How do you feel about capes? From a visual perspective I like them, but from a practical standpoint they just wouldn't work. They could get stuck in doors, stepped on, grabbed and pulled by a villain.
Superhero costumes...
- Thread starter Warped9
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How do you feel about capes? From a visual perspective I like them, but from a practical standpoint they just wouldn't work. They could get stuck in doors, stepped on, grabbed and pulled by a villain.
I don't do capes for the reasons expertly laid out in "The Incredibles."
Like I said about Wonder Woman, her costume is more symbol than practical. I don't know how it would stay on (amazonian magic?). I personally wouldn't know how to begin to redesign such an icon - but I'm pretty sure that black leather pants and leather jackets wouldn't be it or whatever DC has her wearing now. I can't afford comics so I dunno.
I do think that something like a tight fitting racing bike outfit trimmed in the appropriate colors with an eagle theme could work.
Like I said about Wonder Woman, her costume is more symbol than practical. I don't know how it would stay on (amazonian magic?). I personally wouldn't know how to begin to redesign such an icon - but I'm pretty sure that black leather pants and leather jackets wouldn't be it or whatever DC has her wearing now. I can't afford comics so I dunno.
I do think that something like a tight fitting racing bike outfit trimmed in the appropriate colors with an eagle theme could work.
I was thinking about that line in "The Incredibles." when I wrote my post.
But it brings up a point. Today comic book movies are going toward realism and I do like that trend. However, knowing this is all still fantasy where do you draw the line between practicality and retaining something iconic (like Wonder Woman's costume or a cape)?
It's easy. It's like a western, really. The "old west" never really existed much like it was depicted in the movies - certainly not for very long. But you stick with a lot of the same ideas because they work - sometimes you update them, make the motivations more complex. But there's no need to show all the gore when a guy is gunned down because that's not the genre. So, there's no need to a lot of "realism" in a comic book movie for the same reason. I mean, it works with Batman in a lot of ways - but trying to make other movies fit into the "gritty realism" isn't going to work.
Green Lantern should've been a LOT more Mos Eisley Space Port and a lot less of him sitting on his sofa, ya know?
Not everyone should be clad in black leather armor - that's not the genre. I think if heroes were really real, you'd see them along a spectrum of taste and style - like Hollywood celebrities. Some are really down to earth folk and some are like Lady Gaga so a heroes costume would reflect that.
Does that mean Hawkeye should wear a bright purple outfit in Avengers? Just how fabulous is he, exactly? ;-)
Green Lantern should've been a LOT more Mos Eisley Space Port and a lot less of him sitting on his sofa, ya know?
Not everyone should be clad in black leather armor - that's not the genre. I think if heroes were really real, you'd see them along a spectrum of taste and style - like Hollywood celebrities. Some are really down to earth folk and some are like Lady Gaga so a heroes costume would reflect that.
Does that mean Hawkeye should wear a bright purple outfit in Avengers? Just how fabulous is he, exactly? ;-)
That's a good point, but I pretty much think that the flying-in-from-nowhere would itself accomplish the same level of distraction if not more. And the outfit that Cavill is fairly attention-getting even if not in day-glo colors.
If Superman didn't want people to notice the details of his face, wouldn't he just wear a mask?
On the GL costume....I think I would've preferred something a little more balanced between the movie suit and the comics suit. As he said, the suit just felt "off" to me....and that may have been design or the execution of a CGI suit.
I think a real suit, textured a bit, would've helped sell the character a little more. The mask has always been a problem in terms of hiding GL's identity.
At least with the Byrne reboot of Superman, he basically posited that since Superman does not wear a mask, and is not limited to geography, and is known for helping world-wide, that people in the DCU wouldn't even assume he has a secret identity. That when he's not around *here* as Superman, that he's just off somewhere else on the planet saving people.
And speaking of Superman, I believe it was Bryan Singer who said something like "Superman doesn't need an updated costume...hell, he doesn't even need a costume. Unlike Batman, who needs more protection, Superman could fight crime naked and still win. The costume *is* purely show on someone as powerful as Superman."
