Why Superman’s Costume Does Not Need Major Changes For The Reboot

Why Superman’s Costume Does Not Need Major Changes For The Reboot

My opinion of why Superman's costume should not be drastically changed for the 2012 reboot

Editorial Opinion
By JM4Superman - May 23, 2011 01:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: ComicBookMovie.com

With Man of Steel reboot coming out in 2012, people wonder what Superman’s costume is going to look like. Some people want to see changes like the red trunks being removed from the costume while some want the costume to follow the comics like myself. I have to say that after looking at the concept arts of Superman’s costume from previous attempts and how they completely different from the superman we know love, I believe that the costume does not need major changes at all. Superman’s costume should be left alone.


The reason being that Superman’s costume is icon and has been around for 73 years. Plus the whole red trunks got to go is stupid and the people who say that it looks ridiculous on him need to get over it. Getting rid of the trunks would be like making Lex Luthor a CIA Agent who is secretly a kryptonian. Has anyone even learned from Superman Returns when they made changes Superman’s costume with the tight coller, burgundy cape, and the small “s” on his chest? When I first saw the image of Brandon Routh in costume, I was very disappointed in Singer for what he has done and felt like I was being Punked.


The other reason is that Superman is not like Batman. I know people use the excuse that Batman’s costume change in the movies but that’s Batman. With Superman, you cannot think that messing with his costume just because it looks old fashioned. If the costume was changed drastically then fans will not recognize him as Superman which why I love the sayings “Don’t mess with the basics” and “Don’t fix it if it isn’t broke”. Personally, I prefer the classic costume or the costume from “Earth One”. I have faith that Snyder will do the right thing.

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golden123
golden123 - 5/23/2011, 1:46 PM
I agree with the your side, but you argued that poorly. I grasped from this editorial your inability to accept change. Not that that is true about you. It's just the way it comes off.
JM4Superman
JM4Superman - 5/23/2011, 1:55 PM
@golden 123 I can accept change but not changing Superman's costume but I will work on it.
LP4
LP4 - 5/23/2011, 2:50 PM
News has been ridiculously slow for MOS. No news or updates at all this entire month.

@JM4Superman- I agree with you dude, keep the suit traditional it SHOULD remain relatively unchanged but hell...I'm open to changes. I mean, I'm not expecting it to remain like in the comics...it's a movie after all, they will change the suit for certain. Plus I don't think the reeve suit would fit in well with our modern world and the reeve suit was kinda closest with the comics in terms of design and shades of blue and red. They might try to modernize the suit so to speak...not too bad i guess.

JM4Superman
JM4Superman - 5/23/2011, 2:54 PM
@LP4 Yeah I hope they don't modernize it too much
LP4
LP4 - 5/23/2011, 2:59 PM
@JM4Superman- Exactly man. I mean, it should be recognizable as SUPERMAN. As long as Supes still has his classic cape, "S" shield and trunks. I think those are the main 3 necessities. In terms of the shades of red/blue...eh...that might be nitpicking a bit so i'll let that slide. But i'm with you dude...they need to keep it SUPERMAN. If they wanna change a suit they can continue doing that with Batman since they always seem to change his suit constantly with every damn film. lol
JM4Superman
JM4Superman - 5/23/2011, 3:22 PM
@LP4 Yeah
LP4
LP4 - 5/23/2011, 4:17 PM
Wow GDSuperguy...way to emphasize your point there buddy ;D

Multiple posts are a BIT*H on this site, happens to me all the f'n time.
JM4Superman
JM4Superman - 5/23/2011, 4:28 PM
@TheGODDAMNSUPERGUY Thank you for understanding
LP4
LP4 - 5/23/2011, 4:53 PM
@GDSuperguy- Hahahaha I can tell buddy ;)

