As someone who has spent countless hours poring over comic books and superhero movies, I must say that these two films have left me more disappointed than a Sith Lord denied a lightsaber. The Steel movie from 1997 is a prime example of what happens when a talented athlete like Shaq tries to take on the world of acting without proper guidance. It’s as if they took Tony Stark’s iron suit and said, “Here, Shaquille, this will do!” And let’s not forget the omission of the iconic red cape and S symbol – it’s like serving a burger without the ketchup!
In one way or another, the realm of comic book heroes has seized control over the silver screen industry. The appeal of these films is undeniable, boasting A-list actors, thrilling action sequences, content suitable for all ages, and, let’s face it, their distinctive costumes. There’s often a lot of excitement surrounding the superhero’s attire – what will it look like? What improvements will be made since the previous film? Watching our beloved comic-book characters spring to life is always exciting, even if they don’t always meet the mark set by their printed counterparts.
Some of these costumes are downright terrible and inconsistent. Others deviate from their original inspiration, tarnishing both the costume and the superhero who wears it. Furthermore, many costumes, even if they follow the comic book design, struggle to adapt effectively to live-action films.
In creating this list, we aimed to focus on films produced within the past three decades. It wouldn’t be fair to incorporate a costume from the 1940s as the movie industry, particularly superheroes and Hollywood, didn’t possess the same level of technological advancement in filmmaking that we witness today. Furthermore, this list encompasses only superheroes and anti-heroes; no villain costumes are featured here. And now, let me present to you the 10 most poorly designed superhero costumes in movies.
10 Crimson Bolt
Super (2010)
Prior to his fame with Marvel and DC, James Gunn directed a small-scale black comedy superhero film titled “Super“. The story revolves around an ordinary man, devoid of any superpowers, who transforms into a crime-fighting vigilante donning the costume of the Crimson Bolt (Rainn Wilson). The Crimson Bolt’s suit is humorously subpar. It resembles a hastily assembled costume made by an everyday person – and that’s precisely what it is.
The intention behind Crimson Bolt’s costume is to be humorous, which explains its lower ranking. However, even with their black comedy aspects, characters like Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl, and Big Daddy from the 2010 superhero film “Kick-Ass” still managed to don some pretty badass costumes. So, who says humor can’t coexist with coolness?
9 Invisible Boy
Mystery Men (1999)
The film titled “Mystery Men” is a humorous superhero production from the dawn of the new millennium, which unfortunately became one of the biggest box office disappointments of 1999. In comparison to the Avengers, the Mystery Men represent a team of lesser-known superheroes, each with rather unimpressive abilities. As a result, their costumes and characters are intentionally comical, much like in the movie “Super“. However, even amidst this intentional lameness, one character’s costume stands out as particularly poor – that of Invisible Boy, portrayed by Kel Mitchell.
The character known as Invisible Boy stands out for being rather unremarkable. He gains invisibility only when no one else is watching. Furthermore, his outfit choices are quite unusual – think goggles, dyed blonde hair, and a mismatched ensemble of purple and silver. There are several superheroes with the ability to become invisible, such as the Invisible Woman from Fantastic Four, Translucent from The Boys, Rodney Skinner from League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, among others. However, it’s worth noting that his costume is by far the most lackluster when compared to these other characters.
8 Wolverine
X-Men Trilogy
Hugh Jackman has portrayed the legendary Marvel character Wolverine since the 2000 X-Men movie, and he’s been spot-on for the role, barring one key detail: the distinctive yellow and blue costume that Wolverine wears in the comics. In his on-screen appearances, Wolverine usually dons a fitted black suit instead.
In most X-Men movies, they all wear a uniform to give an impression of unity. Early filmmakers felt that Wolverine’s yellow suit might not work well on screen and made light of it in the first X-Men movie with a joke about his “yellow jumpsuit”.
However, in the blockbuster sensation of 2024, Deadpool and Wolverine, long-awaited desires of fans were fulfilled. The iconic Wolverine character was brought to life with remarkable authenticity, as he appeared on screen wearing his comic book-faithful suit, including the mask, for an unprecedented portrayal. It was thrilling to witness Wolverine in all his glory, although some viewers criticized the CGI, noting his white eyes as a potential area of improvement.
In the original X-Men trilogy, Wolverine’s black suit wasn’t a poor choice for his costume. However, since all the other X-Men were wearing identical outfits, Wolverine became more camouflaged instead of drawing attention. It wasn’t the costume that fans hoped to see, and it seems strange that it took 24 years before an updated version was introduced.
7 Daredevil
Daredevil (2003)
2003’s “Daredevil” with Ben Affleck, as a moviegoer who appreciates comic book adaptations, left me disappointed on multiple frontures. Instead of preserving the distinctive looks of our beloved characters, it made some questionable decisions. For instance, Elektra (Jennifer Garner) was missing her iconic bandanna from the comics, and Bullseye’s menacing suit was nowhere to be found. Worse still, Daredevil’s costume was transformed into a shiny leather jacket, which felt far removed from the original character design.
While this ensemble could provide a more authentic portrayal of the character, it falls short when considering practicality and combat effectiveness. In terms of tactical use, this bulky, crimson leather attire doesn’t fare well. Additionally, Daredevil’s form-fitting, leather mask lacks the intimidation factor.
6 Batman, Robin, & Batgirl
Batman & Robin (1997)
In the sequel to Tim Burton’s “Batman Returns,” titled “Batman Forever” by Joel Schumacher, there were several shifts in direction. One of the most conspicuous modifications was the redesign of Batman’s costume. Schumacher’s Batsuit was crafted to accentuate the ideal male physique, hence, it featured prominent “bat-nipples.” These iconic nipples made a reappearance in the 1997 film, “Batman & Robin,” which received widespread criticism almost across the board. However, the questionable costume design didn’t end there.
