22 Marvel Superhero Costumes Ranked From "It's Not For Me" To "I Would Sell An Infinity Stone For This"
Greetings.
Walt Disney Pictures / Marvel Studios / Via giphy.com
Once I decided to rank Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) superhero costumes, I realized that perhaps my total lack of expert knowledge on the subject would be an issue. So I asked my colleague and MCU authority Kayla Harrington if she would provide her expert opinion on my opinions, and, after a sizable wire transfer, she agreed!
I sourced my layperson information from – of course – Wikipedia, which Kayla was not involved in, and therefore she should receive none of the blame.
Also, multiple characters have multiple outfits. In situations where I don't comment on it, assume I chose the outfit that had the best images, LOL.
Alright, let's get started!
22.T'Challa / Black Panther
According to Wikipedia: "The Black Panther suit (based on the Marvel Comics suit of the same name) is a protective nanotech suit woven from vibranium that is worn by the King of Wakanda in his duties as the Black Panther. The suit features retractable claws made of vibranium and is nearly impenetrable...T'Challa's second suit is also able to be shrunk down into a necklace as well as absorb energy for future redistribution."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: It goes without saying that the suit is exceptionally cool, but I would feel uncomfortable as a white person wearing this. It's not mine to mentally prance around in.
Harrington, Marvel expert: The Black Panther suit is definitely in my top five favorite MCU suits! From the vibranium to the fact that the suit can absorb any impact and then the same energy can be used again against your enemy is just *chef's kiss.*
21.Thanos
According to Wikipedia: "It comprises of a helmet, breastplate, greaves, cuisses, gauntlets, and metal boots." Also, Thanos "wields a Double-Edged Sword in combat."
I'm not including any infinity stones as part of Thanos's costume.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: It's so weird. It's just so weird. I get this strange, icky feeling in the pit of my stomach when I look at it for too long.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Honestly, I agree with Hope, this look just gives off bad vibes. And, after Thanos literally destroyed half the universe, I think our feelings are valid.
20.Vision
According to Wikipedia: There doesn't seem to be any info on the outfit.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: The second I went to a reflective surface and saw myself in this outfit, I would feel like an absolute noob. I don't even know why, but there's something so ego-crushing here.
Harrington, Marvel expert: The only cool aspect of his suit is the cape he created to mimic Thor's look. Otherwise, no thanks!
19.Loki
According to Wikipedia: There doesn't seem to be any info on the outfit.
I'm not including the scepter as part of the outfit.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: I like the coat, but the layered, geometric under jacket/shirt thing is not for me. There's no world in which I successfully pull this off.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Asgardian fashion will always hold a special place in my heart because it's literally just a planet full of people who walked out of a Shakespearian play. Also, Loki does rock a lot of long coats and I'm not mad at it.
18.Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier / White Wolf
According to Wikipedia: There doesn't seem to be any info on the outfit.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: It's a fun, spy-ish ensemble, but that's kind of it; not super good, not super bad. But it's 1,000,000 times more badass than Vision's and Loki's outfits.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Our sweet boy Bucky never really had a say in his life, let alone his outfits, so this is just your standard "going into battle look." Let's hope Marvel will let Bucky find his own style in future movies!
17.Peter Quill / Star-Lord
According to Wikipedia: He has a double-barrel blaster pistol and various alien gadgets. "The Quad Blasters are Peter Quill's primary weapons. The blasters have two separate triggers controlling two separate barrels, which are fired using the index and middle finger. The bottom barrel of each gun fires non-lethal electric shots, while the top barrel fires lethal plasma shots."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: This comes across to me like an Indiana Jones knock off. Good jacket, though. I'd wear that jacket and feel great in it.
The Quad Blasters may be helpful, but they don't stand out as high-ranking material for me.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Seeing as we have characters in this universe with world-ending magical powers, I agree with Hope: the blasters are not anything special. However, that jacket is 20/10, where can I buy it?!
16.Nick Fury
According to Wikipedia: There doesn't seem to be any info on the outfit.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: Obviously this is a stellar put-together-rebel type of look, but I think Samuel L. Jackson makes it 350% cooler than it would be on my body.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Fury really hones his "leader of a secret organization full of enhanced humans and gods" energy when wearing this outfit and I respect it.
