The ONE Problem With Superhero Costumes

Whether you're a fan of Marvel or DC, there is one growing problem with our Superhero Friends, their costumes. Superhero costumes have all become the same since our heroes hit the big screen. But how did Marvel and DC get here?

#SuperheroCostumes #Marvel #Nerdstalgic

Writer - Dave Baker
Editor - Dave Sadvari

[JP-sekf]

One of the reasons comic artist draw heroes in spandex is because it's just easier to draw, it would be difficult for an artist to draw detailed armor one every box the heroes are in.

[zaneriva]

I think they did a good job with Doctor Strange's costume. It was a pretty good mix of his comic book designs and more modern materials. I think something closer to that would work for Wanda and other magically-inclined heros.

[samcollins]

I mean Tony did say he designed everything and made everyone look cooler… And considering he made the homecoming spidey suit and the avengers outfits it would make sense in-universe for them to look similar

[nich]

Why does it always feel like he’s about to dive into greater detail whenever he “ends” the video. Like I love these videos, but they always feel like an essay with no ending. Like the last page or two of a 5 page essay is gone.

[rafresendenrafresenden.]

If Aquaman can make all their hero costumes and villains costumes work (specially Black Manta) nobody can't say is not possible anymore.

[edwardswing]

In the cinematic universes, as in real life, we can easily distinguish Steve Rogers from Clint Barton, because they're played by different people. And humans have evolved the ability to recognize faces. But in the comic medium, the artist usually cannot create enough distinction between two blond men, so a more colorful and visible distinction - the colorful costume - is needed (note that the same thing can occur in anime, but utilizes the strange hair styles and colors).

In short, comic superhero costumes are modern day heraldry, like wearing a coat of arms or carrying a shield with a symbol of three lions. They let us tell the characters apart. In the movies, the similarity of their uniforms encourages our focus on the actors themselves.

[AllenLyons]

I think you're missing one of the very obvious reasons why the suits all have a plasticy gortexy appearance. It makes it much easier to mask the CGI cut ins. CGI is much cheaper the less texture you have and a textureless model has a very plasticy look to it. If a character's costume already looks a bit plasticy the CGI doesn't look as bad

[lrj]

I think you missed a part of the why: If you're a comic artist you have to draw the same characters in all sorts of positions, the less clothes there are the easier it is(oversimplification) Also, only psychopaths put ads in the middle of a video

[elcacciatore]

Spandex: easier to show the muscles in the comics, flexibility (Spiderman wouldn't be that agile if he had to wear a heavy suit), and also some of them are basically invulnerable - what's the point of wearing an armour if you're already bulletproof?
Armour: looks badass; "more realistic", and avoids the comics cliché of everyone being utterly buff just because.

[fullmetallion]

I believe we ain't seen nothing yet, wait until marvel studios introduced XMEN and Fantastic 4. Definitely curious know

[thepokekid]

I don't agree that they all look the same or "paramilitary", but they do all look cohesive and I think that isn't a mistake. Obviously some kind of marketing thing, maybe more into making the universe believable when genre and theme can differ film series to film series, I don't know, but I do understand that criticism.

[AaronLevitz]

I think that Wanda generating a costume in line with the look she's been surrounded by for so long is actually a natural character-based decision; anything else would have been harder to justify.

[betterlatethannever]

I've actually never noticed the similarities b4. They don't bother me at all tbh.

[pvthitch]

Iron Fist is a costume that really pops on the comic page, but would look absurd on film.

[donjuanson]

I like Marvel's take on costumes and even their similarities. Certain materials have proven to be optimal for something and it kind of becomes its signature. Guitars are known for being made out of wood. Some aren't but for the most part they are. And only a few types of woods are generally used. We use leather for boots because its durable. Couldn't the same be said for the MCU using elements like leather or a kevlar for a suit? I think its more realistic that way.

[bluedotdinosaur]

A core reason for the "tactical" look of current super hero costumes in movies comes down to concept work done for the first several MCU films. Marvel wanted to capture the look of the authentic characters and not distort them, but needed them to be taken "seriously". A lot of detailed conceptual painting was done by high-tier artists that established a sort of military aesthetic that still adhered to the classic look of each character.

The issue is one of materials. The concept art was intended to be grounded and realistic, but getting the costumes to fit a real person is difficult in less flexible, non-spandex materials. There is actually an entire cottage industry in exotic textiles that has sprung up because of superhero movies. A reason many costumes are overly complex with tons of panels and lines, is to hide seams and pleats. The funny thing is, materials are getting better as textile makers experiment.

Ironically, the materials for practical superhero or "adventurer" costumes may be a reality sooner than later thanks to the movie industry.

[JoeAuerbach]

"All the costume design comes from this one guy."

Five minutes later.

"Why do all these characters look the same?"

[shadician]

As I understood it, most of the costumes are essentially Stark tech or vibranium suits designed by Wakanda. It's logical they look similar, because they are designed with the same advanced tech materials, which are the most durable and lightweight available.

[TheBHAitken]

Discussions of the Punisher movie aside, one fact I appreciated what that the skull logo was a t-shirt that was draped over the armor and not something that was "integrated" into the armor. It came off much more realistic that way.

[FinelinePictures]

Honestly I don't see the problem with the spandexy look of the old costumes. Just give em some padding like in Shazam and boom, perfect.