# Are there any comic book heroes or villains who've never altered their costume **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385 "2012-06-07T14:21:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/1 "2012-06-07T14:21:10Z")
For DC think pre-New 52. The only one I can come up with is Barry Allen’s Flash. But I could be wrong. I guess there’s a bunch of young mutants on Utopia that haven’t been featured enough to warrant costume changes. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/2 "2012-06-07T14:33:10Z")
I’m thinking Captain America. Can’t remember Hal Jordan doing anything new with the Corps uniform either. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/3 "2012-06-07T14:39:44Z")
Captain America’s facemask changed after the first issue or so. There was also a time where he had armor. Black Cat? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/4 "2012-06-07T14:45:20Z")
What changes has Spidey made? ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/5 "2012-06-07T14:45:53Z")
Captain Ultra ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/6 "2012-06-07T14:51:24Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > What changes has Spidey made? He had the alien symbiote costume for a while. The design of the classic black and red changed around at some point as well, I think, then changed back. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/7 "2012-06-07T14:54:39Z")
DC’s Captain Marvel. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/8 "2012-06-07T15:00:30Z")
The Hulk may have changed skin color, but his costume has pretty much always been the same. ETA: and has the Sub Mariner ever worn anything but that speedo? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/9 "2012-06-07T15:17:37Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > The Hulk may have changed skin color, but his costume has pretty much always been the same. > > ETA: and has the Sub Mariner ever worn anything but that speedo? Back at the begionning, Hulk wore a pretty neat purple “swimsuit”-type “costume”, rather than shredded purple pants. They experimented sat first with Banner neing able to choose when he became the Hulk (he stepped onto something that looked like a souped-up bathroom scale). At those times, he deliberately dressed for the part, rather than the way it was later on, with him willy-nilly wearing whatever purple pants Banner had on when he changed. ---
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/10 "2012-06-07T15:20:38Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > ETA: and has the Sub Mariner ever worn anything but that speedo? He had a ugly black suit with wings in the 70’s, more recently I’ve seen him in a similar black suit with a very deep V-Neck. My guess would be Doctor Doom, I can’t think of any changes he’s made off the top of my head. ETA: I don’t think Ka-Zar has had any costumes aside from his loincloth and boots. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/11 "2012-06-07T15:22:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Back at the begionning, Hulk wore a pretty neat purple “swimsuit”-type “costume”, rather than shredded purple pants. They experimented sat first with Banner neing able to choose when he became the Hulk (he stepped onto something that looked like a souped-up bathroom scale). At those times, he deliberately dressed for the part, rather than the way it was later on, with him willy-nilly wearing whatever purple pants Banner had on when he changed. And there was the Mr. Fixit suit as well. Didn’t he have a purple singlet when he was the intelegent green hulk at some point. Namor had a few other costumes besides the green scale speedos, like the black [disco pants](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fe/Sub-Mariner67.jpg/220px-Sub-Mariner67.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/12 "2012-06-07T15:23:26Z")
[The truth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98J425wZvE0) behind the costume changes. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/13 "2012-06-07T15:24:10Z")
Is there a difference between stylistic changes in how the superhero is drawn and an actual change in the uniform/costume? That is to say, do the early versions of Batman with the exaggerated pointy ears mean that later Batman used a more realistic (?!?) cowl design? Or is this an artifact of the change in artists? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/14 "2012-06-07T15:25:29Z")
Hm. Silver Surfer maybe? I guess there’s always The Tick, though he’s not all that old of a character… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/15 "2012-06-07T15:26:21Z")
Mr. Mxyzptlk always wears an orange tunic with purple trim and a derby hat (in the comics at least – the cartoon version is all purple). Bat-Mite might also fit. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/16 "2012-06-07T15:40:41Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Mr. Mxyzptlk always wears an orange tunic with purple trim and a derby hat (in the comics at least – the cartoon version is all purple). > > Bat-Mite might also fit. When they first introduced him in the 1940s, Mr. Mxyztplk (they changed it to "Mxyzptlk later. I am such a geek) wore a purple business suit with a purple hat and was completely bald – not the “silver age” look with his orange onesie with a purple derby (apparently they resurrected the original version for one of the animated cartoons). And in Moore’s “Whjatever became of the Man of Steel” he looks _completely_ different. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/17 "2012-06-07T15:48:37Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [The truth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98J425wZvE0) behind the costume changes. This explains SO much! I have never had the pleasure of watching the instructive documentary, ‘The Incredibles’. I probably should remedy that soon. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/18 "2012-06-07T15:49:10Z")
[http://huf.18.forumer.com/uploads/huf/post-15-1338290143.jpg](http://huf.18.forumer.com/uploads/huf/post-15-1338290143.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/19 "2012-06-07T15:51:51Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > I’m thinking Captain America. Can’t remember Hal Jordan doing anything new with the Corps uniform either. Hal’s costume has changed some, mostly the amount of green that is below the belt line. enough that it looks like an altered super suit. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/20 "2012-06-07T15:55:09Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I guess there’s always The Tick, though he’s not all that old of a character… And I think there is some speculation that that is not a costume. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385.md?page=2)