# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/41 "2012-06-07T19:04:17Z")
[Sixpack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_8_%28comics%29)said once that he never changed his costume in all his adventures. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/42 "2012-06-07T19:54:23Z")
DC’s The Creeper doesn’t seem to have changed. [1968 debut version](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Showcase73.jpg) [2007 version](http://www.comics.org/issue/306466/cover/4/) Of course, if he dabbled with some alternate duds in the interim, I couldn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/43 "2012-06-07T20:04:44Z")
> [@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). The recent cartoons reflect the character’s original comic-book appearance, as [Mr. Mxyztplk](http://dccomicsartists.com/superwhoswho/mxyztplk-superman30.JPG) (note the slightly different spelling). That version was later retconned as the Earth-2 version of Mxyzptlk. Not technically the same character as the bronze-age orange-tunic version, who also appeared in animation in the 1970s/80s _Super Friends_ toons. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/44 "2012-06-07T20:16:01Z")
Judge Dredd. ---
**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, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/45 "2012-06-07T20:43:25Z")
Has the Penguin always had the tux and spats? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/46 "2012-06-07T21:19:36Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Has the Penguin always had the tux and spats? I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him in a tuxedo, though I suppose it’s not unlikely. His traditional outfit always used to be formal morning dress (or occasionally evening dress) – which I’d have said was more of a style of dress than a costume _per se_. In some recent appearances he’s had a more dishevelled look, with a long overcoat, obviously influenced by his portrayal by Danny Devito in _Batman Returns._ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/47 "2012-06-07T21:29:12Z")
A lot of these guys _never_ changed their original costume. It was just drawn differently in the comic books. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/48 "2012-06-07T21:49:14Z")
The Punisher? The skull’s eyes change according to who is drawing it, does that disqualify him? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/49 "2012-06-07T22:19:05Z")
> [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](#): > > F notI don’t know how long it lasted or if was even in the actual book, but the Specter had a blue cape and hood on the cover of More Fun Comics #52 (his first appearance). > Other than that, Spectre’s and Plastic Man’s costumes have been very consistent, if not completely unchanging. Plastic Man has had a couple of changes. Originally, the shirt was red on the right half (no sleeve) and black (with one long sleeve) on the right. Eventually it was red with sleeves. In his most recent appearance, he had red leggings, which he usually didn’t have in the past unless the colorist made a mistake. Spectre: Jim Corrigan and Hal Jordan had significantly different costumes from each other; Hal Jordan’s had some Green Lantern touches to it. I don’t think Wildcat’s costume ever changed significantly, although different artists sure interpreted it differently. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/50 "2012-06-07T22:35:00Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The Punisher? > > The skull’s eyes change according to who is drawing it, does that disqualify him? [http://forevergeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/newcap1.jpg](http://forevergeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/newcap1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/51 "2012-06-07T23:04:13Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > [http://forevergeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/newcap1.jpg](http://forevergeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/newcap1.jpg) [Also.](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bdQdS-kzyI4/SwmbrsDGacI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/SHsWm7ezAUk/s1600/frankencastle+looks.jpg) Plus, there was that time he was [turned into a black guy.](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/punisherblack11.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/52 "2012-06-07T23:29:44Z")
Even ignoring the weird stuff like Frankencastle, his Cap costume, and the whole weird racelift thing, Punisher’s had multiple distinct costumes. In his first appearance, he wore standard superhero style tights. Now he’s typically in jeans and a t-shirt. The black and white colour scheme and skull motif are consistent, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/53 "2012-06-07T23:50:22Z")
The Phantom, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/54 "2012-06-08T01:25:59Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s not a costume change – we’re talkng about, at most, the addition or deletion of a line. It seems to be more in how the artist thought the indication of the look was supposed to be. And maybe about whether they’d run afoul of the Comics Code Authority. Whatever. If it matters to you enough to rationalize it this way, okay. Maybe next you can explain the length of Batman’s ears. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/55 "2012-06-08T01:42:01Z")
I’m not sure a gag costume used for a single storyline should count against him 😉 Punisher’s “costume” has varied between having white gloves and boots or not. Also, sometimes he’s just wearing a shirt with the skull on it, sometimes he’s wearing what appear to be tights. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/56 "2012-06-08T02:25:15Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > The Phantom, maybe? Oh, good one! They altered it for a recent TV show, but it hasn’t changed in the comic strip in, like, 80 years. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/57 "2012-06-08T02:39:57Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The Punisher? > > The skull’s eyes change according to who is drawing it, does that disqualify him? John Romita designed him with the skull going up over his shoulders, and they toned that down by the time of his first appearance. The white boots and gloves stayed until Bill Reinhold started making them black (which kind of made more sense). The MAX imprint gave him jeans and an overcoat; Purists claim this is a separate character, but the look has leaked into the 616 books. But he started off looking like a John Romita superhero and has gradually drifted away from that look. ---
**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 8, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/58 "2012-06-08T12:07:07Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Whatever. If it matters to you enough to rationalize it this way, okay. Maybe next you can explain the length of Batman’s ears. “rationalize”, huh? I don’t see it s a change. Batman’s ears (and the length of that cape) are something else entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/59 "2012-06-08T12:26:49Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > The Phantom, maybe? I think we have a winner! Compare this first comic: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/First_Phantom_Sunday_strip.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/First_Phantom_Sunday_strip.jpg) to this recent image: [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/46/Phantomcomics2.jpg/250px-Phantomcomics2.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/46/Phantomcomics2.jpg/250px-Phantomcomics2.jpg) As an added plus, I just discovered that the _Ghost Who Walks_ was the first superhero to wear the skintight costume that became de rigueur for all subsequent superheroes. ---
**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 8, 2012, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385/60 "2012-06-08T13:03:21Z")
How about The Shadow? I believe the pulp heroes are going to win this contest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-comic-book-heroes-or-villains-whove-never-altered-their-costume/624385.md?page=4)