The Official Costume Thread - Part 4

[Llama_Shepherd]

Complex and modern are not one in the same. People trying to make Superman look modern by making the suit busy are going in the wrong direction.

I work from models-- my concepts are naturalist. I don't get the whole obsession with hypermasculine physiques you guys have.

If I were casting Superman, I would cast Zachary Quinto.

Do you remember what happened after Keaton was cast as Batman?


Yep, big fake rubber muscles were slapped on him. Argument is invalid.

 

[Godzilla2014]

No it just needs to look like it does in the comics and that just happens to be what the STM was. CR's was a pretty faithful rendition of the costume as drawn by Curt Swan. It can certainly be updated, but don't expect it to deviate very much from that template, beyond colour values, materials, and tailoring.

Well if it's just going to be the Christopher Reeve suit all over again, that is just a missed opportunity. The whole point of a reboot is to show something new, not more of the same.

True story...

I love Strib's design, but I can't get past the blues looking like exo armor cause of the overlap on the trunks...

I agree with your criticism of Strib's desgin. I guess I just forgot to put that in my post. Reverse the layering of the blue and red, and you have a great starting point.

Terrible idea...

Superman doesn't take well to modernizing... Besides, what would the 60's and 70's give you to "modernize" him anyway?

What makes you say that? Doesn't that mean that Superman is doomed to be deemed an outdated relic of a bygone era, no longer relevant to our society?

What you're failing to understand is Superman has the advantage of a human appearance. People are less likely to be afraid of him because of this.

I agree.

 

[Wheels]

So, you're not going to address my post thorstone? The one that points out the flaw of your design? Superman grew up on earth and knows the fears of the human race, and with that knowledge he's going to choose a costume that downplays his human side? I don't think so.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

More importantly it's an entirely bad idea to throw away one of Superman's base powers (and by default his appearance) because you don't like it. Jon Peters?

 

[Godzilla2014]

More importantly it's an entirely bad idea to throw away one of Superman's base powers (and by default his appearance) because you don't like it. Jon Peters?

Agreed.

 

[Alientraveller]

Yeah I think we'll stick with what Snyder said about Jim Lee and Curt Swan.

Strong red and blue as opposed to muted colours, a middle length cape that drapes over the shoulders, a diamond shaped shield that justifies a smaller size, and pants without a Calvin Klein shape. There, all the problems with Singer's costume, gone.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

Well if it's just going to be the Christopher Reeve suit all over again, that is just a missed opportunity. The whole point of a reboot is to show something new, not more of the same.

Why don't you read what I actually said, rather than what you think I said. I never said it would be Reeve's costume. It will be Superman's established, classic look Reinterpreted with Different Colour values, Materials, Cut/tailoring etc. If Reboot means "something new", so we don't have a "missed opportunity", then I guess in a Bond reboot you'd have him in a leisure suit, rather than a Tux or white dinner jacket.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Complex and modern are not one in the same. People trying to make Superman look modern by making the suit busy are going in the wrong direction.

au contraire, mon frere...modern = more complex. that's why Iron Man's current suits are more complex than his initial one. that's why various theories about architecture, mathematics, and even the universe are more complicated than ever.

i'm not saying they should make his costume a jumbled mess like the LED suit that Burton was experimenting with, but the simpler it is the more retro it is.

I work from models-- my concepts are naturalist. I don't get the whole obsession with hypermasculine physiques you guys have.

personally, i draw my Superman with Hugh Jackman's build...which isn't "hypermasculine" like Chris Hemsworth is, but regardless...Superman has always been depicted with a physique that is above the average man, even in his first appearance as the traditional Superman. it's not an obsession that Superman should look built. that's his established look.

If I were casting Superman, I would cast Zachary Quinto.

when Kal-El isn't flying around as Superman he's supposed to be able to fit in with the crowd and look somewhat regular. one of the reasons Zachery Quinto was cast as Spock was because of his unusual, almost alien facial features. someone like Quinto is casting more in the line of Nicholas Cage where Tim Burton wanted Superman to look like an alien.

to be perfectly honest, i'm starting to question your view of Superman. the costumes you post, the build you draw him with, the actor you just mentioned......it seems like you have a pretty extreme idea of how Superman should be portrayed.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

Superman shouldn't look like the Silver Surfer. Not saying the design is bad necessarily, but I would take Superman's resurrection suit with a cape before I would consider something like that.