And I agree.
While I don't have a problem with some of the super suits I've seen on film, this is one of those genre's where I've said this for years: the more realistic you try to make it, the more the flaws in the concept become apparent.
A realistic super universe wouldn't have people in costumes, they'd all be (once they're rounded up) working for the government in drab combat uniforms.
These characters were not created as a concept for middle aged men, but pre-teen children. And like it or not, the costume is a large part of why comic books and these characters survived. When they were doing the old "Flash" t.v. show, CBS did not want the Flash in costume. It was, I believe, Howard Chaykin who told them that the costume was important and without it, you've just got another guy like the Six Million Dollar Man running around.
i've liked alot of the superhero movie costumes, i agree, though, that Gobby was too plasticky looking and Venom was too obviously CG.
i know a lot of people don't like them, but i think both Daredevil and Elektra's costumes in Daredevil and Elektra's in Elektra are also good. i also liked the Fantastic 4's suits.
i know a lot of people don't like them, but i think both Daredevil and Elektra's costumes in Daredevil and Elektra's in Elektra are also good. i also liked the Fantastic 4's suits.
People don't trust those who wear a mask - Batman is a case in point. But no, the whole Superman outfit doesn't make sense except to say his costume is a homage to his alien heritage? I guess? Why does Superman wear a cape? Is there some lore?
As I have gotten older I find the Clark Kent/Superman disguise so implausible. I wished the original creators had put a mask on him.
I like was a previous poster said Grant Morrison said, that no one would presume that Superman even had a secret identity. No one would be looking for who "superman" really is because he's Superman, Kal-El from the planet Krypton.
But that concept was kind of overshadowed by the whole Lois Lane wanting to know who Superman is angle - which was more fun.
Of course, Superman thinks he's people so...he probably thinks he needs the secret identity, thus putting all Clark's friends and family in mortal danger should the secret ever be revealed. Kind of selfish really.
But that concept was kind of overshadowed by the whole Lois Lane wanting to know who Superman is angle - which was more fun.
Of course, Superman thinks he's people so...he probably thinks he needs the secret identity, thus putting all Clark's friends and family in mortal danger should the secret ever be revealed. Kind of selfish really.
Because capes look cool when leaping over buildings in a single bound.
The costume is based on the look of circus performers and SF/Action heros of the 20s and 30s. ( when Siegal and Shuster grew up)Thats what folks with fantastic abilities in fantastic situations wore back then. Even today acrobats, pro wrestlers and athletes wear similar oufits. Freedom of movement I guess. Which was apparently more important than protection or looking "silly"
Thats the reason the identity is secret. To protect those people. The only real drawback is Superman and Clark hang out with the same people!!!!!!
I think this again reveals his selfish sensibilities. He can't keep away from Lois in either identity. I presume it's something to do with his alien psychology. He's not human but thinks he is. Like you can train a chimp to use langugae but it only goes so far.
Cmdr_Blop
Lieutenant Commander
For the most part, I think superhero costumes should stay as true to their comic book origins as humanly possible. Superheroes in comics are pure escapism and fun, and the brightly-colored costumes they wear reflect that. That being said, here is my take on recent superhero costumes:
The Rami Spider-Man:
- I loved the look of the Rami Spidey-suit for two reasons... one, it was colorful, and two, I wasn't overdone... it was exactly what Spider-Man looks like, and nothing else. The new version I absolutely hate, because while it still may retain a degree of bright color, they went overboard, and gave it that stupid alligator bag puffy texture, which just looks beyond incredibly silly. If you had problems believing that Rami's Peter Parker could afford HIS suit, what makes you think this new Peter can afford or make something like the new suit?
