The Clothes Make the Man of Tomorrow: Best Costumes

[paper]

I'm not sure if we've done this before, but if we have it's been a while.

What are your favorite superhero costumes or designs, past or present? All mediums included. Comics, animated or live action incarnations.

What are your least favorite costumes or designs?

[fred]

least favorite costumes: Cable and Cable and well Cable
most favorite costumes: Batman, Daredevil, Captain America

[paper]

I love the Daredevil costume, especially how it's been drawn lately. It's simple and reasonable, which is key for the kind of book it's in.

Least favorite...probably Cyborg. He really, really needs an update.

[fred]

Cyborg's costume isn't so great. At least he doesn't have 99 Pockets though.

[senoj1]

least favorite costumes: Hulk - i hate those purple pants
most favorite costumes: Batman, Wolverine, Thor

[tonystark]

I really liked all of the alternate costumes from Secret War (except for Spider-man)...

[fred]

the purple pants are bizarre.

[paper]

For those who've chosen characters like Batman or Wolverine, which version of the costume do you like best?

Short ear Batman? Pointy ear Batman?

Brown and yellow Wolverine? Blue and yellow Wolverine?

[tonystark]

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/2720/secretwar0330vn5.th.jpg (http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=secretwar0330vn5.jpg)
(click image for larger view)

I know I'm in the minority, but I think that Cap's Secret War costume is way better than his regular one...

[senoj1]

Hush Batman, Blue and Yellow Wolvey, and the new JMS Thor looks awesome!
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7781/17228780nr9.th.jpg (http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?image=17228780nr9.jpg) http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/85/962177123774427efebz3.th.jpg (http://img459.imageshack.us/my.php?image=962177123774427efebz3.jpg) http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/999/thor20070608034803616vl3.th.jpg (http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thor20070608034803616vl3.jpg)

[luthor]

Favorites: Jim Aparo's Batman, Justice Lord Superman(hrm...I wonder where the idea for this thread came from:-p), and Spider-man
Leasts: Anything designed by Rob Liefield (http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/ONSLAUGHT002_cov.jpg)

[jgg0610]

Least favorite: Mr. Terrific. That jacket is just ridiculous
Most favorite: The Goon, simple and to the point.

[s-sanchez]

Call me crazy but I preferred Superboys original custome (conner kent)

Actually, not the cotume itself but his general look. I liked that he had supermans spit curl but with a fade.

I liked the red cuffed gloves

and I definitely liked the leather jacket with the Yellow "S-Shield"

Every costume he had after that sucked, IMO. Especially the last oen which just screamed "we're not even gonna try anymore!"

Also Impulse's costume is a fave, I'm a sucker for big yellow goggles. :p
http://members.aol.com/whoclix/impulse.gif
http://www.dcworld.it/public%5CDCWorld%5CPersonaggi%5CImpulse.jpg

[kal]

For the ladies, Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel have two fantastic costume designs. Jim Lee's Catwoman, as well.

Daredevil, Iron Fist (really), and Green Lantern (Hal) make up my favorite male costumes.

My favorite costume design ever?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/29/Rocketeer_Adventure_Magazine_1.jpg/250px-Rocketeer_Adventure_Magazine_1.jpg

[big-doze]

Impulse, The Rocketeer and the new Thor outfit are all awesome. Excluding those...

Best Dressed Male: Jack in the Box (Astro City)
Runners-Up: Black Costume Spidey, Justice, Superman, Robin (OYL)

Worst Dressed Male: Peter David era Aquaman (what is up with that metal sleeve he had on??)
Runners-Up: Quicksilver with disco collar, any Iron Man armor besides Heroes Return era, Speedo Namor (Jesus, man, cover up!), Kid Flash II

Best Dressed Female: Donna Troy as Wonder Woman
Runners-Up: Songbird, White T-Shirt Supergirl, Sharon Carter, Bat-Woman (52)

Worst Dressed Female: Post Crisis Kara Zor-El Supergirl
Runners-Up: Witchblade, 1/2 of the Wasp's outfits, Vixen, Mockingbird

