DC: Superman’s Best Costumes, Ranked
Superman is not only known for his incredible powers and his status as a symbol of truth and justice but also for his iconic costume. Over the years, Superman’s outfit has undergone numerous changes in the comics, film, and television adaptations, reflecting different eras and artistic interpretations. Here’s a ranking of Superman’s best costumes:
- The Classic Suit – The original suit that started it all still stands as the most iconic. With its bright blue body, red cape, boots, and the unmistakable ‘S’ shield emblazoned on the chest. This costume is timeless and continues to be the standard for the character.
- The Black Recovery Suit – After Superman’s death and subsequent resurrection in the comics, he donned a black suit symbolizing his rebirth and recovery. Its sleek design and silver ‘S’ shield provided a stark contrast to his traditional colors while maintaining his heroic image.
- The New 52 Costume – With the launch of DC’s New 52, Superman received a modern update. The suit retained its classic color scheme but added armor-like plating, removed the red trunks for a more streamlined appearance, and introduced a high collar, giving it a fresh yet respectful new look.
- Earth 2 Costume – The Earth 2 version of Superman sports a unique look with subtle alterations like an altered symbol shape and changes to the belt. The design feels classic but distinctive due to its slightly darker color palette.
- Kingdom Come Suit – In this future-set graphic novel by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, an older Superman wears a suit that’s similar to his original but with an S-shield extending to his shoulders creating a more regal look fitting for this seasoned version of the character.
- Superman Red/Superman Blue – A controversial entry where Superman splits into two beings — one red and one blue — each wearing simplified versions of his costume in those respective colors with simplified ‘S’ emblems. It stands out due to its bold departure from tradition.
- The “Man of Steel” Movie Suit – Henry Cavill’s suit from Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” offered a textured alien armor feel rather than spandex, reflecting Kryptonian origin with darker tones while still paying homage to traditional colors.
- Electric Blue Superman – In an adventurous move away from classic looks in the late ’90s comic storyline, Superman gained energy-based powers along with a blue-and-white containment suit necessary to hold his form together – memorable if not widely loved.
- Superman Returns – Brandon Routh’s suit in “Superman Returns” retrospectively gets mixed reactions but has unique touches like tiny ‘S’ shields embedded in the fabric of the attire giving it depth along with darker shades of red and blue than usual.
- Injustice Video Game Suit – In this game series, Superman dons an armored suit befitting this darker universe’s tone where he becomes a global dictator; it’s edgy with sharper lines and heavier armoring signaling law enforcement rather than friendly heroics.
Each costume holds significance in Superman’s diverse visual history; some are celebrated for adhering to tradition while others are noted for daring reimaginings of what the Man of Steel can look like. Even as fashion trends come and go, what remains constant is that each suit captures the essence of one of pop culture’s most enduring icons: Superman.