The 5 Best MCU Superhero Glow-Ups (& The 5 Worst)

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Over the past 18 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many characters have evolved significantly. We’ve seen their personalities and backstories fleshed out, particularly for those who’ve been around for a while. Along with these changes, their costumes have also been updated – some for the better, and some not so much. Here are five of the most notable costume improvements and five of the biggest disappointments.

The upcoming movie Avengers: Doomsday will feature updated looks for several characters. While some of the new costume designs have already been shown, we anticipate even more redesigned MCU characters will be revealed before the film’s release later this year. Before that happens, let’s take a look back at some of the most impactful visual changes to the MCU’s biggest heroes.

10) Ms. Marvel – WORST

Kamala Khan’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe sparked debate because her powers were significantly different from those in the comics. However, aside from that change, the show did a surprisingly good job of staying true to the source material. The costume Kamala receives at the end of Ms. Marvel is particularly well-done. It’s made by her mother, which adds a special emotional layer that many MCU costumes lack, and its homemade quality nicely reflects her down-to-earth personality compared to other, more technologically advanced heroes.

Kamala’s costume in The Marvels was completely redesigned. The new suit is much smoother and appears more polished, but it loses the unique, homemade feel of her original outfit. Overall, the new design is less striking, with faded colors and a less memorable look – a clear step down from her first costume.

9) Abomination – BEST

Abomination was one of the first villains introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. After Mark Ruffalo took over the role of Bruce Banner, the film was largely overlooked, and fans questioned whether it still fit into the MCU’s official storyline. However, the movie regained some importance in the early 2020s, and Abomination made a comeback in the 2022 series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, with a redesigned appearance.

The Abomination’s appearance in The Incredible Hulk was noticeably different from his usual depiction – he was smoother and more slimy. However, She-Hulk finally gave him a look that was true to the comics. When the character returned, he had all his signature features, including the fins on his head and the spikes covering his face, collarbone, and shoulders. While his personality wasn’t quite the same as in the comics, his visual design was much more accurate to the original source material.

8) Daredevil – Worst

As a critic, I’ve watched Daredevil evolve across several projects in the MCU – from his initial Netflix run to appearances in She-Hulk and the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again. And you know what? I think his least faithful adaptation of the classic comic book look was actually his best. I’m talking about Season 1 of the original Daredevil series. Forget the iconic red suit; he was rocking a black mask, black clothes, and even some rope restraints. It was a brilliant choice, perfectly capturing the gritty, street-level realism the show was going for. It just worked.

Throughout the various iterations of Daredevil, his costume has seen several changes. While fans were excited to see the classic red suit come to life at the end of season 1, many felt it wasn’t as strong as his initial black outfit. The red suit appeared somewhat awkward in the first two seasons, and although it looked better in season 3, Matt spent much of that season back in black. His yellow suit in She-Hulk felt a little silly, and even though the suits in Born Again are better than those from the Netflix series, his original black look remains his most iconic and effective.

7) Black Bolt – BEST

Black Bolt is a Marvel Cinematic Universe character who’s often overlooked. Actor Anson Mount first played the Inhuman king in the Inhumans TV series. However, his outfit in the show was more realistic than the elaborate costume from the comic books. Instead of the full comic book look, he wore a black, zipped jacket with designs inspired by his comic appearance.

Okay, so Black Bolt showed up in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and let me tell you, his look was a huge step up! They finally gave him the full comic book treatment – the mask, the whole deal, and even that iconic tuning fork on his forehead. Honestly, for a character who can sometimes feel a little silly, that costume is essential. I was really glad to see the MCU finally nail his appearance with this version from another universe.

6) Iron Man – WORST

The visual effects in the 2008 film Iron Man still hold up remarkably well, and many Marvel fans consider Tony Stark’s suit in that movie to be one of the best designed in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. At that time, his armor was bulkier, more obviously mechanical, and felt more realistic. Looking back at those earlier suits compared to the nanotech suit he wears in Infinity War and Endgame really shows how much the designs have suffered. The newer, sleeker armor isn’t just less visually interesting, but it also appears much less convincing and feels like a step down in quality.

5) U.S. Agent – BEST

U.S. Agent’s costume change in the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn’t just for show; it actually made sense within the story. When John Walker debuted in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he wore a suit that was clearly trying to copy Captain America’s, but it didn’t work well. In fact, the costume, especially the helmet, was widely mocked by fans online.

John Walker’s black suit, which he received towards the end of the series, was a significant improvement in appearance. His suits from Thunderbolts and the post-credits scene were even more impressive, representing a major upgrade from his original costume.

4) Hulk – WORST

The Hulk looked amazing when he first appeared in The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, consistently being a visual highlight of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his design in Avengers: Endgame as Professor Hulk was a noticeable step down. The use of Mark Ruffalo’s face digitally imposed onto the Hulk felt strange and unnatural, and the overall look wasn’t as compelling as his previous appearances.

3) Falcon – BEST

When Falcon debuted in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, his costume was quite different from the comics. It was mostly grey and overly complicated, appearing as standard military gear. He received a few updates over time, but none of them were particularly impressive.

Towards the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson finally received his Captain America suit. It was a stunning design, faithfully recreating the classic white mask and star-covered uniform from the comic books. Although this suit wasn’t used in Captain America: Brave New World, it was an amazing look for Sam, even if only for a short time.

2) Thor – WORST

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve always loved how Thor’s look has evolved over the years – each costume was pretty fantastic, honestly. The outfits in the first Thor movie, The Dark World, Ragnarok, and even Infinity War were really well done and pulled straight from the comics. But then Endgame came along and… well, let’s just say it was a bit of a shift!

Following the time jump in Endgame, Thor underwent a significant physical transformation. Often nicknamed “Fat Thor” by fans, he had noticeably gained weight and adopted a more relaxed appearance, resembling the character The Dude from The Big Lebowski. Thankfully, his costume in Avengers: Doomsday is a much more heroic look.

1) Spider-Man – BEST

Spider-Man, like many heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has worn a lot of different costumes. He’s had everything from the suit he debuted in Civil War to his first homemade outfit and the high-tech Iron Spider suit. While Spider-Man’s costumes have changed a lot over time, some of his earlier designs weren’t quite as impressive as those seen in films with Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield.

Marvel really hit a home run with Peter Parker’s last costume in Spider-Man: No Way Home. It was a fantastic Spider-Man suit that fans loved, and everyone is excited to see it again in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

What’s your favorite costume from the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-03 18:16