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?

 

[Harlekin]

Cosplayers have costumes in their luggage too.

 

[Tropico]

Yes, doctor's HAVE to keep confidentiality in regards to their identity, I've seen it happen more than once in comics. Of course, it's up to the person if they want to blab or not, but they're required to keep it confidential.

In regards to the costume thing...I guess you could always put the shirt part of the costume inside a long sleeved shirt in your luggage to hide it, the same goes for the rest of the pieces. Or you could take them in a separate box or something that would make it look more like it's a gift or novelty item you bought. It's not like every single piece of clothing gets inspected when they check your luggage. I don't really see a problem with it.

 

[The Geek Vault]

I remember in one issue of spider-man spidey's web shooters set the metal detector off and when the officer asks what they are for Aunt May lies and says they are for her arthritis... or something like that?

 

[KangConquers]

I remember in one issue of spider-man spidey's web shooters set the metal detector off and when the officer asks what they are for Aunt May lies and says they are for her arthritis... or something like that?

Yeah hahahahaha! I have that ish somewhere.

 

[sandwraith]

Didn't Dr.Doom once walk through that Metal Detector (after unloading off some small change...HUH?) and Security was pretty "WTF?!". I'm guseeing that was pre-911.

 

[The Question]

Didn't Dr.Doom once walk through that Metal Detector (after unloading off some small change...HUH?) and Security was pretty "WTF?!". I'm guseeing that was pre-911.

He's the king of an entire country. I think he can afford a private jet.

 

[A.J.Rimmer(BSC)]

I remember in one issue of spider-man spidey's web shooters set the metal detector off and when the officer asks what they are for Aunt May lies and says they are for her arthritis... or something like that?

That was great, she actually said her gynachologist (sp?) gave her them to wear around her ankles.

Spandex costumes would be quite easy to hide I'd think (you could fold them easily, they'd be creased but you'd keep your identity safe). Armour based costumers, or bulkier ones would be harder.