Practical considerations of superhero costumes

[Fantasyartist]

One thing that I've always wondered about is whenever a hero/heroine travels overseas in a Marvel story, US or foreign Customs officers never seem to discover his/her costume in his/her luggage( of course there are practical reasons for this-Customs officers are looking for drugs/guns/pornography and other forms of contraband and are not greatly interested in people who like to dress up as superheroes/heroines), but there are other considerations too- a man can wear his costume under his street clothes but a woman(unless she's wearing a trouser suit) can't do the same so easily. he or she could keep his/her costume in a lead lined compartment in a false bottom in the suitcase, but as Customs officers are wise to such dodges by drug smugglers(or false bottoms anyway)and the cost of so doing is extraordinarily prohibitive Those heroes(Iron Man, Airstrike) who wear powered armor either have quasi diplomatic authority (ie are exempt from having their luggage inspected by Customs-either leaving or entering the US-or presumably have the means to conceal their "working clothes").
But what if he/she is hurt in an accident and needs to have his/her outer clothing removed upon admittance to a hospital. Does doctor/patient confidentiality extend to keeping a hero's/heroine's secret identity secret?

 

[Spider-spy]

I love topics like this.

And you're right. But why stop at costumes, what about weapons/tools? I'm sure spidey's webshooters would've (they're organic now, right?) set off every airport security alarm from here to Tai Pei.

Now that I think about it, are there any books that delve into specifics like these?

 

[The Comedian]

That's under the assumption that superheroes fly coach. Usually they have their own methods of transport or at least are in close contact with those who do. Pre-Civil War at least where SHIELD has some kind of relationship with most of the heroes I'd assume they could hop a ride on a quinjet or minicarrier is they had to go overseas, and the X-Men have the blackbird, F4 have the fantasticar and guys like Tony Stark own a whole airport worth of private jets. I'm sure if Spidey needed to go to Japan before, he coulda given Tony a call and he'd send one of his people over with a jet.

 

[Harlekin]

Spider-Man traditionally flew coach through some clever manipulation of J.J.

 

[Jono87]

I love topics like this.

And you're right. But why stop at costumes, what about weapons/tools? I'm sure spidey's webshooters would've (they're organic now, right?) set off every airport security alarm from here to Tai Pei.

Now that I think about it, are there any books that delve into specifics like these?

you would be right...but only if Aunt May isnt flying with him...God I loved that ish.

 

[The Geek Vault]

There is an issue of spidey where this happens and Aunt May covers for him saying they are medical devices.

 

[Fantasyartist]

Some of the replies to my post seem to miss the point. Not EVERY hero/heroine is so wealthy that they can afford to have their own means of transportation or possess a quasi-diplomatic immunity that precludes having their luggage searched by Customs( The Vienna Convention of 1961 only covers accredited diplomatic agents- which lets out private citizens such as Matt "Daredevil" Murdock and others-and anyway who would seriously suspect a blind man of being a superhero). Dr Strange could, if he had to travel conventionally easily cast a spell of concealment over his costume so that Customs would regard it as ordinary clothing, but not everybody is a master/mistress of the Mystic Arts. In the post 9/11 era where even if you want to carry a jar of honey in your hand luggage(as i do in my upcoming trip to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving this November), it seems strange that this issue is never addressed. In a novel I wrote this year, Seraph(Defenders ally NOT Wolverine's adversary) solves the problem by having a false bottom built into her suitcase( or is it her laptop case) and lined with lead to foil X-Rays in roder to hide her costume-of course as I noted, it helps that she is carrying neither narcotics, firearms or any other prohibited substance.

Terry

 

[Harlekin]

If you'll read the other thread, you'll find a simple explanation: Cosplayers carry costumes in their luggage too. When asked, superheroes just need to say they're big fans of... well, themselves, but you can easily talk your way out of such a situation.

 

[wobbly]

Some of the replies to my post seem to miss the point. Not EVERY hero/heroine is so wealthy that they can afford to have their own means of transportation or possess a quasi-diplomatic immunity that precludes having their luggage searched by Customs( The Vienna Convention of 1961 only covers accredited diplomatic agents- which lets out private citizens such as Matt "Daredevil" Murdock and others-and anyway who would seriously suspect a blind man of being a superhero). Dr Strange could, if he had to travel conventionally easily cast a spell of concealment over his costume so that Customs would regard it as ordinary clothing, but not everybody is a master/mistress of the Mystic Arts. In the post 9/11 era where even if you want to carry a jar of honey in your hand luggage(as i do in my upcoming trip to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving this November), it seems strange that this issue is never addressed. In a novel I wrote this year, Seraph(Defenders ally NOT Wolverine's adversary) solves the problem by having a false bottom built into her suitcase( or is it her laptop case) and lined with lead to foil X-Rays in roder to hide her costume-of course as I noted, it helps that she is carrying neither narcotics, firearms or any other prohibited substance.

Terry

The problem with anything lead-lined is that in itself will draw attention to it: When an x-ray machine cant see through an object that makes it stand out rather than having the reverse intended effect of making the contents seem invisible.

 

[Silicon Surfer]

Those who have access to unstable molecule cloth can have the costumes programmed to change from costume to conventional clothing at a particular stimulus, usually an electric charge.

 

[King Namor]

It wouldn't be that hard for most to travel.

I think just checking their baggage rather than trying to carry it on would solve a lot of problems. Various gadgets could be packed in with sporting, outdoors, or fitness equipment. Travel within the states you wouldn't even have explain checking weapons unless they were illegal to start with. I could board a plane tomorrow with a Punisher costume in my carry-on and check a case with a sniper rifle in it and one with a pair of .45s and would be perfectly legal. If the hero in question happens to be gov't affiliated Avengers, Invaders, Shield etcetera then they could actually file for a Title 49 permit and carry their weapons on with them. This is also applicable to peace officers. If you had permits for hunting you could even check weapons for many overseas destinations. You could send large things Air Freight as long as the aren't incendiary or explosive.

As for the injured hero... privacy laws prohibit releasing any info about a patient or an employee or customer etcetera without written consent. Also no one but the govt knows the identities anyway, so the medical people wouldn't know the identity even if they cut off the costume, which would be within the right of the hospital to do.

 

[Harlekin]

Well, that latter bit isn't actually applicable in this case because the hero in most cases is a vigilante, which is against the law. It's the only time a doctor can and actually must break his confidentiality thing. Otherwise they become accessory to the crime.

 

[Manic]

Doesn't Night Nurse take care of the superhero community, anyway? She used to have a hospice smack-dab in the middle of NY that Spider-Man, Iron Fist, ect. ran to for injuries.

 

[Harlekin]

Yeah, she does, but she chooses to break the law.

 

[Kitsune]

All you have to do is keep two costumes in your luggage... one that's for the opposite gender, and just blush and get all embarrassed and tell customs that your wife/girlfriend is kinky.