The Nolan Batman:
- I love the look of the Nolan Batman for a couple reasons. One, it makes sense, in that we actually got to see Bruce Wayne building it out of the parts he gathered for the purpose in Batman Begins... so we know that it was something HE himself made, and that shows in the following films, because we can see the suit is ever-changing, as he refines it, and adds new equipment to it... his suit is a constant WIP, and to me, that gives it a degree of added realism. Also, unlike most of the "bright" superheroes, Batman IS supposed to actually be a darker kind of character, so I can buy the dark look as fitting in with the "mood" of the Batman universe.
The Lewis Wilson Batman:
- This is probably my favorite Batman costume, because it's the same style that Alex Ross copies in his wonderful depictions of the Dark Knight. I like that the colors are simple, and the look is simple... gray suit, black cape, cowl, and bat emblem. And like with the two examples above, I love how it actually looks like something homemade.
The Christopher Reeve Superman:
- The (big screen) original and still the absolute best, IMO. The suit was brightly colorful, bold, and unashamed. It said "This is Superman!" loud and proud. And Christopher Reeve had the perfect look for Superman, which only accentuated the costume, and brought everything together perfectly.
The Brandon Routh Superman:
- My second favorite Superman suit. Yes, the colors were muted a bit, but I could accept that as an homage to old comic books and the "1940's" kind of look. But the costume was still brightly colored, and very bold. I did not care for the silly "S" shapes textured onto the suit, but at least it was not as puffy-looking and as laughably overstated as the texture on the new suit. As with Reeve, Routh had the perfect Superman look, and even looked tons like Reeve, so he was the absolute best choice to carry on the Superman torch.
The Alex Ross Superman:
- If they were to change the look of both Superman and his suit, I was hoping we'd get an Alex Ross Superman. Alex Ross in his depiction of the Man of Steel captures perfectly the late 1950's image of a fatherly and wise authority figure, with his strong build, and confident eyes, yet with a touch of gray hair to denote a feeling of fatherly wisdom and geniality. The Alex Ross Superman is definitely one of my favorites.
Let me add that IMO, a GREAT choice for someone to play the Man of Steel would be Chris Noth. IMO, he totally has the right look. Totally.
The Rami Spider-Man:
- I loved the look of the Rami Spidey-suit for two reasons... one, it was colorful, and two, I wasn't overdone... it was exactly what Spider-Man looks like, and nothing else. The new version I absolutely hate, because while it still may retain a degree of bright color, they went overboard, and gave it that stupid alligator bag puffy texture, which just looks beyond incredibly silly. If you had problems believing that Rami's Peter Parker could afford HIS suit, what makes you think this new Peter can afford or make something like the new suit?
The Nolan Batman:
- I love the look of the Nolan Batman for a couple reasons. One, it makes sense, in that we actually got to see Bruce Wayne building it out of the parts he gathered for the purpose in Batman Begins... so we know that it was something HE himself made, and that shows in the following films, because we can see the suit is ever-changing, as he refines it, and adds new equipment to it... his suit is a constant WIP, and to me, that gives it a degree of added realism. Also, unlike most of the "bright" superheroes, Batman IS supposed to actually be a darker kind of character, so I can buy the dark look as fitting in with the "mood" of the Batman universe.
The Lewis Wilson Batman:
- This is probably my favorite Batman costume, because it's the same style that Alex Ross copies in his wonderful depictions of the Dark Knight. I like that the colors are simple, and the look is simple... gray suit, black cape, cowl, and bat emblem. And like with the two examples above, I love how it actually looks like something homemade.
The Christopher Reeve Superman:
- The (big screen) original and still the absolute best, IMO. The suit was brightly colorful, bold, and unashamed. It said "This is Superman!" loud and proud. And Christopher Reeve had the perfect look for Superman, which only accentuated the costume, and brought everything together perfectly.
The Brandon Routh Superman:
- My second favorite Superman suit. Yes, the colors were muted a bit, but I could accept that as an homage to old comic books and the "1940's" kind of look. But the costume was still brightly colored, and very bold. I did not care for the silly "S" shapes textured onto the suit, but at least it was not as puffy-looking and as laughably overstated as the texture on the new suit. As with Reeve, Routh had the perfect Superman look, and even looked tons like Reeve, so he was the absolute best choice to carry on the Superman torch.
