In May 2023, theMarvel Cinematic Universewill turn 15 years old - meaning, for just under a decade and a half, the MCU has delivered its live-action cinematic (and television) universe to audiences across the globe. With plans for at least anotherthree years of releases, Disney’s recentacquisitionof Fox - giving the “Mouse” distributive control over several popular Marvel intellectual properties - and Marvel’s vast gallery of stories, it does not look like the MCU will come to an end any time soon.
As the MCU continues to grow, further affecting future generations, Marvel Studios should task itself with offering audiences a glimpse of classic fashion from the comic books. The company seems to have already made its first steps towards this goal via its WandaVision and Loki television shows, but it is time that more characters flashed the vivid and bright uniforms of old, and not ironically. This colorful and campy design change of the MCU’s characters may be what is sorely needed toreconnect with audiences,and to ensure another 15 years of success. The appearances of dark-toned, hyperrealistic costumes should be limited. Not all Marvel characters are meant to be taken so seriously, all the time. The following is a list of 10 classic comic book uniforms that should emerge and breathe new life into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
10Spider-Man’s Symbiote Suit
Ironically starting off with perhaps the least campy costume of the bunch, Spider-Man’s symbiote suit ismore iconic on its ownthan many of the superheroes published by Marvel Comics, themselves. The sleek suit gives Peter Parker durability, agility, and organic webbing, with even more strength and power than before, but at a cost. The symbiotic relationship between suit and wearer is exactly that, requiring a host to live, and causing the suit to enhance Parker’s most primal and, occasionally, sinister thoughts. As the MCU’s Peter has recentlylost almost everyone he loves, he would be a fitting victim of the sinister symbiote suit, hopefully giving Spider-Man the long-awaited debut of theexact (looking at you, Sam Raimi)uniform as seen in the Marvel Comics event,Secret Wars.
9The Fantastic 4’s Original Uniforms
Shortly after the aforementioned Disney purchase of Fox (which included swapping the cinematic ownership rights of The Fantastic Four), a movie surrounding the superhero team wasannouncedby Kevin Feige at San Diego Comic-Con. Following this revelation, rumors swirled that the film would be set in the 1960s, making for an incredible opportunity for the MCU to dress up the foursome in their original uniforms, down to the hairstyles and short-shorts worn by The Thing. This would provide some much-needed indirect levity to the film, and MCU franchise, allowing for the viewer to become more easily entranced by an old-fashioned world of impossible science and superpowers.
8Magneto’s Red and Purple Outfit
Magneto has already been featured in seven live-action pictures, as Fox included the Master of Magnetism in both of itsX-Menmovie franchises. When it is inevitably time for Magneto to enter the MCU, he should no longer wear civilian clothing, and only don his classic red and purple outfit, helmet and cape included. Magneto is not a human. In fact, he hates them. That is basically the foundation of his character. He would not lower himself and abide by humanity’s standards and culture, rather, he would create a fashion movement of his own. It’s time Magneto was known for bright colors and a cape, again.
Related:10 Classic Comic Book Villains That Should Make an Appearance in the DCU
7Cyclops' Jim Lee Uniform
Jim Lee is now the Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics, but in the 1990s, Lee revolutionized the X-Men, co-creatingX-Men Volume 2, a series whose first issue remains thebest-selling comic of all time. Lee redesigned the costumes of the core X-Men team, fashioning the best uniforms ever worn by the group of heroic mutants. The timelessX-Men: The Animated Serieseven used the Lee-run of X-Men as inspiration for its characters' uniforms.
Sporting his golden, swanky Y-belt, Cyclops stands above the other redesigns as the best of the bunch. The visor and gloves perfectly compliment the blue coloring of his jumpsuit, and the two red “X’s” at the intersection of the belt solidify his mark as field leader of the X-Men. When the X-Men are brought into the MCU, this needs to be “Slim’s” uniform of choice.
