Category Archives: Bad Super Costumes

I hate feet. They're ugly, they smell bad, and they're poorly designed. The best you can say about feet is that at least they're stuck way down at the end of our bodies so we don't have to think about them very often. But even I don't hate feet as much as Mister Sinister must, because he is wearing two sets of boots to cover them up:

I'm not a fan of flaring hip-boots on male characters in general, but maybe that's just because I'm from Texas, where our boots end at mid-calf. But if you're going to wear them, what in the name of all that's good and right are you doing with yet another pair of flaring boots that end at your ankle? It's just weird, and that's saying something when you're talking about a white-faced, lipstick-wearing, double-starred on head and chest guy with a cloak straight out of La Cage Aux Folles. Seriously, getting attacked by Mr. Sinister must feel like getting mugged by a half-exploded pinata. And that's before he kicks your butt with all four boots.

(Image and character ©1989, Marvel Comics, "The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Update '89".)

I don't have anything bad to say about this costume, but I would pay cash money for his catch phrase to be "Watch out, boys, Mento the Fresh Maker is here!"

I hope Mento soon joins up with his villainous partners "Snicker the Satisfier", muscle-bound "Altoid the Curiously Strong", and the crazy-making mentalist "Almond Joy" (because sometimes you feel like a nut ... ) at their secret lair, "The Candy Rack".

(Image and character ©1985, DC Comics, Inc., "Who's Who" Volume XV.)

While looking over the always-exquisite George Perez-style cover of DC's "Who's Who" (volume VIII), I was brought up short by this gentleman lurking in the background:

Aghast, I opened the book to discover that he's actually one of Aquaman's foes called -- I kid you not -- "Fisherman". With a name like that, you'd expect to find him asleep in a boat with a line in the water and a six pack in the cooler, but apparently he's a little more motivated than your average angler. More the pity for me, the unsuspecting viewer stunned by the character concept while innocently perusing a comic book cover.

Here's a quick note to all of you future super-hero designers out there: never, ever, ever have a character with large pole sticking out of his crotch. And if for some reason you find yourself doing exactly that, by all that's holy do not force him to grab that pole and jerk it towards his enemy to unleash his powers!

I will leave the content of the dialog balloon (undoubtedly filled with cheap innuendos) for this particular image as an exercise for the reader. Some of you will probably think up unbearably clever and inappropriate things he might be saying, and will post them in comments, which will force me to pretend I am dismayed while in reality I cackle with glee.

(Image and character ©1985, DC Comics, Inc. "Who's Who", Volume VIII.)

The French are famous for their fashion sense, which makes "Crimson Fox" a surprise inclusion in the "Bad Super Costumes" log with her ridiculous cape hat:

Is she a cobra or a fox? Maybe a fox in the process of getting eaten by a cobra? Either way, some villainous brick type character is eventually going to grab that irritating long hat tail and use it to smash her into a handy brick wall.

Stealth in the jungle can be achieved in many ways, from The Phantom's dark purple to Tarzan's flesh and simple loin cloth, but B'Wana Beast's approach, which I call "exploded flight of parrots", is certainly the most unique:

I sense the costume designer had an issue of National Geographic in front of him while watching Mexican wrestlers on TV and enjoying the company of Mister Jim Bean. Or, as I suggested above, his car was hit by the cargo of a jackknifed semi full of tropical parrots and he sketched the results.

I can't decide which part of this costume I like best. Is it the bright red bullet helmet with the fabulous leopard-skin trim? The loincloth ripped directly from the table of the nearest Italian restaurant? Or the combination of Iron-Man boots with paw-print toppers? I just wish I could be there when the local tribe finally tells him that "B'Wana" in their language is not, in fact, "Revered White Hunter" but "Runs Around in Dishtowel".

I probably ought to put Jimmy Olsen under the "Legion of Substitute Heroes" clause of the "Bad super costumes" by-laws considering the number of insane things he got involved with during the Golden Age of Superman, but I just can't pass this up.