[mikegraham6]

I love Spider-man's costume, both the red and blue and the black, but i prefer the black. it's so badass and feels very spider like. the best part of spidey's costume is the mask, i love masks that cover the entire face. i remember hearing an interview with Stan Lee about the mask and how it added to the appeal of the character, since every could relate to him. He could be anyone underneath that mask, black, white, asian, whatever.
least favorite is probably the Sentry. Why so much yellow???? doesn't it imply that he's a coward? plus im not a fan of capes outside the DC universe. i feel they don't work in the Marvel U for some reason. Plus he needs to cut his hair and put on a goddamn mask.... damn hippy!;)

EDIT: i also Really love the new Starman design, it's so pretty, but i guess it falls into the whole donna troy costume thing, but he is rocking a full face mask so he gets extra points.

[iSteve]

I've always loved the Golden Age superheroes costumes. I especially loved the Sandman (DC). I always thought he looked cool in his gas mask, cape, and fedora.

http://images.wikia.com/marvel_dc/images/3/35/Sandman_-_Wes_Dodds_1.JPG

[mikegraham6]

I've always loved the Golden Age superheroes costumes. I especially loved the Sandman (DC). I always thought he looked cool in his gas mask, cape, and fedora.

http://images.wikia.com/marvel_dc/images/3/35/Sandman_-_Wes_Dodds_1.JPG

too formal for my liking, he looks like he just left a business meeting to go fight crime

[cam-]

Plus Sandman Mystery Theatre by Matt Wagner was great.

[labor_days]

I always really dug that old school Iron Man (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/2000/1455/17773-iron-man_400.jpg) suit. So impractical. So awesome. I liked Cap's Secret War outfit a heck of a lot too. Luke Cage's old Power Man (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/2000/1450/94326-luke-cage_400.jpg) suit was a travesty of good taste. Plain clothes work for him much better (natch).

Love Donna Troy old/new again starfield (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/5000/4913/7795-donna-troy_400.jpg) patterned outfit and especially her amazonian Wonder Woman (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/5000/4913/188961-donna-troy_400.jpg) suit. Cassie is pretty awesome too. Goofy goggles & jeans if we're talking Young Justice (http://carolastrickland.com/cost.jan02.200x325.gif) Casssie or red/black tee & jeans (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/11000/10885/193593-cassie-sandsmark_400.jpg) if we're talking current era Cassie. Wonder Girl(s) rule.

Supergirl <3. Both the classic (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/3000/2351/186272-supergirl_400.jpg) red/blue and late era Peter David/Bruce Timm, white tee & blue skirt (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/3000/2351/131736-supergirl_400.jpg) SG.

Robin's (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/2000/1691/169553-nightwing_400.jpg) (Dick) old chain-mail panties and bright yellow/red suit always left me scratching my head. I know he was an acrobat but chain-mail panties and footies? Seriously.

I also hate Scarlet Witch's (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/2000/1466/186799-scarlet-witch_400.jpg) stupid helmet/tiara thing. And Stargirl's (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/5000/4897/194863-stargirl_400.jpg) chunky boots piss me off for no real reason. And Aquaman, ugh. Hate them all.

[iSteve]

Another Golden Age favorite of mine is the Green Lantern...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/75/Alan_scott-ross.jpg

[iSteve]

Also, for my money, Captain Marvel has a cool uniform. Love the lightening bolt.

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/5969/captainmarveltn1.jpg

[cam-]

SPeaking of lightning bolts I love the Madman costume.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ad/Madman-adventures.jpg

[labor_days]

You know, I always hated Wolverine's helmet. Why did he have such ridiculous wings on his helm? Was it to accommodate his hair? Bleh.

I loved all the Astonishing X-men redesigns though. When Cyclops and the team step onto the hangar in the old/new Astonishing costumes for the first time, I nearly cheered. That's not to say I didn't care for the Quietly New X-men look but y'know, superheroes.

