Episode 115 - Superhero Costumes [Discussion]

[conorkilpatrick]

The most obvious way to tell you're looking at a superhero is by the costume. This week iFanboy talks capes, masks, tights, leather, boots and pouches.

Click here for download info. (http://www.ifanboy.com/content/video/iFanboy_-_Episode__115_-_Superhero_Costumes)

When creating a superhero, there is perhaps no element more important than the garb they wear. In comics, the costume is the first thing people see, and the quickest way to make an impression. The creator's responsibility is to create a suit that's both eye-catching and reasonably functional looking. Done right, a design can last decades and become an essential part of the cultural fabric, like Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man have become. Others can become jokes that create laughter for years to come.

Josh, Ron, and Conor talk about the best and the worst costumes out there, as well as their favorites, and what goes into making a great superhero costume, and what didn't work about the worst.

[tad]

Dudes, you let me down. April Fools Day and it's a normal show?
It's not too late. Could you at least post the show upside down?


Forget it. I'll just flip my monitor.:(

[voodoomama]

favorite costume of mine which is porbably a nostalgic thing is Punk rock/mohawk Storm.
wost costume is Voodoo from the Wildcats first slave/stripper costume thingie. ALthough the knee pads provided hours of jokes.

[themaestrox]

The best joke EVER just got completely wasted and missed!

re: underwear in the outside
Connor: "When you're only wearing spandex, you need a couple layers, or else you can tell, Who is Who!"

pissed myself....but the other guys stopped paying attention! boo

[jaflanagan]

Dudes, you let me down. April Fools Day and it's a normal show?
It's not too late. Could you at least post the show upside down?


Forget it. I'll just flip my monitor.:(

So many other things to worry about....

[tad]

Ain't that the truth.

All kidding aside, it was a fun show on a topic so obvious it's rarely discussed.

Iron Man is an example of character whose costume changes repeatedly. I think the idea of multiple suits was introduced just to explain the changes. Going back to earliest days, as soon as Tony changed from the yellow armor to the Ditko-designed yellow and red, it seemed like no artist was happy with the status quo. Although the suit stayed the same, the helmet was constantly changing. There must have been discussions in the office because constantly changing the look of a character flies against common practice.

Another costume change worth a mention is the new Thor which has a really cool, practical feeling about it.

Spider-man definitely started out red and black. There were cool Ditko panels where he was in complete darkness and only the red parts of his costume were drawn. Highlghts always seem to take over black.

Another example is Daredevil. When Wally Wood redesigned the costume it was black with red highlights, almost suggest a velour material which doesn't seem practical for crimefighting. It was definitely a red costume though and the blacks quickly retreated.

One of the worst costumes of the Silver Age was Giant-man's change to a blue helmeted monstrosity. He was probably better off as Ant man.

http://www.hillbillyfunnies.com/tta67.JPG

[mrpopular]

Man there are so many superhero outfits..

Taskmaster is a great costume. but i'm gonna have to go with my boy Deadpool. very regular Red & black good costume. There are so many bad costumes I can't even begin to imagine. It probably doesn't count but I'm gonna say worst SuperHero Costumes would be the cast of 1997's Batman & Robin lol

[sn4tch]

Despite the fact that the X-men have switched costumes a million times. I would say there is an iconic look.

The costumes they wear in 90's cartoon.

Edit: Just to kind of say some more. The X-men were arguably most popular during that time. Not only that but most of the video games and materials from the time came in these versions. Add the fact that most games that come out now still have them in these outfits, I really think when most people think of the X-men those costumes come to mind as "THE" costumes.

[thenextchampion]

Favorite Costume?

Jay Garrick (Jeans, red T-shirt, and a silver helmet? Cant beat that!)

http://max-bro.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/jaygarrick1.jpg

Worst?

Dazzler (What the fuck were you thinking Marvel?)

http://ephemerist.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/dazzler.jpg

[thenextchampion]

Dont ask me why but I also love this costume. But I know it's regarded as a bad one, especially for Spider-Man.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/11233/257231-128961-spider-man_super.jpg

Shocked josh didnt mention Hawkeye's brilliant stage of his career:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/A-63.jpg

[novacool77]

Two of my favorites are the Black Panther (1970's) and Havok of the -men. The all time most ridiculous has to be The 1970's Luke Cage.

[sugarsickness]

EPPY THATCHER

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/e/eppy1.jpg
http://www.thewatchers.net/abp/gallery/grendel/eppy_thatcher.jpg

Probably the closest thing I read to superhero stuff... aside from the shitload of FANTASTIC FOUR i accumulated as a kid!

http://www.marvel.com/universe3zx/images/thumb/5/52/DrDoom_Head.jpg/440px-DrDoom_Head.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/kurg100/dr_doom.jpg

Two really remarkable costumes, i think.

