Superman Through the Ages! Forum

Follow up to this thread (http://superman.nu/smf/index.php?topic=1001.0) and this thread (http://superman.nu/smf/index.php?topic=3962.56) in which I wrote:


(Carmine, I don't know who the artist was on that shoe advert.)

Here are a few fan-created concepts that show what I'm talking about.  The first is from this site, the rest I found elsewhere online.  Clearly there are more than a few people who like this approach.

(http://superman.nu/gallery/dry.jpg) (http://superman.nu/gallery/dry.php)

(http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/33828/711859-superman_sketch_001_by_robduenas_super.jpg) (http://www.comicvine.com/dc-comics/57-10/ultimate-dc/92-384022/?page=3)

(http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/223/5/0/Current_superman_in_future_st_by_ez31.jpg) (http://ez31.deviantart.com/art/Current-superman-in-future-st-174999286)

(http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/223/7/3/Created_superman_costume_by_ez31.jpg) (http://ez31.deviantart.com/art/Created-superman-costume-174999085)

Poking around the superman.nu archives, I came across these covers from 2001 (http://superman.nu/superman-comics/upcoming.phtml):

(http://superman.nu/superman-comics/covers/2001sep/s-174-big.jpg)

(http://superman.nu/superman-comics/covers/2001sep/aos-596-big.jpg)

(http://superman.nu/superman-comics/covers/2001sep/mos-118-big.jpg)

I had completely forgotten the existence of the "black-S" outfit.  I think it looked good in its way, but I'm glad Superman moved on.

And since it was also on that page, here's the Stan Lee/John Buscema Superman outfit:

(http://superman.nu/superman-comics/covers/2001sep/just-imagine-big.jpg)

Here are 2 I found at Deviantart

(http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/312/a/b/superman_tweak_by_ginodrone-d32f2hb.jpg)
http://ginodrone.deviantart.com/art/Superman-Tweak-185460815?q=favby%3Asuperman-art%2F38712670&qo=0

(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/318/c/9/superman_redesign_by_ginodrone-d32tqk7.jpg)
http://ginodrone.deviantart.com/art/Superman-Redesign-186145207?q=favby%3Asuperman-art%2F38712670&qo=1

here is my superman costume

NUDE except for red underpants
(and a belt)

or purple suit with fish bowl helmet

Another good one with no trunks, although I'd make the S somewhat smaller:

(http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images/users/uploads/17602/Superman_Movie_Suit_color_by_BroHaw.jpg)


I don't like the medium, but the design is cool - I like the fact that there is only one S logo on the front.  Making the belt-buckle into a second S logo was a bad move (http://superman.nu/sites/thescreen/returns/costume.php):

(http://www.supermanhomepage.com/images/superman-returns12/SUPERMAN_Suit02.jpg)

I like everything about this one:

(http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/unused-superman-costume-concept-art.jpg)

A close-up of the panel from the Converse ad (http://superman.nu/images/new-shoes.jpg):

(http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ln1b1gfjsE1qbhwlpo1_500.jpg)

And just to make the thread complete, more concepts from the Superman Through the Ages! costume-concept gallery:

http://superman.nu/FanArt/concept.php

Here's another take on the first design above:

(http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images/users/uploads/14935/Mc_G__s_Superman_Movie_Suit__by_BroHawk.jpg)

These two pictures present themselves as WB concept art from one of the (non produced) Superman movies.  If true, I'm not surprised at the new costume design that we're now seeing from DC - given the similarities (high collar w/ trim, no trunks, triangular belt-buckle design); DC's new costume could very easily have come down from Warner Brothers.

Or the similarities could just be coincidence.

The difference is this one actually works. Notice how the belt is simple (Superman doesn't need a utility belt) but it incorporates the yellow and the red and reworks elements of the classic Superman costume. It's a nicely balanced design. I don't want any change--and i certainly don't want the S shield to change--but this one looks like it was designed by a real artist.

Well of course, here is where the suspension of disbelief comes in.  Superman would have designed the costume himself, as indeed would have all superheroes, and with rare exception none of them are artists, let alone tailors.

I can believe a rough and tough he-man could cobble together the original costume...shirt, tights, trunks, cape.  I can accept that Bruce Wayne made his first few costumes (putting more time into it than Clark because every element would be specially designed to reinforce the "fear and intimidation" motif) and that his more recent ones are the work of scientific know-how, a paid team of developers or both.  But other heroes?  Not so much.  The worst being the movie Peter Parker, who despite being flat broke somehow constructs a costume it took thousands of dollars and all manner of hi-tech machinery to construct in real life.

Which is to say, I'm always torn in these matters between the desire to see a well-designed outfit and the nagging voice in the back of my head that says no reporter, beat cop, lab technician or soldier could ever have mustered the design sense, sewing skills or funds to make it himself.  Seriously, what self-respecting man of action steps back from a tailor's dummy with needle and thread in hand and muses, "I don't know, maybe it needs a little yellow around the belt to bring it all together..." ?

I never have any problem with my suspension.

As far as being artists--I have always thought both Clark and Bruce were artist type people. I give them that, I guess, because I think they are like me.

Anyway, Ma Kent made the costume, so she would be the artist--or maybe she designed it from Kryptonian models.

Comics are a colourful medium, so whatever allows them to show exciting and satisfying images works for me. I guess it becomes more problematic when they have to create real costumes for real people to wear in movies--it becomes hard to translate what is fine for a comic book into what works on the big screen. However, I don't think that means they should do the opposite--and start adapting costumes from movies for the comics. People are intelligent and understand the difference between comics and movies--so I don't know why they are so hell bent to put movie reality into the comics.

I always liked this one:

(http://www.jeremybear.com/images/comic_art/superman-redesign.jpg)

I wonder how people would feel about short capes. Short capes were all the rage in the 50s and 60s, but then in the 70s, people like Neal Adams popularized the long cape.

Ever since, it's been standard practice to draw long flowing capes. But then fans say these capes are impractical and they need to be gotten rid. But a short cape would probably work.

I like this last outfit too but he needs better boots.  I mean I should talk though,   I think I'm inclined to go more with something that laces up.  These boots that flare over the sides these days can get snagged on something.

I liked the following two:

1. The all white one from Justice Lords episode of JL cartoon
2. The all black / no cape version from Batman Beyond.

I personally hate short capes on Batman, since he uses them to misdirect criminals as to where parts of his body is, making them shoot at the wrong places, and because they can't effectively double as gliders.

Superman though, should have a cape that goes to at least his waist and no higher than the top of his boots, and preferably only goes to his thighs.

At least, in my opinion. It looks good without being too regal for such a hero of the people.