A group of comic artists including The Kitchen's Ming Doyle (artist site), Unbeatable Squirrel Girl's Erica Henderson (artist site), Howard the Duck's Joe Quinones, (artist site) and Where Is Jake Ellis's Jordan Gibson (artist site) recently came together to brainstorm and illustrate some of their favorite celebrities for #DCBend, a Tumblr-based fancast of the heroes and villains of the DCU with women in male roles and men in female roles.

After unanimously agreeing that Sigourney Weaver would be a fitting 'Rule 63' Bruce Wayne -- following a group viewing of Aliens no less -- the artists quickly started casting the likes of Helen Mirren, Jennifer Connelly, and Tilda Swinton as DC's finest. (Your correspondent was also at the screening, and -- full disclosure -- is dating Gibson.) The DCBend gallery has rapidly expanded with contributions from other artists, and portraits of David Bowie as Poison Ivy, Lupita Nyong'o as Martian Manhunter, and Bea Arthur as Slam Bradley.

While the concept of gender-swapped casting and fan art for comic movies is not a new one, DCBend has lead to some really inspired choices by some of the rising stars of comics. Check out the entire gallery, including some that are debuting for the first time on ComicsAlliance.

Sigourney Weaver as Bruce Wayne, by Ming Doyle

Winona Ryder as Dick Grayson, by Ming Doyle

Helen Mirren as Commissioner Gordon, by Jordan Gibson

Geena Davis as The Joker, by Ming Doyle

Tilda Swinton as Mister Freeze, by Erica Henderson

Tilda Swinton as Mister Freeze, by Jason Margos

Rachel Weisz as Two-Face, by Joe Quinones

David Bowie as Poison Ivy, by Erica Henderson

David Bowie, Iggy Pop, & Lou Reed as Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, & Catwoman, by Lauren Moran

Joan Chen as Ra's Al Ghul, by Erica Henderson

Rooney Mara as Nightwing, by Stephen Morrow

Aubrey Plaza as Damian Wayne, by Lauren Moran

Daniel Henney as Cassandra Cain, by Erica Henderson

Jennifer Connelly as Clark Kent, by Joe Quinones

Winona Ryder as Superboy, by Erica Henderson

Gillian Anderson as Lex Luthor, by Ming Doyle

Matt Bomer as Wonder Woman, by Lauren Moran

Charlize Theron as Aquaman, by Jordan Gibson

Jena Malone as The Flash, by Joe Quinones

Lupita Nyong'o as Martian Manhunter, by Lauren Moran

Ed Asner as Granny Goodness, by Erica Henderson

Janelle Monae as Music Meister, by Jordan Gibson

Gerard Way as Raven, by Lauren Moran

Nicki Minaj as The Creeper, by Jordan Gibson

Bea Arthur as Slam Bradley, by Joe Hunter