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Ranking the Top 20 Superman Costumes From Worst to Best


Since 1938, Superman has been the quintessential superhero from all mediums, including comic books, television, movies, video games, and more. With nearly 80 years of history, though, the Man of Steel’s look has changed on numerous occasions.

Some changes have been good; others, not so good. And then there’s some that seemed to defy any reasoning altogether.

There are far too many versions of Superman’s costume to definitively rank ALL of them, but there’s certainly a handful of them that stand out amongst others. That being said, here is our ranking of the top 20 Superman costumes from worst to best:

  1. Action Comics (2011)

    In hindsight, the idea of the costume sported by Superman when Action Comics was re-launched in 2011 makes sense. After all, the series was telling the story of a Man of Steel that was just entering the world of super heroics.

    Still, seeing DC’s flagship character fighting crime in a t-shirt, patched-up jeans, work boots, and a cape that looks like it belongs to a child doesn’t exactly scream “super.”

  2. Tom Welling (Smallville)

    For everything Smallville did right, the series left much to be desired by Superman fans over the course of its 10-season stint on the CW. Most notably, fans wanted to see Tom Welling’s Clark Kent don a comic book-accurate costume.

    In all fairness, the show-runners were always upfront with viewers, with creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar declaring “no tights, no flights” as a general rule for the series. However, in season nine, producers felt it was time to give Welling some sort of special attire for when he was patrolling the streets of Metropolis. What they decided on, though, was far removed from the Big Blue Boy Scout of the comic books.

    The color scheme may have been evocative of the costume seen in post-Death of Superman stories, but the trench coat, jeans, and t-shirt were an odd creative choice. In fact, just swap the iconic “S” for a skull and you’ve got yourself a decent looking Punisher cosplay. 

  3. Kirk Alyn (1948 and 1950 Superman Serials)

    In Kirk Alyn’s defense, he was the first actor to ever play a live-action version of Superman. Still, this look is one that many fans wish they could forget.

    Aside from Alyn not quite having the build one would expect to see on a so-called Man of Steel, the poorly designed costume looks like it was thrown together from items one would find at a thrift store. It doesn’t help that the top half of the suit is made from a sweater, either. 

  4. George Reeves (Adventures of Superman)

    After the serials from the 1948 and 1950, the suit donned by George Reeves in the Adventures of Superman TV series, which aired from 1952-1958, was a step in the right direction. However, it was merely one small step for the Man of Steel, with no giant leaps for mankind in sight.

    The addition of color certainly brought out some of the better aspects of the costume. Still, the oversized briefs and undersized emblem round out what many consider to be another awkward phase in live-action Superman attire.

  5. A Nation Divided (1998)

    Some of the most bizarre-looking Superman costumes of all-time can be found in DC’s Elseworlds-branded books – stories that feature alternate versions of DC characters and take place outside of main DCU canon. One such story is A Nation Divided, which was published in 1998.

    Written by Roger Stern, with art by Eduardo Barreto, A Nation Divided takes place in 1863, during the height of the Civil War. In the story, Atticus Kent, AKA Superman, joins the Union Army to battle Confederate Soldiers that seceded from the United States of America.

    The costume itself appears to be a blend of Supes’ traditional suit and a Union General’s dress uniform, with a small “U” and “A” on either side of the “S” within the symbol of the House of El. As much of an eyesore as the costume may be, it’s definitely clever in the context of the story.

  6. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns)

    Although he bears a slight resemblance to Christopher Reeve, the costume worn by Brandon Routh in Superman Returns doesn’t quite live up to the one worn by the man he was paying homage to. In fact, this is one of the few live-action Superman costumes that seemingly took a step back when compared to its predecessor.

    All of the traditional Man of Steel elements are there, but they just don’t feel right. The cape has a leathery look to it, the emblem is far too small, and the trunks… Dear God, those trunks. There’s a reason many refer to Routh as the “Calvin Klein” version of Superman.

  7. Superman Red and Blue (1998)

    Superman Red and Superman Blue – double the Supermen, double the disappointment!

    In 1998, when Superman developed energy-based abilities, the Last Son of Krypton donned a new blue and white containment suit to prevent the energy from dispersing. However, a trap set by Cyborg Superman caused Kal-El to split into two separate beings, each representing different aspects of his personality.

    Unfortunately, neither personality seemed to have a good sense of fashion, with both Men of Steel opting for suits that made them look like a poor man’s version of Kid Flash.

  8. Superman’s Metropolis (1996)

    Superman’s Metropolis is another Elseworlds title, this one based on German Expressionist Cinema. It’s also part one in a trilogy that also includes Batman: Nosferatu and Wonder Woman: The Blue Amazon.

    The story is written by Jean-Marc Lofficier, Randy Lofficier, and Roy Thomas, and illustrated by Ted McKeever. It takes place in an undetermined future, and dabbles heavily in the concept of class warfare.

    While the steampunk look of Superman’s costume fits nicely within the context of the story, it doesn’t exactly lend itself well to other narratives.

  9. Age of Wonder (2003)

    Another Elseworlds story, another questionable costume. This time, though, it’s a story featuring the entire Justice League of America – JLA: Age of Wonder.

    Written by Adisakdi Tantimedh, with art by P. Craig Russell and Galen Showman, the story takes place in the late 1800s, where Superman reveals his powers to create the League of Science. To better suit the story, Superman’s costume is modified drastically, with obvious European, turn-of-the-century influences. It doesn’t feel very “super,” though unless your idea of “super” is “royal diplomat meets Spanish bullfighter.”

  10. Flashpoint (2011)

    Flashpoint did a lot of things to a lot of characters. For Superman, though, he really got the short end of the stick.

