Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe began, Marvel has positioned itself as the studio that would accurately translate the comics to the big screen in a way other studios wouldn’t. While they are still willing to make changes when needed, they have captured such brand loyalty among fans for more drastic changes by bringing to life some of comics’ most iconic heroes in stunningly accurate suits. They don’t just take what’s on the page and put it on screen; they need to consider real human anatomy and clothing textures. Yet the results have been superhero costumes that honor the spirit of the original comics while working within a live-action medium.
Even though the MCU has introduced some drastic changes to some characters, it has, for the most part, focused on capturing the work of hundreds of Marvel artists over the years and translating it to the big screen. Having been running for 17 years, the MCU has no lack of comic-accurate costumes. Here are the 10 best superhero suits in the MCU that perfectly translate an iconic look from the comics.
10
Wolverine
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)
The big selling point of bringing back Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, possibly undermining the ending to Logan, was finally allowing Jackman to wear the iconic yellow and blue costume. While Jackman is easily the definitive take on Wolverine, and whoever follows him will have some big shoes to fill, fans were always disappointed he never got to wear the hero’s signature costume. Despite teases in a deleted scene from The Wolverine, it was always either black leather, combat armor, or standard clothes for Wolverine during the 20th Century Fox era.
The reveal of Jackman’s Wolverine suit was a highly anticipated one. While the suit for most of the movie features sleeves, an addition for Jackman due to his high risk of skin cancer, by the film’s climax, the sleeves have been shed, and it looks like the iconic Wolverine costume from the comics and X-Men: The Animated Series. While the mask might have been one step too much, as the white eyes didn’t fully translate, it was a moment 24 years in the making, so it was hard to complain.
9
Captain America
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ (2021)
In the final episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson finally donned his own Captain America costume. While the neckpiece looked slightly off in live-action and was removed when the suit was brought back for the opening of Captain America: Brave New World, the initial suit was a sight to behold. It looked like it had leaped right off the comic onto the screen.
Even though Sam Wilson’s primary suit for Captain America: Brave New World featured more toned-down colors, serving as his version of the Stealth Suit that Steve Rogers wears in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, this first suit feels like the iconic take on what Sam’s version of Captain America should be. Even with only one episode, it made an impression and is an impressive accomplishment in translating a comic costume into live-action.
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8
Ms. Marvel
‘Ms. Marvel’ (2022)
Ms. Marvel might be one of the newer heroes in both Marvel Comics and the MCU, but she has a distinct look that fans were eager to see translated into live-action. Like all Disney+ MCU series, Kamala Khan gets her supersuit in the penultimate episode before suiting up for the finale. While the time with the costume is brief, it is an incredible translation from the comic to live-action.
The suit maintains the same signature color and patterns but also has its own distinct texture, a slightly more armored look that makes sense given that it was made by her mother, who likely wanted to protect her daughter. Ms. Marvel does don this suit for the opening scene of The Marvels, but quickly changes into a different costume that, while good in its own right, doesn’t capture the same iconic look as her Disney+ series look. Hopefully, she gets to wear this classic costume in future MCU projects.
7
Captain America
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
Over the course of the MCU, Steve Rogers’ Captain America had many distinctive looks that were all great in their own right. From making his Golden Age costume his USO tour uniform to the WW2-inspired take on the Captain America looks, Captain America had some of the best costumes in the entire franchise. Yet his best, and most comic-accurate, was his final suit in Avengers: Endgame.
The most significant point for comic accuracy was the chain metal look on the armor, which gave the suit a texture similar to the comics that the prior films never quite matched, as it often looked more like bulletproof padding. It might have been his last MCU movie, but Captain America’s outfit in Avengers: Endgame perfectly captured the look of the Star-Spangled Avenger from the comics.
6
Captain Marvel
‘Captain Marvel’ (2019)
In 2012, Marvel Comics upgraded Carol Danvers from Ms. Marvel to Captain Marvel, and artist Jamie McKelvie gave the hero a new redesign that merged Carol’s past looks with the original Mar-Vel to create something unique, distinctive, and iconic. When it came time to adapt Captain Marvel to the big screen, it was clear what costume they would use, and the finished product is a near-perfect recreation. While it might lose the sash around the waist and features a more armored look, the 2019 Captain Marvel film is one of the most striking adaptations of a comic costume come to life.
Captain Marvel actually might have some of the most underrated MCU costumes. Her outfit in Avengers: Endgame is modeled after the original Mar-Vel Captain Marvel suit, while The Marvels features Carol Danvers in a slightly closer take on the iconic comic suit, removing the armored feeling in place of a traditional fabric. Yet nothing quite tops how iconic and influential that 2019 suit looks, particularly when the helmet is out and gives Carol Danvers her iconic mohawk.
