So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
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So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
a lot of characters have had more than one costume update over the years, and some of those updates were more successful than others. some became iconic. Others...didn't. While other characters only achieved some level of recognition after being updated. But why?
Here are some costumes which have become pretty much forgotten, some of which I rather liked...
Hank Pym's second Goliath outfit: most artists these days only seem to remember the blue and gold one, for some reason.
The Falcon's short lived original look...
...and his even shorter lived 1990s look.
Captain Britain's updated costume from Excalibur #94-110.
The Human Torch's early 70s look, an homage to the original Human Torch of the 1940s.
The Angel's outfit from early issues of The Champions, after he moved to California...
...and his pre-X-Men "Avenging Angel" costume, an early retcon.
This one never even made it into an actual issue of X-Factor: it saw print only in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #1.
And Hawkeye, circa Avengers #100: I am baffled as to why this one didn't last longer!
Here are some costumes which have become pretty much forgotten, some of which I rather liked...
Hank Pym's second Goliath outfit: most artists these days only seem to remember the blue and gold one, for some reason.
The Falcon's short lived original look...
...and his even shorter lived 1990s look.
Captain Britain's updated costume from Excalibur #94-110.
The Human Torch's early 70s look, an homage to the original Human Torch of the 1940s.
The Angel's outfit from early issues of The Champions, after he moved to California...
...and his pre-X-Men "Avenging Angel" costume, an early retcon.
This one never even made it into an actual issue of X-Factor: it saw print only in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #1.
And Hawkeye, circa Avengers #100: I am baffled as to why this one didn't last longer!
Last edited by tony ingram on Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:16 am; edited 1 time in total
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
And just so that it doesn't seem I'm discriminating in favour of (or against) Marvel, here's the Robin of Earth Two in his 1960s uniform!
And my personal favourite Alan Scott Green Lantern uniform!
And my personal favourite Alan Scott Green Lantern uniform!
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
I like the Alan Scott one, and Hawkeye in a miniskirt.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
It'a a 12th Century style archer's outfit, definitely not a miniskirt. Honest!Lucy McGough wrote:I like the Alan Scott one, and Hawkeye in a miniskirt.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Yeah, right.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
It was the 1970s... Â
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
I like most of the costumes you posted, but always thought the Angel's outfit from early issues of the Champions looked very dull. Â Or maybe it was just the way Don Heck drew it that I disliked.
Some other undeservedly obscure costumes that spring to mind include the Valkyrie's short-lived gold outfit from Defenders #40 & Annual #1 (designed by John Byrne, I think).
Doctor Strange's mid-90s look from Mark Buckingham's run on Doctor Strange:Sorceror Supreme
Wonder Man's second costume from Avengers #161-166 (far right)
Some other undeservedly obscure costumes that spring to mind include the Valkyrie's short-lived gold outfit from Defenders #40 & Annual #1 (designed by John Byrne, I think).
Doctor Strange's mid-90s look from Mark Buckingham's run on Doctor Strange:Sorceror Supreme
Wonder Man's second costume from Avengers #161-166 (far right)
Last edited by Philip K Ditko on Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
I remember all of those, and I always particularly liked that Wonder Man outfit. I wish he'd kept it longer. Must have been hell to draw, though, all that detail!
Here are two abortive designs for Cyclops from the same run of OHTMU which gave us that Angel design above.
Here are two abortive designs for Cyclops from the same run of OHTMU which gave us that Angel design above.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Is the first pose swiped from Colossus' pose on Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum's cover to Giant-Sized X-Men #1? The second costume looks particularly bad and seems to focus on Cyke's crotch.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Now that you mention it, you're right. It's like there's an arrow pointing at it. Also, his head is too small.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
I think the second one is just very badly drawn, and that was actually his profile picture! But it's interesting, I think, to note that in a Handbook published in the same month that X-Factor #1 came out, just a week or two before, they still hadn't finalised the costumes!
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Or maybe Cyclops just has a naturally small head.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
He's always seemed a bit of a big head to me.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Didn't angel wear that red and white costume when he was in The New Defenders? Or was it just a similar one?
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
A similar one. His New Defenders one (which he actually adopted in the later issues of The Champions in the mid 70s, and wore for about ten years) had a chest symbol. It was basically a red and white version of his Neal Adams designed blue and white costume from the late sixties.Sam_Vimes wrote:Didn't angel wear that red and white costume when he was in The New Defenders? Or was it just a similar one?
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
The problem is, if you put a red and white costume in the washing machine the colours might run and you'd end up wearing pink.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
I think you're forgetting, costumes in the Marvel Universe are made of unstable molecules and treated with Reed Richards's patented colourfast serum.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Doesn't 'made of unstable molecules' mean 'radioactive'?
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Umm, possibly. but don't tell them.Lucy McGough wrote:Doesn't 'made of unstable molecules' mean 'radioactive'?
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
I always wondered why anyone though this would be a good look for Cosmic Boy:
Honestly, it looks like he was dressed to go see The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but didn't have time to put on any makeup.
Honestly, it looks like he was dressed to go see The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but didn't have time to put on any makeup.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Since Cos was actually in that costume when I started reading LSH, I've always actually rather liked it. At least it wasn't pink.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
That was before and after.tony ingram wrote:Since Cos was actually in that costume when I started reading LSH, I've always actually rather liked it. At least it wasn't pink.
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
Seriously, I know it was the late fifties, but what self respecting superhero wears a pink and white costume?
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Re: So, Why Did These Costumes Never Catch On?
One who is strong and confident in his masculinity!
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