At the climax of the movie, Batman (George Clooney), Robin (Christopher O’Donnell), and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) wear shiny, blue and gray costumes that they referred to as “ice armor.” However, it remains unclear how these suits provide protection against ice attacks or enhance the Bat family’s ability to thwart Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger). It’s also worth noting that Robin’s suit was the only one still sporting visible nipples, which fans found rather flashy and excessive. This is just one of many criticisms leveled at Batman & Robin.
5 The Phantom
The Phantom (1996)
1996’s “The Phantom” wasn’t derived from a Marvel or DC comic book series, but rather an ancient comic strip featuring a crime fighter in disguise, devoid of supernatural abilities. Despite his relatively low profile nowadays, the Phantom significantly reshaped the superhero landscape. He is often recognized as the pioneer who donned a form-fitting costume and the trailblazer who wore a mask with no visible eyes, elements that are now synonymous with comic book heroes.
Despite the Phantom’s form-fitting attire being iconic in the comic books, it appeared rather cheap and unsuitable for combat on screen, resembling a low-cost Halloween costume one might buy from Spirit Halloween. Additionally, The Phantom lacks superpowers, which raises questions about the protective capabilities of his outfit during fights. However, the character has managed to maintain a loyal fanbase since its debut, seemingly unfazed by the questionable nature of his attire.
4 Catwoman
Catwoman (2004)
In the year 2004, Selina Kyle, often regarded as Bruce Wayne’s romantic interest and the renowned anti-hero known as Catwoman, didn’t quite get her own standalone movie in the traditional sense. Instead, the film titled “Catwoman” featured a character named Patience Phillips, a graphic designer who undergoes an unusual transformation after being revitalized by an Egyptian mau cat and endowed with extraordinary feline abilities. That’s a bit strange, right?
2004 saw me, as a fan, witness Halle Berry embody the iconic character, Catwoman. While she’s typically portrayed with a seductive allure, her costume in this film took it to an extreme, making me question its practicality for combat situations. The leather bra and ripped leather pants, revealing her midriff, seemed more suited for a fashion show than a superhero battlefield. I couldn’t help but wonder how this lingerie-inspired outfit was meant to shield her during fights. Instead of enhancing Catwoman as a credible superheroine, it reduced her to an object of sexual desire, and rightfully earned its Razzie award.
3 Green Lantern
Green Lantern (2011)
Ryan Reynolds had the misfortune of being associated with some of the most poorly designed superhero costumes in movies, even though he never wore this particular one on screen. The 2011 film Green Lantern, unfortunately, is often cited as one of the worst superhero movies ever produced. Its quality was so poor that it was omitted from the DCEU’s Justice League lineup, despite Green Lantern being a significant DC Comics superhero. One of the movie’s many flaws was its poorly designed superhero costume.
It was decided to use computer-generated imagery (CGI) for Green Lantern’s suit throughout the entire film, but the outcome was less than desirable – it appeared tacky and unrealistic. Despite the movie having a large budget of $200 million, Green Lantern’s suit ended up appearing artificial and cartoonish. A green, shining CGI mess that looked like it had been slapped onto Reynolds’ body. However, Ryan Reynolds redeemed himself by taking on the role of the snarky anti-hero, Deadpool, in 2016.
Of course, Reynolds couldn’t resist taking a jab at his past superhero venture through Deadpool. Wade Wilson, the character played by Reynolds in Deadpool, requests his captors to steer clear of making his super suit green or cartoonish, a nod to the disastrous CGI suit Reynolds wore in Green Lantern.
2 Steel
Steel (1997)
The movie “Steel” is a film about a superhero that received unfavorable reviews, and it loosely follows the DC Comics character of the same name. In the comics, Dr. John Henry Irons puts on an armor suit imbued with power, becoming one of four heroes who take over after Superman’s demise. The film version portrays John Henry Irons (Shaquille O’Neal, who fit the appearance but lacked acting skills) wearing an armor suit as well. Similar to the comics, he also wields a large hammer. However, Steel’s armored suit, which should resemble metallic skin in the comics, didn’t adapt effectively for the screen.
In a new outfit that seems unwieldy for walking, let alone combat, Shaq is dressed. The costume appears more like the homemade Iron Man suit from 2008’s Iron Man than the Steel character from the comics. Since the film disassociates itself from Superman, it also eliminates any references to Superman in Steel’s armor. There’s no red cape or large “S” emblem on his chest, which are significant components of his costume in the comic books.
1 Deadpool
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Ryan Reynolds initially portrayed a precursor of Deadpool in the 2009 superhero film, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. Although this version was more of an anti-hero, we felt it was fitting to include him here. However, it’s fair to say that this movie did not do justice to Deadpool. The character in this film is so mutilated that even his regenerative powers would struggle to repair the damage. Initially appearing as a chatty mutant named Wade Wilson, sporting a sleeveless outfit and dual katana swords, you might think he’s not yet fully transformed into Deadpool due to his lack of characteristic scarring and costume.
It’s quite a departure from the original, isn’t it? In the final scenes of the movie, Wilson transforms into something unexpected – Weapon XI, a twisted take on Deadpool. Unlike the usual character, he has no mouth to engage in his characteristic banter. Instead, he sports katana blades on his arms and lasers shooting from his eyes. What’s more disappointing is that he’s not dressed in his classic red and black suit, which is a far cry from the original. This version seems like a misstep, potentially one of the most disappointing changes in superhero movies. However, fans finally got what they desired when Reynolds delivered the Deadpool experience they were craving with his Deadpool film series, ensuring both the character and his iconic costume received justice.
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2024-10-26 05:03