15.Clint Barton / Hawkeye
According to Wikipedia: "Hawkeye's bow and quiver are a pair of tools used by Clint Barton that serve as his primary weapons. The bow is a collapsible recurve bow, whilst the quiver is mechanized, able to store and deploy his signature trick arrows."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: The sleeveless aspect is a both a plus and a negative, the former because LOLLLLLLL and the latter because why would you ever want to be sleeveless in battle? That can't be safe. Seriously, why is it sleeveless? (Looking back, I see Thanos's outfit is also sleeveless, which I think contributes to the strangeness there.) I'll stop talking about sleeveless-ness now.
In other news, I am a fan of the bow and arrow.
Harrington, Marvel expert: While I do respect anyone who can rock the hell out of a sleeveless look, this just isn't it for me. Clint's suit is just standard issue S.H.I.E.L.D. material, so there's not much to say. But, seeing his collapsible bow was one of the highlights for me during the Battle of New York.
14.Steve Rogers / Captain America
According to Wikipedia: "The first uniform, worn by Steve Rogers, was a cloth USO costume based on his original costume from the comics, along with a heater shield...Howard Stark later designs a combat uniform made of carbon polymer, with leather pouches and a holster, a wingless mask, and a round vibranium shield. After being unfrozen, he uses a costume designed by S.H.I.E.L.D. which resembles his USO uniform."
"Captain America's shield (based on the Marvel Comics object of the same name) is a weapon made of vibranium."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: Yes, I would feel strong, confident, and – for lack of a better phrase – "with it" in this, but behind all of that, there would be a nagging sense of, "I feel silly, what the hell am I wearing?"
At the same time, that shield is pretty awesome.
Harrington, Marvel expert: I wish I could express how much I dislike Cap's suit from his first movie. There's something about the bright colors and the way the helmet fits him that I just don't like. And yes, I'm aware this is his suit from the ~comics.~ It's just not my thing. My favorite Cap suit will always be the darker version found in The Winter Solider.
13.Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
According to Wikipedia: There doesn't seem to be any info on the outfit.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: I wish the suit gave you a power or there were some kind of fancy weapon, because if either were present, this would probably be in the top 5. That star in the middle of the chest is a perfecttttt addition. Though, to be honest, the fabric does look sweaty, and who needs that?
Harrington, Marvel expert: I LOVE Carol's suit and I'm so happy it made this high on the list! Not only is it so cool to watch when Carol's powers flow through the material, but the colors were picked out by a young Monica Rambeau, which will always make me cry!!
12.Gamora
According to Wikipedia: She has a retractable sword, a bejeweled knife, and various firearms and bladed weapons. "The Godslayer is a powerful sword used by Gamora. It has an energy core in the hilt, lowering the weight and making it easier to wield. The long blade is collapsible and includes a detachable knife that connects to the sword's hilt."
I know this isn't the same costume as the one in the picture above, but do me a favor and pretend it is.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: It's sleeveless (which I won't rant about again, don't worry) and the sheer element on top isn't my usual sort of move, but Gamora's outfit has grown on me a lot during the making of this post. I'd feel like a rough-and-tumble heister in this. (Quick q: do any of the Marvel men ever wear sheer stuff? My guess is no.)
Also, points for the fancy sword.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Another incredible jacket to add to my "love it so much" collection, LOL. Other than that, Gamora's outfit isn't that special. But, that sword is badass and I would 100% pee my pants if I saw that thing coming at me.
11.Thor
According to Wikipedia: "Mjölnir (based on the Marvel Comics object of the same name) is an enchanted hammer owned by Thor (and previously, Hela) and made of uru by the Dwarves of Nidavellir that is capable of controlling lightning and allows the user to fly if it is spun rapidly and released with enough power."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: Without the hammer...yeah, no, this is hardcore not my vibe. Nope.
However, the hammer is a win. I'm down to have that hammer, assuming I'd be able to lift it, which I'm deciding I could. It's my article, I can do that.
Harrington, Marvel expert: I may never be worthy enough to wield Thor's hammer, but I AM worthy enough to stare at it nonstop whenever it's on screen. As for his outfit, I think the father of the MCU said it best: "Doth mother know you wear-eth her drapes?"
10.Valkyrie
According to Wikipedia: "A Dragonfang (based on the Marvel Comics object of the same name) is a powerful sword with a steel blade and a hilt carved from a dragon's tooth. They are used by the Valkyrie in battle, although Scrapper 142 is the sole survivor of the group and thus retains the only Dragonfang left."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: The skirt thing is off-putting. I like everything else well enough, but I adore none of it. Somehow though, for some reason, I do think I would feel particularly cool in this.