[labor_days]

TNC, you are may be right about many things in life. However, your opinions on Dazzler's costume are wrong.

Also, the cold open of this episode. When Josh takes off his glasses. XD, my friends.

[boomergirl]

Favorite costumes have to be the rogues. Each of them so iconinc that its hard to pick a favorite. Least favorite though, I'm going to have to go with the orignial Captain Boomerrang. It's a bad design and it's hard to take him seriously. Thankfully when his son took the name he redesigned the costume. The new look screams bad ass and it pays respects to the class look.

[thenextchampion]

TNC, you are may be right about many things in life. However, your opinions on Dazzler's costume are wrong.

Also, the cold open of this episode. When Josh takes off his glasses. XD, my friends.

Oh come on it's so tacky!
I mean for the time I'm sure it looked great. But when we look back on it? Someone was obviously a huge fan of disco at the Marvel offices....

[labor_days]

Nah brah. You wrong. Dazzler never wore a bad costume. Even the rollerskates and chunky walkman are iconic.

[thenextchampion]

Nah brah. You wrong. Dazzler never wore a bad costume. Even the rollerskates and chunky walkman are iconic.

Okay the fact that you say she wore rollerskates make me totally right.

What is she a character for The Facts of Life?

[labor_days]

No. Dazzler is from that point in the 80s when white men still thought the kids were into disco; 1989.

[timothyobriant]

I really like The Spectre's costume. It's iconic, it's simple and it's bad ass. And keeping with DC's magic charaters I'd like to throw out Detective Chimp and The Phantom Stranger. Can you tell I like Day of Vengence alittle more then I should?

[comicbookchris]

I completely agree 100% with you guys that the Taskmaster's costume kicks ass! Though, his costume when drawn by the guys from Udon I think is even cooler, where instead of a cowl he has a hoodie. He appeared this way in his mini-series, in the latter issues of Deadpool and in Agent X. I put the pic on this post, what do you guys think?

http://www.postimage.org/PqTRE4r.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/)

[ryan79]

All this Taskmaster love...it's making me misty-eyed. I'll come out and admit that I cosplayed as him at last year's Dragon*Con and let me tell you...that was a bitch of a costume to put together.

comicBOOKchris, I'm sorry...but I can't agree with you. Hoodies are never a good choice for a costume. Just ask Ben Reilly.

I'm a fan of Electro's costume. He looks like he's wearing a banana peel for a mask but it still works.

I also like the simplicity of the Constrictor's costume.

[labor_days]

From a design and aesthetic perspective, classic Spider-Man is the most brilliant costume ever created. From the webbing, to the mask, color scheme- just everything. Its a masterpiece.

My personal favorite costumes right now are:

1. The current Liberty Belle

http://jeremeyes.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/7826_400x600.jpg

2. Nightwing

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/40/132363-5755-110293-1-nightwing_super.jpg

3. The Black Coat

http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/images/0605/blackcoat/coatwall.jpg

[timothyobriant]

I don't see why everbodies down on Ben Reilly, his costume was awesome. Hell it's pretty much the same as Spider-Man's just with a loose blue shirt over it. Even if Spider-Man's is better I can't see anything really eye catchingly bad about the Scarlet Spider's design. Seeing the two of them standing beside each other makes me thing of shirts vs. skins basketball games.

[comicbookchris]

Ouch, a Scarlet Spider reference?! Thats quite low! Alright fine...well since the guys we're talking about lame 90's costumes, I think I should mention a child of the 90's who had a menacing costume, but who turned out to be a super-lame character...Onslaught!

http://www.postimage.org/aVUOjb9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVUOjb9)

[thenextchampion]

Who is the Black Coat?

I think we all know who has the best costume ever....

DR. SPECTRO!!!

http://fullbodytransplant.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/drspectro.jpg

[cam-]

EPPY THATCHER

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/e/eppy1.jpg



Oh yeah! THough I prefer Christine...

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/s/spar1.jpg

Still both awesome.

[thenextchampion]

(I could do this for hours)
More bad ones:

Power Man
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Luke_Cage.jpg

Dr. Bong
http://wiw.org/~jess/wp-uploads/doctorbong.jpg

Clock King (this makes me ashamed that I am a comic fan)
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/thumb/6/6f/Clock_King_1.jpg/200px-Clock_King_1.jpg

[labor_days]

Gotta agree with Ron on Psycho Pirate, btw. Great concept expressed through his dress and personality.

[labor_days]

The Black Coat is America's first superspy! Set in New York City in the days before the Revolutionary War, The Black Coat fights against the British and forces of the occult to protect the burgeoning nation.

http://www.the-black-coat.com/


Athena Voltaire is pretty rocking as well.

