That is absolutely fantastic, Torog! Not at all how I envisioned WWII-era Spitfire, but definitely better than anything I could ever hope to produce!
Anyway, since we’re on the subject of WWII-era heroes, here’s another design – one I’m actually rather proud of.
Pierre Cortez ran away from home as a young boy in order to escape from his abusive father, an alcoholic who would regularly take out his frustrations on his young son. He eventually came across a traveling circus, and as the ringmaster took a liking to him he was allowed to stay, initially finding work cleaning the animal cages before progressing to circus acts himself.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, the circus was used as a front for the French Resistance, and Pierre, drawing inspiration from characters like the Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro as well as tales from the Free French SAS of the daring commando raids carried out by the costumed heroes of Britain and France, donned a costume in the colours of his country’s flag, styling himself as a symbol of French vengeance and striking fear into the hearts of occupying Nazi forces as Le Liberateur.
An Olympic-level gymnast, athlete and acrobat in the absolute peak of human condition, his skill was such that he was believed by many other costumed adventurers of the time to be a superhuman despite having no powers to speak of. He was a proficient marksman, skilled not only with firearms but also in the fields of archery and knife-throwing, and as well as being a formidable hand-to-hand combatant he was also a highly capable strategist and tactician, skilled in both interrogation and intimidation; as rumors of his exploits spread further even Axis superhumans were wary of him, and Adolf Hitler reportedly considered him a more credible threat than Spitfire.
After the war he saw no point in retaining his alter-ego, returning to his old job as a circus performer until his quiet retirement to the coast of Normandy. However, his legacy lives on in the 21st century as his granddaughter, Lucille, has not only taken up the mantle of Le Liberateur but has discovered that unlike Pierre, she possess superpowers.