    In the Flashpoint universe, Kal-El’s rocket crash-lands directly in Metropolis, rather than Smallville. The government takes him into custody, and within the confines of the Project Superman labs, Kal grows into a thin, sickly boy with a costume that hangs onto his body like a tissue over a pencil.

  11. New 52 (2011)

    For the third time, a Superman costume first seen in 2011 makes its way onto the list. This time, however, it’s the one most are familiar with – the New 52 costume.

    Designed by famed artist and DC Co-Publisher Jim Lee, the New 52 Superman costume proved to be very divisive amongst comic book fans. Although the suit bridges the gap between Kal-El’s classic look and what we’re seeing on-screen in the DCEU, a lot of readers found the raised turtle/v-neck to be rather off-putting.

    On the whole, though, the costume isn’t bad. In fact, it’s a very sleek look. Ultimately, the larger problem readers had was with the attitude and characterization of the New 52 Superman – perhaps the hate the costume received was just an aftereffect. 

  12. Christopher Reeve (Superman I-IV)

    If you’re looking for a live-action Superman costume that looks like it came straight from the pages of the most iconic stories to ever feature the Man of Steel, look no further than Christopher Reeve.

    The trunks, belt, tights, cape, and emblem are perfect. If you were to look at the covers of most Bronze Age Superman comics, this is a spitting image of what you would see.

    Even though the film franchise took a nosedive, there’s no denying the look of Christopher Reeve’s Superman defined a generation.

  13. Red Son (2003)

    Truth, justice, and the American way? Well, not exactly…

    In arguably one of the most popular Superman Elseworlds stories of all-time, writer Mark Millar posed the question, “what if Superman had been raised in the Soviet Union?” This question resulted in the three-issue miniseries Superman: Red Son.

    Artists Dave Johnson and Killian Plunkett took the iconic Superman costume and completely transformed it with just a few subtle changes. By turning the tights gray and replacing the classic “S” with the USSR hammer and sickle, the Big Blue Boy Scout became “the Champion of the common worker who fights a never-ending battle for Stalin, socialism, and the international expansion of the Warsaw Pact.”

  14. Kingdom Come (1996)

    Superman: Red Son may be one of the most popular Superman Elseworlds stories, but there’s only one book that can claim to be the greatest overall Elseworlds stories of all time, and that story is Kingdom Come.

    Created by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, the Kingdom Come Superman’s costume is incredibly striking, replacing the yellow of the belt and emblem with black. It’s a simple design, and it proves that sometimes, less is more.

  15. Henry Cavill (Man of Steel)

    The Christopher Reeve Superman costume definitely defined a generation. However, Henry Cavill’s turned the Man of Steel into the Man of Tomorrow.

    Some have argued that the suit’s texture is reminiscent of a basketball, but truthfully, it’s an incredibly sleek, futuristic look. It’s both over the top and grounded at the same time. Plus, unlike tights, with just a little suspension of disbelief, it’s not too much of a stretch to say this feels like something you might actually expect someone to wear.

  16. Return of Superman (1993)

    After The Death of Superman, the Man of Steel returned with a costume that featured very few changes from the one he wore previously. The colors were more deeply saturated, but most other elements remained relatively the same.

    Maybe it’s the linear neckline. Maybe it’s the mullet Superman sports. Maybe it’s the era in which I grew up. It’s hard to say, but something about this costume has always stood out. 

  17. Action Comics (1938)

    This costume isn’t this high up on the list because it’s prettier than the others. It’s not here because it’s more streamlined, either. This costume is here because of what it represents.

    Action Comics #1 is the first appearance of Superman. Naturally, the suit he wore holds a special place in the heart of every fan of the Man of Steel.

    The suit was originally inspired by the beloved strongmen of the circus. Who would have thought, nearly 80 years later, that this look would have inspired the looks of so many other iconic heroes?

  18. Lois and Clark (2015)

    After Convergence, the Superman of the pre-Flashpoint DC Universe found himself, as well as his family, displaced in the New 52 Universe. Not wanting to interfere with the work of the New 52 Superman, this Clark Kent decided to operate in secret.

    As Clark explained to his son, Jon, this was a very dark time in his life. For this reason, Kal-El decided to sport a black costume, very similar to the one seen in Reign of the Supermen.

    The lack of the cape, along with the combination of the streamlined black and silver design and the full beard make for a very sharp look. I doubt fans would be disappointed to see it again in the future.

  19. Rebirth (2016)

    Much like the costume from Superman’s debut in Action Comics #1, the costume Supes has been sporting since Rebirth is also here because of what it represents.

    The start of Rebirth also meant the death of the New 52 Superman. With the world in need of a protector, the displaced Clark Kent from Lois and Clark knew it was his duty to make sure the people of Earth had a Superman they could turn to.

    The removal of the turtle/v-neck (seriously, why combine those?) was refreshing, to say the least. However, this new costume still incorporates some of the elements of the New 52 suit that made it unique, such as the sleeves that extend slightly over the wrists, and the red belt. It’s a modern take on a classic concept, preserving the legacy of the character in a stylish manner.

  20. Superman: The Animated Series

    Anything you could possibly want from a Superman costume, you’ll find in the Bruce Timm design popularized in Superman: The Animated Series. Even beyond the costume itself, everything about the character design is perfect.

    The spit curl, the beady eyes, the chin dimple, the barrel chest, the cape, the tights, the emblem, the trunks, the belt, the boots – this is truly the epitome of Superman.

    Show this design to anyone across the world, and they’ll likely recognize this is none other than the Man of Steel. It’s for this reason that the costume from Superman: The Animated Series towers above the rest as the number one greatest Superman costume of all-time.

    Do you agree, or is there another costume you think should be number one? Let us know in the comments section!

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