Movie costumes or comic costumes?

[NickRocks]

so i was watching Batman Forever (i had forgotten how bad it was, but was quickly reminded) and above all the lame dialogue and general crappiness, i found myself digging the rubber batsuit more than anything in the comics. I like the idea of batman being armored rather than batman just wearing a tshirt. and then i thought about spiderman, how his costume in the movies looks alot cooler than in the comics.

agree? disagree?

[fatmancomics]

Well, if you're just talking aesthetics, the movie costumes usually look better than the comic ones. But that's only when they actually take the time out to design a costume that at least considers the original idea behind the design of the comic costume. For example, the Spidey outfit looks great because it's just the same design with a few tweaks like the spider legs being pointier and the fabric being different than spandex or plain cloth.
The X-Men uniforms make sense because they are supposed to be a team but they managed to color code them accordingly for each member. Wolverine's had the yellow in the seams while Scott's had blue, Storm had white, etc.
But then there's the total F-ups like the Punisher costume. Come on, a t-shirt that is supposed to represent some kind of mardi gras spirit? That was lame.
Then again, there's costumes like Captain America's that just doesn't translate well when you put the exact design up on the screen (and if you've seen the movie that came out in the 90's you know what I'm talking about) while Superman's just can't be messed with as Superman Returns proved.
In the end, I guess it depends on the costume.

[lost-spartan]

When it comes to movie translations, I find I'm much more forgiving when they have to create something that looks good as well as looking like something a person would actually wear in reality. Comics, I'm not as I hate costume changes, especially ones done to tie into upcoming movies like the X-Men did a few years back for example. I would generally put more stock in comic outfits as they are the best representation of the character, without having to fit or be justified for our reality, so they aren't compromised for any reason.

[sadman2000]

so i was watching Batman Forever (i had forgotten how bad it was, but was quickly reminded) and above all the lame dialogue and general crappiness, i found myself digging the rubber batsuit more than anything in the comics. I like the idea of batman being armored rather than batman just wearing a tshirt. and then i thought about spiderman, how his costume in the movies looks alot cooler than in the comics.

agree? disagree?

You liked the Bat-nipples costume?!:p

[NickRocks]

actually, i didnt even notice the nipples. they are much more prevalent in batman and robin than forever. they stick out on robin though.

[tekende]

As a general rule, I think the comic book costumes are better, but that's pretty much because they're NOT real, so they can look however an artist wants.

The Spider-Man movie costumes were all right, but I don't like the way the webbing is raised from the costume--it looks weird to me.

IMO, best movie costume yet is Daredevil's (JUST Daredevil's, not the other characters'). Unfortunately, the costume was pretty much the only good thing about the movie.

[sadman2000]

actually, i didnt even notice the nipples. they are much more prevalent in batman and robin than forever. they stick out on robin though.

I was just playing.

I think it depends on the movie or comic in question.

Batman should wear armor no doubt, Begins almost nailed it.

X-Men movie costumes however, while they were believable, I know they could have had costumes that were just as believable with more of a nod to the comics. But at the same time I don't think anything else would work for those movies, in otherwords the comic was pretty flamboyant compared to the movies (crazy villains like Apocalypse or Omega Red, weird locations like the savage land or Asteroid M) which were toned down considerably.

Spider-Man 3 was fan-freakin'-tastic in the costume department for the villians and the original costume, the symbiote costume I thought could be a little different.

And hopefully we've all seen Iron Man's by now which look like it's taken right off the pages.

It really just depend on the movies interpretation compared to the comic.

Later,


sadman2000

[JimLeeforGod]

As long as the movie stays true to the orginial, movie is not bad.
But the comics is always going to be top since its the one we
most relate with since its what we originally got comfortable with.

[smygba]

the only costumes i ever disliked were the X-Men movie ones. I felt the comic ones were much better

[Chris Major]

Well.... it's a toughie. As a designer it's difficult to look at what was being drawn in the 90s and not scream one's head off at all the penciller's laziness costume-wise.
The formula was always so simple: draw a naked body, put some briefs on it, add a belt, draw a line at the ankles, wrists and neck. Voila!
Utter shi-te.
So in that regards, I prefer movie costumes.

However, in recent years comic costumes started making much more sense. You saw scene where heroes would put on or take off their costumes. You saw seam lines, zippers, lacing, buckles. Some very revealing outfits were revaped with more ample clothing, more realistic ways of rendering them, too. So it's difficult.

If you ask me whether Superman's better in the comics or in Superman Returns, I'll say in the comic, because it is nigh-impossible to successfully translate the suit. If you ask me if Batman makes more sense with technological light armor or a kevlar-lined vest, I'll go with the armor. And if you want to dress up your heroes in your movies in one-pieces and catsuits, I'll tell you to look at the Daredevil and X-Men movies and see how you can give the exact, full-body "uniform" look with next to no hint that those are actually two pieces of clothing they are wearing.

I tend towards movie costumes, but only by a thin margin. I like what we're doing recently in comics. We treat hero costumes as real fashion sometimes. It's refreshing.

[Bruce Lee]

Rubber costumes and lite-brite Tron body armor are very Hollywood...VERY Hollywood. They always get the thumbs down from me.

Characters like Batman don't need to be "rethought"--they just need to be done with conviction. That, I'd like to see from Hollywood--just once.