[timothyobriant]

So what's the consensus on Conner Kent? I think it's a pretty bad ass costume but then again it isn't much of a costume.
http://ryanlb.com/images/dc/blogsize/superboy-infinitecrisis.jpg

[timothyobriant]

That picture reminds me, Robin has a pretty awesome outfit too. It's changed through the years like everyone else but it's always kept the same general look and feel. Red, green and yellow might be the best superhero colors since red, blue and yellow.

[labor_days]

Hate Conner's costume. Nothing interesting about it.

Love Wonder Girl III's new costume with the W going over the biceps when she flies. Super cool. But I also like her old goggles & sneakers 12 year old costume.

[labor_days]

Speaking of former Young Justice female members; Secret had a terrific costume. All white & beige with a cream colored over coat. Very stylish and slick.

[timothyobriant]

Hate Conner's costume. Nothing interesting about it.



I would have to disagree, the fact that it's just a t-shirt anyone could walk into a store and buy is pretty interesting in and of itself. It also seems like something a teenager would do. You know teenagers, think they're to cool for school and certainly too cool for spandex.

[thenextchampion]

Seriously? No one is gonna comment on this?

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/thumb/6/6f/Clock_King_1.jpg/200px-Clock_King_1.jpg

[timothyobriant]

I like it but that might be because it's a lunatic dressed up like the Spectre. I told you it was a good costume.

[sugarsickness]

Oh yeah! THough I prefer Christine...

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/s/spar1.jpg

Still both awesome.

Yeah, I really like her big collar :P The earlier costumes are all cool in their little variations. I also really love Prime, particularly when he has his spikes out
http://www.comics.nl/b2evolution/blogs/media/users/admin/grendel1.jpg

Simple, terrifying, badass.

[comicbookchris]

Seriously? No one is gonna comment on this?

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/thumb/6/6f/Clock_King_1.jpg/200px-Clock_King_1.jpg

Where does he see out of?!?!?! And what is his power?!?! This guy probably used Flava Flav as inspiration

[wrongemboyo]

Lobster Johnson

[comicbookchris]

Jimmy Da Mighty Lobster!

If you don't like this costume or character, then you truly don't have a soul.

http://www.postimage.org/Pq_l75i.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq_l75i)

[-3lake]

Favorite costume... RAI

http://www.kochcomics.com/images2/rai(1992valiant)1.jpg

[matthaber1]

my 2 favorite costumes of all time.


http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj226/god_matt/beardhunter.jpg


http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj226/god_matt/max1.png

[babnert]

My favorite costume right now is probably Moon Knight :

http://i40.tinypic.com/ib9q8y.jpg

One that isnt very practical but I always thought would be a total badass, combining two of my favorite heroes, Dark Claw :

http://i40.tinypic.com/16kuesz.jpg

[thenextchampion]

One that isnt very practical but I always thought would be a total badass, combining two of my favorite heroes, Dark Claw :

http://i40.tinypic.com/16kuesz.jpg

Darkclaw....ew....

How about Ra's-A-Pacolypse?

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/15317/333792-116658-ra-s-a-pocalypse_large.jpg

Or my personal favorite: Lobo the Duck

http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/lobduck1.jpg

[labor_days]

Darkclaw might be the epitome of everything bad in comics. Much more so than Jean Grey.

[jaflanagan]

Dark Claw looks as if a child drew the concept, and then a professional artist dressed it up. Like the car Homer designs on that one Simpsons episode.

[labor_days]

Yeah. Really could be something out of those paperdoll superhero games you find online.

To wit~

http://marvel.com/create_your_own_superhero

[labor_days]

Honestly believe this would be a top seller for Marvel.

http://i42.tinypic.com/11jyqgp.jpg

Dark Iron Klawhammer Phonei-X-treme

[cormano]

Greg Capullo's Spawn costume from the late 20's to 80's or so of the book will always be my favorite thing ever. Giant tattered cape, spikes everywhere, the recently explained "M" on the chest that didn't look like an "M" until it was explained… I loved it all!
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/spawn/32-1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/axel2sa/images2/Spawn.jpg
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq125/frankboothbucket/spawn_flames.jpg?t=1239077219

[thenextchampion]

Honestly believe this would be a top seller for Marvel.

http://i42.tinypic.com/11jyqgp.jpg

Dark Iron Klawhammer Phonei-X-treme

Ha ha ha ha.....Wow...that's just....amazing on so many levels

[babnert]

Honestly believe this would be a top seller for Marvel.

http://i42.tinypic.com/11jyqgp.jpg

Dark Iron Klawhammer Phonei-X-treme

Thats funny. Im surprised that wasn't the end result of Deadpool in wolverine: origins lol.