Look, if you're so pathetically unknown as a super-powered individual (and have no reasonable hope of ever becoming famous) that you feel forced to write your entire name across your chest ... well, that's just sad. If you find yourself in that situation, do us all a favor and just hang up the tights before you embarrass yourself with a scene like:

"Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's ... " (squints) "I can't quite make out the name on the chest ... Elephant something? Eloping Llama? Oh, there's a sale at Macy's on another plane's banner, let's go there instead!"

(Image and character©1985, DC Comics Inc., "Who's Who" Volume III.)

Picture the scene, a hard-up comic book creator desperately seeking a new character for his struggling book. The deadline is looming, and his job is on the line -- he needs help, and quick! Frantic eyes dart around the room, hoping against hope for some sort of inspiration. Nothing on the book shelf, he's already done something with the clock, ditto for the calculator and calendar, no way "Staple Remover Guy" is going to work, there's my leftover bowl of Top Ramen ...

And BAM! Just like that, the day is saved! See, his name is Prince Ra-Man and he has mental powers. Get it? He messes with your noodle. Brilliant!

(Image and character ©1986, DC Comics, Inc., from "Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe", Number 18.)

(Edited to change a couple of words in the post and title, as Prince Ra-Man is actually a hero, not a villain. Apologies to him and the deceased soul of Merlin which lives in him.)

Memo to all super-powered individuals contemplating logos:

Painting a target over your heart makes you -- wait for it -- a target! And while Frank Miller's Dark Knight can get away with claiming the heavy Kevlar vest he wears is the reason for his bright yellow insignia (draw fire to the most protected area), you and I both know most modern super-heroes couldn't hide a sheet of paper beneath the skin-tight spandex of their costumes, much less body armor.

Looking specifically at Geo-Force's costume here, I have to worry particularly about the red line pointing down from the target insignia, as if to say "Hey, if my heart isn't a tempting enough target for your super ray beams of death, take a look at this fantastic alternative!"

First we had Whoopi Goldberg showing up as one of the cosmic powers, and now apparently Scarlett Johansson's lips have been turned into an android:

This is actually the Mad Thinker's "Awesome Android", but surely only the sultry Ms. Johanson's pouty mouth has the power to inspire someone to create a super-villain whose entire head is nothing but lips. I'm tempted to say this evil-doer "sucks", but that would be beneath me. I would, however, pay cash money to have him say "Kiss off!" as he pummels his enemy to smithereens.

(Image and character ©1985, Marvel Comics Group, "The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe", Volume 2, Number 7.)

Somehow I missed it, but in the mid-80's DC cleverly slipped a Gay Pride March into the background of one of their "Who's Who" books, and I think it's great:

I've grayed out the background characters so you can focus in on the brave warriors leading the charge for a comics-wide acceptance of their sexuality. From the very proud "Rainbow Raider" (need I say more about that name?), to the see-through red silk sleeves and striped stockings of "Red Bee", to the flowery jester-like cowl and low-slung floppy boots of "The Ray", and finally to the man-on-man flight of love of "Reactron" and "Reverse Flash", these fabulous men in spandex are finally willing to let it all hang out. It's long past time gay supers had the freedom to come out of the secret closet and fly proud. I salute you, one and all!

The only question I have regards what's going on down in the lower left. That's "Queen" from "The Royal Flush Gang" there in the front position. At first I assumed the character behind her (clearly getting into amorous position) was another female hero, to carry on the gay pride them by including lesbian members. But actually that's "Quicksilver", a male character. Apparently he got the memo that this was a Gay Pride event, and tried to dress like a girl in hopes of getting some time with "The Queen". I give him points for ingenuity, but he's got no chance, as clearly she's staring lustily at "Queen Bee" (not shown) on the other side of the cover. After all, no queen worth her salt would waste time with a commoner, especially considering he's straight and has a reputation for being "extremely speedy", if you know what I mean.

Professional pride prevents me from commenting on the fact that the artist's last name is "Colon". But come on, that's awesome.

(Characters and images ©1986, DC Comics, Inc.)