Which Superman costume is the best?

[Captaindemotion]

^ His IMDB page says he's 6'.

I agree about the eyebrows - facially, he looks more like a young James Bond type (as per the novels) but I think he totally captures the Superman qualities that are absent for you. Oh well, each to his own.

 

[The Lonely Man]

He's not tall at all (he seems sort of squat); we already know how James towers over him, but he's not much taller than Supergirl. Then, there's the eyebrows and his lack of the strong presence of clarity, honesty and power Reeve & Cavill had by the truckload.

As well as Cain, Welling and Routh.

Given how well most parts have been cast on the Dc shows I was gutted when I saw Hoechin as Superman.
And by that I mean, his performance as Superman, not the casting of the actor. I never though Grant Gustin could be a leading man in a Superhero show but he has done a terrific job.

 

[Mojochi]

1. George Reeves - Noticeable shoulder pads, & high-waisted granny panties
2. Christopher Reeve - Really does ring the truest to the comic, even if it looks slightly dated now
3. Dean Cain - Too much sheen, & the S emblem is plain silly looking
4. Brandon Routh - ill-proportioned. Low belt-line + shrunken emblem makes him look gangly
5. Henry Cavill - Too dark & plastic looking, like a life-sized action figure, & the S is almost unrecognizable
6. Tyler Hoechlin - Cape clasps look like epaulettes & WTF fabric is it made from, a car seat cover?
7. Kirk Alyn - Granny panties again, but otherwise not bad
8. Tom Welling - What we see of it looks like Routh's

 

[Kahless the Unforgettable]

Since the original question didn't specific live-action, here's my top three favorite ones.

#1. Injustice: Gods Among Us. Nice blend of traditional style, modern aesthetics, and Kryptonian-feeling body armor/military uniform. I'd be totally okay with the body armor aspects being stripped away, as it is a bit "huh?" inducing given his powers.

#2. Anything by Alex Ross. Not only because I'm a huge fanboy, but because it covers everything I think should be important in a good Superman movie or television series. Namely with the show being a period piece in the early to mid-20th century where the suit is somewhat less silly-looking than it is to our modern eyes because of that classic strongman motif (and the body to go with it, which is important; so tired of the relative waifs we get in the movies) that just isn't well known in popular culture anymore. It also lends Superman to being an older character in the modern time period, where his suit is acceptable solely because of the man wearing it despite the aforementioned sillyness of it. It also has the large shield on it, which I just greatly prefer over those tiny ones. Brandon Routh... my God...

#3. Ultraman's Costume. I just think it looks slick, though maybe drop the bracers.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

#1. Injustice: Gods Among Us. Nice blend of traditional style, modern aesthetics, and Kryptonian-feeling body armor/military uniform. I'd be totally okay with the body armor aspects being stripped away, as it is a bit "huh?" inducing given his powers.

I agree 100% with Kahless on this one. A live action version of the Injustice (Insurgency) suit would be perfect. It is a nice compromise between simple spandex and body armor and has some nice detailing. I really like the way the cape connects with the raised S-shield (reminiscent of 1993 Eradicator) and the gold belt is a lot better than the red ones.

 

[JacksonArcher]

I think if you did a mix between Henry Cavill's and Tyler Hoechlin's you'd have the perfect modernized Superman costume. I love the bodysuit, boots and cape of Cavill's Superman but I love Hoechlin's S-symbol and belt. The belt really helps break up the blue, something Cavill's costume needs.

 

[Trevacious]

I've long wondered why TV's Superboy was the only one to wear the official emblem design on his chest, the version printed on most of the super-merchandise over the past 40-plus years.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I've long wondered why TV's Superboy was the only one to wear the official emblem design on his chest, the version printed on most of the super-merchandise over the past 40-plus years.

30 - 40+ years ago, DC had a few "S" shields licensed: the one used for products / the Superboy syndicated series above and--

Top row: a 1970s Gold Key Comics ad for patches--note the "S" shield's Silver Age design. Topps' card for Superman the Movie (1978) and a wax package for Superman II (1980).

Bottom row: a 1970's patch with a mix of the 1948 Krik Alyn serial / early 60s design. The rear jacket for Superman: From the Thirties to the Seventies hardback book sports a Silver Age-style shield.

So, even up to the early 1980s, there were a few shields that were all official for licensing purposes.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

I've long wondered why TV's Superboy was the only one to wear the official emblem design on his chest, the version printed on most of the super-merchandise over the past 40-plus years.

Superboy's costume was essentially Reeve's costume but with the new S-shield used by DC in the late '80s and the whole '90s. Speaking of which, I prefer Gerard Christopher's costume (and portrayal) over John Haymes Newton's. Larger S-shield, smaller red underwear…

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

1. Dean Cain - Too much sheen, & the S emblem is plain silly looking

Cain's costume looked pretty good in the pilot with an S-shield that was closer to the standard comic one. I don't know why they changed it for the series.

 

[urbandefault]

Cain's costume went through a few changes before they settled on one. Presumably, Ma Kent was still working on it.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

I want a bright shiny plasticy version of this! Minus the red briefs.

P.S.: I'm only half-joking.

 

[urbandefault]

I want a bright shiny plasticy version of this! Minus the red briefs.

P.S.: I'm only half-joking.

That half is scary. Stop it.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

That half is scary. Stop it.

Hideous...in every way you can imagine.

 

[The Lonely Man]

Not just the costume, but his hair and mannerisms changed dramatically after the pilot, it bothered me then and it still bothers me now, 20 years later.
He was perfect in the pilot, I've no idea why someone decided to tell him to 'camp it up' as Superman from then on in but it really put a dampener on the show from my point of view.

 

[DBR]

I wasn't a fan of Cavill's suit when it was revealed, but it's grown on me, and I think it's my fav. It's fresh, not cheesy (relative to other superheroes who can lift cars and shoot lasers out of their eyes ) and is just so much more modern.

 

[Mike Farley]

Cavill's suit looks much better in candid set shots where you can see it's true colors.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

Justice League and Supergirl costumes

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

Justice League and Supergirl costumes

How is it that Tyler Hoechlin's Superman looks so much better in candid paparazzi pics than that staged promotional photo??? It's like they wanted people to hate him on purpose!

Great work on that manip though M.A.C.O.!

 

[Tosk]

I thought the same thing. The official promo pix looked like garbage. Weird angle? Crummy airbrushing? Whatever it is, they really set him up for hate early on. I was bummed until I saw the "shirt rip" pap pics.