And I would love to wield a sword made from a dragon's tooth, oh my god (as long as the dragon was not harmed in the making of the sword).
Harrington, Marvel expert: As a stated lover of Asgardian fashion, this look is so badass to me. It makes her look strong and powerful without sacrificing the feminine energy behind the Valkyrie as a group. Also, I freakin' love capes, man. It really pulls the look together.
9.Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch
According to Wikipedia: There doesn't seem to be any info on the outfit.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: Yes, yes, yes. 100%. Yes. It's flawless. Like, I don't even care that it's sleeveless, the gloves make that bit exceptional. Basically, this is so exactly my taste. I want to rank it number one but I can't!!!
If only her costume gave you her, like, witch powers.
Harrington, Marvel expert: EVERYONE SAY HELLO TO MY NUMBER ONE FAVORITE SUIT OF THE MCU AS OF THIS MOMENT!! I physically screamed both in real life and on Twitter when she landed in this suit. For those who don't know, the comic version of the Scarlet Witch costume was something Elizabeth Olsen wasn't super comfortable wearing and she had a hand in helping to design this iconic look. I could talk about how much I love this suit all day, but I'll stop here because we have more heroes to talk about!!
8.Peter Parker / Spider-Man
According to Wikipedia: "The Web-shooters (based on the Marvel Comics object of the same name) are a pair of electromechanical gauntlets developed by Peter Parker for his use as the crime-fighter known as Spider-Man. They are capable of shooting synthetic webbing stored in small cartridges on the gauntlets...This version has a variety of different settings, including 'spinning web', 'web ball', and 'ricochet web'"
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: I know what I'm about to say is a dumb thing to factor into the ranking, but I don't like spiders. Plus, I couldn't be suave in a skin-tight body suit of that fabric, I'd be too self-conscious because – well, I don't want to speak of my boobs in-depth in a BuzzFeed post (hello, strangers on the internet), but let's just say the fabric might be stretched too thin in some places and bunched too much in between those two stretched-too-thin places.
That being said, the web-shooters are aces.
Harrington, Marvel expert: The Spider-Man suit is also in my top five favorites list! it's such a classic and I smile every time I see it. HOWEVER, I do want to say I prefer the non-tech Spider-Man suit found in the beginning of Homecoming. Sorry, Karen, but I'm not a fan!
7.Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
According to Wikipedia: "Black Widow's batons are a pair of electroshock weapons created by Tony Stark for Natasha Romanoff's use. They are stored and charged in her Widow's Bite, and are regarded as an extension of this weapon. When in use, they glow with a blue light, and deliver a powerful electric shock when struck against someone.
"The Widow's Bite (based on the Marvel Comics object of the same name) is an electroshock weapon used by Natasha Romanoff in combat. Created by S.H.I.E.L.D., it delivers powerful electrical discharges from two gauntlets worn on the wrists. Tony Stark later creates a more powerful version for her, which causes the piping in her suit to light up and glow."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: This is the shit. I would feel like a complete rockstar in this costume. If you know me and you're reading these words, please get me this as a birthday gift. I'll wear it to places where it's so not the dress code and count how many people actively don't mention the fact that I'm wearing a superhero bodysuit. It'll be fun!
Harrington, Marvel expert: Another top five favorite!! I love that Natasha's suit always complimented her fighting style, from the look to the gadgets inside of it. Plus, she just looks so badass. 20/10, can I also buy this suit?!
6.Doctor Stephen Strange
According to Wikipedia: "The Cloak of Levitation (based on the Marvel Comics object of the same name) is a magical relic that is [sic] enables its user to levitate in the air...it 'chooses' Stephen Strange as its master during a fight with Kaecilius. It has a consciousness of its own and is able to move independently and defend Strange against threats."
I'm not including the time stone as part of the outfit.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: If there were no powers connected to Doctor Strange's getup, this would be the hardest of hard passes for me.
But when we get into powers, it's difficult to deny the coolness here – and believe me, I'm trying. It looks so dumb but it can make you float! God, I hate how high I have to rank it. But I have to.
Harrington, Marvel expert: While Strange does look like the powerful wizard he truly is while wearing this outfit, it's just so boring, LMAO. But, I'm a big Cloak stan, so I'll let the whole look slide.