6The Hobgoblin’s Comic Book Look
The Hobgoblin would provide a refreshing change of pace from the near-overuse of the Green Goblin, the latter of which has appeared in three live-action movies to date (four if one countsSpider-Man 3). There would be no better time to introduce the Hobgoblin in the MCU than now, as Spider-Man has just lived through a terrifying encounter with a Green Goblin from an alternate universe. What if that Goblin left behind a few trinkets and weapons on the battlefield, or scattered across New York, only for a street criminal to find them and attempt to take on the mantle his or herself? This origin would give way for this new Hobgoblin’s use of simple cape and hoodie, as no armor would be collected from the previous villain’s stash.
5Colossus' 1970s Getup
A previously established character within theX-MenandDeadpoolfranchises (Deadpool 3is now confirmedas a part of the MCU), Colossus would be an obvious candidate to assign a new uniform, regardless of whether he makes the trip withDeadpool and Wolverineinto the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the planned inclusion of mutants and the X-Men in future projects, Colossus is a sure-fire pick to make an appearance on the big screen at some point. Audiences will be looking for a change in the Russian mutant’s attire, as they have already witnessed him don a leather suit on multiple occasions. His classic 1970s look is knocking at the door.
4The Scarlet Spider’s Costume
Ben Reilly, aka the Scarlet Spider, is a clone of Peter Parker that first sported the Scarlet outfit within the pages ofWeb of Spider-Manin 1994. Garnering mixed reviews at the time, Reilly’s character and costume would be an interesting inclusion in the MCU, especially as Peter Parker seems to have hit an all-time low as Spider-Man. Perhaps Reilly could assist Peter in heroic duties, only to go off on his own series of heroic exploits and adventures. While this seems unlikelydue to the rising popularityof Miles Morales as an alternate Spider-Man, perhaps audiences will see Peter or Miles dress up in this uniform, in his stead.
Related:10 Female Characters the MCU Should Introduce in Future Phases
3Doom 2099’s Armor & Cape
Doom 2099 is perhaps the least-known character on this list. This futuristic version of Dr. Doom is, indeed, Victor Von Doom, thrust into a treacherous future that forces him to retake his past role as leader of Latveria. Existing within the same timeline as Sony’s newest Spider-Man villain,Spider-Man 2099, Doom’s presence in the MCU may be an unlikely event, if not for the character’s connection to the MCU’s newest big bad,Kang the Conqueror. As Kang has been written as a descendant of Reed Richards - leader of The Fantastic Four and arch nemesis of Von Doom, himself - it is entirely possible that the MCU’s creative team could alter Doom 2099’s origins and show him off as a Kang Variant. With time travel and multiple universes in the game, anything is possible.
2Nova’s Original Look
Although the Nova Core have been established within the MCU, Richard Rider and Sam Alexander, aka the first and second Nova (basically), have yet to make an appearance. Rider’s origin story as the cosmic hero begin shortly after the destruction of the Nova Core, an incident implied to already have taken place prior to the events ofAvengers: Infinity War.Obviously, his story would be a simple addition to the MCU, and present rumors actually suggest that both golden-blue heroes may befeatured in an upcoming project. This would be a welcome surprise, with the only question that remains being: Would the heroes don their classic bright-colored look, or will their uniforms become modernized and saturated in dark shadow?
1The Black Knight’s Classic Armor
The final member of this list, and another that has featured (well, sort of) in an MCU production (The Eternals),Black Night sports less black than one would think in his classic costume. The superhero embodiment of a Knight from Camelot (colored by a child) actually wears more silver and deep blue than black. The design is laughable and incredibly outdated by modern standards, which is the perfect reason to place this exact uniform into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A cheesy, Arthurian character that takes himself far too seriously would fill the void left behind by Thor, after the God of Thunder became the God of Constant Joking and Quipping. Petty comments aside, Black Knight would serve as an excellent middle-man between the MCU’s Gods and cosmic beings, acting as a bridge between so many characters that seem totally disconnected.