[The Foss]

[QUOTE=NickGuy;850918]...i found myself digging the rubber batsuit more than anything in the comics...QUOTE]
Ahhh but you forgot about the nipples...Why are there nipples?!! WHY???!!!:eek:

[Werner]

Batman's rubber butt..... The theater was in an uproar because of one quick shot of Batman's rubber butt.

[McNiel]

Generally I've enjoyed the movie costumes, but if you want to see someone get it true to the original content, check this out. It a spanish "Batman- Arkham Asylum"- Beautiful visuals. Someone in Hollywood needs to put him to work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7W3be8XtQ

[malachimanson]

Generally I've enjoyed the movie costumes, but if you want to see someone get it true to the original content, check this out. It a spanish "Batman- Arkham Asylum"- Beautiful visuals. Someone in Hollywood needs to put him to work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7W3be8XtQ

Um wtf...... Okay Some of the visuals were whoa great and some of it just was um yeah Keep trying. Though the biggest problem I had was actually the bat suit. The mask was good but the tips of his cape were not so great. Joker awesome same for two face.

This guy really has great potential in movie making.

[frazman]

While I thought the pointy tips on the shoulders were a bit over the top, I would pay to see that film.

[shaundaniels]

My money is on the movies. As a kid I never knew what the costumes were made of, spandex or what have you. So it was always hard to say if the comic costumes were better then the movies. It wasn't until Morrison with the leather clad X-men that I took stock in what the costumes were made of. From a design sense it's split I've liked both Movies and Comic design of costumes. When it comes down to it I don't get upset when a movie changes costumes or what have you. Somethings work and some don't on the silver screen.

[malachimanson]

I love the Comics and thats my vote....

Though there is a chance that movies can make the suits better. But they either want to be to realistic or are to worried on how cartoony it will seem.

[larq2525]

I think the comic book costumes look cool in the comics, but the simple fact is that no matter how much you like Wolverine's mask, that shit would never fly in a movie.

In the case of Batman, he always looks awkward in movies to me. Something about his mask with those pointy things on top and the angular rubber just doesn't look functional. I recall seeing that Sand Collora (spelling?) fan video with the aliens and predators that made it;s rounds a few years ago and thinking that the gray shirt design actually worked much better on film. If done properly I think it could work. If it's armor you're worried about, doesn't Bats wear kevlar under the suit in the comics? I may be wrong, but it makes sense to me.

I like the Spiderman movie suit. The Daradevil costume was actually not bad in my opinion, but unfortunately everything else about the movie was. The X-Men costumes were jarringly different from what they wear in the comics, but they worked for me. Cyclops' joke in the movie about wearing yellow spandex hit the nail on the head.

[malachimanson]

x men movies costumes in the first one were okay. Second one got a major improvement and the third movie had the best costumes and thats about all they had going.

Superman Returns costume was a good design it just lacks cause of the red and his super small undies.

Batman begins had a good idea with it. The cowl bugged me and his cape just looked to much like felt. From the looks of Mecha batman in the new one it may or may not be a favorite of mine. I hated the idea of the bat tank till i saw it in action same could go for the costume.

Spiderman's costumes are by far one of the bests out there. I like the changes made to it they weren't a total redesign. I do have problems with goblin's costume I just wish he throw like a ripped fabric and hood.

Venom costume in the third movie I actually really like the design. I hated at first but it grow on me and it ended up being the only thing I liked for that blunder of a movie.

[Wo-Nellie]

I'd have to go with comic costumes. There are a few good examples that translate into the movies, like with DD, but most are bad translations, or just totally irrelevant to what I think about in the comics. Especially with X-Men. I don't think about the Ultimate MAX (whatever the heck it is?) line when I think of the X-Men, I think of their standard outfits. To me using the Ultimate MAX line as the basis for the costuming choices in those movies is a bore because frankly they all kind of look the same. I need a little more spice and variety in my costumes, not all packaged the same; even the FF have differentiations.

[malachimanson]

The biggest problem i think with the X men is that they had to go with the Team fill. They also didn't want to have people running around in spandex that doesn't have the super strength to withstand insane blows. The first X men suits were nightmares. They improved them in 2 and 3.

Though Comics costumes are my prefered. I see where they are coming from.

[Craig DeBoard]

I think it was LostSpartan who said it (I think, don't quote me on that), and basically I agree. The comic book ones are the original visions of the artist, and those visions shouldn't need to be altered to fit our reality.

With as much technology as we have now days, with green screens and what have you, there's really no reason to alter a costume for a movie other than to expand a toy franchise a bit more. Movies like Sin City are a perfect example behind this reasoning.

Now mind you, I'm not saying I hate the movie versions either. Even some alterations are done well. Daredevil is a great example. as is the Fantastic Four or Scarecrow.

[boybed]

I love Comic costumes.....

[Set Abominae]

I don't get the argument, comic book creators revamp costumes all the time so what's the problem when the filmmakers do it?

[Wild&Uncouth]

Movie costumes work better for film, comic costumes work better for comics.

Sequential art is all about simplicity in design, as the artist will be drawing the character over and over again.

Film, especially with all the HD stuff, is about complexity. The suits need to be insanely detailed to keep the eye interested. Think about all the little S's imprinted on Superman's big red S, or all the little hexagon on Spiderman's suit, or the plated feathers on Nite Owl's costume.

Key difference between the two -simplicity vs. complexity.