You’ve seen these sorts of lists before but this isn’t one of those. We’re actually going to use a process to devise this list instead of just going by polling users or the most popular or just plain personal taste. Having studied graphic design in college I will put together a list of the 5 superhero costumes which adhere most closely to the basic principles of design. I won’t go into detail about my college curriculum, that would be boring. Let’s just go straight to looking at some cool costumes.
Let’s get this out of the way. Yes, Superman, Batman and Spider-Man have the best costumes because they are the most famous and have occupied a place in the public consciousness. We’ll put those aside and focus on other designs which are great in strictly visual terms.
#5: Daredevil.
Red. The sheer intensity of statement this costume makes! The understated Logo (which is good typography in and of itself) and simple cowl accents for the horns. This costume is one the sleekest most memorable designs in superhero comics. It is hard to see a Daredevil cover without instantly recognizing the costume. This is excellent design work.
#4: Black Bolt
This is a surprisingly detailed and complex costume. The striking black and white contrast in conjunction with jagged line design, webbed arms and an unusual tuning fork on the forehead all make a very dramatic visual impact.
#3: Wasp
Here is a costume which is appropriately well designed. Janet Van Dyne does have a background in fashion after all. The tried and tested black/yellow color scheme makes sense considering the character’s name and the smart design of the front facing part of the costume makes the character a standout in a crowd without looking loud. The final touch of brilliance is the wings which aren’t really part of the costume but are worth noting. This whole uniform is delicate and feminine while remaining strong and bold.
#2: Catwoman
The most fatale of all femmes takes the number two slot. Ever since she got a redesign, her costume has been one of the smartest and sexiest. It’s essentially a leather catsuit which zips up the front. A very durable outfit for an athletic cat burglar but not without a sense of play manifest in the over-sized goggles and protruding cat ears. Not to mention the whip which completes the dominatrix reference and gives the character an intense vibe of sexual power.
#1: Pre-DCnU Nightwing.
The black and cyan color scheme stands out against any background. The super-stylized bird design comes alive when the character is leaping across the night sky from building to building. And the underplayed glove detail and batons add just the right amount of flourish. This sleek and sexy design is top notch! DC made a big mistake modifying it. But hey, the stories where he is in his old costume are still there to enjoy!
What are your five favorite superhero costumes?
So much black. 😛
Personally, I’m a fan of the more colorful costume designs. I can’t remember which book it was that I read it in, but the issue of brightly colored tights came up. Why not wear things that keep you better hidden? Why make yourself a target?
It was compared to the knight in shining armor. Without the iconic appearance that says “this is your hero and defender,” he’d just be a big scary dude with a sword. The shining armor makes it clear to others that he’s the good guy.
Likewise, the reds and blues and yellows of so many heroes may cause them to stick out like sore thumbs, and perhaps don’t live up to the same standards of design philosophy, but I still think them the better superhero costume (even if you take Superman and Spider-Man’s particular costumes out of the question, the effect of the color schemes and imagery remains even on characters oft overlooked). They’re discernible and say “I’m here to protect… I’m not just a thug with superpowers.”
That said, I like and appreciate your analysis here. Nice article. 🙂
Early in Huston’s run on Moon Knight he adressed the fact that Moon Knight operates mainly at night but wears all white.
As we violently apprehending a criminal Moon Knight’s captions read roughly as follows: “Hawkeye made fun of me because I wear white at night. But what he doesn’t understand is that my garments are sacred. And when I approach a criminal I may be a big white target for them but they are so terrified of my image that they still can’t shoot. What Hawkeye didn’t understand was that I WANT criminals to see me coming.”
I almost put Moon Knight in this list.
Hmm…not sure about top five, but Nightwing is definitely my favorite, hands down. Catwoman is on the list too. Both have sleek, simple costumes that are also functional.
Stephanie Brown’s Batgirl costume is awesome, but it’s far less practical. And I’ll always have a soft spot for Kyle Rayner’s first GL costume…even though it was kind of a little hideous. And that 10 lb visor he wore…oh man. And he’s supposedly an artist, right? Lol
I guess the only other person who comes to mind is Jason Todd/Red Hood. Maybe not technically a hero, but…
Oh, in reference to Black Bolt…remember your photo-shopped Nightwing costume from our Power Girl debate? You could have just used Black Bolt. Kinda looks the same to me 😀
Oh, I forgot one! Damian Wayne’s Robin costume. I love it. It somehow manages to look both traditional superhero AND like something a mercenary would wear. It’s got the Robin color scheme, but the texture of body armor.
And the jungle green combat boots? Yes, please.
I would cosplay this if I thought I had ANY chance of passing as a ten year old boy, lol.
Hawkman didn’t make the list?
Michael Holt’s Mister Terrific costume (pre-reboot) is much better than the golden age Mister Terrific costume. Although to be fair, science has proven that you literally cannot get worse than the golden age Mister Terrific costume.
I think Jim and Andrew misread the title of this article. It’s BEST, not WORST.
Top 5 costumes in no particular order
Black Bolt (Marvel)
Solitaire (Ultraverse)
Spoiler (DC)
Thor (Marvel)
Wonderman original costume (Marvel)
Silver Surfer (Marvel)
Icon (Milestone)
Warmachine (Marvel)
Apocalypse age of apocalypse (Marvel)
Holocaust age of apocalypse (Marvel)
