10 Worst Marvel Superhero Costumes Ever

In essence, Marvel has been fortunate to have some exceptional artists grace their comic books throughout history, given that comics primarily rely on visual storytelling. The artistic element is crucial, especially considering Marvel’s unique method called the Marvel Method, which places a significant burden on the artist in terms of creating stories. Jack Kirby, for instance, was instrumental in designing much of the Silver Age Marvel Universe and gave those early characters striking appearances that still captivate readers today. Since then, subsequent artists have built upon Kirby’s impressive costume designs, continually pushing the boundaries of creativity. The Marvel Universe boasts some awe-inspiring superhero costumes worthy of admiration. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there have been some less-than-stellar costume choices in Marvel’s rich history as well.

Subjectivity often plays a role when it comes to costumes being deemed excellent or awful, yet there are undeniably some costumes that fall short of the mark, and these are not worth debating. The impact of subpar superhero costumes on a character’s popularity is significant; they can turn adoration into contempt. Such poor choices in attire may even deter fans. While it is true that an unsuccessful costume could potentially gain a cult following, this does not negate the fact that it is still a poorly designed outfit.

Here are ten superhero costumes from Marvel’s history that stand out as the most regrettable, and while their creation may have been unfortunate, we can at least take comfort in finding humor in them today.

10) Snowball Iceman

The X-Men boast an impressive array of striking costumes, a claim I firmly stand by as they hold some of the most remarkable outfits in Marvel’s storied history. This article will delve into several iconic X-Men costumes, starting with Iceman’s initial design. Despite his character being notoriously difficult to get right, this first appearance fell short of the mark. Iceman resembled a snowman, which is the complete opposite of how he should appear. Over time, he would adopt a more icy aesthetic, an evolution that has made him one of Marvel’s most visually captivating characters. However, his initial snowman-like appearance is undeniably one of the rare missteps in Jack Kirby’s costume design legacy.

9) Wonder Man’s Red Jacket Look

While Wonder Man isn’t famous for stylish costumes, he’s had some decent ones. His contemporary outfits often resemble his ’90s costume, which was modeled after his original villainous attire (which wasn’t great due to the colors, but it would have made the list if he hadn’t been a bad guy in his debut). In contrast, during the late ’70s and ’80s, Wonder Man donned an entirely different costume – a red jacket and pants. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this color scheme, and it could work for Simon Williams as casual wear. However, it doesn’t suit a superhero outfit. It doesn’t align with the feel of superhero adventures, and it never looked right to me, particularly given Wonder Man’s character. If he were a powerless explorer who carried gadgets in his oversized jacket, it might work. But, Wonder Man is a brawler, and it simply doesn’t reflect his persona at all.

8) Hulk’s Marvel NOW Costume

The Hulk is not typically depicted in a costume, although there are exceptions like the jumpsuit worn by Professor Hulk and the Gladiator Hulk armor. However, the image of Hulk in a costume feels off-kilter. This was particularly striking when the Hulk received techno-armor during the 2012 Marvel NOW! reboot. I understand there might have been a reason for the Hulk to wear armor at that time, but it seems inconsistent with his character. For instance, Superman’s costume transformation into Kryptonian battle armor in the New 52 also feels out of place. Essentially, an armored Hulk just doesn’t seem authentic. The main issue is its overly technological appearance. The Gladiator Hulk armor works because it appears cool and suits the story it was introduced in, as Hulk started off weaker in “Planet Hulk” and needed it for protection. However, high-tech armor on the Hulk doesn’t gel with his persona. It would make more sense for Bruce Banner to wear high-tech armor rather than the Hulk.

7) Bug Wasp

Janet Van Dyne, the affluent and stylish fashion designer, has frequently altered her wardrobe throughout her career as The Wasp. While she’s sported some impressive costumes over the years, there have also been a few missteps. One particularly unfortunate choice was her mutated bug-like appearance in Avengers (Vol. 1) #394. This transformation occurred during a period when Marvel was attempting to reignite reader interest in the Avengers, resulting in numerous costume changes intended to modernize the team’s characters. Unfortunately, most of these changes fell flat, and The Wasp’s was among the worst. Her design during this time even included long finger claws, the purpose of which remains unclear. This outfit, with its baffling design elements, is a testament to the questionable decisions made in creating it.