@JM4Superman- YET ANOTHER brilliantly written article and you will always hear nothing but positive remarks from GDSuperguy and myself.
JM4Superman
JM4Superman - 5/23/2011, 5:13 PM
@LP4 Thanks
LP4
LP4 - 5/23/2011, 5:40 PM
@JM4Supes- Nah thank YOU for trying your best to retain Superman's classic ideals, look and feel. I'm not quite as active on this site as i used to be. But I'll always back up your articles against any haters that may come around ;D
JM4Superman
JM4Superman - 5/23/2011, 7:51 PM
@LP4 Haters will always hate
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 5/23/2011, 8:08 PM
No offense, but I kind of agree with golden123. I'm on your side, but if I wasn't, this argument wouldn't be enough to persuade me to change my mind.
darkvenian
darkvenian - 5/23/2011, 8:45 PM
yes for the changes,why not?¿?¿?¿' ... will be fine a modern suit
mastarockafella
mastarockafella - 5/23/2011, 10:52 PM
A little update of the suit will be fine for me, but I hope Snyder will keep the classic one.

Speaking of his suit, what's the deal with MOS? Why no updates? Why no casting?
luckylu
luckylu - 5/24/2011, 1:14 AM
DONT [frick] WITH THE SUIT! so.... i agree with this article
ar8898
ar8898 - 5/24/2011, 5:18 AM

Fortress
Fortress - 5/24/2011, 6:07 AM
YOU DONT NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING!!

THATS WHY ONE REASON SUPERMAN RETURNS FAILED IMO MAKING THE COLOUR DARK AND THE S SMALL AND 3D!!! NO NEED


KEEP IT HOW IT IS IN THE COMICS!!! JIM LEE DESIGNS

WONDER WOMAN NBC SHOW SAYS IT ALL!!
THEY TRIED TO BE CLEVER AND UPDATE IT AND IT CAUSED UPROAR!!!
Retardo
Retardo - 5/24/2011, 6:25 AM
If they change the suit, they should keep it simple. End of the day Martha Kent made it in a barn, so it shouldn't be body armor, it shouldn't be latex, or rubber or any other high tech crap, it should just be lycra tights or whatever its made of.

That being said, I'm not against change, frankly I say keep everything the same but ditch the trunks. Other than that the suit is perfect. Though if Snyder and co. do ditch the trunks they should do like a little joke scene where Martha is making the suit and show Clark some red trunks she wants to add and he's like 'no no no!' Or something like that to homage the classic look...
Knightstalker
Knightstalker - 5/24/2011, 8:04 AM
@SUP3R....that's the dumbest thing I've heard today.

@ar8898. I've seen that rendition before. No good for a Superman suit, but I think it would look great as what Jor-El wears to tell the Kryptonian High Council that the planet's about to die.
MoonDoggyX
MoonDoggyX - 5/24/2011, 8:17 AM
The suit is fine... except the trunks have to go! I am a Superman fan, and I want the movie to be a success and taken seriously. I under stand that in 1938 the "Strong men" wore their spankies on the outside, but in 2011 undies on the outside is viewed as campy. I know the suit is the same in the comics, but to general public, who you have to attract for the movie to be a success, comics are campy. The suit needs to look like something that someone who grew up in 1980/1990's America would wear in 2012. If not, it would be not make much sense in a modern retelling of Superman.
MoonDoggyX
MoonDoggyX - 5/24/2011, 8:25 AM
I do aggre, though that the trunks should be the ONLY change to the costume.
TheLight
TheLight - 5/24/2011, 8:31 AM
THE TRUNKS MUST STAY! Any Superman fan would argue that the suit needs to stay as traditional while at the same time look modern. Superman isn't Batman as JM4Superman pointed out. There are many ways to keep the original costume on screen. I've drawn many ways that the suit and all of its glory can stay intact.

comicb00kguy
comicb00kguy - 5/24/2011, 8:31 AM
The costume can be done on film and done right. The 1978 classic proved that. Why not just dress our new Superman in the same costume, tailored to his size and build? After all, Hollywood is all about using things that are proven to work.

