Hello again! For this dazzling third post I thought i’d burble on about one of the most important and world shatteringly important issues in the world of American comics. Original superhero costumes that were changed decades ago for perfectly sound reasons but which i stubbornly still prefer.
Ok, here’s my list of favoured originals-
1. Green Arrow Original
Above we have examples of the wonderful classic original version of Green Arrow’s costume. All you need for an evening of archery based crime fighting in Star City ! A blaze of green and red with a yellow quiver, topped off with a cap at a jaunty angle with a red feather stuck in it. The opaque eye mask is just the icing on the cake !
Not a great deal of protection from the elements, though, I imagine. And perhaps he could strap something around each arm to protect them from the constant repetitive strain of loosing arrows off every five minutes. And I suppose he could toughen his image up a little, grow a beard or something to intimidate criminals more ( criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot, you know)…
Green Arrow 2
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OH. Moving on..
Daredevil Original
Daredevil’s sweet original outfit-It’s earthy and it’s gritty. It’s homespun -literally- he sewed it all together from his boxer dad’s old gym gear, and it perfectly reflects his background and who he is. It’s crowning glory is Daredevil’s click to assemble billy club, fitting in perfectly with the sightless theme of the character. It even had a nifty backpack at one stage ! An absolute classic.
I suppose you might be perfectly within your rights to say it’s not the greatest costume ever committed to the comic book page, though. It certainly has a… unique colour scheme, but in a very real sense Matt did dress in the dark, so there is that. Come to think of it, it’s not incredibly sleek or aerodynamic either…
Daredevil 2
Or I suppose if you’re a fan of a sleek and timeless costume design…
Captain Marvel Original
Now this little beauty has a special place in this sad comic fan’s heart. Can’t explain it, maybe it’s because of all that white in his costume, reminding me of another of my favourite superhero designs, Space Ghost. (I sense another post coming on). Alright, i’ll try. Green and white colour scheme. Peaked helmet/mask. Cool Universal Beam Blaster, even a jet belt, for goodness sake ! That ringed planet emblem on his chest doesn’t hurt either.
Captain Marvel 2
Cap’s change of apparel happened in the same issue (#16). I suppose to the casual observer it was superior in every way and it’s red and blue colour scheme more exciting on the printed page, not to mention the striking yellow starburst symbol in the centre of his chest. Alright if you like that sort of thing, I suppose…
Well, you’re probably all nodding off to sleep now, so i’ll spare you any further musings on the vital subject of super hero costume changes. Love to hear your opinions!
