# Steampunk Female Superheroes Michael Dooney Adds His Twist on the Traditional Superhero By Carly Foy | Published 2011-06-06 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michael-dooney References: [buzzfeed](http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleytalong/victorian-era-superheros-hpz) & [doonboy.deviantart](http://doonboy.deviantart.com/) Illustrator Michael Dooney has added a unique twist to the [traditional superhero](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fantastic-four-first-steps) with his [steampunk illustrations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alterego-the-official-comic). The four-part steampunk series done by Michael Dooney features Supergirl, The Black Cat, Lady Zatanna and oddly Princess Leia (who really is a hero in her own world). The illustrations are part of his collection for the Heroes convention. With each girl framed in the traditional oval shape, the pieces also feature their names elaborately sketched on them. Each hero's costume has a unique twist, such as Princess Leia, who dons a more Victorian-styled look to her slave outfit. Supergirl's ensemble is more modest in comparison to her usual scantily clad outfit. Michael Dooney's illustrations are done in ink and gray copic markers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 75% | Activity: 81% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Steampunk Superhero Illustrations:** The steampunk twist on traditional superheroes presents an opportunity for artists and illustrators to create their own unique characters and styles. - **Modest Superhero Attire:** The trend of creating superhero costumes that are more modest highlights an opportunity for clothing brands to create clothing lines that prioritize comfort and practicality for active wear. - **Victorian-styled Princess Leia:** The incorporation of Victorian fashion into Princess Leia's outfit presents an opportunity for fashion designers to create unconventional yet stylish clothing lines crossing over between the sci-fi and vintage fashion genres. ### Where This Applies - **Comic Book:** The comic book industry can take advantage of the steampunk trend by incorporating new series and characters that appeal to this unique aesthetic. - **Clothing:** The clothing industry can create clothing lines inspired by superhero costumes that prioritize comfort and practicality, with options that can be worn both in active and casual settings. - **Fashion Design:** Fashion designers can leverage the trend of combining different fashion genres such as sci-fi and vintage to create unconventional yet stylish clothing collections. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sci-Fi-Inspired Classical Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sen-donnan.md) - [Reimagined Beloved Character Comics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marvel-and-disney.md) - [AI-Generated Motorbike Helmets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coldstar-art.md) - [Classic Superhero-Inspired Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/krispy-kreme-hungry-for-heroes.md) - [Heroic Female Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-borinquena.md) - [Steampunk Aesthetic Espresso Makers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/steampunk-espresso-machine.md) - [Superhero-Themed DIY Art Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jim-lee-batman.md) - [Empowering Superhero-Inspired Shapewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inner-armour.md) - [Batman-Themed Kitchen Appliances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/batman-small-kitchen-appliance-design.md)