Superhero costumes can be awesome—but they can also be pretty over-the-top. For every iconic Superman there’s a Green Lantern lurking in the corner, all skintight neon and painted-on masks. Women seem particularly cursed with bad superhero outfits. Random cutouts, staggeringly large chests – these ladies are lucky if they get enough fabric to cover their entire stomachs. But of course not all super-heroine outfits stink; some are tasteful, functional and classic. So here are choices for the best – and the most ridiculous – female superhero looks:
The Awesome:
Jean Grey as the Phoenix
As soon as Jean Grey turns into the Phoenix, her costume gets taken to a whole new level. In the movie she looks like she could be fighting in the Victorian Hunger Games (in a good way):
While in the comic book, she’s all red and gold:
Both versions kick ass.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is one of those rare superheroines with the same iconic costume year after year. And we’re not complaining. From her red and gold bustier to her high boots and star covered bottoms, she’s like a hot American flag come to life.
Silk Spectre
The colors are bright and stark, and while the costume may show a lot of thigh, it’s relatively chaste compared to some of the others on this list. Love the zipper, the belt, the flexibility – this is a great example of a tight costume done right.
Poison Ivy
OK, so she’s technically a villain and not a heroine, but who cares? Look at that cape! Poison Ivy has the best color scheme – bright orange-red and every shade of green imaginable. Plus she’s covered in twisting vines. Pure awesome.
The Ridiculous:
Batgirl
While Batgirl in the comic books is usually in slick black leather, the movie version gets stuck with arm spikes, thigh plates, and a stiff, molded chest. How she can move in this, I have no idea. We hear that the new Batgirl due this fall will get a far better look.
Catwoman
Halle Berry’s Catwoman looks like Mad Max got into a fight with a jungle cat. She might as well be in some weird post-apocalyptic Gotham, where she’s forced to wear hacked up leather pants and strange holsters that serve no actual purpose. Also, God forbid she cover that midriff. Crime fighting is apparently much easier in a too-small bra and extra long gloves.
Emma Frost
Sigh. Since she’s mostly arm candy in the movie, I suppose it doesn’t matter that she’s only wearing fur and underwear. The comic book version has to be better, right?
Never mind.
Starfire
And I thought it couldn’t get worse. Well, meet Starfire. I would love to know how that stays up while she fights crime. I imagine it involves a lot of two-sided tape.
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