# Worst/uglist CURRENT superhero costumes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966 "2006-08-09T04:26:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/1 "2006-08-09T04:26:58Z")
Kinda inspired by [Cervaise’s post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7659041&postcount=24) in the “Most Beautiful SuperPeople” thread, I thought I’d finally post something that’s been on my mind for awhile… That is, which current superheroes have the worst or ugliest costumes? The “current” tag is added to compensate for the…well, oft cheesy look of costumes, the older the art is. I’m willing to concede that some costumes can be so old, well-respected, and iconic that they can be considered “grandfathered in,” no matter their flaws. For example, Superman and Spider-Man. However, in my book, they have to be pretty damn iconic, and can’t be completely, overridingly bad. And…this thread is focusing mostly on the _aesthetic_ angle, not on any functional flaws. So no cheap “no capez!” cracks, if you please. My picks, for starters? •The Vision Take a look. [Take a good, long, look.](http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/wizarduniverse_1906_48503483) Though I have to admit, the costume design really does take one back to that tragic storyline involving his wife—no, wait, I’m sorry…I’m thinking of [Canio.](http://www.funkhouserartists.com/RafaelDavila/images/Canio2.jpg) Canio as played by [Liberace](http://www.liberace.com/images/postcard6.jpg). Honorable mentions: •Batman I’m not saying it’s ALL bad, I’m not saying it’s unfixable, I’m not saying it’s completely impractical. All I’m saying is that I can only have so much respect for a costume that looks like black BVDs over a gray leotard. Or blue-grey BVDs, depending on the artist. •Wolverine First off, there’s no reason _he_ should have a costume anymore. That’s like giving James Bond a “costume.” Second, there’s no reason he should have a costume that’s yellow and blue, with decorative fins on it. So…anyone else like to chime in? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/2 "2006-08-09T04:54:19Z")
I’ve never cared for the majority of costume designs by two of the most respected artists in comics: George Perez and Alex Ross. Most of Perez’s designs were overly busy, garish, and ugly (Deathstroke, Jericho, Kole, original Nightwing, Lady Quark, Alex Luthor), looking like bad 1970s Las Vegas disco revue costumes. His Firestorm, Lex Luthor in Kryptonite armor, and robot Brainiac were decent, but most of the others look laughably bad today (and many have been since updated as a result). Ross’ original designs are also too busy and are plagued by asymmetry, like his red and gold Captain Atom look from Kingdom Come that sadly made its way into current comic continuity, and so many of the background characters from Kingdom Come. He goes out of his way to make costumes look like actual costumes worn by actual people (as opposed to details painted on over muscular bare bodies), and this is due to his reliance on photoreferencing models in homemade costumes. I just don’t like the “super-realism” of his work – it takes me out of the otherworldly escapism, and makes me think of Norman Rockwell’s portraits of timeless Americana. To be fair, I liked Wonder Woman’s “screaming chicken armor” from Kingdom Come, but that was an exception. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/3 "2006-08-09T13:49:33Z")
I love the Golden Age Characters at DC. I really, _really_ do! However… [The Golden Age Green Lantern](http://www.bestfriendsproductions.com/gallery/images/GAGLBLKweb.jpg) and [The Golden Age Atom](http://ape-law.com/dcomics/images/the_atom_clr02.gif) [ANOTHER GA ATOM COSTUME](http://my.execpc.com/~icicle/Atom.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:** [August 9, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/4 "2006-08-09T13:49:41Z")
The bad: _Deathstroke_ and _Ravager_ - hers is better than his, but keeps enough of the bad design elements to horrify. _Starfire_ - I’ll probably get a lot of disagreement here, but good lord that thing is ugly. _Phantom Lady_ - none of the Phantom Ladies have had GREAT costumes, but the earlier two, they weren’t horrible…just kind of silly. The new one…yeah, hers sucks. The new _Starman_ - clearly based on Starboy’s 70s costume, with a mask. It worked well enough back then…it…does not so much now. Whoever it is behind Flash and Mr Terriffic [here](http://www.newsarama.com/WW_Chicago_06/JSA2cvr.htm). (It looks like Atom Smasher, but I’ve heard it’s Damage.) The cut’s fine, the colours are iffy but not horrible…the real problem is the biohazard symbol on the chest. WTH? I suppose either of them would consitute a biohazard, but so would a lot of other metas, and what does it have to do with either of their powers/origins/gimmicks? ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/5 "2006-08-09T14:04:35Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > [The Golden Age Green Lantern](http://www.bestfriendsproductions.com/gallery/images/GAGLBLKweb.jpg) You \*don’t \* like Alan’s costume? Blasphemy. Soorya’s skin-tight burqua. Nothing wrong with a burqua, but they don’t work like that. Fullmetal Spiderman. : shudder : ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/6 "2006-08-09T14:11:53Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > •The Vision > Take a look. [Take a good, long, look.](http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/wizarduniverse_1906_48503483) Though I have to admit, the costume design really does take one back to that tragic storyline involving his wife… Without the red mask (or is that his actual face) it would be quite good; it’s the red that spoils it all. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/7 "2006-08-09T14:12:56Z")
Oh, OK, the clown collar is bollocks too. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/8 "2006-08-09T14:20:26Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Without the red mask (or is that his actual face) it would be quite good; it’s the red that spoils it all. That’s his actual face. And the green part is his actual skin. It’s not really so much a costume as ‘him’. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/9 "2006-08-09T15:54:00Z")