6) Feral Wolverine

During the 90s, the time when Wolverine underwent his feral mutation, is often criticized as one of the less popular periods in Wolverine’s history, which is quite unfortunate since the events leading up to it are considered some of the best-written stories in Wolverine’s comic book series (I still believe that issues #75-100 of Volume 2 are outstanding and I stand by that statement). After transforming into a feral creature, Wolverine’s appearance changed drastically—he even lost his nose, which is problematic for a character known for his keen sense of smell. To conceal his altered face, he began wearing a bandana. This design decision seems illogical, as Wolverine already wore a mask. His attire during this period consisted of tattered versions of his traditional yellow and blue costume and the blue and yellow X-Men uniform. Unfortunately, none of these elements came together effectively. The creators’ intention is clear, but like the feral mutation itself, it veered off into some questionable directions. Remarkably, this look didn’t persist for long; it was only in place for a year. I must admit that artist Adam Kubert managed to make this unimpressive costume work, despite its flaws. However, other artists were unable to replicate the same success.

5) Mid ’90s Thor

Revisiting the Avengers from the mid ’90s, let me introduce you to Thor. Initially, his costume was impressive and remained consistent for quite some time. However, there was a phase where he wore armor that truly embodied the character and the narrative, and I must admit, it looked quite stylish. But as everything in the ’90s was deemed “uncool,” Marvel chose to modernize Thor’s appearance to match the era of excess. Unfortunately, this resulted in the creation of a design that fell short of expectations. The color scheme is acceptable, but the overall design is lackluster. The face piece fails to impress compared to the helmet, the shoulder pads are ill-conceived, the codpiece seems out of place, and the numerous types of bandoliers make little sense. Even Mjolnir was adorned with a large chain, which I find puzzling. The ’90s were not kind to comic book costume design, and this was a prime example. It was so poorly received that Thor eventually resorted to going shirtless, an improvement over this design, but not by much.

4) ’90s Masked Doctor Strange

Over the years, Doctor Strange’s costume has been unique and consistent, albeit with some changes and a brief period where he wore a mask. This wasn’t fantastic, but it wasn’t terrible either. However, in the ’90s, Marvel tried to make Doctor Strange more popular by giving him a style similar to Spawn, which resulted in an unattractive design. Unlike the classic costume, this ’90s version lacks charm and is simply unappealing. The mask, especially with its design, doesn’t suit Doctor Strange well and detracts from his appearance even more. This ’90s outfit was one of the worst costumes he had, surpassing other questionable designs from that era.

3) The O5 X-Men Modern Costumes

The tenure of Brian Michael Bendis on the X-Men comics is often criticized, as it exacerbates existing issues in his writing while introducing the original teen X-Men from the past into the present. This creative choice was unfortunate, but the old X-Men uniforms looked stunning when illustrated by Stuart Immonen. Unfortunately, Marvel decided to update these costumes with a more modern design, which were poorly received and failed to embody the essence of the X-Men. These new costumes fell short in comparison to Jack Kirby’s original designs, which were revitalized through modern illustrations. Ultimately, these modern costumes were disappointing, and their creation tarnished Immonen’s otherwise impressive career as an artist. It appears that even exceptional artists like Immonen may struggle with costume design at times.

2) Captain America’s Nomad Costume

In various iterations, Captain America is recognized, yet many fans are unaware that Steve Rogers has donned more than just the Captain America persona. Following the Secret Empire debacle, Rogers grew disenchanted with the U.S., abandoning the Captain America identity in favor of adopting the Nomad alias and a new attire characterized by a number. There’s something about this costume that rubs fans the wrong way, particularly the cape and deep V-neck, which seem odd design choices. The outfit simply doesn’t align with Steve Rogers’ character, and despite some modifications such as replacing red with yellow at times, none of these changes have significantly improved the costume.

1) Kitty Pryde’s Self-Designed Sprite Costume

Kitty Pryde has undergone numerous outfit changes throughout her career, with some designs being quite good, others exceptionally great, and unfortunately, a few that just don’t work. Among these less successful attempts, there is one standout – her self-designed Sprite costume. This costume, created by an ’80s teenager, explains its peculiar appearance. While some fans may appreciate it ironically, the truth remains that it falls short in terms of design quality. Unfortunately, many poorly designed costumes can be improved upon, but this one is an exception – it’s simply atrocious.

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2025-07-23 22:12