[labor_days]

Flipping through Mighty Avengers this afternoon got me thinking just how much I like Ms. Marvel's costume. The black/gold/red color scheme, the flowing sash, thigh high boots, gloves pass the elbow and whited-out domino mask- I always found her look visually striking. She looks genuinely powerful and seems to "pop" (no pun intended) on the page to my eyes.

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/22000/21561/14169-ms-marvel_400.jpg

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/22000/21561/5220-ms-marvel_400.jpg

Mary Marvel's new look is quite awesome as well.

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/3000/2356/124704-mary-marvel_400.jpg

[mastap]

Least favorite: Mr. Terrific. That jacket is just ridiculous
Most favorite: The Goon, simple and to the point.

to me that jacket is the pinacle of comics greatness

[labor_days]

I like Mr. Terrific's costume also. The homage/legacy associated with his outfit is pretty cool. And it's actually functional, like Animal Man's leather jacket. Where are you supposed to put your keys, damnit? Not everyone lives in the fortress of solitude or batcave, y'know...

[kwok_talk]

I like Mr. Terrific's costume also. The homage/legacy associated with his outfit is pretty cool. And it's actually functional, like Animal Man's leather jacket. Where are you supposed to put your keys, damnit? Not everyone lives in the fortress of solitude or batcave, y'know...

Would that make Cable’s costume the most practical costume out there? ;)

[labor_days]

Would that make Cable’s costume the most practical costume out there? ;)

No. Because nobody needs that many pockets.

[fred]

what if they're refrigerated? maybe he keeps hot pockets in them.

[marshallg]

Best: Green Lanterns especially Hal Jordan, current Iron Man
Worst: Robin-any version

[labor_days]

As long as Robin is wearing pants, I don't mind the costume too much.

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/10000/9290/181678-tim-drake_400.jpg

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/10000/9290/68954-tim-drake_400.jpg



(IMAGES COURTESY OF WWW.COMICVINE.COM.)

[alexg]

I kinda like the Tim Drake Robin costume, the cape works.

[darron]

I can't believe The Spirit (http://www.newsarama.com/SDCC05/DC/Spirit/SPIRIT1.jpg) hasn't been mentioned yet. Probably one of the most simplistic character designs out there, but I absolutely love it.

[jgg0610]

Sorry to disagree, but the Mr. Terrific jacket blows. If you have to state your intentions for fair play on your arm, you're not doing a good job as a superhero.

[fred]

shit. I always thought that it said foreplay. well, fair play is just stupid.

[jgg0610]

shit. I always thought that it said foreplay. well, fair play is just stupid.
Foreplay would be much better. It's so boy scout like, I'm surprised he doesn't have to fend off supes on a regular basis.

[fred]

Foreplay would be much better. It's so boy scout like, I'm surprised he doesn't have to fend off supes on a regular basis.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/fredhosley/superpriest.gif

[esophagus]

Best:

I think Sand looks pretty slick in his more recent incarnations. He used to look far to formal, but he's been losing quite a bit of that.

As much as I absolutely hated him for it, Spidermans Iron Man suit was a well designed costume.

Adrianna Tomaz as Isis in 52. I liked the feel of the costume, and the way as it stepped up from the rest of the Marvel family, but kept the same old feel. I also liked the way Black Adam looked throughtout the series.

Batwoman, another 52 character, also looked amazing. Alex Ross did a fantastic job.

All of the Runaways. I don't know why, I just like the feel of it. Pure teen angst.

Worst:

Mr. Terrific for obvious reasons.

Superboy in his black "S" shirt and jeans. I know they wanted to show he was a regular teenage boy, but really it was just throwing in the towel.

Cable, he's just to bulky and ugly.

Mister Miracle. He looks like a tacky mexican wrestler.

[benjy77]

I have always liked Bishop's original costume from when he first appeared in the early '90s.

The worst has got to be the costume worn by superhero Ralph Hinkley in The Greatest American Hero.

But I still love that show.

[labor_days]

Adrianna Tomaz as Isis in 52. I liked the feel of the costume, and the way as it stepped up from the rest of the Marvel family, but kept the same old feel. I also liked the way Black Adam looked throughtout the series.

