As superhero movies continue to dominate the movie world, fans are starting to take a closer look at how franchises like the MCU and the DCEU design costumes for their characters. Many viewers have taken to the internet to share their thoughts on suits that they believe are over the top and too complex, sparking a big debate about what makes a good super suit.
There are strengths and weaknesses to both comedic and reimagined suits, but which one is the best when it comes to making movies? This is how the suits fare in terms of usability, hero individuality, and context of the fictional universe in which they were created.
practical
Most Marvel comic books weren’t very practical when it came to crime-fighting. A hero must wear something that keeps him physically protected while also enhancing his powers or special abilities.
Take Wanda and Vision, for example, who donned their comically accurate costumes in Episode 6 of WandaVision. If the Scarlet Witch had worn nothing but pink tights and a red leotard while fighting Thanos during the Infinity Saga, it probably would have made fans and other characters alike frown.
The same can be said of Steve Rogers in Captain America: the first avenger. Cap’s original comic book suit is very reminiscent of the one he wore while performing in his nationwide musical, but it wouldn’t have protected him on the front lines or from an alien army. The MCU made its battle suit more practical by making something with less spandex and more tactical functionality.
Seeing comedy suits on the big screen is definitely fun for fans, and is a fun Easter egg for avid comic book readers. However, it’s hard to deny that the films’ over-designed suits are much better for combat. Copying outfits directly from the comics works well when the heroes wear them as costumes, but isn’t practical for other uses. Not all redesigns have been done for the better, however, as seen on Harley Quinn in the 2016 suicide squad movie. Her outfit was neither practical nor reminiscent of the red and black color scheme she normally wore in the comics.
Individuality
That said, many Marvel heroes are starting to look the same. Each character had a rather different look at the beginning avengers movie, when they were just beginning to embrace a life of heroism. As the franchise continues to progress, there’s a lot of overlap between costume designs, even when characters come from completely different worlds.
The DCEU doesn’t seem to have this problem as often, and most of their live-action suits still bear a striking resemblance to the looks the characters had in the comics. Even when multiple heroes are together, as in Justice League, there is still a clear distinction between aesthetics and each costume looks different. The lack of homogeneity in character appearances makes it abundantly clear that each hero comes from a different background, has different strengths and keeps everyone on screen from looking too similar. Staying closer to the comically-accurate designs helps in this regard, as each character’s original look is designed to represent them as individuals.
context
One part of costume design that is often overlooked is the context in which it was created. Over time, the heroes’ costumes began to evolve, just as the heroes themselves have grown, changed, and experienced both victories and losses as they saved the world. It’s fair to assume that they keep changing their appearance to give them more advantages on the battlefield and patch-up areas that were weaker than others. So constantly upgrading superhero suits only seems natural as the heroes learn what to do to protect themselves and continue to face threats that become more serious.
For the MCU in particular, the relationships between characters can play a big part in determining what a super suit looks like. There were many complaints about Peter’s Iron Spider suit, but his relationship with Iron Man contextualized the look of the outfit. Tony Stark was nothing if not over the top and a little tacky at times, so his costume design philosophy will no doubt be the same. Tony built the suit for Peter, so it must reflect both of their styles. The advanced technology and unusual color palette are all Tony, while the more traditional Spider-Man features encapsulate Peter’s hero identity. In addition, the nanotechnology saved Peter’s life from Doc Ock and helped him heal the scientist in No way homewhich also gives the suit a more functional purpose in terms of actual plot.
The DCEU tends to keep their focus on comic books, balancing comedic accuracy and modern redesign. So the relationships between characters in their movies usually don’t affect what a hero looks like. DC’s characters are supposed to look almost exactly like when they were first drawn out in the comics, with little influence from outside factors.
Overall, though, the costume design doesn’t take anything away from the storylines of either franchise. The style of a suit mainly comes down to a matter of personal preference. Based on audience reaction, it seems neither the strictly comedic, accurate, or overly designed suits are superior, and a combination of the two is what fans prefer to see. If these superhero franchises continue to work towards striking a happy medium between the two modes, a majority of fans should be happy with the outcome.
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