As far as changing his look: Superman's costume is iconic. It is well recognized, even by many people who have never even thought about opening a comic book. I'll be the first one to say that the 'trunks on the outside' look is dated, but it IS his 'classic look'. I'd have to see what changes were in mind before I could really comment fairly. Just don't reuse that walking abortion of a costume from Returns and we're ahead already.
Bartman87
Bartman87 - 5/24/2011, 8:52 AM
Not sure why everyone disses the trunks because that is Superman's suit. Everyone know this, I don't think people go around discussing how stupid it looks that he wears them like that, I think when people picture Superman that is the look that they picture and change in Iconic Characters uniforms is not always a great thing even to the public at large look at how the new WW suit made a big splash in the headlines when it previewed for the comics and the pilot episode. The majority of the public don't like change to Icons, which Superman is one of the hugest worldwide icons.
TheLight
TheLight - 5/24/2011, 9:11 AM
@Bartman87

Kudos.
Supersonicboobs
Supersonicboobs - 5/24/2011, 9:13 AM
ar8898 -looking at that suit the 2nd time around, it could work for a modern audience.Its realistic, it stays with the colors,just needs a belt or a belt buckle.It removes the trunks but it works! hope synder is watching!..lol
StrangerX
StrangerX - 5/24/2011, 9:19 AM
Don't change the suit
Retardo
Retardo - 5/24/2011, 9:24 AM
@ Knightstalker

Glad that I amused u...


Real talk though, just ditch the trunks and everything will b blessed. As for the little 'Martha trunk' scene I mentioned earlier, being the nerd I am I think that'd b a fun little way 2 homage the old look...
MoonDoggyX
MoonDoggyX - 5/24/2011, 10:17 AM
@Batman 87 - "Iconic" doesn't always equal relevant. Of course EVERYONE recognizes it as Superman's suit, but that doesn't mean its taken seriously. When was the last time someone wearing their undies over some tights was taken seriously? I can't think of any examples in the last few generations.
TheLight
TheLight - 5/24/2011, 10:37 AM
Bottom line is that I don't want to see a Superman that looks likes "The Blur".
Knightstalker
Knightstalker - 5/24/2011, 10:40 AM
@SUP3R....I did get a chuckle out of it so thanks. How about this for a scenario....Clark tries on his new suit but splits the seat out while lacing up his boots. Because he's in a hurry he grabs his old Smallville High swim team trunks and throws them on to cover his behind.
darkriver1976
darkriver1976 - 5/24/2011, 10:57 AM
I am very emotionally attached to the Superman movie from 1978, and I still say a) the suit needs to evolve OR b) the movie needs the good reasons that a being with such power needs or decides to wear a cape, boots, and underwear on the outside. Superman really isn't about the suit. I got more of a 'Superman' feeling from 'Hancock', than from 'Superman Returns', because it asks itself questions like that.

What's great about Nolan's movies for Batman is not that they're dark, which is incidental. Inspired by Richard Donner, he tried to make his movie feel like a real world - or at least, real enough while you're watching the movie.

I agree with MoonDoggyX. Something that is 'iconic' still needs to evolve throughout time. The 'icon' for 'phone' these days looks like a phone from 40-50 years ago, but is that what phones look like today? Check out your cell phone.

I would rather see my favorite myth from my childhood survive and thrive, then have Superman hold on to red underwear for no good reason. No one that says 'don't change the suit' ever has a good reason for not changing it, besides being attached to it.
AC1
AC1 - 5/24/2011, 1:41 PM
Great article! I completely agree, and Earth-One costume is probably the best and most logical step (but with the classic boots, dont like the raised top bits).
@GDSG yes! Just darken the blue, been saying that for ages!
Only thing is, how will they put the \S/ shield on his chest? If it's 2D it risks looking like it's been stuck on or sewn on (like the Chris Reeves or Dean Cain costumes) which was fine 20+ years ago but would look tacky nowadays. And if it's 3D, it'd be like the Routh one, which isn't great either. Maybe only slightly raised, and the regular size and colours, so it looks like it's embossed onto the costume to stand out? I dunno, hope Snyder doesn't alter the costume much.

And hell to the yes, pants need to be on the outside! They could address it in film with Clark even complaining about them when Martha first gives him the costume or something! He needs them, if he has no pants on there and just a blue body suit, he'd look too much like Ultraman IMO.
superwolverine
superwolverine - 5/24/2011, 4:09 PM
the red underwear gotta go plain and simple
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