# Do Superheroes Wear Underwear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300 "2002-11-11T18:24:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/1 "2002-11-11T18:24:14Z")
Do superheroes wear underwear under their costumes? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/2 "2002-11-11T18:43:00Z")
Depends on whether or not their uniforms are protected by the Comics Code. If they are, then enough of their costume will stay intact to keep all the naughty bits covered. If it’s not protected, then the costume can get ripped off, with the underwear beneath it. Basically, you don’t want to be wearing underwear under skin-tights unless you have to. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/3 "2002-11-11T18:59:01Z")
I’ve never noticed any VPL on Wonder Woman, Ms. Victory, Mary Marvel, or Princess Projectra. I’ll admit I’ve never checked out Batman. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/4 "2002-11-11T19:16:10Z")
I’m pretty sure that Dr. Manhattan doesn’t. At least not anymore. And I’ll bet the Silver Surfer doesn’t wear Silver Speedos. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/5 "2002-11-11T19:18:17Z")
Uhhh hello, most of them tend to wear underwear on the outside. WW has no VPL ca’s they are her unmentionables. ---
**Author:** ![Jerevan\_Somerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@Jerevan\_Somerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerevan_Somerville)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/6 "2002-11-11T19:59:46Z")
…so superhero “Underoos” ™ are ironic? ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/7 "2002-11-11T20:01:34Z")
[Captain Underpants does,](http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/home.htm) of course. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/8 "2002-11-11T20:27:06Z")
There’s a story called “Just Be Yourself” by Jonathan Goldstein. I’ve only ever heard it on the radio, but it’s hilarious. It’s about a guy who starts dating Lois Lane after she breaks up with Superman. Over the course of the story, Superman gets jealous and decides to keep tabs on our main character by taking him on as a sidekick. When the guy puts on his sidekick outfit (a unitard) in a bathroom stall and comes out to show Supes, one of the first things Superman says is, “You’re not supposed to wear underwear with your uniform.” So at least within the context of that story, the answer is no. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/9 "2002-11-11T20:34:23Z")
There’s a story called “Just Be Yourself” by Jonathan Goldstein. I’ve only ever heard it on the radio, but it’s hilarious. It’s about a guy who starts dating Lois Lane after she breaks up with Superman. Over the course of the story, Superman gets jealous and decides to keep tabs on our main character by taking him on as a sidekick. When the guy puts on his sidekick outfit (a unitard) in a bathroom stall and comes out to show Supes, one of the first things Superman says is, “You’re not supposed to wear underwear with your uniform.” So at least within the context of that story, the answer is no. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/10 "2002-11-11T21:00:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Humble Servant \* > \*\*[Captain Underpants does,](http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/home.htm) of course. \*\* But Captain Underpants is just a school principal who turns into a hero once he hears the snap of one’s fingers. Most people, including school principals, wear underpants, so it’s no surprise Captain Underpants does. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/11 "2002-11-11T21:39:58Z")
I don’t know about the others, but I wear FTL Y-Front briefs when in my guise as “The Pola-roid,” the superhero who’s powers fully develop in 60 seconds after running my body through the Hyper-activator. I wear them because I can use the FTL speed powers. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/12 "2002-11-11T21:57:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*I’m pretty sure that Dr. Manhattan doesn’t. At least not anymore. And I’ll bet the Silver Surfer doesn’t wear Silver Speedos. \*\* :rolleyes: _Everyone_ knows that surfers don’t wear Speedos! Since he wasn’t wearing board shorts, he was obviously goin’ commando! :eek: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/13 "2002-11-11T22:01:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mobo85 \* > \*\*But Captain Underpants is just a school principal who turns into a hero once he hears the snap of one’s fingers. Most people, including school principals, wear underpants, so it’s no surprise Captain Underpants does. \*\* Most people, including Mr. Krupp, wear clothes; Captain Underpants does not. This is a _critical_ distinction. “Just” a school principal–bah. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/14 "2002-11-11T23:22:30Z")