5.James Rhodes / War Machine
According to Wikipedia: "The War Machine armor (based on the Marvel Comics suit of the same name) is a powered suit of armor...with machine guns in the wrists, a minigun on the right shoulder and a grenade launcher on the left...Stark later removes the modifications and rebuilds the suit himself using his own superior technology."
Sure, this is a different suit than the one in the other War Machine picture, but you get the gist.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: The lack of color makes it Iron Man without any pizzazz. It looks like a Lego. The only reason I'm ranking the suit so high is that I'm 99% sure it gives Don Cheadle the ability to fly.
Also, Jesus Christ that's a lot of weapons. I don't even know what a "minigun" is. I assume it's a very small gun.
Harrington, Marvel expert: I do agree with Hope that this suit is truly boring without the Iron Man colors. Honestly, this whole suit is just another Tony Stark invention and there's nothing really special about it, in my opinion.
4.Sam Wilson / Falcon
According to Wikipedia: "The EXO-7 Falcon is an [sic] winged harness created by the U.S. military for the Air National Guard...The suit features retractable wings and a pair of collapsible Steyr SPP submachine guns. Tony Stark later creates a new set of bulletproof retractable wings, featuring a drone as well as missiles and a wrist-mounted submachine gun."
Also, he has "Redwing", which is "an advanced drone used in combat and reconnaissance."
I'm using the Falcon wardrobe because Sam Wilson's Captain America garb it's his signature look yet.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: I want to fly and I want to do it in as stylish an ensemble as possible. And yes, I'm willing to let the lack of long sleeves go.
Another positive for me is that I would grow quite attached to "Redwing," almost Wilson-the-volleyball style. As Taylor Swift (nearly) said, "it's nice to have an advanced drone used in combat and reconnaissance friend."
Harrington, Marvel expert: The wings are obviously such a highlight of this suit. When he flew onto that rooftop in The Winter Solider, my jaw dropped. Sam really made an entrance in this!
3.Tony Stark / Iron Man
According to Wikipedia (where there is as an overwhelming amount of information on various Iron Man suits, so I'm just going to talk about the Mark III suit): It can fly, it has flamethrowers, a missile launcher, a heads-up-display and repulsors, a built in arc reactor, wrist-mounted missiles, hip-mounted flare launchers, and shoulder-mounted machine guns.
I believe the Wikipedia description is for a different suit than the one in the images, but whatever.
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: Though I don't possess the devil-may-care attitude required to really make this work, I would give it my hardest try, which, by definition, means I would fail.
But I don't think it matters much when you take in all that this wonderfully colorful costume can do. Flight! Shoulder-mounted machine guns! Freaking flamethrowers! The kick-ass-ness outweighs the ginormous anxiety wearing something so capable of damage would give me.
Harrington, Marvel expert: The Iron Man suit is such a staple in the MCU, I would be offended if it wasn't this high on the list! It's the suit that started it all, what more can I say except I WANT ONE TOO, MR. STARK!!
2.Scott Lang / Ant-Man
According to Wikipedia: "The Ant-Man suit (based on the Marvel Comics suit of the same name) enables the wearer to change size while retaining strength, as well as communicate with and control ants."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: Did you read the Wikipedia thing? Of course this would make me feel bonkers cool! I mean, having the ability to become teeny tiny would be weird but also so much better than not having the ability to become teeny tiny. Also, I want to communicate with an ant, ask it how its day's been.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Another suit in my top five!! The Ant-Man suit was so fun to see in the comics my dad has, but there's nothing like seeing it on the big screen. From its abilities to the sleek design, not much comes close to it except...
1.Hope van Dyne / Wasp
According to Wikipedia: "Van Dyne is handed down a similar suit and the Wasp mantle from her mother," who "wore a shrinking suit with similar powers as the Ant-Man one, with the added capability of wings for flight."
Lasater, Marvel bonehead: I promise I'm not biased towards this because my name is Hope. If anything, I'm biased against it – get your own name, fictional character. But in addition to the fact that the outfit looks amazing, the abilities of the suit are, hands down, the best of them all.
You get the shrinking power of Ant-Man and you can fly.
Cool city, here I come.
Harrington, Marvel expert: Just from seeing it at the end of Ant-Man, I knew Hope's suit was going to be so much better than Scott's and I was right! Can Scott fly? No? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT! Hope doesn't get enough appreciation in the MCU and I'm glad that our Buzzfeed Hope gave her some love!!
