronism and infused with the demands and constraints of antiquated technology."

I stumbled into the steampunk world rather abruptly two months ago when a friend asked me to make a steampunk-themed outfit for her to wear at the opening of her upcoming art show, which will feature several steampunk and Victoriana inspired works.

I'd heard of steampunk before and had a vague idea of the look required, but in the interest of authenticity I immersed myself into the steadily growing world of all things steampunk. Fast forward to today: As I write this I am working on finishing the last of three steampunk gowns. Hopefully by the time this is published this last gown will be finished and ready to wear to my first Steampunk Ball. More likely, though, I am sewing the last bit of something somewhere.

So spare me a quick thought, and let's talk books.

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A big aspect of the steampunk world is making things. Whether it's creating clothes from scratch, altering modern items to have a steampunk aesthetic, or building fantastical steam-powered contraptions, creating the stuff you use, and wear is a point of pride for most steampunkers.

If you're interested in jewelry, wearing or making, you really must read "Steampunk Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings" by Jean Campbell. Every project is gorgeous, with the cleverly named Gearrings being a particular favorite. Sadly, I just can't start a new hobby right now, even though they all look eminently doable, so I just check it out occasionally to lust over all the pretty jewelry.

More within my scope of know-how is "Steampunk Your Wardrobe: Easy Projects to Add Victorian Flair to Everyday Fashions" by Calista Taylor. This clever madam shares nearly 20 ways to add steampunk flair to your wardrobe. Every project is simple and looks great. My only problem is deciding what to make next. I'm thinking the Laced-Edged Pantaloons could be just the thing for fall.

For the truly ambitious I heartily recommend "Steampunk gear, gadgets, and gizmos: a maker's guide to creating modern artifacts" by Thomas Willeford. Willeford has written a delightful guide that features instructions for making truly drool-worthy gear (All the other skyway men will be most envious of your new Tesla-pod Chrono-Static Insulating field Generator!). He has also included some excellent thoughts on what steampunk is.

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Whew! That's a lot of work making exciting and shiny things, right? Well, may I suggest for your mindless reading enjoyment the new graphic novel series "Soulless the Manga" by Gail Carriger?

This is the graphic novelization of a fiction series by the same author. I have yet to read the original books, but the manga is fantastic. This visually stunning, and fast-paced romp through a Victorian steampunk world includes vampires, airships, werewolves, ghosts and a brass octopus. Not to mention costumes that make my inner seamstress swoon with rapture.

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