Summary
Fans have experienced a new take on the Metropolis Marvel thanks to James Gunn’s Superman, which kickstarts a new universe of DC movies and shows. The legacy of Superman continues to give each actor a signature costume that brings Superman’s famous suit to life in a style that matches the movie and the director.
Superman is a symbol of hope and justice for the people of the DC Universe, but also in real life, so the visuals of Superman have had an iconic aesthetic that resonates with people. They range from original designs to direct live-action adaptations of specific comic book costumes. That includes Superman portrayals from across the movies and shows from over the years.
The Superman that was lost and only became official thanks to a cameo inThe Flash.Nicolas Cagewas officially cast as Superman in Tim Burton’sSuperman Lives, but it was cancelled before any filming began due to creative differences with the studio.Veteran director Tim Burtonleft the project to makeSleepy Hollow, and only pictures of Nicolas Cage as Superman existed.
However, for a memorable yet controversial segment ofThe Flash, Nicolas Cage’s Superman finally saw the light of day by being brought to life through CGI. It showcased a more metallic suit that felt more like armor than a typical suit, with highly saturated blues, reds, and yellows that made the material appear shiny. It showed the potential ofSuperman Livesand how Cage’s take on the character would have been a unique one.
After a long hiatus, the Man of Steel finally returned to the big screen withSuperman Returns, a moviethat retcons the timelineto be a sequel toSuperman 2. As a result, Brandon Routh came in and proved to be uncannily similar to Christopher Reeve in appearance, performance, and suit.
There are noticeable differences in Brandon Routh’s costume, such as a longer symbol and the blue bodysuit being a thicker material than what Reeve wore. The biggest downgrade to the suit is the coloring, with the reds coming off more as brown in a lot of sequences, while the blues are more vibrant than most suits to create an ill-fitting contrast.
Henry Cavill’s suit was given a much-needed increase in color forBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. The sapphire blue and blood red made the suit pop in what was a dark and dismal version of the DC Universe that needed a symbol of hope like his portrayal. The longer cape, alien armor design, and new colors made Henry Cavill look majestic, even when he was fighting Batman.
The second Superman suitfor the DC Extended Universeis very similar to what was seen in Man of Steel, which has its pros and cons. The suit is slightly busier, with new details like the swirls of Kryptonian language etched into the symbol, and the built-in belt is even more noticeable than before. It’s still undeniably Henry Cavill’s suit and helped define his era as Superman.
When Tyler Hoechlin first debuted as Superman on the CW’sSupergirlseries, his suit left viewers scratching their heads with the design, but that all changed after he gothis own spin-off Superman series. InSuperman & Lois, the cape straps were gone, and Tyler Hoechlin was given a bulkier second suit that returned to a more classic design, while keeping the darker colors.
The suit would get slight updates across the four seasons, but it would remain the same overall design and become recognized as Tyler Hoechlin’s most iconic suit. It’s a heavy middle ground between modernized and classic, which is what fans often describe Tyler Hoechlin’s performance, turningSuperman & Loisinto a beloved portrayal of Superman.
After being killed by Doomsday inBatman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, onlyone suit from the comicsmade sense inZack Snyder’s Justice League:the resurrection suit. After Clark is brought back to life by his immortal cells and the Mother Box, he makes an epic return to being Superman with an all-black suit found in the Fortress of Solitude.
While it lacks the famous mullet and metallic silvers of theDeath Of Supermanstoryline and is essentially a recoloredDawn Of Justicesuit, it was a delight to see Henry Cavill make an epic entrance and fight Steppenwolf. It was the last time Henry Cavill truly got to shine as the character that made his career and helped establish the DCEU.
In one of the best episodes ofSuperman & Lois, fans got to see thefirst yearof Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman, and it was a big plate of service for comic book fans. Not only does he replicate the iconic cover ofAction Comics #1with Superman lifting a green car, but he’s wearing a suit directly inspired by the 1941 Superman suit, which was also used in the Max Fleischer animated series.
During a time when superhero suits always had to be changed or modified to fit a sense of realism, Tyler Hoechlin’s 1941-inspired suit showcased thatcomic accuracy is not a bad thing. Tyler Hoechlin not only looked excellent in the suit, but the colors and design translated well into live-action, especially in the context that it was a suit created by Martha Kent.
While not everyone was a fan of the direction that Zack Snyder took withMan of Steel, Henry Cavill continued the legacy of Superman with grace to kickstartwhat became the DC Extended Universe. His suit is similar to the others, with a bodysuit made up of alien mail that makes it look like bio-organic matter, heavily emphasizing his and Clark Kent’s alien origin.
The belt and waist accents, along with the absence of trunks, contribute to Henry Cavill’s distinctive appearance, particularly with the more simplistic House of El crest on his chest. The only real downside to this suit is the desaturation of colors, which was improved when the suit made a surprise comeback with Cavill’s surprise cameo inBlack Adam. It was fitting that Henry’s tenure began and ended with the same suit.
Superhero movies as they exist today wouldn’t exist withoutChristopher Reeveand his take on the character that began withSuperman: The Moviein 1978. From his pitch-perfect duality between Clark Kent and Superman to his charming and family-friendly performance in suit, he became the gold standard of what people think of when they imagine the iconic character.
The suit is not that different from what is seen in the comics: a blue suit, red trunks, a cape, and beloved S-shaped shield on his chest, which Christopher Reeve wore perfectly. As a result, the suit never much changed across the four movies in which he was featured, leaving its impact on comic book movie history.
Instead of one specific comic book,David Corenswet’s debut suitfor James Gunn’sSupermanand the new DCU takes bits and pieces from many eras of the character. The main bulk of the suit is highlyreminiscent of the New 52with padded armor and lines to make him look more alien. He has a symbol directly based onKingdom Come, and his red trunks are straight out ofAll-Star Supermanand classic Golden Age Superman.
The result of the mix is an already iconic suit that is unlike any cinematic suit, which is balanced out with a performance by David Corenswet, establishing him as the Superman for a whole new generation. While it is likely that James Gunn will give David Corenswet new suits across the DCU, fans will likely always remember how the character debuted.
When Brandon Routh made a triumphant return inCrisis on Infinite Earths, the filmmakers could have given him the same suit fromSuperman Returns, and fans would have been happy. However, they went above and beyond to create a bold suit that, much like Hoechlin’s Fleischer suit, is taken straight out of the pages of the comics, particularlyKingdom Come.
With the gray streaks in his hair, black and red symbol, and the largest Superman symbol yet, Brandon Routh proved he still fit in the role of Superman over a decade after he left it. Fans enjoyed the suit and Brandon so much that they hoped that Brandon Routhwould get an Elseworlds specialon the CW or HBO Max.