Batwoman, another 52 character, also looked amazing. Alex Ross did a fantastic job.

All of the Runaways. I don't know why, I just like the feel of it. Pure teen angst.

I'll second all of these.

Indeed, Batwoman (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/10000/9052/118720-batwoman_400.jpg) & Isis (http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/11000/10915/107877-isis_400.jpg) looked great in 52.

The Runaways is an especially good pick. While not a costume, per se, Karolina's day-glo/rainbow/light has always seemed appropriate to her character and quite beautiful to look at. Chase and Get ruled too. But Molly's silly hat was a stroke of genius.

For some reason, I hate Cyclone's socks in JSA. Yeah, I know Gert had a similar stripped sock look for a while but I don't know...Cyclone's costume is so damn all over the place. It's distracting to me not the super-villians.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/MaxineJSA3.jpg

[maltese-falcon]

Captain America, I think, is my favorite costume ever. Other than that, The Spirit has an awesome getup. The Question also has a cool style, I mean, come on, his clothes change colors. Also, Captain Marvel's (DC) costume is awesome. Gotta love that cape. Black Adam's is equally cool.

[mister-s]

WWII era Cap really is the best - with the helmet and goggles.
Green Arrow is Robin Hood classic.
Daredevil is note perfect for the character etc.

Mr. Teriffic wins for the mask. The jacket is icing on the cake.

[kahunablair]

I have a soft spot for the pretty much every iteration of Green Lantern's costumes. The only one that I HATE is the weird Bondage/spiky hair version Kyle Rayner had towards the end.

I'm also a huge fan of the costumer design for the entire Kingdom Come line. Those costumes are all pretty much hits for me.

[esophagus]

WWII era Cap really is the best - with the helmet and goggles.Did they bring this back in the ultimates, in a flashback or something? I seem to recall it, and I remember I loved it. It was in something I read anyways.

[kahunablair]

The Ultimate's Cap was an awesome costume. Great mix of utility and symbolism.

[darron]

I have a soft spot for the pretty much every iteration of Green Lantern's costumes. The only one that I HATE is the weird Bondage/spiky hair version Kyle Rayner had towards the end.

Good call. I had stopped reading comics long before Rayner changed to that costume, but I never liked it. Why did he change, by the way?

[esophagus]

Is that the one he used after he became Ion?

[kahunablair]

It was this one.
http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/5/29_20050927083005_char.jpg

Apparently he got into some kinky crap there for a while. I've just started to get back into GL reading, but I'm pretty sure this was Pre-Ion.

[darron]

http://www.hillcity-comics.com/poster_misc/green_lantern_kyle.jpg

Yea, pretty sure that's pre-Ion. I never got into that look. The Ion suit is ok, not my favorite, but it works.

[jaflanagan]

Big fan:

http://rmhs.dist214.k12.il.us/library/images/GN/GNstarmanv9.jpg

Also a huge fan of Thor, especially when he was in beardy stage.

http://www.immortalthor.net/thor-387.jpg

I don't know why, because it's awful looking, but I've always loved Hawkeye, but I've also seen it drawn badly. I've always been a huge fan of the boots. On him and Cap.

http://images.wikia.com/marveldatabase/images/thumb/9/90/Hawkeye_005cov.jpg/300px-Hawkeye_005cov.jpg

Then, for some reason, I've always loved Taskmaster. It's my most 90's-ish costume.

http://www.geocities.com/marvel_villains/taskmaster/taskmaster1.jpg

[jaflanagan]

And finally, I'm not sure it can be beat. With the hood.

http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/images/2004/dec15/longbowhunters.jpg

[paper]

I do like the GA hood, but I also like the hat a lot. I know I shouldn't, but I do.

[labor_days]

Green Arrow's "Robin Hood" cap is all kinds of awesome. The hood, eh.

[horatio616]

I know I'm in the minority, but I think that Cap's Secret War costume is way better than his regular one...

Cap's Ultimate costume with the helmet is his best.

[horatio616]

This is turning into a debate about Mr. Terrific's costume. I think it's... terrific!