The Alex Ross Superman:
- If they were to change the look of both Superman and his suit, I was hoping we'd get an Alex Ross Superman. Alex Ross in his depiction of the Man of Steel captures perfectly the late 1950's image of a fatherly and wise authority figure, with his strong build, and confident eyes, yet with a touch of gray hair to denote a feeling of fatherly wisdom and geniality. The Alex Ross Superman is definitely one of my favorites.
Let me add that IMO, a GREAT choice for someone to play the Man of Steel would be Chris Noth. IMO, he totally has the right look. Totally.
In a world were people fly and shoot lasers from their eyes I can buy that people can't put 2 and 2 together just fine.
I'm a big fan of the new textured suits myself. As much as I love the classic, old school superhero look, I just think these new ones look MUCH cooler and more sophisticated on screen.
As long as the basic design remains the same (as in the case of SR and the new Superman suit), I have no problem with all the extra underlying detail, or a slight change in color.
I don't need these things to look literally like something out of the comics.
As for the various costumes, the one I like LEAST is ironically from the best movie-- TDK. I just don't care for the new Batman suit at all. They made it so utilitarian, and toned down the "superhero" aspect so much, that it's now dull and boring to look at.
As for GL, while I liked the movie and thought the CG costume worked rather well (adding to the alienness of the concept), I do think a more practical uniform-style suit probably would have been best, and would have made this world a bit easier for audiences to relate to.
As long as the basic design remains the same (as in the case of SR and the new Superman suit), I have no problem with all the extra underlying detail, or a slight change in color.
I don't need these things to look literally like something out of the comics.
As for the various costumes, the one I like LEAST is ironically from the best movie-- TDK. I just don't care for the new Batman suit at all. They made it so utilitarian, and toned down the "superhero" aspect so much, that it's now dull and boring to look at.
As for GL, while I liked the movie and thought the CG costume worked rather well (adding to the alienness of the concept), I do think a more practical uniform-style suit probably would have been best, and would have made this world a bit easier for audiences to relate to.
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The "S" is the ONE thing I dislike about Ross's depiction of Superman. I utterly despise the gigantic "S" because it throws the entire outfit out of balance and looks amateurish IMO. Likewise the "Returns" "S" was too small.
From what we can see of the new suit, the "S" is sized about right.
The texturising of the "S" is something I'm fine with. Like anything, it could go either way. I think it's subtle enough that it doesn't detract from the overall design.
And about Supes identity: the world, Post-Crisis, did not assume he had one. Why would they? He does not wear a mask. The only thing that hurts the idea, is the way everything is posited.
Clark works at a newspaper, an information hub, so that he can quickly get word of the types of jobs that require his services as Superman. As a reporter, he is in a high profile job. He works closely, and in some cases WITH, an investigative reporter....whom he also has a friendly relationship with in his Superman identity.
Now Lois would not think "Hey, Clark is Superman's secret identity!" because she would not assume Superman has one. She would slowly start to make connections over time and the most shocking thing would be that Superman pretends to be a normal guy and walks among us.
But at no time would the public be thinking "Who is Superman's secret identity?" like they would a masked hero.
If we were talking days past, before the information age where we can get info about as fast as the newspaper guys, then it would've made more sense for Clark to hang around different people depending on which guise he's in.
Hell, if he wanted to work at the Planet and avoid detection, he should be in the one job where he can get info, and stay almost invisible: Janitor.
This is why I can't take any talk of "modernizing" Superman seriously because I don't see anything that's really "modernizing" the concept. Changing his costume, and making superficial changes is not "modernizing" him. Supes needs a serious overhaul and rethinking of what it's going to take to truly bring him up to date.
Having him continue to work, in what amounts to a blacksmiths shop well into the automotive era, isn't helping. I'd like to think that the Daily Planet will be more than just a newspaper company in their new universe....I guess we'll have to wait and see.
