From Doctor Strange to The Batman, there are more than a few ways to earn incredible powers. Sometimes it’s a lab accident, sometimes it’s inherited through a genetic mutation, and sometimes a dying alien protector bestows his powers upon the one who finds his corpse. However, there are those exceptions who choose to literally wear their powers on their sleeves.
Many of the costumes in question have become symbols of a whole host of heroes whose only call to action is to simply get dressed. Gamma rays, mutagens, and radioactive spider bites are all effective ways to receive superpowers, but sometimes it can be as easy as putting on a costume or a mask.
Mermaidman
An honorable mention to be sure, but Mermaid Man from SpongeBob SquarePants makes an interesting point in the episode, “Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy V.” Unlike their comic book inspirations, the Justice League, The International Justice League of Super Acquaintances all receive their powers and abilities through their suits.
Mermaidman himself even states “Power’s all in the costume, why else would we run around in colored undies?” That means that Bikini Bottom’s defenders against the forces of evil only have their incredible abilities whenever they suit up.
Steel
Steel could be described as Superman with Thor’s hammer, which isn’t an entirely untrue description. Sometimes called the literal man of steel, John Henry Irons assumed the mantle of Superman after his death at the hands of Doomsday, but went in a more original direction instead of being the garden-variety Superman copycat.
Although the man’s gigantic frame already makes him quite an intimidating force, Steel is equipped with an engineered power suit and a mighty sledgehammer constructed by Irons and his gift for mechanical engineering. He’s essentially granted the basic powers and abilities of Superman without the weakness to Kryptonite.
Blue Beetle
Some heroes are born with powers, others achieve their powers, and some have their powers thrust upon them. Case in point, Jaime Reyes and the alien scarab that granted him the technological prowess of the Blue Beetle. The third and current incarnation of the blue-hued hero, the character as fans know him today is given more than a power suit with his origin story.
Not only does Blue Beetle receive armor and technological abilities from an alien artifact, but the scarab secures itself to his spine, allowing for an organic element similar to Doc Ock and his mechanical tendrils. One Crisis on Infinite Earths later, the Beetle is trained up by Booster Gold and brought into the Justice League.
Ant-Man
Whether it’s Hank Pym and his famous particles or Scott Lang and the stolen suit, Ant-Man’s incredible shrinking suit and helmet are what grant him his size manipulation and power over the insect kingdom. The MCU’s interpretation is perhaps the most famous, but there’s still something to be said for the retro stylings of the original.
Size manipulation and ant-communication are just the tip of the suit’s proverbial iceberg, as it also grants its wearer superhuman strength and excessive durability. That’s not even including the occasional gadgetry and flamethrower previously seen in some versions of the suit. As the saying goes, big things come in small packages.
Batman (Terry McGuiness)
While it’s also true that Bruce Wayne gains most of his abilities through his training and tech, Terry McGuinness from Batman Beyond has most of his abilities, powers, and perks coming literally from his high-tech suit. Even though Bruce and his utility belt will always be the gold standard of Batsuits, the one worn by his young successor undoubtedly has more bells and whistles.
Along with an array of different Batarangs and grappling hooks seen in the original suit, Terry’s upgraded skin-tight Batsuit comes equipped with futuristic advantages such as cameras, voice communicators, retractable claws and wings, rocket boots, and an incredible stealth mode just to name a few. And they say the clothes don’t make the man.
Venom
One of the most chilling quotes from Venom’s 2018 film debut has to be “We are Venom.” It’s one thing to have a super-powered suit made in a science lab, it’s another for it to be a living alien organism with a variety of fearsome powers and an appetite for brains. Fueled by rage and adrenaline, there are few antiheroes/villains more dangerous than this sinister symbiote.
Alone, Eddie Brock is just an angry journalist with a particular disdain for New York’s resident wall-crawler. But when the clingy symbiote latches onto him, he becomes a ravenous force to be reckoned with, especially with that super strength, deadly tendrils, and insatiable appetite.
The Mask
Although substantially less violent than his comic book counterpart, Jim Carrey’s green and grinning alter ego has all the makings of a comedic superhero once the titular mask takes total control. The Mask is what would happen if Roger Rabbit became a superhero, complete with all the cartoony abilities that come with the territory.
Bodily manipulation, hammerspace abilities, and limited reality manipulation are just a few powers that come with Loki’s mask. Given the fact that Stanley Ipkiss is a good soul with a penchant for cartoons, it’s a good thing the mask found its way to him instead of someone with a more violent imagination.
Buzz Lightyear
Space Ranger, superhero, and occasional pain in Woody’s neck, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command is one of Pixar’s first heroes, and he has the power suit to back it up. Known for flying to infinity and beyond, Buzz protects the galaxy from the Evil Emperor Zurg, but he can’t do it with just his muscles and deep voice alone.
Thanks to the newly released Lightyear, Buzz has been given a significant upgrade from his plastic toy counterpart. He still retains the iconic spaceman design seen in Toy Story, but with an epic sci-fi flair worthy of a summer blockbuster. It’s easy to see how any kid would want a toy modeled on someone like Buzz.
Green Lantern
Though it might be cheating to include something as simple as a Green Lantern ring, the suit technically does come with the source of the hero’s power. Whether it’s Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, or Jessica Cruz, the powers of the Green Lantern Corps are limited by only the hero’s imagination.
Easily one of the most powerful artifacts in the superhero genre, a Green Lantern ring is about as loaded as a comic character can get. Able to manifest anything from swords and automatic weapons to fully armored jet fighters, it’s definitely one ring to rule them all.
Iron Man
If he can dream it, he can build it. Along with his arc reactor, Tony Stark built 61 different Iron Man suits to protect the world from several different threats. From the basic Mark I suit to the gigantic Hulkbuster, the number of suits and abilities are as eclectic and powerful as Tony’s trademark swagger.
While his Mark LXXXV Armor is his most used and most powerful, Tony has built a suit for every occasion to deal with any sort of Avengers-level threat. Simply put, there are very few limits to what the literal army of power suits can do.
