Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern are just some of the iconic heroes DC Comics has debuted over their more than 80 years publishing comics. From Darwyn Cooke, to Jack Kirby, to Neal Adams, to Jim Lee, a number of comic creators have put their personal stamp on some amazing costumes and character designs. However, out of the thousands of costumes created under the DC Comics umbrella, five stand out as the best of all time.
Choosing five of the best DC Comics costumes was a very challenging assignment. After digging through the best redesigns of all time and also the worst looks worn by DC characters, looking for the best of the best wasn’t easy, as there were an overwhelming amount of options. Costumes that were considered but just missed making the list including Darwyn Cooke’s Catwoman redesign, multiple looks worn by Wonder Woman and the Flash, Gil Kane’s Green Lantern, C.C. Beck’s Shazam, and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez’s Donny Troy outfit. With that said, here are the five best costumes in DC Comics history.
Batman Beyond
Doing a new take on Batman, arguably DC’s most iconic hero, is a daunting task. But, when Bruce Timm and Paul Dini created a futuristic version of the character for a new cartoon in 1999, they absolutely nailed the new interpretation of the Dark Knight. Terry McGinnis would become Batman Beyond, who wore Bruce Wayne’s last suit before retirement.
The look was sleek and futuristic while keeping the best details of the original Batsuit. Batman Beyond had a large, red bat symbol, long pointed ears, and a form-fitting costume. His entire face is covered, with only white eyes and his mouth being seen. One of the best features is changing Batman’s cape into a retractable glider. Batman Beyond just looks awesome – and even 20 years after the armored Batsuit first debuted, it still looks ahead of its time.
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is one of DC Comics’ oldest characters, as he originally debuted in More Fun Comics #55 in 1940. Created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman, Fate is the most powerful magic user in the DC Universe, whose look absolutely matches his immense abilities. From the getgo, Doctor Fate’s costume was iconic, as his Helmet of Fate might be the single coolest costume accessory/artifact a DC hero has ever worn.
Fate’s gold helmet is unique and recognizable and mixed with his stand-out color scheme, makes him a can’t-miss character. With the Amulet of Anubis, the Cloak of Destiny, and the Helmet of Fate, all of his most powerful tools are part of his costume. Hopefully, when Pierce Brosnan plays the character in Black Adam, they keep his original look – the brighter, the better.
Mister Miracle & Big Barda
There were a number of Jack Kirby characters worth adding to this list, including Metron, Orion, Etrigan the Demon, and more. But, among his best creations and designs at DC Comics, Mister Miracle and Big Barda rank atop the list.
Mister Miracle is the universe’s greatest escape artist, who can break free of any trap – including when he broke out of Apokolips after being traded in a peace pact with Darkseid. His red, green, and yellow costume, with some iconic usual Kirby elements sprinkled throughout. Meanwhile, Big Barda has a completely over-the-top outfit, with a chunky helmet, that really emphasizes she’s a great warrior. The blue scaled features with gold and red armor pieces make Barda’s design one of the most unique costumes ever. While it’s not part of their costumes, making Barda noticeably taller than Mister Miracle was also a nice touch for one of DC’s best couples.
Superman
I mean, what is there to say that hasn’t already been said before? Superman’s costume is truly great, as the Man of Steel is one of the most instantly recognizable superheroes on the planet.
Created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, Superman’s outfit hasn’t changed all that much since he debuted in Action Comics #1 more than 80 years ago. Superman’s blue costume, red flowing cape, boots, and trunks (which have come and go in different interpretations of the character) make the indestructible hero one of the best-looking superheroes. The outfit is really defined by his iconic logo on his chest – which despite undergoing a number of tweaks over the years – has always been what makes Superman’s costume great.
No matter how many times Superman’s costume is changed, whether that’s turning him electric blue or giving him a fully black costume, DC Comics keeps coming back to his classic look because it ultimately defines Kal-El. Nothing will ever top the look and any attempts to do so are completely foolish. Superman’s costume is comic perfection.
Batman
Like Superman, Batman still wears a very similar costume to the one he first wore when he debuted in Detective Comics #27 back in 1939. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman’s original design has many features that are still part of the hero’s Batsuit today. With a long, dramatic cape and cowl, a greyish suit with a black bat logo, and black boots to match, the Dark Knight is one of the most intimidating-looking characters ever – which is quite the feat, considering the idea of a bat man is inherently silly.
Batman’s Batsuit has changed a little over the years, as elements such as the sharp fins on his gauntlets being added in the 40s, and the loss of his trunks in the 90s. Still, no matter what tweaks are made to his costume, DC Comics has made sure not to mess with his look for too long. That is absolutely the right call as Batman’s core look simply can’t be improved on. Batman’s costume, cape, and cowl are what make him one of the most important and beloved figures in both DC Comics and pop culture history.