Man of Steel isn't meant to be taken literal anyway, it's just a way of describing his indestructibility. Besides, there are already literal men of steel in the comics, Superman should stay what he is.

 

[Adenjo]

This thread is very fast becoming "The world Vs Thorstone" thread....
Even tho I personally dislike his "man of steel" concept I do understand that there are those who wish to see an entirely new take on Superman.
For the record I am not one of them.

Superman IMO isn't just about the powers, the secret identity, the costume, the attitude, the setting.. It's about the whole picture.
Superman minus a cape just isn't Superman, there is only so much tweeking that costume can take before Superman simply stops being Superman.
People ridicule the trunks/speedos/whatever.. And even tho there have been some nice costume designs highlighted in this thread, the suits without the trunks just seem to be missing something.. He's almost Superman but not quite %100 Superman.

Superman wears a blue body hugging suit, he has a red cape, he has an \S/ symbol on his chest (and the back of his cape), Superman wears underwear on the OUTSIDE. These things in the real world do look silly.. But in the world of Superman it looks right.. It IS right.

Superman. Tweek him, modernise him.. Just don't change him too much.

 

[Godzilla2014]

Why don't you read what I actually said, rather than what you think I said. I never said it would be Reeve's costume. It will be Superman's established, classic look Reinterpreted with Different Colour values, Materials, Cut/tailoring etc. If Reboot means "something new", so we don't have a "missed opportunity", then I guess in a Bond reboot you'd have him in a leisure suit, rather than a Tux or white dinner jacket.

No, what I was saying if we got the Christopher Reeve suit all over again, that would be a missed opportunity.

What I would like to see is the changes you re talking about (colors, materials, tailoring), the classic merchandising Superman symbol, plus muscle shading, and some additional details. Maybe a pattern and/or other details, and even a couple deviations from the comics, like a cape S-symbol with a red background, and Kryptonian symbols on a gold (which takes place of the yellow) belt like the picture below:

What I mean is that I would like something that can we can remember as distinct from the Christopher Reeve costume, but is still the Superman costume. A Superman costume for this generation.

 

[Wheels]

It's just thorstone's design completely goes against who Superman is, and shows a lack of understanding of the character.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

No, what I was saying if we got the Christopher Reeve suit all over again, that would be a missed opportunity.

What I would like to see is the changes you re talking about (colors, materials, tailoring), the classic merchandising Superman symbol, plus muscle shading, and some additional details. Maybe a pattern and/or other details, and even a couple deviations from the comics, like a cape S-symbol with a red background, and Kryptonian symbols on a gold (which takes place of the yellow) belt like the picture below:

What I mean is that I would like something that can we can remember as distinct from the Christopher Reeve costume, but is still the Superman costume. A Superman costume for this generation.

Okay, then I pretty much agree with you, except for the symbols on the belt, or at least the way it's rendered in that manip. It looks too Bollywood imo. I really don't mind if the \S/ on the cape has a red background (I'd prefer all yellow though) as long as the \S/ is present.

 

[Wheels]

I'll ask this again, how do you think they will handle Clark's disguise in the film?

 

[Lead Cenobite]

Maybe a device in the suit or the glasses that projects a holographic face over Clark/Superman's real face, or maybe they'll bring back the ability to change the shape of his face through muscle control.

 

[Alientraveller]

An oversized suit, big glasses, and maybe he'll have a role as foreign correspondent so people don't notice the resemblance as he doesn't come to The Daily Planet offices often?

 

[Godzilla2014]

Okay, then I pretty much agree with you, except for the symbols on the belt, or at least the way it's rendered in that manip. It looks too Bollywood imo. I really don't mind if the \S/ on the cape has a red background (I'd prefer all yellow though) as long as the \S/ is present.

With the belt, I really like the golden look. Makes it more interesting, and and eye catching. One of the reasons I am suggesting the cape S symbol with a red background is visibility. If the whole point of the symbol (from the design standpoint) is to say that it's Superman's cape, then the symbol shouldn't blend together, looking like a diamond. The other is because, in my idea, the background is the cape itself.