5
Doctor Strange
‘Doctor Strange’ (2016)
Doctor Strange has one of the simplest costumes from the comics, so translating it to film is pretty easy. While the 2016 film doesn’t have the signature gloves (they do have a brief appearance in Thor: Ragnarok), the rest of Doctor Strange’s costume from his first film is a nearly spot-on recreation. Despite Doctor Strange being a lesser-known character to general audiences, Marvel knew they had a winning look on their hands as the teaser trailer for Doctor Strange built up to the grand reveal of his costume.
What is even better is how the movie explains every piece of his outfit as something he earns throughout the film. The signature blue tunic is his student uniform, while the Cloak of Levitation is a sentient magical artifact that chooses Strange. Finally, the mystical Eye of Agamotto being revealed as the Time Stone was fantastic and showed how much thought and care went into bringing Doctor Strange to the big screen and making every element of his costume feel vital.
4
She-Hulk
‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ (2022)
Neither She-Hulk nor her cousin, The Hulk, would traditionally count on this list because they are more character designs than costumes. Jennifer Walters gets put on this list because the MCU features her in the iconic She-Hulk costume from the comics, while the MCU Hulk doesn’t wear his signature purple pants. Created in the universe by fashion designer Luke Jacobson in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk costume is functional and stylish and is designed to grow and shrink with Jennifer Walters in both her human and She-Hulk forms.
It maintains the iconic look from the She-Hulk comics while moving from a bathing suit to a traditional workout uniform. The MCU suit keeps the signature white and purple color scheme that perfectly complements her green skin, giving her a visually distinctive pop. This also doesn’t count the incredible regular suits She-Hulk wears as a lawyer, perfectly capturing the vibe of the iconic 2000s She-Hulk comic covers. She-Hulk gets double points for both her superhero and professional suits.
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3
Spider-Man Final Suit
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)
Despite appearing for less than a minute, the final suit in Spider-Man: No Way Home is a costume so good that it was part of PlayStation’s Marvel Spider-Man 2 video game and seemingly will be kept for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The MCU’s Spider-Man suit gave fans elements they had always wanted, like expressive eyes. At the same time, Spider-Man: Homecoming featured a bright blue accent, while Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s black underarms evoked the initial The Amazing Fantasy #15 artwork. However, the franchise’s heavily armored Spider-Man looks took away much of the character’s appeal.
The ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home promised a back-to-basics approach, with Peter Parker sewing his costume. In bright, vibrant blue and red, this costume looks like it leaped straight out of Marvel’s Silver Age of Comics and blends elements of Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr.’s artwork. Spider-Man has had many great cinematic costumes, from the iconic raised webbing of Tobey Maguire’s suit to the 1990s comic-accurate suit worn by Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland’s final Spider-Man costume in No Way Home stands side by side with them as one of the best.
2
Thor
Thor (2011)
While Thor: Love and Thunder features a brief cameo from the original Silver Age Thor costume, 2011’s Thor set the gold standard for Thor’s MCU look. Drawing heavily from French artist Oliver Coipel’s redesign of Thor for J. Michael Straczynski’s run on the character, Coipel gave the character an armored chain metal for the arms. This sold Thor as a warrior and visually separated him as not an average type of superhero, but a character from not only another era, but also an aesthetic.
Even though Thor opted out of letting the hero wear his signature helmet, aside from a brief scene in the opening, the rest of the costume is so spot on that it can be excused. The filmmakers emphasized the god of thunder’s flowing golden hair and showcased Chris Hemsworth’s movie star looks. Thor was easily the riskiest Marvel character to adapt, and if not done correctly, could sink Marvel’s plans for an interconnected universe. With the Thor costume in the 2011 film, Marvel showed he was a character to be taken seriously.
1
Iron Man Mark III Suit
‘Iron Man’ (2008)
Iron Man was the one who started it all, so who else could it be? Marvel Studios took a big gamble making Iron Man their first film as an independent film studio. While the B-list armored avenger might have seemed like an odd pick, the hero’s vast array of colorful armored suits made him ideal for merchandise. When Marvel Studios unveiled the first look at Iron Man, fans were gobsmacked at how comic-accurate it looked. The filmmakers drew heavily from Adi Granov’s 2005 redesign of the Iron Man armor, as the artist looked to make the suit look functional for the first time.
The filmmakers made a near-perfect recreation of Granov’s artwork, with one small modification: they gave Iron Man a circular chest piece similar to the Silver Age Iron Man costumes. While 2002’s Spider-Man brought the bright, vibrant colors to superhero costumes, in the 2000s, there still seemed to be a fear of translating the comics’ costumes to the big screen.
For an audience used to leather-bound X-Men and Daredevil and even heavily designed Batman costumes, Iron Man was like nothing they had ever seen. Even with the MCU’s future Iron Man suits pulling from the comics, like Iron Man 2‘s suitcase armor being modeled after the Silver Centurion Suit or the Hulkbuster Armor from Avengers: Age of Ultron, the original 2008 Iron Man is the gold standard for comic-accurate costumes in the MCU.
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