costume changes

[ctc]

So....

I've never really cared that much about characters changing outfits. It seems so weird to me what a big deal it is any more; especially considering how many permutations for any character there actually were back in the day, since every artist added their own flourish, design and style. Nowadays, Fates help you if Captain America has the wrong number of stripes on his abs....

But it also doesn't bother me 'cos I can see every character having slightly different versions of their costumes. People change clothes in real life, why wouldn't a comic character. (Matter of fact it always bothered me that most characters; alter ego or not, never change their outfit.) Unless there's a reason for it; like it's a uniform, or provided as the result of a power.

So do you guys think it'd be a problem if say, Batman had several slightly different sets of tights; or is the clothing continuity part of the kick?

Don C.

[jds1911a1]

In the 50's batman did have many different tights for different situations. a costume update can work if it stays true to the character. batman's have been simple updates to cowl and symbol and sometimes minor color

but there have been great ones for Robin but maybe the fact they are usually accompanied by new Robin's helps- The Neal Adams costume that became the e2 one was a great update to the original without forgetting it's origins

File:Robin Earth 2.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
but the earlier batman inspired update was...well less inspired
Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics-The DC Indexes
Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics

and the adams design seems to have inspired the tim drake one
File:Robin0.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

which then inspired the Damian wayne
File:Damian Wayne as Robin.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[johnnystorm]

I think more the issue nowadays is that the companies announce these changes as marketing events. As said before, in the 60s Batman had a multitude of bizarre costumes for different cases, they even did Annuals devoted to those tales and they were cool.
Such an organic change is always ok, it's marketing ploys like the recent Wonder Woman stuff that cause uproar among the fans.

Costume changes are never permananent either, they inevitably lead to the second marketing event, the return of the classic. This concept also applies to the death of a character as well and the breaking up & reforming of a team.

[spamn]

Back in the 80s, I would've been happy if Spider-man had stayed in the black suit. I really thought the outfit looked good, and was naive enough to think the change would be permanent. As it is, I'm glad there's a version of the outfit out there - Spider-Woman II (and two if you count Venom, but he's got that whole monster-face thing so I'm not counting him), even if there are too many Spiderettes currently out there at the moment.

[samurainoir]

It just shows the amount of fatigue for this kind of thing when there is little to no repsonse to Daredevil's new costume and his upcoming demise.



At this point any one of the X-Men could die wearing a party hat and a tutu and no one seems to flinch. Colossus comes back and they do in Kitty. Kitty comes back and they get rid of Nightcrawler. Who's turn is it to be dead this week?

Although this board seems to lean over to the DC side of things given the reaction to deaths and costume changes on that side of the fence. Although perhaps Marvel fans are just more accustomed to change (or the illusion of change)?

[samurainoir]

Back in the 80s, I would've been happy if Spider-man had stayed in the black suit. I really thought the outfit looked good, and was naive enough to think the change would be permanent. As it is, I'm glad there's a version of the outfit out there - Spider-Woman II (and two if you count Venom, but he's got that whole monster-face thing so I'm not counting him), even if there are too many Spiderettes currently out there at the moment.

Marvel really seems to be upping their "franchising" and trademark staking with their big gun characters like Hulk and Spider-man.

So you not only have Spider-man and Spiderwoman running around (which always seemed a bit redundant to have them on the same team), now they have just introduced the new Spidergirl (formerly Arana) in her own title and as a member of the Young Allies.


Plus Green Hulk, Red Hulk, Blue Hulk, Black Hulk, Vampire Hulk, Plaid She Hulk etc.

Yet they won't bring back Teen Hulk!

[HardyGirl]

I personally don't like costume changes. These characters are fictional, so there is really no reason to change their outfits, (aside from their true identity personas). In my opinion, I believe readers get comfort from the familiar. They know who their heroes are when they step into frame to save the day. They know Spidey and Supes are red and blue. Batman bothers me...He has too many costume changes. I wish he stayed Neal Adams style from the early days.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^It's mass apathy for the endless events that comic companies and creators refuse to let go of. If everything is an event, then nothing is.

A death or costume change used to be major change, but even then, they were much more organic. Wolfman and Perez had Dick Grayson drop his Robin identity in one issue, with no special trade dress, etc. And then they had him become Nightwing as just another subplot in a true event storyline, "The Judas Contract". And then they took a break from epics for quite a while.


Chris

[spamn]

now they have just introduced the new Spidergirl (formerly Arana) in her own title and as a member of the Young Allies.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WNN-5M3B8x...iews-2x_02.jpg]

I think they missed their chance to bring back the Scarlet Spider name and look (no hoodie, just a red version of the black suit). We already have a Spider-Woman in that outfit.

[ctc]

>They know Spidey and Supes are red and blue.

THAT'S a useful comic shorthand, and ties into why superheroes wear tights at all. (So's you can tell where they are in the panel, and who they are regardless of how rushed/tired/drunk/untalented the cartoonist was.) So I can see not being impressed by sweeping changes.... but I've seen guys agonize over Batman's emblem. To me, stuff like that isn't a big deal.

Don C.

[The Toyroom]

It just shows the amount of fatigue for this kind of thing when there is little to no repsonse to Daredevil's new costume and his upcoming demise.

Personally, I think this whole storyline is stupid...I was a BIG Daredevil fan growing up in the 70s and that's not "my" Daredevil...

Although this board seems to lean over to the DC side of things given the reaction to deaths and costume changes on that side of the fence. Although perhaps Marvel fans are just more accustomed to change (or the illusion of change)?

I'm getting tired of the whole things on both sides of the fence....Marvel and DC....

[The Toyroom]

Quite often as a comic book reader in today's modern world I often find myself quoting Sgt. Murtaugh from "Lethal Weapon"...

[kingdom warrior]

Quite often as a comic book reader in today's modern world I often find myself quoting Sgt. Murtaugh from "Lethal Weapon"...

I say it all the time "I'm too Old for this S**T!"
I like my comics when events were events and when they were under a dollar and smelled like comics and were fun....not the BS that's being done these days.

[Nostalgiabuff]

to me, every artist brings their own style and flare to the costume...that being said, I do not mind subtle changes to an iconic characters costume....ie slightly different hues for colors, slightly larger emblem whatever....even the adding and removing of the yellow oval around Batman(although I truly prefer the yellow oval). but when they go for a drastic change, such as the recent Wonder Woman constume change JM S. did, i have a problem with that. I agree it is all a publicity stunt and it cheapens the character. IMO. They are fictional characters and there is no reason to change a popular characters look just for the sake of doing so. In WW case I like looking at cleavage and her bikini bottoms, I do not want to see an amazon wearing so much clothes.

[BlackKnight]

I think X-Men Got Screwed the Most ....
When they Jumped from Byrene to The Jim Lee designs, ... I thought some of them were, cool and wasn't really disapointed, but Now,. I hate almost every Design, but the Black and Grey X-Force Suits.


The Brightest Day Aquaman Suit looks really nice to me. It still holds everything the Origional Costume does, but looks updated to Modern. That's a Good Exzample I think.

Obviously Everyone here pretty much agree's that the WW Suit Blew Arse ... and Still Does.

Martian Manhunter in Pants , with that Lame-O Pendant whatever on His Chest , is another Horrible Idea.

Green Arrow ..., to Neal Adam's Green Arrow is Awesome.... Well to me, And Works.

1st Appearance Superman Suit, TO Me is so Lame, compaired to the Superman Suit of Today, or rather just what it Became.

80's Black Canary = Worse Costume Ever .
2010 Benes Black Canary = Geek Wood .