Let me think Fantastic Four- I doubt it. Their costumes are made from Unstable Molecule Fabric.(Reed Richards makes the stuff for other heroes as well. This is why Marvel Comics heroes’ costumes shrink, grow, turn invisible, and otherwise work with the hero’s powers). Considering how tough and expensive the stuff is to make and the fact that it’s almost indestructible, I’d say Reed would not have bothered with underwear. The Various X groups- There a references to Proffesor Xavier providing his students with UMF costumes. So the same principle applies. In an early New Mutants issue (can’t remember which one) Cannonball walks in on Mirage changing into her costume. She’s sliding on the shirt, and though she’s partially obscured, it’s clear that she does not wear a bra beneath her uniform. Spider Man- I know that Spidey sometimes wears thermal underwear beneath his tights. IIRC he usually wears standard y-fronts while fighting crime. I seem to recall several issues in which his costume is badly torn, revealing tighty-whiteys, or showing an exhausted Peter slipping off the suit at home. also revealing tighty-whiteys. Iron Man-Definitely The undergarment worn with specific armor models are often described. Eg with the first suit Tony wore a woolen body pad to wick away moisture and provide ventilation. Later models may include medical sensors etc. Captain America-Depends Some versions of Cap’s suit are made of chain mail. As any SCAdian or other Medieval enthusiast can tell you, ALWAYS wear something under chain mail. Otherwise it will pinch skin when you move. It will also catch and rip out hair. Since a chain mail shirt puts most of its weight on the shoulders, shoulder pads must be worn to avoid chafing, bruising etc. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/15 "2002-11-11T23:33:42Z")
You know, at first read I thought you’d said that Captain America wears Depends, and I had a hearty laugh. But then I saw that you hadn’t, and I feel bad for having laughed. But the best jokes are those that are never told, so I’m laughing again. ---
**Author:** ![Lear\_s\_fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@Lear\_s\_fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lear_s_fool)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/16 "2002-11-12T03:15:59Z")
Fenrish can you confirm that doccathode just said ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/17 "2002-11-12T03:40:53Z")
Yup, except for the “almost indestructible” part about the unstable molecule costumes. That was a dumb idea put forth in the late '80s in one of Claremont’s X-Books. He gave an X-Uniform to a cop who started running around with it on over her cop-outfit 'cause it was allegedly “nearly indestructible” (hence bulletproof). However, before and since that timeframe, cloth “treated with” (not made out of) passively mimics powers but doesn’t work as armor. It’ll rip, tear, puncture, etc, just like normal cloth outside of it’s mimicing ability. (Keep in mind the “unstable molecules” = “body armor” silliness was during the same rough time-frame where there was drastic power inflation of everyone and everything. During that same period, everyone and their kid brother could bend/break/shatter adamantium, prompting Kurt Busiek to invent (I think I have the name right) “secondary adamantium”. How do you know if the stuff in the story is “secondary adamantium”? If it bends/breaks/shatters. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/18 "2002-11-12T14:45:12Z")
I seem to recall an old issue of DC comics with a panel showing Black Canary removing her top. You couldn’t see anything R-rated, but it also made it pretty clear that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Somewhere on this board a poster left a link to a site discussing the fallacies of how super heroines are drawn. I think one of her points was that they all the women are drawn braless (i.e., the position of their superjugs show no bra support), which is a pretty silly thing to do for women with such active lifestyles. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/19 "2002-11-12T15:03:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Somewhere on this board a poster left a link to a site discussing the fallacies of how super heroines are drawn. I think one of her points was that they all the women are drawn braless (i.e., the position of their superjugs show no bra support), which is a pretty silly thing to do for women with such active lifestyles. No, they just wear really invisible support. Like Wonder Woman, they wear Wonder Bras. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300/20 "2002-11-12T20:48:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > **Fantastic Four- I doubt it. Their costumes are made from Unstable Molecule Fabric.(Reed Richards makes the stuff for other heroes as well. This is why Marvel Comics heroes’ costumes shrink, grow, turn invisible, and otherwise work with the hero’s powers). Considering how tough and expensive the stuff is to make and the fact that it’s almost indestructible, I’d say Reed would not have bothered with underwear.** Nerdish nitpick–Reed puts the team’s entire wardrobe – costumes _and_ “civvies” – through the unstable molecule process. Presumably, this would include underwear. And I really don’t think he’s the type to go without underwear, in costume or out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-superheroes-wear-underwear/136300.md?page=2)