[labor_days]

One way of looking at Mr. Terrific's outfit is that it takes a lot of balls to put a motto like "Fair Play" on your sleeve (and try to live up to that) considering his life before taking up the "Mr. Terrific" mantle.

To wit~
The 3rd smartest man alive and an Olympic level athlete, Mr. Terrific embodies his Golden Age predecessors slogan of "Fair Play". Michael Holt is currently the White King of checkmate.

A bittersweet life

Michael Holt is gifted. Though things for him have never been fair. A child prodigy, he has an astronomical IQ and is a natural athlete. On the other hand, his older brother Jeffrey was born retarded and died at the age of 15. Michael went on to acquire numerous doctorates and degrees as well as becoming an Olympic Decathlete. Even these accomplishments garnering him a small fortune, his greatest moment though was when he married his wife Paula. She gave him a purpose for living. And then she died in a car accident. He lost her and their unborn child.
Fair Play

Considering suicide, Michael contemplated his life. He was than approached by the Spectre. The Spirit of Divine Vengeance told Michael Holt about a man named Terry Sloane, the Golden Age Mr. Terrific. Inspired by Terry's similar natural gifts and origin, Terry decided to take up his mantle. He realized that though he was a prodigy, it was Paula and Jeffrey who were his role models. In their memory he turned his anger and sadness into resolve. If life wasn't fair, he'd make it fair.

I dig his back story and his outfit is top notch in my book.

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/20000/19179/76249-mr-terrific_400.jpg[/img]
http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/20000/19179/5237-mr-terrific_400.jpg
http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/20000/19179/152104-mr-terrific_400.jpg

(Pretend he's not checking out Power Girl's chest for a moment...)


*IMAGES COURTEY OF WWW.COMICVINE.COM

[esophagus]

I really love his mask, but other than that, he looks like an extra in a Micheal Jackson video.

[devil]

Best costume ever:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/enforcer1750/reilly3.jpg

[labor_days]

Kitty Pryde has had a string of terrible costume choices.

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/4000/3548/53762-kitty-pryde_400.jpg
http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/4000/3548/169668-kitty-pryde_400.jpg
http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/4000/3548/95023-kitty-pryde_400.jpg
http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/4000/3548/89949-kitty-pryde_400.jpg

Take your pick as to which you hate most. I can't pick just one.


(IMAGES COURTESY OF WWW.COMICVINE.COM)

[kwok_talk]

Didn't she also have a rollerskate costume for a short period?

What about her more recent costume where she had the single Wolverine claw?

[labor_days]

Didn't she also have a rollerskate costume for a short period?
I think that was Dazzler.

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/item/2000/1498/162482-dazzler_400.jpg

edit: also, for the record, Dazzler's costumes rule. All of them.

[big-doze]

http://www.hillcity-comics.com/poster_misc/green_lantern_kyle.jpg

Yea, pretty sure that's pre-Ion. I never got into that look. The Ion suit is ok, not my favorite, but it works.

I agree, this outfit never clicked (I severely missed the big honkin' face-mask), but the altered logo he sports is pretty sweet. Wouldn't mind a T-shirt of that.

I share my shame in loving Hawkeye's outfit. Maybe it's the character, maybe it takes certain artists, but I'll admit to loving a purple Wolverine.

Also, Mr. Terrific? Badass.

[paper]

I like the recent Catwoman costume with the goggles. For my money, those Adam Hughes covers of her are the definitive image of a character that has gone through countless looks.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/polcapn/Catwoman46.jpg

[kahunablair]

I'm going to have to agree with the Catwoman costume. I'm apparently a fan of goggles though, because I like Impulse's costume too.

[esophagus]

Catwoman in Hush was my favorite. I think everyone looked good in Hush though.

[labor_days]

I do love me some goggles as well. Odd, that goggles seem so badass in comics but oh so not in reality. Cassie w/ goggles & sneaks circa Young Justice rocked my world. Thoroughly.

[conorkilpatrick]

Thumbs up to both Mr. Terrific and hooded Green Arrow.