**Red Sonya** When Barry Smith first drew her, she wore an arguably reasonable getup for a Hyborian-age thief – full light mail shirt, going up to the neck and down to the waist and down to both wrists. Shorts for free movement of the legs. And boots. [http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/sonjabs.html](http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/sonjabs.html) Even before Frank Thorne got involved, though, the costume chasnged to what looks like a bikini made out of silver dollars and no boots. It looks _great_, but it offers zilch protection and probably jangles like hell. Forget about silent approaches and ambushes. > **[Red Sonja](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sonja)** > > Red Sonja is a fictional sword and sorcery comic-book superheroine created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith for Marvel Comics in 1973, partially inspired by Robert E. Howard's character Red Sonya of Rogatino. > Marvel Comics published stories featuring Red Sonja until 1986, and returned to the character for a one-shot story in 1995. In 2005, Dynamite Entertainment began publishing stories of the heroine, during which the original Sonja was killed and replaced by a "reincarnation... [http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/redsonja.html](http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/redsonja.html) ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/10 "2006-08-09T16:15:28Z")
Iron Spiderman from Civil War. It really is an odd design and looks more liek something the Doppelgangers from Infinity War would wear. I think disliking Vision’s look is blasphemy. ---
**Author:** ![davmilasav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@davmilasav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davmilasav)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/11 "2006-08-09T18:14:05Z")
Retrocrush’s views on [Classic Ugly Costumes](http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2003/badcostumes/) made me laugh myself silly. Do any of the new costumes _really_ compete with the horror that is…The Dazzler? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/12 "2006-08-09T18:15:49Z")
> [@davmilasav](#): > > Retrocrush’s views on [Classic Ugly Costumes](http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2003/badcostumes/) made me laugh myself silly. Do any of the new costumes _really_ compete with the horror that is…The Dazzler? That site is NSFW, & is blocked by software here. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/13 "2006-08-09T18:22:57Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > That’s his actual face. And the green part is his actual skin. It’s not really so much a costume as ‘him’. Vision’s skin is actually all red (or white, if written by John Byrne). The green is costume. As far as ugly costumes go, I give you [Captain Ultra](http://www.marveldatabase.com/wiki/index.php/Captain_Ultra). ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/14 "2006-08-09T18:31:11Z")
No, for real ugly you have to go to [Ultra the Multi-Alien](http://www.dcindexes.com/database/character-details.php?storycharid=105). Sadly, in his case, he’s not wearing a costume. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/15 "2006-08-09T18:36:23Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > That site is NSFW, & is blocked by software here. > > :mad: I don’t see why that link should be blocked. It just has pictures from comic books. Anyway, that site is cool. I found a video of an old commercial for Mego superhero action figures. When he got to “The Falcon that great _ **black** _ superhero,” I had to chuckle. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/16 "2006-08-09T18:37:00Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **Red Sonya** > When Barry Smith first drew her, she wore an arguably reasonable getup for a Hyborian-age thief – full light mail shirt, going up to the neck and down to the waist and down to both wrists. Shorts for free movement of the legs. And boots. > > [http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/sonjabs.html](http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/sonjabs.html) > > Even before Frank Thorne got involved, though, the costume chasnged to what looks like a bikini made out of silver dollars and no boots. It looks _great_, but it offers zilch protection and probably jangles like hell. Forget about silent approaches and ambushes. > [Red Sonja - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sonja) > > [http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/redsonja.html](http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/redsonja.html) Red Sonja (Red Son_y_a is, in fact, a separate character)'s metal bikini was designed by Spanish artist Esteban Maroto. Power Girl has had some godawful costumes, like [this one.](http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/images/2005/nov8/mullet.jpg) Anyone remember [Captain “I like color” Ultra?](http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/c/captainultra.htm) ? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/17 "2006-08-09T18:44:51Z")
> [@Max Carnage](#): > > Vision’s skin is actually all red (or white, if written by John Byrne). The green is costume. Seriously? I rather detest the Avengers, so I’m not terribly familiar with him, so I just assumed. Also, the Vision in Weapon X in Exiles had his skin and(/or) costume shredded, and it didn’t show any difference between the red and green, which fit my impression. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/18 "2006-08-09T18:48:00Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > That site is NSFW, & is blocked by software here. > > :mad: I think whatever software is being used to block this site at your workplace is probably doing it for reasons other than NSFW. (Or maybe they’re blocking the site IP, which means that another site might be NSFW on that same IP.) From what I can see, there’s nothing NSFW about it. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/19 "2006-08-09T18:58:03Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Anyone remember [Captain “I like color” Ultra?](http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/c/captainultra.htm) ? [scratching chin and looking upward]Hmmmm…I seem to…[/scratching chin and looking upward] 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966/20 "2006-08-09T22:27:01Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > I think whatever software is being used to block this site at your workplace is probably doing it for reasons other than NSFW. (Or maybe they’re blocking the site IP, which means that another site might be NSFW on that same IP.) > > From what I can see, there’s nothing NSFW about it. My apologies to the Mods. All I had to go by was the software pop-up window. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-uglist-current-superhero-costumes/367966.md?page=2)