superman uniform redux 2

My Design - Click for larger view

As I mentioned in recent post, I've had these ideas about redesigning--and simplifying--Superman's uniform for a while. Its an idea that's been rocking around in my head for a while but I think it may have been the collective nerd whine that went out following the recent movie version of Superman that eliminated the traditional red short pants from Superman's suit. is suit better than uniform? proly more standard [this shrug is for you, nerds]

I've always thought the short pants looked like super-tightey-whiteys, or something,  so my earliest thoughts were about getting rid of those. Just looks like he got dressed in the dark. The little yellow belt helps a little, but its still a little like a European style swimsuit, you know, hot pants for gentlemen.

 

1947(?) comic, used w/o permission

I've also had some other issues with the suit, that are really based on usability and practically. Yes, I get that Kal-El is an alien, and I'm projecting my petty human fashion sense onto his more advanced cultural ways, but come on, I'm not sure it was absolutely clear to his parents what his powers would be when he got to earth, so the cape idea seems a little odd to me, and what has bothered me for a while now is not the idea of a cape. This isn't one of those "No Capes!" mandates laid down by Edna from The Incredibles, this is a design issue. The cape makes no sense, and adds no value to the uniform. Actually, where the cape meets the collar of the suit, it just kind of tucks in, all bunched up on either side, like... no other cape, anywhere. A cape is an article of outerwear, like a coat. Its not just tucked into your crew-necked jersey. 

Its like sewing your scarf onto your shirt: dumb.

Christopher Reeves Superman used w/o permission

The Superman played by Tyler Hoechlin on the Supergirl* TV show tries to solve the dumb cape connection with some heavy straps to anchor it to the suit. Henry Cavill's Superman also has some anchors built into the collar for the cape to engage the suit in a more sensible way.

Why do I point out these examples of other cape connection ideas, simply because other designers have noticed that the cape jammed into the shirt is dumb, and they've all tried to solve this problem. I've eliminated the problem. what holds the cape inside the shirt, safety pins?

Lastly is the red boots, with the pointed tops. Not sure why they're necessary, and they just complicate the overall design. I've streamlined the boots out, integrating them into the suit. And streamline is the word,  the driver, behind my redesign. I've tried to recall the idea, or flourish of a cape by pulling the red down over the shoulders and engaging the El crest. I envision this front and back, by the way.

I've also added a mandarin style collar instead of the boat neck that has traditionally been used, probably because they needed the extra room to jam in the cape. Boat neck just doesn't say uniform. No boots, no cape, no hot pants, no make-pretend belt Henry Cavill suit, I'm looking at you just a simple, identifiable supersuit. More about my redesign of the Superman crest is here.

UPDATE: While working on my recent Wonder Woman suit redesign post I ran across this article from DC which shows a superman suit redesign with a very similar red triangular section on the chest which incorporates the insignia, and eliminates the cape. Still looks they've got him in underpants and red boots but its hard to tell. This also looks like one of their different universe editions, but I'm not a comics guy.

*The original uniform (with the skirt) that Supergirl wore in the current TV show still had the cape-collar-jam, which was even worse than Reeves, given that her collar was more open because shes a girl and we need to see some collar bones? but the current suit (with pants)** has a similar cape anchor strap design to her cousin's in the more recent seasons.

 **I've also been looking at Wonder Woman's uniform, and I have been since before Supergirl got pants. When I saw that Supergirl got pants, my first thought was, hey, I was thinking the same thing for Wonder Woman. Its just looks odd when she stands next to Superman and Batman, and she's half naked, and they are dressed head to toe. More soon...