I'll ask this again, how do you think they will handle Clark's disguise in the film?

Yeah, I would like to see the film address this.

Maybe a device in the suit or the glasses that projects a holographic face over Clark/Superman's real face, or maybe they'll bring back the ability to change the shape of his face through muscle control.

Those might be interesting. Maybe the glasses act to distort the appearance of his eyes?

 

[DorkyFresh]

they'll probably style his hair differently (nice and neat for Clark, wild and unkept for Superman) but most of the difference will be in his posture. Superman will be trying look as big as possible by puffing his chest out and squaring his shoulders. Clark should be opposite, looking compact, by jutting head down and forward and slouching with his shoulders sagging. that should be enough to make him look his 2 personas significantly different from one another.

 

[bluesteel31]

Wow! that's what you call a superman suit!! I think is about 95% perfect cz i think you can still improve the red boots(looks like dr.martens w/o string). the \S/ is a bit too large, maybe still can reduce by around 5-8%. love the chris reeve neck cut.

is this from SR, or is this a smallville suit?

 

[thorstone]

So, you're not going to address my post thorstone? The one that points out the flaw of your design? Superman grew up on earth and knows the fears of the human race, and with that knowledge he's going to choose a costume that downplays his human side? I don't think so.

I was in a hurry earlier. I don't think Superman is supposed to be a big blue care bear-- the movie needs to capture the kind of amazement and shock that Superman would have created in 1938, and to do that today; you have a lot to compete with.

 

[camp Blood]

Maybe he could use a form of hypnosis to hide his identity at least on those he spends a lot of time with where he risks a higher chance of being found out

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

Yeah I think we'll stick with what Snyder said about Jim Lee and Curt Swan.

Strong red and blue as opposed to muted colours, a middle length cape that drapes over the shoulders, a diamond shaped shield that justifies a smaller size, and pants without a Calvin Klein shape. There, all the problems with Singer's costume, gone.

I'm very confident that this is essentially the look we'll be getting in M.O.S. Swan + Lee. Snyder and co. will likely mess around with looks that deviate from the traditional Superman appearance, but these will only be used to prove how inherently right the Classic look is. They will then kick all of the wacky alternative proposals to the curb. This is the imutable law of the Superman Costume: The Classic Swan/Lee look wins against all comers.

 

[camp Blood]

I wonder if they will nod to the reeves flums though

My mom loves the reeves superman end smile

I think i am gonna make that my avatar tomorrow

 

[Wheels]

I was in a hurry earlier. I don't think Superman is supposed to be a big blue care bear-- the movie needs to capture the kind of amazement and shock that Superman would have created in 1938, and to do that today; you have a lot to compete with.

Superman's goal is to fill people wih hope and optimism. It's far easier for the public to accept Superman with a human likeness. He shouldn't be a care bear, but he shouldn't be cold and emotionless either, which seems to be what you want judging by you're design and choice of actor. Seems to me you like Superman's powers, but want to change his look and personality to suit your taste.

 

[WonderWitch]

au contraire, mon frere...modern = more complex. that's why Iron Man's current suits are more complex than his initial one. that's why various theories about architecture, mathematics, and even the universe are more complicated than ever.

i'm gonna disagree, modern does not automatically = more complex. more technically advanced, maybe, but not more complex, really. simplifying something is in fact far more difficult that it would seem and is usually seen as the more modern approach, at least in the design world. its really easy to complicate something, but to take something down to its essence, to a purer form, is much harder. ever heard of the phrase "less is more?"

some quotes:

"Dealing with complexity is an inefficient and unnecessary waste of time, attention and mental energy. There is never any justification for things being complex when they could be simple." -edward de bono
"The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.”

in architecture "modern" buildings usually are far less visually complex compared to their predecessors. modern buildings have less ornamentation and are more about the building as a whole.

in math isn't it the point of proofs to take things back to the simplest form?

and in science i don't think our theories about the universe are more complex necessarily, the more we understand the clearer and simpler things become. they might seem complex now, but the more we learn the more sense they will make.

also, "if it ain't broke.....

we shouldn't try to reinvent the wheel with a new suit here, a more complicated looking ironman and batman suit for that matter make more sense than a complicated superman suit as they are plain ole humans who really rely on their suit. supes could probably fight crime naked.